New Desk & Photo Setup

 

I found a long, slender desk on the local Facebook marketplace. The desk sits close to the wall and is the perfect size for the space. Also nice, everything closes tightly meaning the littlest one is unable to get in and ‘help’.

It has been terrific having a space and I have painted for the first time in four or five years. Just 20-30 minutes at a time, but this adds up to a fair bit of productivity.

For example, here is a start on some Perry Bardin wearing French repurposed as the Legion du Midi.

This battalion fought as part of VI Corps at Fuentes d’Onoro and was slowly whittled down through attrition after that. As I understand it, they carried an eagle in 1811. Next up on these are the sky blue cuffs. It feels like units really come alive once faces, jackets, and cuffs are done. The next big ‘poop’ to me is when the metals are added for buttons and musket barrels.

Photographs

Getting back to painting has me wanting to capture more photos of the output. That means needing some sort of quick setup including lighting and a background. 

Little did I know that the inside of the purchased background was nicel gridded… Not the end of the world and maybe an effect one would want with their sci-fi collection.

These images are two quick phone shots of some Perry French guard painted in 2019 or so. Figures are gloss coated and initial basing is done. I’ll have to static grass, add flags, and dull coat (not in that order!). Figures are for use in the peninsula, because their brethren are all in the bardin uniform that were the first plastic releases all those years ago.

X-Wing 2.5 Test Run

The oldest and I had a test run of the x-wing 2.5 rules. It was a blast. We ran two pre-built ships each, with A taking an x-wing and an a-wing and me running a tie advanced and a standard tie fighter. We are pretty confident that these were both 10 point lists.

Called it with one tie down and an x-wing limping home. There are a lot of abilities and rules interactions. The game seems to offer a fair bit of strategic interest in a theme that we all enjoy.

Retrospective: 2017

Painted:

British Napoleonic

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• 52nd Light Infantry (24)

• 43rd Light Infantry (36)

• 95th Rifles (36)

• 2x Portuguese Cacadores (48)

• 2x RHA (16/2)

• Light Dragoons (16)

• Officers (6)

French

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• 3x Legere 72

For a grand total of 256 28mm Napoleonic soldiers on the year. I definitely did not hit my targets for 15mm wwii or to even purchase any Punic wars but the napoleonic output is pretty nice! I have 24 French guard on the desk that might be done before Jan 1. If so, 280 pts! Coa, here I come.

British for the Coa Progress 4

Finished the painting on the 1st KGL hussars for the Coa project. The C&C Napoleonics scenario calls for a 3 block unit and in keeping with my desire to also have playable Lasalle forces I have done a 4 block unit.

Once the British are 'done' with painting, I'll base, gloss and dull coat and add GMB flags.  I have a number of other, previously painted British, that will get the same treatment....how I detest basing!

On the progress front, I have 3 British ADC on the table and 4 Stands of Royal Horse Artillery all primed and ready for the brush. So, 16 artillery men, 4 cannon, 3 mounted officer, and 3 horses will see the British contingent finished off! After that, 3 units of French lights and one unit of French guard in bearskins (to represent the converged grenadier battalion that attempted to storm the bridge once the British had withdrawn.  I know that the latter are not historically correct, but really like the look...

British for the Coa 3

Portuguese really.  These are WIP 1st and 3rd Cacadores for the light brigade. The C&C Napoleonics scenario calls for 6 blocks (stands) of Portuguese in 2 units. I have done 8 stands in keeping with the goal to also have a valid Lasalle army.

The 1st with their blue cuffs:

The third (black cuffs):

A quick shot to stay motivated! These are the Cacadores, 43rd and 52nd lights (sans flags), and the 95th rifles.  1st KGL hussars and 4 RHA are on the painting table along with a few command figures.  

The current state of the project:

Since the French collection is primarily 1815 uniform, I might do the grenadier stands as old guard in bearskins. The uniform differences do not bother me too much, it is more the spectacle of the game with massed units traversing the Spanish or Portuguese countryside.

British for Coa Progress 2

Th C&C Coa scenario calls for 2 units of British rifles, each composed of 3 stands.  The Lasalle rules call for British rifles to be a large, 6 base unit.  So, I painted up 22 rifles and based them in loose order over 6 bases.

With these painted and based the British army rolls onward with only the following remaining:

* 6 stands of horse artillery (I'll paint 4 as I like a wider frontage for guns)

* 6 stands of Portuguese Cacadores (I'll paint 8 so they are usable in Lasalle)

* 3 command stands

* 3 stands of light cavalry ( as above I'll paint 4 light Dragoons or 4 hussars)

I have 3 French lights to do as well. I am hopefully they will come together quickly with all of the blue...we shall see. The French will probably close out the project since I seem to be on a slow motion roll with the Brits.

The current status is:

British for Coa Progress

The 52nd and 43rd are awaiting flags and base painting (sand has been applied).  For the Coa scenario, I am debating having the 43rd stand in for one of the unnamed line units. As far as I can tell, these line units were not present at the battle and must have been added for scenario balance.

As for basing, I honestly can not stand it! So I'll procrastinate for as long as possible and base up a larger number of units at once.

With the lights 'done' and assuming I use the 43rd as a 4-base unit of line infantry, the Coa scenario currently looks like his in terms of units completed.

I am currently working through 6 bases of rifles. These will be in pretty loose order and I will likely add a fence as a scenic filler.