Warlord Prussian Landwehr - Completed

Here they are painted up as a unit of 2nd Silesians. I liked the combination of their yellow facings and red shoulder straps. Some Silesian Landwehr units are recorded to have worn the "Stovepipe" shako with a large cross - which would make them look pretty unique, I think.

The colours chosen are noted as "conjectural" - in fact, Landwehr units weren't officially authorized colours, but were known to have carried them in battle; at least by some.

I think this set by Warlord is a pretty good choice for building a Prussian army as almost half the Prussian army was made up by Landwehr units after 1813. As I use 24-man battalions for regular sized units with Black Powder, there are 6 left over marching figures from the 30-figure box.

The box contents are 27 plastic marching figures in three different poses, along with three metal command figures. It also contains several unit colours on the information sheet. I've based them on 40mm square (3mm thick) plywood bases from Litko. Actually, these 6 bases are the last I had remaining from a pack of 100 bases.

Maranatha!

Warlord Games Prussian Landwehr WIP +1

Well, here they are after a stain/wash of Minwax Tudor Satin.

Their coats were highlighted prior to the staining process. After the stain is thoroughly dry they'll be sprayed with Testors Dullcote.

Shot of the rear of the figures - some of the details aren't really defined, especially at the sides, but are good enough for close ordered troops.

Maranatha.

Warlord Games Prussian Landwehr WIP

These are from the box that Pat L. (aka Socal Warhammer) was kind enough to award me at Enfilade! last year. Pat had stepped up for the annual historical convention here in WA State and hosted a WAB tournament - actually really low-key and practically all of the 12 or so participants knew each other from past games and got along very well. Pat arranged to have Brookhurst Hobbies sponsor the event and provided a bunch of great prizes - enough for all participants. In fact, my prize was for coming in last place and being a good sport about it. Anyway, I've just now managed to have the motivation to start on them. Here they are with just the flesh, yellow facing/piping and white equipment belts block painted over a black undercoat.

I know folks have disparaged this set for their large hands, but they don't bother me. In fact, I find them quite charming and so far enjoyable to paint. Besides the large right fists on some - which there are only three marching poses besides the three metal command figures - some of the details aren't very defined. For instance, the continuation of belts and such are missing or very vaguely sculpted on the sides of the figures. I don't find this much of a problem as they'll be ranked up and the overall effect should be fine.

When I first received the box, I had intended to paint them up as Russian militia, or Opolchenie, but recently decided to go with Prussian Landwehr - the 2nd Silesian Regiment. Here is an image of them below:

Someday they'll be fielded in a Black Powder game - probably along with the Russians I already have as a polyglot unit to beef up the British.

Perry Life Guards - The Cheese Mongers

Well, here is the first completed project for 2013. A unit of Perry British Household Cavalry painted up as Life Guards. Alternatively, they could be painted as Blues, but red coats were chosen as they are unmistakably British.

Over a brown base coat, the horses were given a wash of black and then a healthy stain of Minwax Tudor Satin. It really gave them the look of "blacks" - as the Household Cavalry are known to have ridden, and indeed still do to this day.

I used a bit of Green Stuff to secure the riders more securely to their mounts. You may be able to see some of this in the photos. I'll paint those areas black after the super glue dries.

All in all a nice unit to paint up, but I wonder how the same unit produced by Renegade would look compared to them. I think they might be larger and possibly give the proper effect of these Heavies. I understand they had a fairly tall height requirement to enter the Guards. Something like 6 feet plus - and riding large horses must've made these guys pretty imposing on the battlefield. EDIT: this height requirement is not substantiated. :) Incidentally, the famous actor Ray Miland (The Man with the X-Ray Eyes) served in the Royal Horse Guards The Blues.

I also think their broadswords could've been sculpted a little larger or thicker - kind of the way Front Rank does theirs; pretty sturdy for gaming.

Anyway, please don't take these comments as complaints - I am very happy with the overall look of these figures. After a few other projects and commitments, I plan to host a Black Powder game with these along with the rest of the Napoleonics collecting dust on the shelf. I may also pick up a copy of Albion Triumphant - for the eye-candy if nothing else. Again, best wishes to all of you this year and hope you all have great days ahead painting and gaming - Dean.

Perry Household Cavalry - WIP +1

The cavalrymen are finished - painted as Life Guards. Although the Royal Horse Guards ("Blues") look just as nice, I wanted them to look as British as possible - so red coated Life Guards they are.

I'm sure the Perrys research their subjects thoroughly, but I've yet to find a source showing the musician having winged epaulettes (or "birds nests") as depicted here.

The only thing I have a little problem with are their broadswords. They have a sort of falcata-look to them - not as heavy looking as I'd think they should look. Everything I've read has the British heavy cavalry sword being fearsome looking and heavier than their French counterparts' swords. Still a very nice set of sculpts as would be expected from the Perrys.

The horses are up next; a black undercoat has been followed by a brown one. Hopefully the Minwax stain will darken them a bit more as they are supposed to be blacks.

Perry Household Cavalry - WIP

Just a quick post to show what I'm working on. This is a WIP shot of a unit of Perry Household Cavalry which will join the British in the Peninsula and later on at Waterloo.

Using a technique I picked up from veteran painter Doug H., I painted the details over a black undercoat before painting the clothing proper. Next will be the red coats for the Life Guards. NOTE: I now see I missed the top of a cross belt on one of the figures - not the first time I've found errors when reviewing pics on the blog - not a bad thing.

I picked this unit up from a generous TMP sale recently. Being a great price I couldn't pass it up as I felt my British force needed more cavalry, especially a heavy unit.

Now I'm heading out the door to meet my buddy Pat L. at The Game Matrix for another WAB refresher game. My Trojan War Chariot Army versus his Seleucids - this time he is bringing an elephant or two.