'Arfa' and 'Mrs Thatch'

Anyone who was around during the 1980's in the UK will know that two political figures who really polarised Public Opinion (both then and now) were Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Leader of the National Union of Mineworkers, Arthur Scargill. Whilst I was wandering around Salute I saw a couple of figures on top of the Reiver Castings stand. "That's not Thatcher is it?" Was my opening gambit followed by "Is that Scargill next to her?" It appears that Reiver are going to run a series of 1980's ish figures, perhaps along the lines of a Very 80's British Civil War and these were two of the openers in the series. After stating that I had to get them irrespective of whether or not I needed them, two figures were produced from behind the stand and coin was exchanged. I don't know if these were supposed to be available yet or not but I'm pleased I've got them. Mrs Thatch will do for any period from the 30's onward as she is wearing her 'uniform' of handbag, twin set and pearls. Arfa is a little more modern with a 'kipper tie' and 'Bobby Charlton' comb over haircut, but he can be slotted in as an anti establishment figure or just any angry man with no problems. Here they are with a spot of white undercoat. I will add more pictures as I go.

The strange thing for me is that as I started to look at News Footage of the Miners Strike in particular, I remembered what that period of time was like. I really am looking forward to some 'Spitting Image' inspired sculpts. 'Normo Tebbs' in a leather Bikers Jacket and Ben Elton in a flash shiny suit spring to mind. How about some 'Young Ones' students from Scumbag College ? For me the important thing is that I can use both of them for more than one period.

Sheep Herding

Like one of many herded sheep I confess that I have copied the example of Loki and others by making my own wet pallette, thereby following the current trend for such things.

My version cost me nothing aside from my dignity. Mrs J discovered one of her new and more expensive 'non pound shop' sponges and geaseproof paper missing from the kitchen drawer after I raided it. Unfortunately for me my pallette manufacturing process coincided with the 'death' of the old household sponge. Thus I was subjected to the wrath of my 'significant other' especially when I showed her how neatly the new sponge had been cut to size !

The container I used was a small one (chinese takeaway container). This was a conscious decision. I am a slow painter and it serves no real purpose having a huge pallette as I have no permanent painting table. However if it proves a success I may have to upsize.

As Salute approaches (which for me is the annual 'authorised' spend on figures) I am having to reign myself in and control knee jerk whims over new scales and periods. Mrs J referred to this as me behaving  like a crack addict  looking for the next fix. Very unfair and rather cruel but I understand where she is coming from.

Clearly the 'in thing' at the moment seems to be 'The Wild West' for want of a better term. A lot of blog and magazine articles appear to be devoted to this especially Dead Mans Hand.

As a small sized gamer there is real appeal in such skirmishes as the figure count is low. However having been bitten by the Saga bug two years ago, bought some figures and then never played it, I am very reluctant to get burnt again !

An article in WI about Gladiator gaming suggests there may now be a resurgence of this period. This is equally appealing as it is new/different/re-imagined/shiny and therefore appeals to the gaming magpie.

For this reason I am tempted to pre order sone of my figures leaving me less opportunity to  impulse buy. This makes sense and will force me to make sensible decisions rather than buying on a whim but it will also take some of the fun out of the event.

On the other hand I ought to look for some 28mm sheep that will remind me of the perils of a lack of self disipline? (on pre order from Foundry of course)

Minsk Regiment Command Stand

Attached is an image of the completed command stand for the 3rd Btn, Regiment of Minsk. I finally finished this last night, the standard is a North Star Lance and the flag is by GMB. The detailing on the flag is really good, all that was needed was a touch up around the edges. I haven't painted units with flags for ages having moved to more modern skirmish gaming so it was a pleasant surprise that it all came together so easily.


I have also made some real progress on the 2nd Batallion as I have finished the flesh, Greatcoats, trousers boots and crossbelts on all 32 of them. Given that these models have no backpack or equipment other than a cartridge case and bayonet frog I am hopeful they will be finished soon.

Completing two units in just over two months is a real boost and reduces the lead mountain before the annual spending trip at Salute.

Slippage

I knew when I set my self imposed target that completing three full battalions of Russians before the end of March was going to be difficult. I am well on way to my second having spent the best part of two hours last night painting greatcoats last night, however I know that knowing finishing these and another 32 figure unit will be very difficult.

As a result I am going to 'treat' myself to a Russian 12lb artillery piece and crew instead. This will give me a bit of a break from painting infantry and will also mean that I have something for my Hussars to charge at !

By the  time of Salute I will have 2 Russian Infantry  1 artillery piece completed, plus the two British Infantry Battalions and Hussar Regiment that Jim has already painted, ready for basing.  I have also been working out which other packs I need to get from Wargames Foundry to round out my current Crimean Pile (3 if my calculations are right)

This should give me

British
Infantry (24 figures/battalion)
1 x Grenadier Guards
2x Highland Infantry
2 x Line Infantry in Fatigue Cap
1x Line Infantry in Shako

Cavalry. (12 figures/Regiment)
1 x Hussar
1x Lancers

Artillery
2 x 9lb Foot Artillery
1 x 6lb Royal Horse Artillery


Russian
Infantry (32 figures/battalion)
4 x Infantry
1 x Jager (24 figures)

Artillery
2 x 12lb Foot Artillery

I will need to get some Russian Cavalry to even things out. At the moment I am thinking Dragoons rather than Cossacks, much will depend on what takes my fancy when I buy them.
This will keep me gainfully employed for the rest of the year and is almost balanced.

How long should a standard pole be?

My North Star 'lances' have arrived and I am in a bit of a quandry. Each lance is 100mm long, which is clearly far too long to act as a standard pole.

The question is how long/short should they be and should I have the flag bearer 'resting' the standard on the ground.  Unlike my 10mm Pendraken SYW figures these 28mm Foundry figures came without standard poles.

I think I am going to have to cut some of the lances to various lengths and then see what looks right.  I imagine I will have to do.the same when I paint my 17th Lancers as I will use the same lances for them.

The other issue is what colour do I paint the standard pole as I have  very little information on this. Unless I discover otherwise in the next few days I will go down the line of using Russian Napoleonic colouring for both standard poles and artillery pieces.

3rd Btn, Regiment of Minsk

I have finally taken photos of my first Russian Crimean Infantry Battalion.  It is all varnished and based, the only thing missing is the standard which will be a cut down North Star Lance with GWB Designs flag. I also intend to increase the figures to 32 (3 more bases) but I will need to get these from Foundry.

This was very much a test run to see if the colours and washes looked OK and I am happy with the result. The fact this is the 3rd Battalion is indicated by the light blue band around the top of the fatigue cap.

Already on the painting table are another 32 figures which will make up the 2nd Battalion. At the moment they are primed and are being 'face painted'.

Morris Cowley Vans and Regiment of Minsk

Having spent another weekend away in the West Country ferrying my eldest to a University Interview, the penalty clause for dragging along my youngest was to take her to an amusement arcade for an hour. Having plied her with 2p pieces she headed to the waterfall coin drop machines. Whilst the she effortlessly spent my hard earned cash on assorted ' Despicable Me' minions I noticed that there was one machine that contained Oxford Diecast vans.

An outlay of 20p netted me one and a further £1 gave me a second. I know they are both 'technically' 1/72 scale, but they still seem to match as small vans for 28mm figures. Excellent value at that price and they will fit in with both VBCW and also 'England Invaded' games. As they are both cigarette lorries there is additional scope for theft and smuggling games.

I have also gloss varnished my first Russian Crimean Infantry Unit. I am not going to base these individually so I will have to divert from my normal process and complete the gloss and  ' anti shine' coatings before basing them. I bought both 2mm and 3mm depth mdf bases from Warbases and I suspect I will settle on the 2mm. Either way I have washed them all with wasted down pva glue as this apparently stops any warping. Not having used mdf before I wonder how they will compare to plastic bases. They are certainly a lot cheaper.

The only thing that I'll be missing is the flag. For some reason North Star has been out of 100mm lances for a while. I was going to use these both for my standards but also for my Crimean 17th Lancers as lances. It does not make too much difference at the moment by it would be nice to see a fully finished unit as this will help motivate me.

Despite this I have managed to prime the second Russian battalion. As soon as the first is based I will crack on with that. Hopefully I will be able to upload pictures this weekend.