Everything That's Happened

I've more models to show including the Prussian Army of Frederick the Great as well as a few more Frostgrave minis. These will be on here soon along with the below village tiles when completed.

In the meanwhile I haven't played many wargames but myself and JT have a got a new boardgame couple in HanDan. Been playing a few goodies which we haven't been able to just between us such as Battlestar Galactica - bit of a brain spin for JT. Game of Thrones as gone down well and the mechanics are good - only issue is that by trying to stay true to the books/series - its made an uneven game.

Finally last night we had a quick run through of Lobositz - removing a few models and shrinking the battlefield. AE played Austrians and DB assisted me running the Prussians. It was like hitting my head against a brick wall - sunken roads are really powerful and Alex just kept subbing units in whenever I caused a minor breakthrough. The historical set up shouldn't be so bad as I'd shrunk the battlefield significantly which allowed the Austrians to gather tight and be a very difficult force to break.

One query I have for anyone who's done V&B for Seven Years War - is most cavalry supposed to be Linear or massed - they seemed really weak last night - other than the Austrian Horse Grenadiers who destroyed everything in front of them.

To come, more pictures, hopefully a game of Rommel next week and some more board game adventures!

Austrian Army at Lobositz

So a year plus in the making; my Austrian Army is finished! (I've run out of static grass at the moment or the Prussians would be finished too). Before I begin - making both armies from scratch for a battle by yourself is a big ask (especially alongside Family, Work and American Football).

Austrian Army ready to go

I decided to keep it simple on the bases - I had had thought of trees, fences etc but I figured that they'd look better by selves (Exception may be the Grenzers). All in all I'm really pleased with how its worked out.

The force is divided into 3 blocks of infantry, a cavalry division (which can be split in 2 between division and corps commanders) as well as an unusual formation in the advanced guard. On the defensive (which I assume it will be at Lobositz) its going to be a hard nut to crack.

FM v Browne and Grenzers

I decided to identify my command levels by bases size as well as number of figures. So the the CiC has a large base and 4 figures. I'll also have the data strips attached to the back edge of the units.

Advanced Guard

This really is an unusual formation and it feels like a weird use of some of the forces available - that is half the artillery and half the grenadiers! Backed up by a mix of cavalry, it will be interesting to see how this operates in Volley and Bayonet.

Lacy's Infantry

This is the first of the blocks of Infantry - a manageable size with artillery to back it up. The divisional commanders are just the 2 figures.

Kollowrat's Infantry Corps

This feels like a big block of a force with 10 stands of Infantry. It is a good job that the infantry all have dedicated guns because otherwise they would be awfully exposed. The Corps commander at he front (you may have guessed) has 3 figures.

Luchesse's Cavalry Corps

Its described as a corps but its made up of 1 division. I'm not sure if this will be kept as a mass or split in 2 between corps and division commander.

Sorry about picture quality - was just excited to get these up. May well retake these outside when get a chance.

For those interested in how I based these;

1. Glue to bases in formation
2. Polyfilla (cheap equivalent) around stands to smooth into bases, add weight as well as texture.
3. Paint base brown
4. Stickle paint green onto base - good opportunity to cover any spots you've missed/paint has been absorbed by plaster. Be warned you will ruin a brush doing this.
5. Dry brush a cream/bone colour over bases.
6. Static grass.

Nice and simple and I think gives a good result. Soon to come; the Prussians as well as a game report on Rommel at end of month.

Not so good.

The less said about this weekends game the better. We just didn't turn up with our heads on right and Gateshead really did and gave us a pasting. Need to pick ourselves up and go again in a fortnights time.

In painting news (which is what most of you are bothered about) I have really cracked on with my Austrians and I now just have one more Infantry Regiment and they are done. The two grenadier regiments have been painted up in the colours of 3 different regiments present.

I'm also halfway through doing the three regiments of Prussian Dragoons which for some reason I've ignored up until this point.

Will try and get some better pictures up soon.

Sniper!

Been a while since posted; away at the weekend and still trying to recover stuff from flooded shed. Ordered a new carry case for my Fallschirmjager from Feldherr which should be with me Monday (should give me motivation to at least get 750 points worth painted).

Speaking of Fallschirmjager I've got a couple of squads half done and I finished off my Sniper team. Pictures are crap - couldn't get camera on phone to focus properly sorry.

Jeez, they look even worse on here - in reality the bases have come out really well with variations of colour - have to get my actual camera out at some point.

3 More Regiments

Last night I also did a bit more work on my Austrians once the kids had gone to sleep; my plan is to split each session I get now in half - some on my Lobositz forces and the other on either my Fallschirmjagers, Frostgrave or Vietnam stuff just to keep me going.

I've also ordered a couple more bags of bits from Baccus before their price rise towards end of April, get your orders in fast!

Tale of Three Armies

So I've currently got 3 Forces that I'm working on at the moment although I'm also going to go through my 10mm stuff and see what I've got there too, due to the shed flood issues.

Got a few bits done last night but I'll show some more pictures of these once I've got a decent amount finished. Closest to finished is my Prussian Army - just short commanders and some Kuirassiers and Dragoons.

Prussian Army

I have also started on my Austrians to oppose these, and I've already got all of the Artillery done - ALL OF IT (2 stands).

2 Regiments of Austrian Infantry and the 2 Units of Artillery I need.

Finally I have my Bolt Action force. Everything to the left of the armour is done so I reckon I'm about a quarter of the way through.

Although its not a priority, I had a bit of a go at my StuG last night (getting nowhere near a 750 point list), heavily washed in brown and I'm going to give a light green too I think. Decals go on and then its going to be sand glued to tracks and road wheels before a lot of drybrushing.

I then need to get myself a decent carry case.

Next up - the return of Sch'yyrk.

From the Tallest to the Smallest

Last night I got on with a few bits, and I'm quite pleased with the results albeit I need to start production lining and getting stuff done for both armies.

Scale Variations

So as previously shown, I was working on my Fallschirmjager 8cm Mortar and I got this done. Meant to represent Southern Italy hence the dusty ground.

The stages of the basing went: 

1. Polyfilla to give weight and texture
2. Grassy patches attached (sticky bases)
3. Sand mix glued on
4. Models and base washed
5. Dry brushed base and boots

Whilst the stages of this were drying I got in with more Lobositz bits. I already have 2 Grenadier units for the Prussians but the first one I did weren't there. As I have 4 units worth of models I figured I may as well dot he right ones and so here they are.

5/20 Grenadiers

I also completed one of the 2 bases of Austrian Artillery required.

Playing DnD on Saturday so doubt I'll get much painted although I may try and get a few bits done tonight if I've got everything sorted.

Storage Needed

Another update; damaged my shoulder at weekend (no idea how but stabbing pains aren't good for Football or painting), so a week missing training ahead (not happy).

Need some bigger storage

Having said all that, the missus was down at Watford all weekend to visit Harry Potter World so after fun filled days with the kids I managed to get a bit more painting done. Finished off the last of the Prussian Infantry I need and got an Austrian unit done. Still got Prussian Dragoons and I need to order some more Kuirassiers.

Austrian 1st Infantry Regiment

Couple of things realised; Austrians will have Imperial Yellow colours for odd numbered regiments and white for even (for variety; there is more odd numbered at Lobositz so still majority Yellow).

Also how little infantry (or how much cavalry?) did the Prussians have had Lobositz; including the Grenadiers that is 13 stands of infantry as opposed to about the same Cavalry!

I also am running out of bases - fortunately I ordered a load more last week and hopefully will have enough then.

The remaining bases

Trying to arrange a D&D night but no go as yet. Got a group we're doing Lost Mines of Phandelver with - otherwise I want to start a campaign doing either Hoard of Dragon Queen or Storm King's Thunder if anyone is interested on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or at a push Sunday night in Lancaster (comment below).

Post Weekend

Another Regiment done (27th I think this time) and I've got a couple more most of the way there.

Prussians WIP

Saturday me and the missus played a couple of games of Ticket to Ride, both of which were really close. Looking forward to giving this the 4 player treatment it deserves.

Then Sunday it was back to Morecambe Bay Storm after not being able to go for various reasons. Still a bit short of babysitter help (missus is off to Harry Potter World next weekend the lucky duck) so can't make next Sunday but I'm there again tonight and hope to arrange to get the odd Wednesday in if I can persuade my mum to have the kids. I promise I'm not palming them off by the way :P

Artillery!!!

So got a couple of bits painted up for the Prussians. I'm getting there and hope to get another couple of Infantry Regiments or Dragoon Regiments painted this weekend as well as the other 2 Artillery units.

In future I will use the single gun stand to represent a Battery whilst the double gun is a battalion. However, at Lobositz there are 4 artillery battalions and I only have 6 gun models so the 2 battalions will be the 2 heavy artillery battalions whilst the single ones will represent the field battalions.

Painted: 17/32 (Over half way!)

Lobositz Update

Not much exciting to show but I am moving forward with the Lobositz project as well as slowly moving with Fallschirmjager force.

The fallschirmjager now have a Kettenkrad, 28mm AT gun and an MG42 on a tripod constructed and undercoated. So for now the force is all together - just need to finish painting it all up.

For Lobositz I have a map, Volley and Bayonet orbats which I have in full detailed format, simplified format and have now made labels to put on bases. I need to colourise these and print on a colour printer but I'm happy with the formatting on them.

Prussian Infantry

Painting wise I have now done the following:

• 6 Infantry Regiments
• 2 Combined Grenadier Regiments (1 half needs brass fronts painting on helmets)
• 6 Kuirassier Regiments
• 1 Hussar Regiment

Still to paint for Prussians:

• 6 Infantry Regiments
• 2 Combined Grenadier Regiments
• 3 Dragoon Regiments
• 2 Hussar Regiments
• 6 Artillery Batteries (Undecided on basing)
• Command Stands

Still need but not got for Prussians:

• 3 Kuirassier Regiments

On top of that I've got my Austrians (and Hungarians) to paint.

I may well need more standard bases - I will need some skirmish bases for Austrian Grenzers as well as whatever I'm going to base commanders on.

Other things to do:

• 10 village bases (9 wood, 1 stone) - probably just bigger than 3"x3"
• 1 chapel sector (big enough to fit skirmish base)
• Roads (including sunken road section)
• 6 Single and 4 Double Vineyard Sections (probably just bigger than 3"x3")
• Major River (Elbe)
• Stream (and ponds)
• Colourised and Laminated Order of Battles
• Colourised and Laminated Maps (For deployment)
• Colourised and Laminated Quick Play Rules

Austrians For Lobositz

Revisiting my Lobositz plans, I'm going to get more of my Prussians painted up; and to try and give myself a kick I have started looking at what I will need to oppose them at Lobositz (and therefore paints I will need).

First of all the Infantry, these had White Jackets and Black Biconres throughout as well as black shoes. They were issued with white and black gaiters (for dress and in the field) but I will paint mine in black for contrast. Unlike the Prussians, there appears to have been uniformity in colours with the Austrian regiments having a yellow Colour whilst the Hungarians were green.

Regiment	Collar	Cuff	Turnback	Lapel	Epaulettes	Shirt	Trousers	Crossbelts
IR 10	Black	Red	White	Red	Red	Red	White	Leather
IR 37 (Hung)	Black	Red	Red	nil	Red	Red	Red	White
IR 8	Red	Red	White	Red	White	White	White	White
IR 36	Red	Blue	White	Blue	Blue	White	White	White
IR 40	Red	Blue	White	Blue	White	White	White	White
IR 1	Black	Red	Red	Red	White	Red	White	White
IR 50	Black	Red	White	Red	Red	White	White	White
IR 29	Red	Dk Blue	White	Dk Blue	White	White	White	White
IR 27	Red	Blue	Blue	Blue	Blue	White	White	White
IR 11	Red	Red	White	Red	White	White	White	White
IR 47	Red	Dk Blue	White	Dk Blue	Dk Blue	White	White	White
IR 17	Red	Red	White	Red	Red	White	White	White
IR 33 (Hung)	Black	Dk Blue	Dk Blue	nil	Dk Blue	Dk Blue	Dk Blue	White
IR 49	Red	Red	White	Red	White	White	White	White
IR 35	Red	Red	White	Red	Red	White	White	White

There were also 2 groups of combined Grenadiers under Hadik and Lacy. I'm unclear at this moment as to how to paint these as unlike the Prussians who had standard groupings, there doesn't appear to be the same in the Austrian Army.

The Light Infantry (or Grenzers - Border Infantry), had a larger range of uniform colours and deployed as skirmishers.

Regiment	Jacket (Braid)	Collar/Neck	Cuff	Shirt	Trousers	Crossbelt
Banal Grenz 1	Blue (Yellow)	Black	Red	Red	Red	White
Banal Grenz 2	Blue (Pink)	Black	Red	Red	Red	White
Lykaner Grenz	Red (Yellow)	Black	Green	Green	Red	White
Ottochaner Grenz	Red (Yellow)	Black	Light Blue	Light Blue	Red	White

From Baccus they are sold as separated strips and I intend to base these on skirmish bases rather than the standard unit bases.

Finally, we have the cavalry which is fairly standard. Over the uniform description given, the Cuirassiers wore a blackened breastplate.

Regt	Hat	Waistcoat	Jacket	Cuff	Lapel	Epaullettes	Neck	Trousers	Saddle (Lining)	Blanket Roll
CR4	Black	White	White	Red	nil	White	Black	Red	Red (White)	Red
CR8	Black	White	White	Red	nil	White	Black	Red	Red (White)	Red
CR10	Black	Red	White	Red	nil	Red	Black	Straw	Red (White)	Red
CR12	Black	Red	White	Red	nil	White	Black	Red	Red (White)	Red
CR14	Black	White	White	Red	nil	Red	Black	Red	Red (Black)	Red
CR21	Black	White	White	Red	nil	Red	Black	Red	Red (White)	Red
CR29	Black	Straw	White	Red	nil	White	Black	Straw	Red (White)	Red
CR33	Black	White	White	Red	nil	White	Black	Red	Red (White)	Red
DR1	Black	Green	Green	Red	Red	Red	Black	Buff	Green (Red)	Green
DR6	Black	Red	Dk Blue	Red	Red	Dk Blue	Black	Red	Dk Blue (White)	Dk Blue
HR30	Brown	Green	Green	Green	Red	nil	Black	Lt Blue	Green (Yellow)	Green
Hriii	Brown	Grey Blue	Grey Blue	Red	Yellow	nil	Black	Red	Red (Yellow)	Red

So there it is. All of that (plus artillery and generals) and we have a game. This also means that I have no intention anytime soon to get an OPFOR for my Bolt Action Fallschirmjagers.