Epic Revolution, Part 1: Marketing Works!

 Yep. The ole Marketing scheme worked with the free sprue of Epic Revolution from Warlord Games that was included in a issue of Wargames Illustrated. In the past I have used the sprues for new armies for One Hour Wargames. The Sprue I received was the Hessian sprue which includes Hessian Musketeers, Hessian Grenadiers, British Grenadiers, Hessian  Jägers, Indians, and 2 figures of British Cavalry. I've been sucked in. I'll explain in another post why and what I am planning to do.

For practice as it's been a while since I painted horse and musket and figures smaller than 28mm I decided to paint them on the sprue and then later on the bottlecaps (trying to figure out which is easier). The figure in the middle on the right was my practice figure for Musketeer Regiment von Donop. I'm going to have two strips on each base and three bases for a unit.

Musketeer Regiment von Bose.

They are coming along nicely. My philosophy is to paint to what they would look at gaming distance, so I will not be adding super detail.

I am pleased with how they are coming out. The figures I have officially determined that they are 12.5mm measuring from the bottom of their feet to the top of their heads - not their headgear! Also I forgot that it takes about the same amount of time to paint 12.5 - 18mm figures as 28mm figures.

Now to do some research. OH DANG IT! The grenadiers were detached and four seperate Grenadier Regiments were formed. They got me. I need some more musketeers.

The German Division in the Peninsular War, Part 3: The First Step for The Grand Duchy of Baden

Okay. I'm making some progress on the contingent from the Grand Duchy of Baden. I haven't quite decided which table of organization I'm going to use for the German Division as the it depends on the "point" in time. I'm probably going to go with a standard organization that will be the generic organization. Either way, there will be 4 units of Baden infantry. Above is the first unit that is complete. The basing, though relatively simple, is being delayed by (GASP!!!) another miniature project, water colors and of course my pride and joy grandchildren.

Uniform plate from Knotel.

Bonus look at troops from Nassau.

Two more units that need their bases finished.

 

Starship Troopers: The Annual Read

 "I always get the shakes before a jump . . ." thus starts one of the greatest military science fiction novels of all time, Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein. Even today, the book has stood the test of time, and was a big influence on my decision to be an Infantry officer.

When I attended the Command and General Staff College, I was pleasantly surprised to see the novel on the required reading list. Today, the novel is still on the reading list for the US Army, Navy and United States Marine Corps.

The overall theme of the book is that social responsibility requires individual ownership. Social responsibility is an act of self acceptance of that responsibility along with the concomitant commitment to the debts that are incurred. 

Juan Rico begins the novel with no thought of his personal responsibility or of any particular group's responsibility to self or others. This theme is obliquely addressed in the novel's opening: "We had all inspected our combat equipment (look, it's your own neck -- see?), the acting platoon sergeant had gone over us carefully after he mustered us, and now Jelly went over us again, his eyes missing nothing." "Now I was going to have a hole in my section and no way to fill it. That's not good; it means a man can run into something sticky, call for help and have nobody to help him." "I've heard tell that there used to be military outfits whose chaplains did not fight alongside the others, but I've never been able to see how that could work. I mean, how can a chaplain bless anything he's not willing to do himself? In any case, in the Mobile Infantry, everybody drops and everybody fights -- chaplain and cook and the Old Man's writer."

 The theme is repeated through flashbacks to High School and Officer Candidate School in a required class called History and Moral Philosophy. In this view, everything from the right to vote to the punishments for various crimes are depicted as part of a larger effort to recognize society's needs and improve society, as distinct from self-interest. The service Heinlein envisioned was an all-volunteer service, long before the US military had changed to an all-volunteer model. Other than the rights to vote and hold public office, there is no other restriction between service veterans and civilians.

 

In the course of both the "current" plot and flashbacks Rico learns to take responsibility for ever increasing groups: himself, his comrades, and eventually all of mankind (a shared responsibility), and accept that as the reason for remaining in the service. Further, Rico is seen to develop from a relatively powerless citizen, to a very dangerous fighter: "There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men. We're trying to teach you to be dangerous -- to the enemy. Dangerous even without a knife. Deadly as long as you still have one hand or one foot and are still alive."

I just finished my annual reading of the book . . . something I do annually!

Now for the Warning!!!

This is a poster for the movie directed by Paul Verhoeven who admitted that he never read the book (that bastard)! Not only does the movie miss most of the points of the book and, as a retired infantry officer (Regulars By God!), it's embarrassing to watch. 

Please don't get me started on how they portray Lieutenant Rasczak, the epitome of the servant leader in the novel that leads the Roughnecks.

One of the worst scenes in the book is when the platoon is defending an outpost and the bugs are coming. I can see the nuclear rockets strapped to the backs of the (so called) Mobile Infantry! So what do they do? Break out the SMALL ARMS (sigh). How about the scene when the platoon surround a bug in a circle, and then they all fire at the bug! In a circle? They would have hit each other. (Note: That's a safety violation) And please

Do not watch the movie!



The book sums it up nicely: "For the everlasting glory of the Infantry . . ."

Happy Halloween!

The German Division in the Peninsular War, Part 2: Général de division Jean-François Leval

My interpretation of Général de division Jean-François Leval using figures from WoFun miniatures. For my division commanders I use 2 figures for identification on a round base.

Jean François Leval (18 April 1762 – 7 August 1834) was promoted to general officer during the French Revolutionary Wars and led a division in a number of battles during the Napoleonic Wars. He rapidly rose in rank during the French Revolution. Appointed to command a demi-brigade beginning early in 1793, by the end of the year he was a general of brigade. He led a brigade at Fleurus in 1794 and in the campaign of 1795. In 1799 he became a general of division. He commanded a division in Napoleon Bonaparte's Grand Army at the battles of Jena and Eylau. 

Later he transferred to Spain where he commanded the German division and fought in numerous actions including Talavera, Ocaña, Barossa, Vitoria, and the Nive. The only action in which he commanded an army was the Siege of Tarifa, which was a failure. In 1814, he led his division in eastern France. His surname is one of the names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe, on Column 7.

Speaking of leaders, here are the brigade commanders for the division which are one figure on a round base.

The figures are from the French Mounted officers pack in 18mm. 

Here is how I made the bases look "pretty" (a good base can cover up a multitude of sins):

I first insert the mounted figure into the 30mm x 30mm circular base.

I use regular masking tape to cover the open parts of the slot.

Put some "glops" of white glue around the base.

Water down the white glue with an old paint brush.

Stick the base in the handy, dandy, magical box of hobby sand. Shake off the excess.

Once the sand dries, I put another coating of water downed white glue over the sand as an extra sealant to protect the base.

I then do smaller "glops" of white glue, water down the glue and spread it a little, and then dip the base in the handy, dandy, magic box of static grass. Shake off the excess into the box or whatever container you use. Ta Dah! All done.

The rear of the base. After looking back at the picture, I used an old, dry brush to wipe the excess static grass that was on the horse.

Okay. Now it's time to do some infantry.

The German Division in the Peninsular War, Part 1: Returning to an Old Favorite

Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Number 3 (Frankfurt), converted Dutch Infantry from WoFun Miniatures. This unit was part of General Leval's Geman Division

First of all, if you’re going to game on the Iberian Peninsula, you have to know how to spell “Peninsular” to avoid embarrassment!  

My first foray into miniature gaming as a teenager with my brothers were the lovely 1/72 plastic Airfix Napoleonic’s. As an Anglophile I was first drawn to the Waterloo Campaign, which, as I got older I found too limiting in the variety of forces. So it was little wonder that I was drawn to the Peninsular War with the variety of British, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Polish, Dutch, and German states forces that can be fielded. 

The first rules we played were Bruce Quarrie's wonderful rules Napoleon’s Campaigns in Miniatures. 

I graduated from Airfix to 15mm metal figures that were Minifigs, Essex and then Old Glory. I discovered the rules Volley and Bayonet and the Second Edition Volley and Bayonet: Road to Glory which eventually became my big battle rules were we could actually play a big battle in one day. With an adult paycheck I moved up to 28mm figures from Wargames Foundry (by the Perry’s), Front Rank and Perry Plastics.

For Volley and Bayonet I used 8 figures painted as the 71st Highland Light Infantry on a 3" x 3" base represent a brigade of the British Light Division.  Figures from Front Rank Miniatures.

The South Essex.  British Line from Wargames Foundry and the 2 Riflemen from Front Rank.  If you don't know who the South Essex are, shame on you!

Volley and Bayonet felt right to me for big battles - and even though I was using 28mm figures, the cost was right. A brigade was on a 3" x 3" base which I would put 8 figures for infantry and usually 3 for cavalry. I would by more command figures (one of the great things about Front Rank is the ability to buy individual figures) and I mounted them on thicker bases to put labels on the back for easy identification. 

Brunswick Oel Jagers.  Miniatures are from Perry Miniatures and the mounted British officer, a Division Commander, is from Front Rank Miniatures.

Labels for easy identification and a great boon for new players.

French Army Commander

Wellington.

Huzzah!

Okay. I'm showing off.

Then I got an offer I couldn't refuse and I sold my Peninsular armies.

Years later, I really missed playing Napoleonic games. How to get back into the game without spending a gazillion dollars and taking years (and I mean years) to paint. And then I discovered Wofun Miniatures - the affordable flats illustrated by Peter Denis and made of plexigas. They are very affordable, look great in mass and I decided to go with the 18mm scale.

What they looked like out of the box.

What they look like on the tabletop. I added some sand and static grass to the bases.

Now that I have a about a division's worth of French infantry, a division of cavalry, artillery and command, it's time to do their allies in the Peninsular War. What better a subject than the German Division.