You know when you have a bucket list and the chance of ticking one off comes along, well here’s a chance for me to do just that.
My first book relating to wargaming was Brigadier Peter Young’s The Wargame. What an eye opener, the photos of the various battles were inspirational and set me on the path of this fantastic hobby that we are all addicted to. The Spencer Smith figures used in the SYW game were in particular eye catching and I vowed even then to own some someday. Well it’s only taken fifty years!
Having gotten round to it I decided instead to go for Prince August moulds and cast my own rather than Spencer Smith as I, like so many of us have lots of lead figures lying around which will never get painted and can be put to better use.
So for the first time here are a couple of photos of the figures, in this case painted up as the Kaiser Rgt 1757.
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| Kaiser Rgt 1757 |
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| Prince August 40mm castings |
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| The book that inspired it all. |
Plenty of old lead left, artillery and Prussians maybe.
Dave.
You've made a lovely 'old school' job on those units. They look the mutts.
ReplyDeleteI've also discovered the home casting method for recycling 'never to be painted' Lead. Although, drop casting figures isn't quite so exciting after the umteenth miscast.
Iain
Nice job! Yes...there's a lot of charm in that approach. I use the "toy soldier" approach with my 1/72 plastic Napoleonics which I've had for 50 or so years.
ReplyDeleteVery nice but 40mm is too much for me - my 30mm SSMs are already really cramped on my table so up-sizing is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteKnow what you mean EB, you open the mould and there's that ankle not connected to the foot on the base, Grrr! Completely get it Rob, my table is 7' x 5' but too small for a battle with these guys. But even two battalions per side will do for me. Note that they are in movement trays of eight figures, fine for Sharp Practice if a skirmish game is required.
ReplyDeleteI also use, custom steel, movement trays as I quickly found moving individual figures time consuming. I have 15 battalions, all 60-strong, plus 6 weaker (32-fig) militia/light battalions. Some of my figures are featured at th3 bottom of this blog post: https://thehintonspieler.blogspot.com/2016/10/if-cap-fits.html
DeleteThey are lovely, I always like the look of PA homecasts painted up, really nice job on them.
ReplyDeleteCheers Donnie, always has been on the to do list.
DeleteI was lucky enough to command units of these lovlies last year at a brilliant SYW game at the Wild Geese weekend. It was a great experience and I really wanted some of my own, they are lovely figures.
ReplyDeleteSaw the guys using Prince August imagination figures at the Boarder Riever show I think Robbie, egged me on to get these fellas done.
DeleteSaw it but didn't get a chance to play. Lovely looking collection.
DeleteFabulous!
ReplyDeleteThanks Norm
DeleteBloody Brilliant. The first timber frame will be on my next "bingo card",
ReplyDeleteWell chuffed with them mate, all set up for Tuesday Nap game.
DeleteDear Dave, I am from Ilkley, but currently in the process of relocating to Northumberland. We are the same age (!) with no doubt a similar wargames background. I used to game regularly with a chap who home cast several hundred Prinz Augen 7YW figures, but never indulged myself. Nevertheless I would be keen to know learn of any clubs or individuals local to area from Berwick to Newcastle you could recommend for historical wargames. I have a good collection of Peninsular war figures, as well as some WW2 Americans and a growing collection of 40mm AWI figures.
ReplyDeleteNot a problem, a number of clubs in the area, just google them but though I can't get as regular as I'd like the lads at Border Reiver on the north side of Newcastle are spot on and will welcome new members:
ReplyDeletehttps://sites.google.com/site/borderreiverwargamessociety/border-reiver-home
Dave.
I appreciate the balance of depth and simplicity in your writing.
ReplyDelete