Objectives for 2016

So a bit late I know, but thought it would be a useful endeavour to cover what I actually plan to do wargaming wise and timetable projects for this year. Since the New Year a couple more projects have come to the fore, so this is expanding on existing projects.

1. Lion Rampant Army for Earl of Mar-Using Perry Miniatures Plastic HYW miniatures, this will be a lowland Scots late medieval force for the Claymore Rampant wargames day event being held by Claymore Castings. Predicted end of project 22nd March

2. ECW-With the spate of English Civil War rules being released including The Kingdom is Ours, Bicorne Miniatures, Baroque Impetus, The Pikeman's Lament, En Garde and the Pike and Shotte Supplement, a working army for the period is essential. Other projects keep on getting in the way, so a finishing preliminary date pushed back from originally is May 1st. 

3.May Zulu-Forming forces for the The Men Who Would be Kings rules for the Zulu Civil Wars, this has been on the painting books for some time, hopefully being expanded into the Zulu wars/Boer Wars at a later date. 7th October

4. 17^th century-Scots government Army for the Pentland/Covenanter Risings/Killing Times. Expected time for finishing, new year.

5. After this occasional work throughout the year will also be put into building a series of earthworks and other terrain features such as 4' walls, a gate and breech, minefields, Rommel's asparagus, vinyards, pontoon bridge, tank traps, marsh, Bulwarks 3’, Damaged sconce, Minehead, Industrial Complex, Winter trees, Winter bushes, ravelin and batteries.

In between, there is a thought towards building a small Border Reiver force. But I think this timetabling is a good way of keeping track of where projects are going.

Mini Mania Pt.3- 17th Century Pike and Shotte

 Rather than lamenting inability to take part in the Holy Holly Day celebrations commemorating the Battle of Nantwich 1644 today, I feel it is time for another showcase. So as many of you might know, the 17th century and in particular The English Civil Wars are my favourite period of history and certainly the period I wargame the most. I research, am just finishing writing a book on the period, I reenact it, it is the period to which I feel I am an authority on. Therefore do not be surprised if in coming posts there is a predisposition for lots of 17th century material.

A quick note on photo's, still having issues with lighting and exposure-winter in Scotland does not make for the best framing of shots. Certainly for my part, I feel some of the issue is with the image resolution rating,  will from now on be raised to 18megapixels to make the best use of zoom focus and detail. Obviously at the moment this is a try and test method;we all want good looking miniatures, so photography is very much an uphill battle. If any followers want to further show me some free photo editing software available online, would be more than appreciated.

Petard and Petardiers Assistant, 28mm Foundry

2 Scots Frame Guns from Warlord Games.

The start of what I hope to be the next 17th century project after ECW is concluded (for the moment) and Zulu War. Wargaming the Covenanter/Pentland Risings 1666-71. What is so good about the period is that uniforms and units making up the Scots Government army are virtually the same as those at Sedgemoor in 1685, thus killing two birds with one stone, while also adding a couple of Scots Militia/Highlanders to the mix (as seen in the lower of the above). I'm not sure about doing Covenanter/Monmouth rebels for the period, as so few manufacturers make them, with little or no variation in pose. What I might do is go down the root that Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy did for their Glorious Revolution issue (and the Sealed Knot for every Sedgemoor reenactment) and use ECW armies and just buy available rebel figures to mix in. What are your thoughts?  Top Royal Regiment of Dragoons. 28mm North Star 1672

Leslie's Lifeguard, Cuirassiers (possibly previously in Swedish service as Argyle was also listed in one source as having a Cuirassier Lifeguard). 28mm Warlord Games

28mm Bicorne Miniatures Frame Gun. Quite possibly my favourite ECW manufacturer, I think I shall be coming to them for a large amount of my next purchases. Tons of character, paint up beautifully (although not sure the photos do them justice. Brilliant.

28mm Warlord Games Covenanters (with some Renegade and Foundry thrown in). Slowly but surely my Scots armies coming together. You might quite a few of them are dressed in red coats, which is quite unusual for Scots armies. Obviously when looking through the battlefield histories such as Auldearn and Kilsyth we come upon units such as Home’s Regiment of Redcoats, a supposed penal regiment that had yet to shed their British army for Scotland Coats, or indeed Sir Arthur Erskine of Scotscraigs Regiment, that did not have the required money, nor clothing issue of the period, so instead relied upon dressing their troops in black police vestments, or alternatively Argyle’s own regiment, based upon a black coat with red breeches, based upon his family livery, a factor carried on into many Campbell regiments. By corroborating and going through Covenant troops that served in Ireland from 1640-6 shows that in actual fact at least five known regiments wearing such coats. But if we also equally look at regimental returns , we can also ascertain pay was largely withheld during the Irish campaign, a factor Project Auldearn blog (a first class resource for anyone wishing to wargame Montrose’s rebellion) highlights by retaining 1/3 of all troops in redcoated regiments in grey/ragged coats. Therefore the objective of such an article would be to highlight the ability and need for differentiation, change and difference within Monro’s and ultimately the Scots Government Army during the 1640’s. The incorporation of Irish loyalist troops into their mix and some regiments, particularly Argyle’s retaining partial Highland folk dress argues the point that in terms of makeup, the Covenanter army was very similar to that fielded by Montrose.

Painted up using the Army Painter method (although I use watered down Cuprinol, its cheaper, generally does the same job, except for a gelling agent) I think in the flesh they really do the job and will look really impressive when they finally get on the gaming table soon.

All for now, next time possibly a book review.