Baden Generals 1809-12

 Baden Infantry Generals

Still working on my Baden Napoleonic army in between French cavalry and Prussian Infantry. This is Infantry Brigade commander and my Light Dragoon Cavalry Commander, all figures from Murawski Miniatures lovely Baden Napoleonic range.

I plan to do a small article later this week on the Army of Baden so stay tuned, just for my own sanity mostly for references when painting the infantry! The last cavalry squadron is not far off and should be done by the end of the week, I do need to convert a figure as the standard bearer though. 

The figures have had a few simple green stuff conversions, the ADC received a aiguillette and ribbon and medal from green stuff, General Major Von Harrant had feathers sculpted onto his bicorne and a epaulette fringe on the right shoulder.

Baden General Major Valentine Von Harrant

General Major Valentin von Harrant

Baden Light Dragoon Regiment Oberst Karl von Freystedt

cheers

Matt

Anjou Maine Skirmishers VI

 Dark Age Skirmishers

Another quick unit off the table, I basically done these in between painting the Napoleonic’s figures as a break from belts etc. 

I do enjoy painting dark age - early medieval figures and this  unit can join my Anjou-Maine army for the 9th-11th century battles, which will become a focus in September as we are hosting a French professor of Carolingian to Viking history for three days, visiting sites and wargaming the local battles, so I have much to do, particularly Vikings and Carolingian cavalry. 

A mix of Footsore, Blacktree miniatures and mix of shields, LBM transfers and hand painted.

Dark Age Skirmishers

Cheers 
Matt

Dark Age markers

 Last week was hectic with Vanessa’s birthday, renovation of a timber floor and guests from Holland and France,  plus another birthday party so not a lot of time to complete much at all. I did get some time on the bench for terrain and a complete the basing of a few units. Today as a rest day I completed a few plastic kits that remained from my 30 day kit challenge.

This week I should complete another two units for my Breton independence wars and some more work on my ongoing Napoleonic projects, Baden, French and Prussians. Later in the week some more ww2 and medieval are also lined up in the queue as the weather has improved perfect for the airbrush! 

These markers were simple and have been sitting in my to do’s pile for some time, the shields have been completed for a long time, all transfers except for the Norman kite shield. I just needed to sand the bases paint and glue them on. More dark ages coming as I have started assembling my Victrix Vikings …..perhaps next month. 

Dark Age Disorder Markers

Cheers
Matt

Modern Civilian cars and Technicals

Technicals and Civilian vehicles

On facebook last month someone posted a T55 turret mounted on a dump truck, so off to our local charity shop this weekend see if I could pick up a suitable piece, while I was there I also picked up some other pieces, some for my Bundesgrenzschutz build and some other pieces, I like lots of cars for terrain fillers for modern warfare, it makes the terrain look lived in.

While I failed in my task to find a suitable dump truck I did manage to pick up a number of civilian 80s cars, a big bonus plus some suitable ww2 cars! As with most matchbox, majorette vehicles of the 80s lots of sports cars and not many everyday cars suitable for the wargames table. All of these will be receiving a new paint job at some stage and join my box of terrain filler bits!

Porsche 924 My dream car in 1985 before I knew about V8s....

BMW 733, my uncle had one of these in about 87

Mercedes 350SL two door.....so sexy

Citroen SM I was excited to find this!

James Bond my feature in his swimming lotus esprit!

A caravan, the second one, I think it will join a lakeside camp perhaps

Mercedes Benz 2400, It will join my Bundesgrenzschutz

Next week another visit and see If I can get lucky

cheers

Matt

Napoleonic Austrian Army Part 1

Austrian Napoleonic Army part 1

In the late eighties I originally had an 15mm old Glory Austrian army which I sold to replace with Old Glory and Foundry 25mm which never really grew much past a brigade as I had moved back to Sydney by 1995.

In that year I met a bunch of crazy guys in the Australian Napoleonic Society, who were playing 1-20 figure ratio rule set In the Grand Manner. Dean Carpenter really kicked off a arms race that lasted for 5 years at least until I moved south to Goulburn in 2000. At this time I also found two lifelong mates Greg (Unlucky General) who played the dastardly British,  and Raoul, a Italian/Austrian who loved his Austrians so much he eventually built the entire Austrian Army for 1809 at 1-20 in 15mm and 28mm!  

Raoul Palese, my great Austrian adversary,
 MOAB 1997 Light cavalry battle eleven 24 figure regiments per side.

Raoul's Army was all MINIFIG 25mm and a few Hinchcliffe Uhlans (40 from memory) and he continued to build with MINIFIG until he completed his project. Raoul and I played a lot, possibly every week sometimes two or three day games in Campaign season (My holidays). We had some fabulous games on his 30ft table in his shed. On his 80th Birthday I gifted him my Foundry Austrian infantry, two batteries of artillery and a Cuirassier regiment. The 1st Austrian Cuirassiers 6 squadrons strong (48 figs), Hoch and Deutschmeister 48 figs and a battery of artillery for display. This Year Raoul turns 90, I am planning on sending him a reproduction Austrian Flag of his favourite unit the Trieste Landwehr (the pirates), may he continue to roll well!

When I gifted Raoul most of my units I sold the remainder and with the cash replaced a lot with Front Rank figures, ALL of this remains unpainted....….. However this year I intend to start painting it along with a few regiments from Revolutionary Armies range (early pre 1805) Victrix plastics and Perry plastics, plus the new Perry plastic cavalry, predominantly will be for 1805 campaign, but will stretch to 1809 ok. These units will be painted in the grand unit sizes still and be used for General de Brigade rules (or Grand Manner-Black Powder).

After I complete my Baden cavalry and two Prussian Infantry Reserve regiments I will crack on with my Austrians!


cheers

Matt

Baden Dragoons, 1st regiment 3rd Squadron

 3rd Squadron Baden Dragoons

The third squadron, while researching I have found the sword knots designated the squadrons, so I need to go back and add that to my figures, plus Murawski do not have a standard bearer, so a conversion is required I think, simple sword raised chap will do it. Happy again with the grey horse!

Baden Dragoons Murawski Miniatures

Happy with the grey!

Baden Dragoons, chasing off pesky Austrians!

cheers

matt

Baden 2nd Squadron 1st Regiment of Dragoons

 Baden Dragoons, 2nd Sqn, 1st Regiment

The next squadron hot on the heels of the first, the Murawski miniatures are a pleasure to paint with good detail as a whole. for the second squadron I removed the epaulette fringes on the officer to make him a captain, rather than a major. Particularly happy with my grey horses, which I do hate painting.

Murawski 28mm Baden Dragoons

Baden Dragoons

cheers

Matt

Baden light dragoon Regiment 1st sqaudron

 Baden Light dragoon Regiment 

The first squadron of my Baden Dragoons are completed, I have a full Regiment of 4 squadrons to complete for the regiment. I am using the Murawski 28mm range which are very nice. I will also publish a research article on the Baden army as I like to clear up everything before I paint a range.

Baden Dragoons, 1st sqn, 1st Regiment

Cheers

Matt

Colonel Ignace François Bousson, Colonel 2e Regiment Chasseurs

Colonel Ignace François Bousson, Colonel 2e Regiment Chasseurs 

Another Colonel completed for my revamp of my French cavalry, hopefully he can chase off with his regiment some pesky Austrian or British riflemen!

Colonel Ignace François Bousson, Colonel 2e Regiment Chasseurs 

French Colonel Pierre Bonnemains, 5th Chasseurs a cheval

French Colonel Pierre Bonnemains, 5th Chasseurs a cheval

I am revamping and rebasing my light cavalry division to bring it in line with my newly painted regiments of cavalry, while I am updating and even touching up some of the regiments I am adding extra colonels, ADCs, brigade commanders and division commanders. It is good to get back to painting Napoleonics as they are my first love when it comes to wargaming and I have a predominantly French 1805-09 army.

First up is Colonel Pierre Bonnemains, colonel of the 5th Chasseurs

cheers

Matt

2nd Regiment of Dragoons 1800-1812

 2e Régiment Dragons 

One of the oldest French Cavalry regiments in service formed in 1556. In January 1792 the ancien regime former Conde regiment was renumbered the 2e Régiment Dragons. The regiment fought a large number of engagements from the Revolution to empire. I have used Elite 28mm miniatures which make up a majority of my French Napoleonic cavalry 1800-1812 army, although Elite are getting long in the tooth, They do look good in big units. 

Yet to be presented their Eagle by the Emperor! 

Battles and engagements 

French Napoleonic ADC

 French Generals and ADCs 

I have been over the last three weeks painting two French Dragoon regiments, one Baden Dragoon regiment, some Baden Garde du Corps, plus a bunch of Generals. 

First completed off the desk is some Brigade Generals, all are from the Elite Miniatures range, which I find quite charming. 

Cuirassier Brigade General and Trumpeter

Satff Brigade General and ADC 

Infantry Brigade General and ADC 

 

Brigade General and ADC 

 

Cheers

Matt

British Heavy Artillery Units Normandy 1944

 

 British Heavy Artillery units Normandy 1944

This month I have been completing some British artillery crews and decided to do some heavy pieces, so a little research had to be commenced, so I thought I would share my documents.

59th RA 7.2 inch howitzer in action 2nd September 1944.

The British artillery units who landed after DDay made up 18% of the total 21st army British and Canadian troops on the ground, more than the actual fighting infantry percentage. the heavy regiments were general reserve assigned to army corps.

The heavy artillery regiments in Normandy were:-

1st Royal Artillery Heavy Regiment 

Batteries 

3rd Battery 4 x 7.2 inch Howitzer Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s
5th Battery 4 x 155mm Howitzers Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s
16 Battery  4 x 155mm Howitzers Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s
28 Battery  4 x 7.2 inch Howitzers Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

Location

Assigned to the 2nd Canadian group in July in support of operations including Tractable and Totalize 
tactical plate 1 white, on corps artillery tactical plate

51st Royal Artillery Regiment, Lowland (city of Edinburgh)

1st Battery   4 x 7.2 inch Howitzers Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

2nd Battery 4 x 7.2 inch Howitzers Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

4th Battery  4 x 7.2 inch Howitzers Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

6th Battery  4 x 6 inch Howitzer rubber tyres Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

Location

4th Army Group Royal Artillery in June 1944, supported 1st corps assault on Caen in operation Charnwood, then assigned to support the 1st corps in operation Estonia and the assault on Le Havre. Most commonly used in the counter battery role.

tactical plate 187 white, on corps artillery tactical plate

52nd Royal Artillery Regiment Bedfordshire Yeomanry 

417th Battery (Bedford) 4 x 7.2 howitzer. mk4 Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

418th Battery (Bedford) 4 x 7.2 howitzer. mk4 Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

419th Battery (Bedford) 4 x 155mm M1 long tom Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

420th Battery (Bedford) 4 x 155mm M1 long tom Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

Location

5th Army Group Royal Artillery

tactical plate 187, on corps artillery tactical plate

53rd Royal artillery Regiment 

8th Battery   4 x 7.2 howitzer. mk4 Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

9th Battery   4 x 7.2 inch howitzer. mk4 Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

24th Battery 4 x 155mm M1 long tom Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

25th Battery 4 x 155mm M1 long tom Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

Location

8th Army Group Royal Artillery

tactical plate 194 white on corps artillery tactical plate

59th regiment Newfoundland 

20th Battery 4 x 7.2 inch howitzer. mk4 Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

21st Battery 4 x 7.2 inch howitzer. mk4 Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

22nd Battery 4 x155mm M1 long tom Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

23rd Battery 4 x 155mm M1 long tom Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s

Location 

3rd Army Group Royal Artillery

Tactical plate 179 white, on corps artillery tactical plate 

Available models in 20mm- 1/72- 1/76th

I am happy to use what I can get but do prefer 1/72 and 20mm to 1/76th scale, budget is always a consideration too.

7.2 inch howitzer

Early War Miniatures 7.2 inch Howitzer resin simple kit

Milicast 7.2 howitzer resin mixed media kit

SHQ 7.2 Howitzer  metal model

Thunder model plastic model (coming this year)

155mm M1 long tom

A number of plastic, metal, diecast and resin available

SHQ 155mm M1 metal

Wespe models 155mm M1 resin

Hasegawa 1/72 155mm long tom howitzer any model shop

Atalya diecast towed model only hard to get

Alby models 155mm resin 1/72 (closest to actual measurments)

Marusan 155mm a rare plastic kit from Japan

AHM 155mm a rare plastic kit model 

6 inch Howitzer

SHQ miniatures 6 inch Howitzer

Milicast QF6 rubber tyres 

Scammel Pioneer

a few models available

SHQ scammel artillery tractor metal model

wespe models scammel resin model

IBG models plastic Scammel Pioneer plastic

Thunder Models Scammel Pioneer (not seen this kit yet)

Albion CX22s

One model that I am aware of 

Fankit models Albion CX22s resin mixed media kit

Albion CX25 

only one model I am aware of

SHQ Albion CX 25

I hope that is helpful to 20mm wargamers

cheers

Matt

Israeli special forces - IDF skin divers

IDF Skin Divers

Next few off my desk for my continued Arab-Israeli war build are some Israeli special forces, some 20mm skin divers from platoon 20 range, I will use these for other games also wherever a port facility or bridge needs to be taken out! 

I tried to paint camouflage on the faces in the typical 1980s vertical lines which was common in movies and magazines, the skin suits in black bit with some light grey joint lines which was common in 1970s skin diving suits. Overall pretty happy with the result 

cheers

Matt

ZSU 23-2 aa gun

 ZSU 23-2 AA gun

A 3d printed piece I purchased two months ago to give my rebels, Soviets and Egyptians some light AA cover.  

A simple speed paint and highlight, yet to purchase some 1/76 crew for it though. 

Cheers

Matt

IDF infantry Arab-Israeli war

 

 IDF infantry part 2

The new IDF battalion was completed this week when my basing colours arrived, this has held up a lot of posts this month so expect a lot of completed stuff this coming fortnight. 

I have done a painting guide also on my ww2-modern blog Kampfgruppe Willow for those interested it is  here. 

I still have some paratroopers, plus some support weapons, and a lot of vehicles to complete this project, but I am no rush to get the on the table until next years anniversary.

IDF battalion

My regimental colonel in a typical 80s pilots leather coat, with two female drivers! I need to add the 2 man radio section, jeeps and command half track at a later date

Two Browning M1919 MMG 

A basic squad, a mag 58, bazooka and mortar

Battalion HQ, missing  a radio man

my paint colours are 

Helmet with cover Vallejo khaki 988

Uniform Vallejo grey green 886

Webbing Vallejo Khaki 988

Boots and rubber Vallejo german grey

weapon stocks Vallejo mahogany brown

Barrels black Vallejo Black 

Rank stripes Vallejo shadow grey

ammunition Vallejo brass

cheers

Matt

M60a3 markings Cold War

 American M60a3 Cold War markings 

Cruising eBay which is always dangerous I picked up 6 Altaya M60a3 tanks at €3 a piece from Spain. This now gives me two M60a3 battalions to take on my Warpac for Cold War games.

 Even though they are marked up already for a infantry division it got me thinking about tactical markings for the M60a3 had things gone hot in the mid eighties in Europe. So the search has began!  

Cheers

Matt

Bundesgrenzschutz Kampfgruppe

 

Bundesgrenzschutz Kampfgruppe

Completed my first part of my kampfgruppe of Bundesgrenzschutz, the uniform of the Elheim figures works from 1967 to 1990. The Female figures are only suitable after 87. Very happy with my results even the shoulder patch’s worked out well. 

I have painted some in checkpoint colours and some in port and airport khaki trousers, so they will be suitable for Warpac SF raids . I still have two companies in camouflage to complete, plus support mortar, dog section, and bomb disposal. For vehicles I have one car, one VW van, an ambulance, and helicopter to complete the kampfgruppe. I also want to scratch build a armoured car.