French Horse Artillery Battery

I totally stole this idea from the Pendraken forums, more specifically this thread (http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,10452.30.html) where the horse artillery on the base as a little vignette so I did the same!

Okay, these aren't the best of all pictures as I took them fairly rapidly before leaving on my two week course, but they do show off what I wanted to do - a small diorama.

Now compared to my previous artillery bases (smaller 20x30mm per gun), I went 40x40mm in size. Granted, compared to my foot artillery battery they take up more space, but if you include the eventual limbers for foot artillery, they should be roughly equal size. Either way, I think I don't really care that much regarding size as the look is more important. If I'm penalized in-game because the dimensions makes it a larger target, then so be it.

With Flash

No Flash

The little vignette I find gives it the obvious "Horse Artillery!!11111" feel that I'm looking for, and gives it a certain character, as opposed to just the guns with crew that unless you squint and look close enough, appear the exact same as my Foot Artillery battery.

These models are entirely pendraken, except the guns (from Magister Militum, though dimension wise are exactly the same as Pendrakens). No reason why I couldn't use the guns from Pendraken, but I had ordered a pack of MM artillery with limbers, and once again decided that I just dont like the proportions of their cavalry and figures. The gun figures and dimensions were pretty close to Pendraken's, and also had a Howitzer, so I used that along with the Pendraken limbers and Horse Artillery crew I had.

I'll be using the Pendraken artillery for my Divisional Foot Artillery Battery that will be part of my Elite Infantry Brigade - and thus completing the artillery batteries for my 3 brigades.

WIP French Foot Artillery

 A quick update on my French guns...

The crew have now been based and await varnish and then flocking. I should be able to get them finished this week.

 First Gun Crew

 Second Gun Crew

I'm a bit happier with these photos (the previous ones made them look super shiny). Again I have gone for the campaign look. Although they seem to have taken forever they didn't really take very long to actually paint. Being so busy has meant I've only been able to spare the odd 30mins here and there.

One of the major dilemmas I have had was how to base them. Originally I was going to to for all the crew and gun on a large base but I binned that idea for a couple of reasons.

1. I wanted to be able to place the figures in an infantry square if the need arises in games.
2. I will be modelling a full limber team to hitch them up to when being transported and having the crew on the base facing the wrong way would look off.

I decided therefore for the flexibility offered by basing both crew and gun individually. The next issue I had was how to attach the gun so that it could be deployed both ready to fire and then hitched up to the limber. My solution: not to glue the gun in place. In order to hold the gun to the base during play I sculpted some ruts under the wheels. Hopefully these look like the gun has been digging into the ground when it recoils.

 The finished ruts.

 With the guns deployed.

Painted in my dusty peninsula colours and awaiting flocking.

All that is left to do now are the two guns which should be pretty straight-forward and then the flocking. Photos of the finished models coming soon!

Work in Progress and bases...

I have just completed the French gunners with the exception of the layer of dust I add on when I paint the bases (it is the peninsular after all). Below  are a few shots of the gunners. My apologies for the rubbish photos, I took them quickly on my phone to give you an idea of how I go about basing them. They are not glossy in real life and the colours look nothing like those in the photos! I'll make sure that the final photos post basing are of better quality!

All the miniatures come on a small base as you can see in the photos above. These are a pain if you wish to stick them on proper bases as they stand a good 2mm high. The green stuff in the images is slapped on to hide the sudden jump in elevation. With the texture paint on top of this the models hardly even look like they are on uneven ground.

GW get around having their miniatures appear stood on top of a tuft of grass with their slotta-bases. My problem with these is that the whole model then appears to be on a plinth. Great for display pieces but unconvincing on the gaming table. I've got around this by basing the first few models of my Scavvy gang on 25mm round bases by Renedra. They make brilliant and simple bases of all sizes and are well worth looking at.

Comparison shot of the Renedra base against the traditional GW one.

As you can see I have gone for the plastic Chaos Cultists to represent my regular Scavvies. They are armed with an assortment of Autoguns and Autopistols with a variety of close combat weapons. 

I've picked up two boxes to form the core of my gang. The models are nice so I plan on painting up the first five with only minor changes before converting the second five more substantially.

More updates to follow shortly...

 

 

New Year's Resolution

I have been a bit of a Hobby Butterfly over the last few years...

With my time spread over a series of projects progress in any remains slow. When I line all the models painted up over the last year the result is quite substantial but I'm still far from getting any actual gaming in. My other major problem is that it would seem GW owns my soul!

Now I still stand by the fact that GW make some incredible models but it is the grim dark background of the 40k universe that really has me hooked. I could think of five or six armies that I would happily collect had I the time and the money to spend on them. So in an effort to get my grim dark fix and also get some actual gaming in I have returned to an old love of mine...

I don't think I have ever had as much fun as when I began playing Necromunda with Leon all those years ago. It makes sense to me. I get to convert and paint up a small number of models, I already have two opponents lined up and a small 4x4 table is all I can fit in the house right now. Ironically since GW no longer support the specialist game range all the rules are free along with all the published material from over a decade of war in the underhive.

I have opted to go for a Scavvy gang as I like the idea of the dregs of society fighting back all be it with some pretty shoddy wargear! The gang also gives me lots of conversion options. I have ordered enough bits to get my gang on the table.

Talking of the table this will allow me to build some terrain for the first time in years. I have ordered the following to start me off but from then on it will all be scratch built. The set reminds me of the old card terrain that used to come in the box but is more detailed and robust whilst still maintaining that multi-level feel. I'll update this blog with progress as my bid to control the underhive commences.

With this in mind 40k will take a back seat. I still have a few images of my Orks and Vostroyans that will feature but no longer will this be my focus. Instead I want to get more of my Napoleonics done. I have been inspired by Leon's 10mm project and impressed with the speed that he is getting models on the table. I have also been reading Bernard Cornwall's Waterloo which gives a great account of the series of battles that culminated in Napoleon's final defeat. My own 28mm British and French Peninsular armies have been stuck in shipping but have now arrived. Currently on my table are two French Foot guns and a British and a French Colonel.

 Work in progress. I now only have the two guns to complete but I'm still not sure as the best way to base them...

That means that I now have two battalions of redcoats to complete and a British Gun before I run out of models to paint. My New Year's Resolution is to get all of these finished before July. In July I will be back in Cornwall where I have a French infantry battalion, a squadron of dragoons and a small group of Spanish guerrillas waiting for me. 

So expect a lot more Napoleonics and Necromunda in the New Year!