Waterloo 2015

In the ultimate expression of my terrible addiction in miniatures and Napoleonics, I have traveled to Waterloo, Belgium to witness the re-enactment and commemorative ceremony of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo.
It was good that I had managed to get tickets about 3-4 months in advance, as not only were tickets sold out roughly 2 months ago, but the site was packed.

(French army officer of 1815 with one of 2015....)

 The site was gorgeous, and so where the costumes. Weather held pretty well throughout the two days, with slight rain towards the end of the day.

The number of reenactors on the field numbered roughly 5,600 last I heard on the loud speakers. The first day represented the French attacks on La Haie Sainte and Hougoumont, and the arrival of the Prussians, and the second day represented the British and Prussian offensive and the withdrawal of French forces from the field.

I also managed to find an interesting deal with a vendor (who happened to be ex-French army) whom I struck up a long conversation with, and managed to get a deal for a whole set of drawings and paintings done by Guy Sajer and Michel Faure, the authors of the graphic novels "Les Fils de l'Aigle". These were serial numbered and very limited, so I managed to grab these, with their "Les Hussards" drawing album depicting all the hussar regiments numbering one through twelve. I also bought a slate painting done by Guy Sajer, but unfortunately Belgian roads are just notoriously bad, and the slate got cracked on the trip home. I was really disappointed about this, so I tried to fix it the best I could, and will have to get a proper frame to hold it in place.

All the pictures are below - though due to the sheer amount of photos taken, there are only a select few below.

I have also several videos that I took, but here is one that has been uploaded during the final phase of the second day of the reenactments: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qtml3pql95a2ttr/20150620_215211.mp4?dl=0

Enjoy!

I am still alive!

It has been a long time since my last post but that doesn't mean that I haven't been painting. It's just I haven't been painting what I intended to paint!

I was concentrating on my Napoleonics but a new development put a halt on proceedings. The Perry's are putting together some new Peninsular British Infantry. Now I have been using 1815 style uniformed Brits up until now and they are nice but they are not in the correct shako and I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me! The new figures look fantastic and come 'on campaign' which is exactly what I want.

Until these are released I will be giving the British a rest. I do still have a battalion of French infantry and some Spanish guerrillas that are due a paint job soon though so not a complete break from all things Napoleonic.

To be honest the main problem I have had is that I have so much stuff lying around that I tend to get dragged from project to project without getting anywhere. Recently in a bid to get on top of it all I went through everything and recorded what there is to do. I decided to put on hold any new purchases until I clear some of the current back log. That means mainly that my foray into Bolt Action will have to wait.

To start with I decided to clear much of the 40k stuff that I have. There were two reasons behind this. The first is that this is currently the only game system in which I have opponents willing to play. I have finally been getting in some games and I have to say I have been loving it. My choice of faction has much to do with this. You cannot help but have fun with Orks whether you play them or play against them. At a small 500pt level the game is quick and has none of the clunkiness that is associated with it at larger points levels. The second reason is that I genuinely enjoy painting the models. They are full of character and I don't find them a chore.

I have now almost finished my 500pt force. There are plans to expand this force to 1000pts in the future (no larger) but for now I just want to get the first 500pts finished. These guys started out as an experiment into painting over a white undercoat and using Citadel Washes. I am happy with the way they have turned out. Some of the models (the Kans in particular) are awaiting varnish and then their bases will be finished with grass tufts.

Converted Warboss

 

Not the best photo of the first Boyz Mob

 

 

 Awful photo of the Grots but they are just Grots...

Kan 1

 

Kan 2

 

 Kan 3

 

The final Boyz Mob WIP

Next up is a 500pt force of Skitarii. The models are incredible and provide a nice change to the headlong charge of the Orks. I picked up two boxes of them. The addition of a 5 man (machine?) squad of Sicarian Infiltrators will take the force to 500pts. These then are what I will be painting up over the next couple of months. I will probably take them to 1000pts at some stage but right now I am happy to have two 500pt forces to play with.

With any luck I will have these finished before September and then I will have cleared the backlog of 40k. This will leave me with my British Paras for Flames of War and my Napoleonic French. I have had a hard time getting motivated to paint the Paras as I find all the camouflage a bit dull especially at 15mm. I will get around to them though! My Napoleonics will continue rumbling on. I love painting the bright uniforms and am very happy with the look of the finished models but I have no opponents lined up and so any actual gaming still feels miles away. My uncle has started to paint up a French army however so that is a step closer. Realistically I am a year or two off having enough models to play a proper game with.

Finally there will be one last project that I am looking to start but only after I have painted up the two 40k armies mentioned earlier. I am planning on collecting a 30k Heresy Sons of Horus army. This will be for myself and give me something to really go to town on. I have no plans on how big it will be or what exactly will be in it. I will instead let it grow organically painting up whatever takes my fancy, a bit at a time starting with Ezekyle Abaddon, First Captain and Master of the Justaerin...