The Napoleonic Miniatures Museum

BELOW: Royal Horse Guards

Hi Guys

A very quick post.

My mate Danl has started a great new Online Resource for all the Napoleonic buffs out there:

The Napoleonic Miniatures Museum.

You'll find photos of various painted miniatures in various scales from a variety of manufactures.

Such as these 28mm Perry Household Cavalry that Danl (Gunner Dunbar) recently painted for me.

I highly recommend you pop over and check out some fantastic painting. 

 ABOVE AND BELOW: LIFE GUARDS

Reviews a'plenty: PART TWO

Hi Team
Yet more reviews
Yesterday I was out at EUREKA MINIATURES and as usual I was treated to a sneak peek at some of the upcoming releases and some of the currently available but not well known products
Firstly a look at some cute 'Pulp' characters.
I really like the female sculpts that EUREKA produce. The always look so 'Girly' rather than simply male figures with longer hair and breasts.
These US G.I Janes' are excellent examples:
The ladies can be purchased with backpacks and Garrison Caps / bareheaded or if you're so inclined with Rocket Packs and 'Futuristic' helmets.

BELOW: The MG Team is my favourite.
I can just see this young lady lying prone behind this MMG with her feet casually swaying to and fro as she sends some tracers down range,...

BELOW: Seems Rosie the Riveter is not content on the production line anymore,...
She means to do some harm to the vile Nazis with her spanner!

Now Last time I posted I mentioned that GUNNER DUNBAR (GD) was now taking commissions to paint miniatures.
I recently sent him some EMPRESS MINIATURES 28mm Modern Australians.
The EMPRESS MINIATURES are very nice sculpts and the fit in very well with my predominantly EUREKA MINIATURES Afghanistan Campaign collection.
Firstly to the actually painting that Dan did.
I'm simply blown away at how well GD captured the Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform  (DPCU) 'Oz Cam' pattern.
Not only are the colours and pattern spot on, but they subtle shading and subdued style works perfectly in this scale
He also added Goggles to the Helmets (with Green stuff I suspect) free of charge and without my prompting!!!!
How cool is that?! I mean, it hadn't even crossed my mine to request the modification but it's an obvious one really as ALL Australian Troops are issue Eye Protection as standard and no Digger would leave his FOB without them on him.
(Mods were done AFTER these photos were taken)
I could have had them painted in DigiCam, DPDU (the 2nd 'D' is for Desert) or DPCU.
I chose DPCU as it was the most common pattern used throughout Australia's commitment to OP SLIPPER (2001-14)
The photos speak for themselves.
Again, I cant recommend GD highly enough.

 BELOW: DPCU (left) DPDU (right)

Now as for the actual miniatures.

They are excellent.

As far as I know no one else does Aussie Diggers in 28mm apart from some SASR types that EUREKA do on Motorcycles and Quad Bikes

The sculpting is crisp with little flash to speak off. The range is comprehensive and there are no 'silly' poses.

One criticism,...

No self respecting Digger would EVER use his master hand to make a hand signal.

This chap below would get his arse so kicked by the Platoon Sergeant to using his master hand and taking his eyes away from where his muzzle is pointing whilst on patrol!!!

I purchased these Diggers from ELITE MINIATURES AUSTRALIA whom I HIGHLY recommend to anyone in Australia or New Zealand!
Service is OUTSTANDING and the owner Nathan is a top bloke and Ex Australian Soldier so he knows his stuff.
Anyway.
That's all for now.
More reviews shortly including a look at Chain Of Command V Bolt Action.

Reviews a'plenty PART ONE

Hi Team
I've a couple of reviews I need to share.
First I need to tell you about a FANTASTIC Painting service now available here in Australia.
My good mate 'Gunner Dunbar is now taking Commissions to paint your miniatures.
I've been having miniatures painted by Dan for some time now and I can tell you that he's the most talented artist I know who is currently 'painting for profit' at a price that wont cause your Minister For War and Finances to have a meltdown.
He is talented, quick, outstanding value and his communication with you the customer is beyond anything I've experienced with other painting services.
Not only will he paint your miniatures but he will modify them and or build them.
you can see Gunner Dunbar's rates and examples of his work here:
GUNNER DUNBAR PAINTING SERVICE
http://gunnerswargamming.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/now-taking-commissions-gunners-painting.html
 Here are some photos of just some of his outstanding work:

ABOVE: AB Miniatures 18mm Wurttemburg Light Infantry
BELOW: Converted AB Miniatures 18mm Bavarians. Heads swapped to create Bavarian Guard Grenadiers

ABOVE AND BELOW: Tartan!!!!

ABOVE AND BELOW: Converted PERRY MINIATURES rifles to represent Richard Sharpe's men. 

I can't recommend Gunner Dunbar more highly.
I rate his standard as 'SHOWCASE'.
There is a LABLE below (Dan Dunbar) where you can see more examples of his work!
5 out of 5!

Next I'd like to make mention of a new TERRAIN supplier.
Let's face it, most of us neglect that aspect of wargaming.
For the most part we insist on having at least half decent miniatures on our tables but then we drop the ball an use shoddy terrain.
Either we cant afford the good stuff, or we lack the time and or effort / skill required to make affordable stuff.
Good news.
Now you can purchase ready made, 'Good to Go' wargames quality terrain from STANLEY'S TERRAIN
No need to assemble or paint it. Just take it out of the box it comes in and place it on the table.
No, its not a 'Museum Quality' stuff,.. but its serviceable and value for money.
Here's some samples:

I myself have purchased a Minefield and a walled field / enclosure and I'm very happy.
Highly recommended.

Waterloo Highlanders: The 42nd Regiment of Foot

Hi Guys
A break from ACW stuff today and a look at something 'Napoleonic'.

Here is the freshly based 42nd Regiment of Foot, (The Black Watch) as painted by my very talented mate 'Gunner Dunbar'. They are almost all VICTRIX 28mm Plastics except for the Rude Highlander flashing his backside at those pesky French. He is a metal miniature from Westfalia Miniatures.

 

You can see the 'Hard Campaigning' Highlanders that Gunner Dunbar painted for me earlier HERE

I've included some regimental history notes as I found on Wikipedia.

Early History

After the Jacobite rising of 1715 the British government did not have the resources or manpower to keep a standing army in the Scottish Highlands. As a result, they were forced to keep order by recruiting men from local Highland clans that had been loyal to the Whigs. This proved to be unsuccessful in deterring crime, especially cattle rustling. Therefore Independent Highland Companies (of what would be known as the "Black Watch") were raised as a militia in 1725 by General George Wade to keep "watch" for crime. He was commissioned to build a network of roads to help in the task. The six Independent Highland Companies were recruited from local clans, with one company coming from Clan Munro, one from Clan Fraser, one from Clan Grant and three from Clan Campbell. These companies were commonly known as Am Freiceadan Dubh, or the Black Watch, this name may well have been due to the way they dressed. Four more companies were added in 1739 to make a total of ten Independent Highland Companies.

The ten Independent Highland Companies of "Black Watch" were officially formed into the "43rd Highland Regiment of Foot", a regiment of the line in 1739. It was first mustered in 1740, at Aberfeldy, Scotland. The Colonel was John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford and the Lieutenant-Colonel was Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet. Among the Captains were his next brother, George Munro, 1st of Culcairn (also a Captain of an Independent Company raised in 1745) and their cousin John Munro, 4th of Newmore who was promoted lieutenant-Colonel in 1745 (in place of Sir Robert who went on to command the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot). The other Captains of the 43rd were George Grant, Colin Campbell of Monzie, James Colquhoun of Luss, John Campbell of Carrick, Collin Campbell of Balliemore and Dougal Campbell of Craignish

 ABOVE: One of Westfalia's 'RUDE HIGHLANDER'.

 ABOVE and BELOW: My lads here are depicted as the would have appeared at Quatre Bras and Waterloo.

100 Days

The now single battalion 42nd fought at the chaotic Battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815 and was one of four battalions mentioned in despatches by Wellington. Two days later at the Battle of Waterloo, the 42nd and also the 2nd/73rd Highlanders, were both in some of the most intense fighting in the battle and lost 289 men

I've based the miniatures on 50mm wide by 40mm deep bases for use with LASALLE or FOG-N.
Flags are from VICTRIX and come with the miniatures when purchased.
As usual comments are welcomed

What to do in 2013?

Hi Guys
I thought I'd jot down what I wish to achieve in 2013:
1. Finally finish my 28mm 1812 -15 Prussians! Most of this army is CALPE miniatures and they are fantasic miniatures. I started painting some of these recently and I must say the are my favorite 28mm miniatures. They almost paint themselves.
2. Complete my ACW armies and start playing Sam Mustafa's 'LONGSTREET'. If this system is as good as Sam's games, MAURICE and LASALLE then 2013 should be a cracking good year.
3. Play at least a few games of SHARP PRACTICE and IABSM (games by the TOO FAT LARDIES).
4. Complete my SAGA Warbands. Normans, and Anglo Danes at this point. Maybe Viking also.
5. Finish building my 28mm Dutch Belgians and Nassau Army for the 100 Days LASALLE campaign.
6. At least get a start on my 28mm 1813 Russians.
7. Finish off my 28mm Trojans. Not sure what rules I want to use with these guys. I'm thinking of some type of modification to the TFL's DUX BRITAINNIARUM but who knows? What ever rule system I use their needs to be some mechanisim that allows for 'Heroic' actions.
8. Paint up some more 15mm Ancients.
9. Finish of my 18mm Dutch Belgians and Bruswickers for the 100 Days
10. Complete my AWI armies in 28mm!
I think that's enough. Certainly ambitious enough.
But what is a post without some pictures?
So here is three photos of some Bavarian and Wurtemburg soldiers that I asked my good buddy Gunner Dunbar to paint for me. These are 'modified' AB miniatures. The Bavarian Guard Grenadiers are Bavarian Line infantry with French Grenadier heads. Not wanting to waste a miniature I then asked Danl to place the Bavarian heads on the now 'headless' French Grenadier torsos in Greatcoats. Consequently I have two rather unique units of Bavarian infantry.
BELOW: Bavarian Guard Grenadiers and a Bavarian Line Regiment in Greatcoats

The other unit is Wurtemburg Guard Light Infantry, (see BELOW). These are simply, (I say simply) with 'green-stuff'  epaulettes. Again, another unique unit.

As you can see, the basing isn't complete. I need to flock them, but I just wanted to put them out there.
Well that's all for now.
Comments welcomed and HAPPY 2013. Here's hoping your 2013 is better than 2012.

2nd Nassau-Usingen Regiment and Volunteer Jager company

 Hi Guys
I finally got around to adding a Flag to my 2nd Nassau-Usingen Regiment that my good friend 'Gunner Dunbar' painted for me a few months ago. They are the excellent PERRY MINIATURES and I think you'll agree they are excellent sculpts. 
I've based these guys for LASALLE, though they would also do nicely for FoG:N.

 ABOVE: The Grenadier Company:
BELOW: A wounded Officer alerts his men to some enemy. Are they Cavalry?
Or is he saying, "Oi, is that my boot over there"?

 BEOW: A poor unfortunate comes a cropper.

 BELOW: The Voltigeurs advancing, high porte.

After these guys arrived I attempted to paint the Volunteer Jager company myself. I tried to match Danl's style as best I could but Danl is really a master and I'm afraid I'm not quite up to his standard. At three feet away they match quite well, but closer inspection will show I'm not in the same league.
I used the ARMY PAINTER method on the Volunteer Jager company. Block colours and Dip then Matt Varnish / Anti-shine spray. Works a treat.

BELOW: My effort at the Volunteer Jager company in front of Danl's 2nd Nassau-Usingen Regiment

 BELOW: Some more photos of the Volunteer Jager company

ABOVE: A close up of my efforts on the Volunteer Jager company. A tad sloppy,...
The Flag is from GBM Flags, and the Volunteer Jager company are again the excellent PERRY MINIATURES.
As usual, comments are more than welcomed.