Monday 27 June 2011

6mm French Franco Prussian Army For Sale



 Fellow Reject, Richard is very unhappily decided to sell his 6mm Franco Prussian armies. First to go are the French. He's asked me to sell them for him on Ebay, here's a link if anyone's interested, Ebay listing. He's obviously wants as much as possible but they start at £40. So if any of you fellow bloggers are interested drop me an email at rousell68@yahoo.com




The army consists of

20 line infantry regts
30 artillery stands
15 limbers
15 chasseur a pied stands
2 regt of lancers
1 regt of chasseur a cheval
2 regts of dragoons
3 regts of cuirassiers
1 regt of hussars
10 command stands

In total 1073 of the wee little men



Saturday 25 June 2011

Flodden flags in action




I had an email the other day from wargamer Eric Elder, he sent me a photo of two command stands from his new project of The Battle of Flodden. Eric has used the flags that I made for both sides of the battle, that I've posted previously on this blog. I'm sure you'll agree they look great!! and I can't wait to see some more of Eric's work.
I must admit it's nice to finally see the flying high, as I've not had the time to put them on my own figures yet!!! I get a lot of ribbing from the other Rejects about this and why I've not finished the FIW rules I'm trying to write and why I've not started Fran's 20mm WWII figures and why I've not put a Viking game on for ages come to think of it, a game at all for ages...............moan, moan, moan!!!!

Also in other wargaming news, I made it into this months issue of Wargames Illustrated Woo Hooo!!. Page 90 top right picture, red stripy T-shirt, big belly poking out, (gotta do something about that). Yep that's me, I'm in deep conversation with Alex (I believe???), one of the authors of the new Saga Viking rules. Which will defiantly be making a dent in my wallet, when its released.
So if any of you feel the need, just send me your copy of your mag with a stamped addressed envelope and I'll sign it for you, he he he!!


Ray

Monday 20 June 2011

Broadside Wargames Show 2011


Good grief!!!!!! It's taken me a week to get this post on, I've given up and started again too many times to count. Bloooger (spelt correct) doesn't seem to want to let me add any photos for some reason, remarkably for me I've even spent some of my pocket money on expanding the amount of photos I can add to my blog but I'm still having problems. I can only add 1 photo at a time, then I've got to turn blogger off and start again, which is just a little tedious, grrr! If anyone knows what the hell is going on, or could kindly point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it. Anyway here we go..............................!

  Myself and another four members of Posties Rejects, Fran, Rich,  Lee and the man himself Postie, took the short journey down to Sittingbourne on Sunday 12th to attend a new show Broadside at The Swallows Leisure Centre, run by The Milton Hundred Wargames Club. We got there a little early so for the first time ever, Fran, dipped his hand into his pocket and bought myself and Postie and Bacon roll, after we both picked ourselves up from the floor we scoffed the rolls down, to here Fran moaning about the leisure centre running out of bacon you can visit his blog here, The Angry Lurker.
We all enjoyed the show and came home with bags of goodies to hide from the Mrs. Postie did his usual outspending the rest of us on his own. I picked up a few books, most importantly a Sapherson booklet of the Imperialist cavalry from 1689 to 1715.

Maidstone Wargames Society - Operation Sealion



British Model Soldier Society, London


Friday Night Fire Fight Club
The Battle of Jebel Heitau "The Suez Crisis 1956"

Two well dodgy looking characters. With Phil's help, Martin is trying to work out how he can get his new purchase through the front door without the Mrs seeing!

Real Time Wargames, "Trapped like a fox". Seven Weeks War 1866






3 of Posties Rejects The laughing hyena, Richard, Fran the Ginger and Big Lee

Postie buying more figures, which he won't paint, he'll get some other mug to paint them.....me!

Shepway Wargames Club
Frontier Ablize, The Anglo-Pathan Border War 1897-1898


Crush the Kasier - WW1









Tuesday 14 June 2011

Beneath the Lily Banners 2 a short review


Earlier in the month I pre-ordered Beneath the Lily Banners second edition, by Barry Hilton from The League of Augsburg's shop it duly arrived the day after posting, and very impressive it is too!
Beneath the Lily Banners is a tabletop wargaming rule system designed to give players a real flavour for the tactics and troops used in Europe during the period 1660-1721. The game play is simple and quick to master. The mechanics are based on simultaneous movement regulated by easy to understand orders. The game can be played in 28mm or 15mm scale. 6-8 units per side will give two or three hours of fun. The rules will easily accommodate 100 units per side for grand battle scenarios. The 2nd edition has many refined mechanisms for orders, shooting, close combat and morale. The book has an updated events section with 52 "playing card" controlled events to add challenges and entertainment to the game play. The rules contain supplementary chapters for gaming the Great Northern Wars, Eastern Wars against the Ottoman Empire and King William's war in North America 1689-1690.
The book contain several uniform guides for the English, Dutch, Danes, French, Irish and Swedes. These guides as I'm sure some of you already know come in the form of painted figures by painters, Pat Conner, Clarence Harrison, Dave Imrie and Brian Philips. Also included are a short painting guide from these fine fellows.
Barry has included 5 army lists, the French Army 1688-1697, the French Army 1688-1697 Expansion, the Grand Alliance 1688-1697, Williamite Army of Scotland 1689 and Swedish 1709. I'm painting up a 15mm Grand Alliance army and now need to get my finger or paintbrush to be precise and get some more cavalry painted!
The book is full is photo's of extremely well painted figures, which is enough to make any gamers mouth water and personally make me feel quite inadequate with a brush.
Another great item in the book is the scenario, "Steinbeke, July 1692", which contains an order of battle and a reinforcement table, also a run through of how Dave and Barry's version of the game went.
I very much like the events card system which will add a little spice to the game, if you decide to use it, using a normal pack of cards, Hearts effect officers, Clubs effect the troops, Spades effect weather or terrain and Diamonds are Acts of God!! What ever you do don't throw the King of Diamonds???

All in all I'd advise any wargamer, whether the Grand Alliance is your thing or not to get a copy of these rules. Well done Barry and Clarence!!!

Thursday 9 June 2011

Historically Inspiring No 5 - An Incident in the Rebellion of 1745.

An incident in the rebellion of 1745, by David Morier

Another one of my historically inspiring painting's is, The Battle of Culloden 1746, by David Morier.
I've previously painted and owned armies for both the English and Scots, for the Battle of Culloden in both 15mm and 25mm. Due to lack of funds, I had to sell both. My fellow Reject, Postie buying them all. Although he now wants me to buy back the 25mm figures, I must admit to being sorely tempted, but my financial adviser, (the wife), doesn't seem to agree! Maybe one day eh? For some reason I seem to be drawn the Lace War period, at the moment I'm painting figures for both the Nine Years War and the French Indian Wars.
     This is a painting depicting the Battle of Culloden in 1746, during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, where the Jacobite army was defeated by Hanovarian troops. It was painted in 1746, not long after the battle. The artist is said to have used Jacobite prisoners for his models of the tartan, trews, and great kilt/belted-plaid wearing Jacobite soldiers, and for this reason the painting is considered a reliable depiction of Highland male clothing of the time. In particular, that some of the individual Jacobite soldiers are shown wearing several different tartan patterns all at the same time is considered a significant indication of the lack of a "clan tartan" concept at the time.
     The picture portrays the Jacobite attack on Barrells, The Kings Own Regiment of Foot, (later the 4th Foot), In a matter of minutes Barrells's regiment lost 17 men and suffered 108 wounded out of a total of 373 officers and men, including their commander Richard Rich who lost his left hand and nearly his right arm. Barrell's were smashed apart and temporarily lost their colours!

      David Morier was born at Bern, Switzerland. Nothing is known of his early career before 1743 when he was introduced to William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, by Sir Everard Fawkener, possibly in Germany where the Duke was on campaign. His first notable painting was an equestrian portrait of George II (Royal Collection), with a view of the battle of Dettingen (27 June 1743) beyond, which was later engraved by Francis Simon Ravenet and published by the artist.

     Morier is principally known for small military equestrian portraits with battles or reviews in the background, including many of the duke of Cumberland and several of George II, and also for depictions of soldiers, detailing their uniform (principally in the Royal Collection and at Wilton House, Wiltshire). In 1746 he undertook a commission to commemorate the Duke's victory against the Jacobites, The Battle of Culloden (Royal Collection). The present work is likely to have been undertaken during the same period. In 1747 Morier accompanied his patron to the Low Countries, painting Royal Artillery in the Netherlands and a series of sixty pictures of the allied troops under the duke's command (all of which are in The Royal Collection). In 1751 the first British uniform regulations were issued by royal warrant and Morier, made Limner to the duke with a salary of £100, embarked on further series, including the light dragoon regiments raised in 1759 and 1760. When the Duke of Cumberland died in 1765, his second home, Cranbourn Lodge, Berkshire, housed 106 of these paintings and only works by Morier hung in the picture gallery.
     A founder member of the Society of Artists, Morier exhibited at its first show in 1760, and then in 1762, 1765, and 1768. In the mid-1760s he undertook an important commission for the earl of Pembroke, which included eight paintings of the 15th light dragoons. He also produced several small paintings for George III for 10 guineas apiece, but after June 1767 royal patronage ceased and he fell into financial difficulty from 1768 until he died at Clerkenwell, London, in early January 1770. He was buried on 8 January at St James's, Clerkenwell Green, at the expense of the Society of Artists.


Tuesday 7 June 2011

Gravesend Zombietown???


Last week on Lord Siwoc's Zombie blog, Brains and Guts, I commented on one of his posts, he was asking for his followers to help him come up with a name for his Zombie town. Whoever came up with the name he liked best would win a small prize. I suggested, the name of my hometown of Gravesend, and I won, other suggestions were, Kamloops, Revanent, Purgatory from Vampifan, Paridise Falls from Zombie Shop, Lost Angels from zerloon, Tombstone from Chez Gnotta and the rather crap, Pittsville, from my mate Fran,  The Angry Lurker.
I received a message from Johnny, (Lord Siwoc), saying, my prize of some casualty markers and a hoverboard from Ramshackle Games, Segeway from Gary Hunt and some fire hydrants from Fenris Games were in the post. He also explained that was an "extra little something" also included in the same package as well??
Hhmm? what could the little extra be? Should I be worried??? Well I am anyway!!!
Well the stuff arrived in the post this morning, and very nice it is too, I was a little relived at the "extra little something", all sorts of things crossed my mind!!!


My prize!!!


The extra little something, and quite fetching they are too!!

Another use for the "extra little somthing", modeled by myself on the left and Fran, The Angry Lurker on the right.

Another use, I'm very worried at what Fran is looking at in this photo!!

A double ended Danish muff !!!

We didn't go for the use you all thought we'd go for out of respect for Johnny!!
 Finally I've got to report that during the writing of this post, the newly won figures have mysteriously disappeared !!! There are only two suspects, Keir (porn king of Dartford) and Fran The Angry Lurker. Now Keir isn't into wargames although I've painted up some Doctor Who figures for him for display purposes only.
 That only leaves Fran, and he's denying all knowledge, the Zombie playin' theiving Oirish ginger git!!!!

Thanks go to Johnny!!!

Friday 3 June 2011

The Battle of Fort Avila, part 3


The Battle of Fort Avila, part 3

 Turn 6


Once again the 25th Dragoons charge the 2nd Marines, who are still in square. The French infantry keep advancing to the fort with their ladders, while the 2nd British Brigade start to cross the bridge near to the allied baseline. As the French advance around the fort a light artillery piece is spotted on the rear bastion.
The French having won the first move, fire at the breach again causing more masonry to fall, they now have 17 hits, and still NO BREACH!!
The Spanish kill 2 figures on the 1st Battalion 2nd regt Vistula Legion through artillery fire.
The 2nd and 3rd 14th Line take 5 casualties off of the Tuy Militia, who fail their morale and retreat off of the wall. The 70th Lose 3 from the newly arrived Beatanzos Militia, which had been hiding in the fort out of sight of the poor Frenchies. The 2nd/14th Line lose 1 figure which takes them below 25%, which means a morale check, they pass but lose their leader again due to musket fire (sigh!). . The Spanish No1 gun loses its last two figures and is destroyed. Also the Spanish light gun loses 1 figure, fails a morale test and retreats leaving the gun in place.
The 2nd Marines, (my star unit of the game),  smashed the French 25th Dragoons 3-4 in a hard fought contest and routed back 13 inches.

The 2nd Marines charge the 25th Dragoons by the bridge. In the foreground
are the 4 Battalions of Combined Grenadiers

The attack on the fort.

A gaping hole where the No1 Spanish gun once lived. (Que evil manical laugh Ha Ha Ha!)

Around the flank of the fort go the French, taking out the light Spanish gun on
the rear bastion.

Turn 7
The 25th Dragoons regained their poise and passed their morale check. The 1st Hussars and the 23rd dragoons both charge the 2nd Marines, who are still in square. The Hussars are stopped short due to casualties received in the charge.
Now came the quote of the day, Surj suddenly remembered he could fire his onboard artillery, (remember this is now turn 7!!) and very excitedly pointed and shouted
“How far can my artillery fire?”
Ian matter-of-factly answered “36 inches!”
Surj replied incensed, “ No!!! I thought Postie said 3 foot!!!”
The whole shed erupted into laughter, while poor Surj just stood there looking bewildered, wondering why we were all crying. Poor Surj was quite embarrassed after realising his mistake, he he!!

Now came a pivotal moment in the game, we had to throw for initiative, If the French won, we could place our ladders and get a good foothold on the left bastion, if the Spanish won, they could move troops along and block the French attack. It was a 1 D6 throw off with a plus 1 for the French, I threw a 2 giving us a 3, Richard threw a 5. Damn!!!! So the attack would have to wait for another turn.
 The 4th Legere who were about to climb their ladders moved away from the wall and formed square as the Spanish Borbon Horse galloped around the corner, The 4th lost 1 casualty from musketry from the fort, but fired at the advancing Spanish Horse inflicting 2 casualties as well as the Brigade commander who had attached himself to the unit in preparation to charge.
 As we were by now all quite close there was a lot of firing, the French 1/14th Line were wiped out by artillery fire by the No2 Spanish gun and hooray!!!!! another 3 hits on the fort and the breach had been made!!
2 Spanish guerrillas were killed by the French medium gun and another 3 were killed on the other guerrillas by Ian’s heavy gun. Musketry fire from the fortress claimed 2 casualties from the 1/1st Legere and another 2 from the 1st Paris Municipal Guard. This turn the Spanish Militia on the walls took some casualties both the Betanzos and Avila Militias lost 2 casualties each.
Over on the other side of the battlefield the French cavalry once again were beaten in melee by by the 2nd Marines, (this was getting really boring now), the 23rd Dragoons lost 2-3 and were pushed back 2 inches disordered.

The 1st Hussars and the 23rd dragoons both charge the 2nd Marines,
who still win!

The 4th Legere, who were about to scale their ladders, when the
Spanish Cavalry appeared around the corner.

The Spanish move the 1st Aragon around the walls to block the French attack.

A breach is finally made!!!

A veiw of the Battle field Turn 7.
A close up on the fort Turn 7

Turn 8

Ian certainly had it in for the British Marines, the 23rd Dragoons who were still disordered, once again charged the 2nd Marines who didn’t have time to fire at the oncoming French. For the first time the dice went Ian’s way, the French won the melee 4-2, the Marines were finally beaten and destroyed. Yessssss!Rich charged in his Borbon Horse into the 4th Legere in square and bounced straight off disordered and fled, losing  2 figures.
The 27th Legere abandoned their planned fire on the No2 Spanish gun and ran to the newly formed breach, only managing to get 4 figures through and losing one of those to the Tuy Militia who lay in wait. All along the wall the Spanish lost men including 6 figures on the 1st Aragon Light infantry, the French plan was coming together nicely, every Spanish unit on the wall would have to check morale. The French also lost a few casualties the 1st/4th Swiss lost 2 as they advanced to the wall edge and the Paris Municipal Guard lost another 2.
Richard then defied all logic, reason and to be honest fairness!!! and passed all three morale checks, throwing two 1’s and a 2. I’ve got to admit that the air was rather blue and Richard was called a few choice words, all of them thoroughly well deserved!!! So that meant there’d be no unopposed climb for the French for another turn.

The disordered 23rd Dragoons finally get rid of the 2nd Marines.
The 27th Legere charging through the breach


The 3/ 2nd Vistula Legion backing up the 27th Legere.

The 1st Aragon Light Infantry on top of the bastion, about to lose 6 figures

Surj's 38th Foot just outside the fort entrance

The fort under attack on two sides.

Turn 9

Time was getting on we all knew this would probably be the last turn of the game, defiantly for me as I had to get to work that evening.
The Spanish won the initiative once again and Richard charged his Villavicosa Dragoons into the square of the 4th Legere and lost 3 figures doing so. The French 27th Legere were charged by the Tuy Militia and a small party of Spanish pioneers, at the breach.
The French finally climbed their ladders, with the 3/14th Line meeting the remnants of the Aragon Lights on the bastion and the French Pioneers climbing up unopposed.
The 10th Chasseurs a Cheval charge and run down a unit of Spanish Guerrillas, who strayed a little too close to them. Then the 10th were fired at from the No2 Gun on the fort and lost their attached Brigade leader along with 2 figures, but still managed to pass their morale.
The British 2nd Battalion finally reached the fort and ran through the now opened door, with the 38th Line leading the way, while the rest were following up fast before they were cut off from the fort.
The previous victorious 23rd Dragoons were wiped out by expert musketry fire by a small unit of Guerrillas. Back at the fort the French lost 2 figures from the 4th Swiss and 1 Pioneer; they both passed their morale, while the Spanish lost 4 from the Betanzos Militia who fail their morale and retreat off the wall and 2 from the Avila Militia who once again defy all laws of probability and pass their morale.
Somehow, (ok, my dice rolling!), the 3/14th Line lose the fight with the 1st Aragon Light Infantry at the top of the ladders and retreat back, but the 1st Aragon lose 1 final figure which forces them to disperse.
At the Breach the 27th Legere lose the melee 2-1 and were pushed back one move. The final melee of the game proved indecisive the Villavicosa Dragoons and the 4th Legere drew 2-2 .


The Villavicosa Dragoons charging the 4th Legere's square

The 3/14th climb their ladders and attack the last of the 1st Aragon Lights
The French pioneers make it to the top of the Bastion unopposed.

Another shot of the French attcking the bastion, the Spanish Militia have turned to
 face their attackers

The 38th Foot make it into the fort.

The rerst of the British coloumn marching unopposed
towards the door of the fort

The French 27th leger are charged by the Tuiy Militia and the Spanish Pioneers.

An empty breach.


The final battle Battlefield

And that was the game. After totting up the score sheet the Anglo/Spanish were declared the winners by 1 point 7-8. Although the fort was still in contention with the French Pioneers on the bastion it was not enough because the British reinforcements made it into the fort.
What a fight!!!
Richard was awarded the game MVP by Postie,  for his dogged defence on Fort Avila. Well done Rich!!!
And a big well done to Postie the GM, he defiantly earned his own MVP, for putting on and thinking up such a great game. Well done Postie!!