Its very nearly that time of year once again. I've had a busy few months getting myself ready for the next installment of the Analogue Hobby's Painting Challenge. This is the 13th Challenge and my 12th.The madness will start soon on Wednesday 21st December.
I will of course be painting up figures for Donnybrook, which as you all well know I'm quite partial to.
There'll be figures for Vienna 1683 and a smattering of other stuff to. The Haitian Revolution will again make a appearance. Not that I really need anymore Donnybrook or Haitian Revolution figures???
But I shall be starting a new period and scale, shock horror???
It's all Reject Richard's fault, he's painted up some great figures for the French Wars of Religion in 2mm. So he made me buy some, I was going to get armies for one of the larger Nine Years Wars battles like Neerwinden or Steenkirque, but instead chose to go for a battle during the War of the Spanish Succession. Postie the Evil Warlord of Posties Rejects already has figures for the Battle of Blenheim, so I chose another theatre. Spain.
More specifically the Battle of Almansa 1707
For the Allies the British, Dutch and Portuguese there are 42 infantry regiments and 55 Cavalry squadrons. For the French and Spanish there are 52 Infantry regts and 76 squadron of cavalry. So I'm gonna be a busy boy!!!
The figures were calling to me in my sleep "Paint me, paint me", so I had a little practice as to how to paint them up, coached by Reject Richard.
Here we have 2 regt of Dutch Infantry Torsay and Kepplefox, each regt has 240 figures!!!
And here we have 2 squadrons of the Portuguese Cavalry regt Naronja, each has 24 figures.
I've not yet decided how I'm going to decorate the bases, so I need to play around a little more.
These troops of course will not count as points in the Challenge, but I will post them up, with the other regts in their brigades.
Why 2mm you ask?
Well that's an easy question to answer.
Big Battles
I could never to Almansa in any other scale, if I did it would be scaled down so much, it would have nothing in common with the actual battle. Using 2mm, I could comfortably play the whole battle on a 8 foot board, 6 foot if you squash it up.
Cost (very important)
In 6mm a 240 man regt would cost you approx £20
In 15mm a 240 man regt would cost approx £135
in 25mm it would coast a staggering £443
In 2mm it costs 99p!
Yep 99p and that's with a few stands left over for the next regt as well!!!
Some gamers say, you might as well use counters? But that's what any figure you buy is, they'e all just counters.
Now I must admit, they are bloody small and are a bit of a bugger to see, so get yourself a pair of these badboys!
Kronoskarf, gives a great oob and also has info on units and importantly a painting guide for some units.
Wyre Forest Gamers , also have a great oob and army list for the battle for different sets of rules.
My OOB is taken from both of these sites. Hopefully they don't mind me posting it on my blog.
OOB for Almansa
Army Commander:
Henri de Massue, Marquis de Ruvigny, Earl of Galway
Total Army: 16,000 men
42 Infantry Battalions
55 Cavalry Squadrons
30 Guns
Right Wing - Das Minas
1st line: General Villaverde: 5 Battalions & 16 Squadrons, all Portuguese
Noronha’s Brigade – 7 Squadrons of Portuguese Cavalry
Marquis Das Minas Gardes 1
General de la Cavallera 1
Don Antonio de Noronha 2
Campo Major 3
Silveira’s Brigade – 5 Battalions of Portuguese Infantry
Don Bras de Silvera (aka Iberia) 1
Don Pedro Josep de Mello 1
Don Bernardo de Vasconzello 1
Jos de Sao Payo 1
Ant, d’Avita (aka Galbo) 1
Amaca’s Brigade – 9 Squadrons of Portuguese Cavalry
Moura 3
Villaviciosa 2
Algarbo (Algarve) 1
Don Pedro Amaca 3
2nd Line: Don Juan de Alayda – 4 Battalions and 12 Squadrons all Portuguese
Mello’s Brigade – 12 Portuguese squadrons
Olivenca 2
Castelo de Vide (aka Veira) 1
Beira 6
Lisboa 3
Vasconcellos’ Brigade – 4 battalions of Portuguese Infantry
Manuel Leiton de Carvalho 1
Georges d’Azevedo Coutinho 1
Nicloas de Tovar 1
Eric Lopes 1
Centre: Erle 25 Battalions
1st Line – Shimpton : 14 Battalions, 6 Portuguese, 4 Dutch, 4 English
Ilha’s Infantry Brigade – 6 Battalions of Portuguese Infantry
Ant. Carneiro 1
Conte d’Aveiras 1
Conte d’Ilha’s 1
Josep Delgardo Pereira 1
Sebastian de Castro 1
Don Louis de Camera 1
Camara’s Brigade – 3 Battalions of Infantry
Novo de Almeida 1
Castro
Viana
Dohna’s Brigade – 4 Battalions of Infantry
Kepplefox 1
Viscouse 1 (Huguenot)
Belcastel 1 (Huguenot)
Torsay 1
MacCartney’s Brigade - 4 Battalions of Infantry
Mourdant 1
MacCartney 1
Gorge 1
Foot Guards 1
2nd Line – Friesheim: 12 Battalions of Infantry, 4 Portuguese, 4 Dutch, 4 English
Henriques’ Brigade – 4 Battalions of Infantry
Felix Machado 1
Don Heric Henriques’ 1
Mat. Alvarez Galle 1
Francis d’Abru Pereira 1
LiIsle-Marais’ Brigade - 4 Battalions of Infantry
Welderen 1
Friesham 1
Cavalier 1 (Huguenot)
Lilsle-Marias 1 (Huguenot)
Breton’s Brigade - 4 Battalions of Infantry
Bowles 1
Lord Nassau 1 (Huguenot)
Breton 1
Portmore (Queens) 1
Left Wing – Earl of Galway
1st Line: General Tyrawley: 4 English Battalions & 16 Squadrons, 6 Dutch & 10 English
Siluten’s Brigade – 6 Squadrons of Dutch Cavalry, 4 Dragoons, 2 Horse
Drimborn 2
Schippenbach Dragoons 2
Mattha Dragoons 2
Wade’s Brigade – 4 Battalions of English Infantry
Mountjoy’s 1
Blood’s 1
Wade’s 1
Southwell’s 1
Killigrew’s Brigade – 5 Squadrons of English Dragoons
Pearce’s Dragoons 2
Peterborough’s Dragoons 2
Killigrew’s Dragoons 1
Carpenter’s Brigade -5 Squadrons of English Cavalry 3 squadrons of Dragoons, 2 of Horse
Guisgard's (La Fabreque) Dragoons 1
Essex Dragoons 1
Carpenters Dragoons 1
Harvey’s Horse 2
2nd Line: Conte de Alayda: 4 English & 11 Portuguese squadrons
Queyroga’s Brigade – 11 squadrons of Portuguese Cavalry
Tras-os-Montes 4
Don Minho (1st Minho) 3
Dominche (2nd Minho) 4
Hill’s Brigade – 4 battalions of English infantry.
Hill’s 1
Lord Mark Kerr’s 1
Alnutt’s 1
Stewart’s 1
Artillery: 20 Portuguese & 6 English guns
French & Spanish Army Commander: Marshal James Fitzjames, Duke of Berwick
Total Army: 25,000 men
52 Infantry Battalions
76 Cavalry Squadrons
40 Guns
Right Wing
1st Line: Lt General Duque de Popoli: 21 Spanish squadrons
Silly's Brigade
Reales Guardias de Corps 4
Pozoblanco 4
Rosellon Nuevo 3
Ronquillo's Brigade
Carillo 3
Amezaga 3
Real Asturias 4
2nd Line: Lt General D'Asfeld: 16 Spanish squadrons
Croa's Brigade
Reina 4
Amendariz Dragoons 3
Ubeda y Baeza 3 (La Rambla)
Gutierrez's Brigade
Ordenes-Nuevo 3
Ordenese - Viejo 3
Centre: Lt General San Gilles
Centre Right 1st Line: Lt General Labadie: 14 Spanish Battalions
Valle's Brigade
Reales Guardias Espanloas 3
Reales Guardias Valonas 3
Charni's Brigade:
Castilla 1
Murcia 1
Trujillo1
Badajoz 1
Castillo's Brigade
Sevilla 1
Burgos 1
Osuna 1
Valladolid 1
Centre Left 1st Line: Maj General Vicentelo: 15 French Battalions
Sillery's Brigade
Bigorre 1
Isle de France 1
La Sarre 1
Sillery 2
Polastron's Brigade
Medoc 1
Oleron 2
La Couronne 2
Beauvayes' Brigade
Reding (German) 1
Blasisios 2
Mailly 2
Centre 2nd Line: Lt General Hessy: 23 Battalions, 15 French and 8
Pon's French Brigade
Charolais 2
Barrois 2
Orleans 2
Chaves's Spanish Brigade
Guadalajara 1
Valencia 1
Salanmaca 1
Jaen 1
Du Burdel's French Brigade
Lannoy 2
Tess 1 (Savoy)
Labour 1
Miromesnil 1 (Walloon)
Davila's Spanish Brigade
Cordova 1
Bajeles 1
Zamora 1
de la Armada 1
Courville's French Brigade
Maine 2
Berwick 1
Bresse 1
Left Wing
1st Line: Marquès d'Avaray: 25 Squadrons, 12 Spanish and 13 French.
Cordova's Spanish Brigade
Rosellon-Viejo 3
Sevilla 4
Blasco 3
Sandricourt's French Brigade
Vignau 2
Villers 2
Berry 3
Dozevill's Dragoon Brigade
Courtbonne Dragoons 3
Bouville Dragoons 3
Mahoney Dragoons Spanish/Irish 2
2nd Line: Lt General Abre: 12 Squadrons, 6 Spanish and 6 French.
Rufo's Spanish Brigade
Milan 3
Grenada Nuevo 3
Pelleport's French Brigade
Parabere 2
La Fitte de Pelleport 2
Germinon 2
Artillery: 40 guns
Great project, Ray!
ReplyDeleteI hope so Jonathan?
DeleteThere was a time when 2mm first appeared (Thank You Irregular) and there was a flurry of 2mm related rulebooks, all done in the old style (pre glossy) stapled format, but with some great ideas to maximise what the scale delivers. Of course Donnybrook is still the best - you know your eyes know its true :-)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Norm, Donnybrook Rocks! 2mm may be a close 2nd though?
DeleteAhh....the lure of a new historical era added with a new scale....2mm!
ReplyDeleteMy eyes hurt, just thinking about it John.
DeleteWow, those are really tiny. Good luck. And Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMerry Xmas Alex!
DeleteCracking new project Ray, really very interested in following your progress with this. I really fancy doing something similar, you could well be the inspiration I need!
ReplyDeleteI aim to please Donnie. I can't think why, I've never looked at 2mm before? The lure of playing massive battles from Borodino to Gettysburg is quite appealing?
DeleteNew project new scale, new peepers.....I am impressed
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you Sir!
DeleteThey are going to be really impressive en masse, and the bright colours of the uniforms of the period will make them look great! ( one thought - how about more than one flag per unit? ).
ReplyDeleteIt will be really interesting to see the game you eventually put on - one for the shows next year?
Good luck with this project - it will be quite something!
Hmm? 2 flags per unit could work? Unfortunately its not my turn to put on a game at a show, but maybe next year?
DeleteLook forward to seeing how this project turns out
ReplyDeleteMe too Neil.
DeleteLooking good Ray. Not sure you need to do much more to those stands.
ReplyDeleteI'd like a little more colour on the bases, so I might go with a flock.
DeleteBest of luck with the Challenge Ray and indeed the new scale!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sir M. Are you joining in again?
DeleteJeepers those are small ! mass effect will be how they shine
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, that's my aim.
DeleteWill be at hinge on with interest Ray...by the way, I wonder if the British brigade commander Wade mentioned in your OOB is the same Wade who built all the military roads in Scotland after the 1715 Jacibite Rising?
ReplyDeleteIt is the same General George Wade I do believe.
DeleteBloody blogger auto correct I am pretty sure I wrote " will be watching with interest...."
ReplyDeleteKeith I feel unhinged most of the time, so we're in good company.
DeleteWonderful looking project, that'll look spectacular when finished.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and Merry Xams too.
Thanks Joe, have a great Christmas!
DeleteGreat project, I thought 6mm was tough :-)
ReplyDeleteCheers
Stu
They're pretty easy to be honest. They're so small you can't do much with them.
Delete2mm is so tiny! Your eyes are obviously better than mine. :) Looking forward to seeing more on this Ray.
ReplyDeleteMy eyes are shot to sh!t Dai, I'd have no chance what so ever painting these if I didn't have my super dooper glasses!
DeleteShould have gone to Specsavers. Good luck on the new endeavour.
ReplyDeleteCheers George!
DeleteIt seems you missed the Austro/Catalan regiments, am i wrong? I'd like to see them in your project. Taje a look at "the first peninsular war" by Nick Dorrell
ReplyDeleteThey were not present at this particular battle, but were at others during the same period. I may paint a few of them up after finishes the Almansa figures. The Dorrell book is a great resource!
Delete