Sunday, February 6, 2022

Battle of Shevardino, Sort of

 Using all my Russian troops and a somewhat historical order of battle, a group of use played a game of General d'Armee loosely based on the fight for the Shevardino redoubt.   Shevardino was preliminary battle before the big fight at Borodino.  

Bascially the Russain 27th Division backed up by cavalry and grenadier brigade try to hold or at least inflict casualties as Compans 5th Divisision advances with support from the 1st Cavalry Division.

A few scenes from the battle.

The battle lines.  French infantry battalions advancing from the left against a heavy Russian skirmish line screening the Shevardino Redoubt and the deployment of the Russian 27th Division behind (right side of photo) the redoubt.


A ccouple close up of the battery in position at the redoubt.


French infantry advancing with skirmish screen out front.

French infantry pushing back Russian Jaegers (deployed in skirmish order)

Russian infantry advancing to support the redoubt

Uh oh!  Here comes the Russian Cuirassier


The opposing French cavalry hesitate at a critical moment!  Infantry form squares.

First French square is hit by heavy cavalry and lose formation and are dispersed by the heavy cavalry.

Another square holds of the Russian heavy cavalry

Russisn and French light cavalry meet and ultimately the French are driven back.  Though the French later charge with another light cavalry to stabilize the situation.


The Russian Cuirassier line up on another French square while the light cavalry (on right of photo) continue the fight.  Note the fresh, elite French lancers waiting to delivery their blow.

French move artillery and their own heavy cavalry to face the onrushing Russian heavy cav on the right.


And that's where we left it.  To be continued.


Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Saturday, January 8, 2022

New Napoleonic Units Ready to Fight

 So as I get the new painting station set up I have been working on a backlog of minis I had from before the big move.  Here are there close up shots.  Still working on ideal phot setup and now using iphone 13 camera vs Canon Rebel w/ macro lens. Minis in the units are either Battle Honor or Old Glory 15, I lost track.


A unit of French Grenadiers


The Irish Legion (3rd Foreign Regiment) fighting for Napoleon

Lithuanian Uhlans fighting for the Czar

Polish Uhlans (9th Regiment) fighting for Napoleon
Russian Grenadiers



Saturday, November 20, 2021

Change of Residence and New Painting Area

 Recently made a new home purchase and got a really spacious basement for wargaming.

Still in the process of getting things set up but here a few pics of the work in progress . . .




Painting area with reclaimed cabinets to the left . . . 











Painting area with reclaimed cabinets to the right . . . 



Storage shelves . . . . 

what will eventually be the gaming area.  Can easily setup 5x12 tables. But need to add some ceiling panel LED lighting.

Terrain storage cases along back wall.  Also needs more lighting.






Not pictured is the room for miniature storage.  That needs shelves and cabinets to be presentable.

I am fortunate to have this amount of space and can't wait to get the gaming area "lit up" so we can start gaming!

Thursday, September 2, 2021

More Russian Militia for Borodino

 Another unit of Russian Militia.  These fellows were painted with a blue-grey palette while the earlier batch used a brown palette.  I figure colors would vary a lot with the militia as they were outfitted at different times and by different sponsors and I'm guessing 'cheap' was the guiding quality principle.

And these are again 15mm Battle Honors figures.



Monday, August 30, 2021

Russian Militia for Borodino

 A Russian Militia battalion is ready to enter the field.  These are Battle Honors 15mm figures.



Monday, August 16, 2021

Hasty Breastworks for ACW

 Currently producing a bunch of hasty breastworks for use with 28mm ACW figures.  Each piece is 10cm wide (infantry bases are 40mm wide).  Base is expanded PVC sheet, air dry clay piled on and shaped, Logs and posts pressed and glued into place.  Ballast added for ground cover; I went with the red ballast so I get the "red Georgia clay" look.  I plan on fighting a lot of the Chickamauga battles.  Brown and Sepia over all, some grey on the logs followed by light grey highlight on logs and sand highlight on ballast.  A little flocking and some other foliage details.  Varnish and viola.  Should have about seven feet of breastworks when I finish up in a few days.