Saturday 15 August 2009

1980’s Flashback

This picture was taken around about 1981 and shows some of the Hinton Hunt Prussians from my original collection in action against a motley bunch of French (including dare I say it, unpainted Airfix). This was taken after I disposed of the figures to my good friend Malcolm and before he disposed of them to some bloke he met in a pub. You really will have to click to enlarge this image to make any sense of it.

In the centre, defending the Airfix cottages (how old school is that eh?) are a square of Prussian Infantry (PN4) and a square of Silesian Landwehr (PN19). In the foreground are some Minifigs Cavalry (also painted by me) although I can’t remember what they are. You can also clearly make out a Prussian gun, crew and limber supporting the squares. It actually looks like I painted a six-horse team for that gun complete with both horse and limber riders, sigh…

If you put your glasses on and peer carefully to the top of the picture you can see the awful sight of my HH Hussars (PN85) being routed by unpainted Airfix Cuirassiers. I have decided that in the rules I will be using with my new HH armies they will add +1 to any die roll against plastic troops!

7 comments:

lewisgunner said...

I think the figures in the background are Prussian hussars. They are in the right pose and one can see the white line of fur that trims the pelisse of their black or dark blue uniform.!!

I claim my prize.

lewisgunner said...

Sod it, you didn't need the Hussars identifying just something that looks like a hateful Westphalian cuirassier or even vile Bavarian 1809 dragoon. Ugh those minifigs with the large rumped horses. That's supping with the devil!!!

Roy

Stryker said...

Roy - Yes the Hussars at the top are HH Prussian Hussars, a figure that I only have two of now! As for the mystery 25mm Minifigs cavalry I think they may have been Westphalian now you mention it. Wasn't there a song back in the '70s "Fat-bottomed horses make the Minifigs world go round"? Shurely shome mistake...

Ian

Rafael Pardo said...

Hi
In 1980 I bought my first Airfix figures, all of the Waterloo sets: Higlanders, british, French, Hussars and Curiassiers.... all the gang!
Rafa

Stryker said...

Hi Rafa - Yes, those Airfix were a great help back in the early days. I had several hundred of them but I never painted up more than a handful!

Ian

WSTKS-FM Worldwide said...

Ian,

I love this photo! Thanks for posting it.

Best Regards,

Stokes

Stryker said...

Hi Stokes

Glad you like the photo. It has special significance for me as it was the last time that I was able to command my Hinton Hunt Prussians in battle. Sadly I'm pretty sure I lost the battle as well as the troops...

Ian