Friday, 20 December 2024

Never Fight Uphill me Boys - Part 2

I was very fortunate recently to receive from Don W in the US, some Hinton Compatriots Austrian generals. This range of figures was commissioned a few years ago by Ron Marshall and sculpted by Andrew Stadden. The idea was to produce figures that would be compatable with Hinton Hunt that filled in some of the gaps in the original range such as Austrian infantry in helmets.

ANC07 - General on Horse - H02

There are several generals in the range and this is the first one I've completed. The castings are lovely and the horses are superb works of art, very unlike the Hinton Hunt horses in style but a joy to paint. The horses are perhaps a bit on the large side but the over all height of the mounted figure is exactly the same as a Hinton Hunt one. Thanks to Don for supplying them!

Last week, Goya invited me over to have another go at his Lundy's Lane scenario for the War of 1812. He has been beavering away expanding his American forces and has even introduced some cavalry and Native Americans into the mix, there are enough figures now to potentially refight the entire war! This time we tried out a variant of Mr Madisons War rules which were fun if not a bit bloody, I was the British again.

Initial set-up. The idea is that both sides want to occupy the hill on the left that is currently in British hands.
These beautifully painted Native Americans are by Strelets from a set that, according to Goya, is very hard to track down (but then that's probably as it should be).
My Belgians finally got the memo and turned out with a US flag supplied by Goya. They did some fine work against the Canadian Militia.
My lads had the high ground and a very impressive cannon.
A very unsporting cavalry charge by the US resulted in a rapid retreat from the table for this poor unit. Would never have happened if the Duke had been there!
The British are coming!
The battle in full swing. I was hard pressed on the left but my guns were holding off the US forces in the centre.
Winfield Scott tries to rally his boys for another attack. This is the same chap who years later found himself in charge of the Union army at the start of the Civil War.
We played 9 turns which was pretty good going for a ruleset we'd never used before. At the end of play my forces still controlled the hill but both sides were receiving considerable reinforcements so I think it could have gone either way.

At the start of the year I said I aimed to paint 150 Hinton Hunt figures over the course of 2024 and I'm pleased to announce that I've actually managed to paint 154. However, I also said I would buy absolutely nothing...er, ahem...

23 comments:

Rob said...

That Hinton Compatriot is a beauty, it's a shame they didn't try and do anything about the dearth of early-mid period Spanish in the HH range.
The War of 1812, so tempting but to risk losing to the Yanks! No thanks.

Matt said...

Another lovely addition to the collection. That game is rather awesome looking too!

MSFoy said...

I love the Austrian general - very nicely done. Generals could afford very big horses, right through history, so no problems with that. The 1812 game is interesting - I hadn't heard of the rules before - I must have a read about them online.

Donnie McGibbon said...

Cracking looking Austrian general, lovely work on a very nice looking figure. Great looking War of 1812 game, one project on my "to do" list.

Rob said...

Are these the rules you used?
https://bravefusiliers.blogspot.com/2017/08/mr-madisons-war-rules-for-war-of-1812.html

Stryker said...

It’s better to play ACW because then the Yanks always loose…

Stryker said...

Thanks Matt.

Stryker said...

An interesting set of rules and the game fair zipped along although I think we may have got one or two things wrong!

Stryker said...

Thanks Donnie, all the Compatriots figures I have seen are very nice sculpts.

Stryker said...

Yes, those are they Rob.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all the positive comments.

Those are the rules but we reversed the dice throws so that a high number is better. It’s also worth looking at the AWI and SYW sets and the tutorial on The Alte Fritz blog which fill in some details. I’m planning to pull them all together in a single document.

Stryker said...

Thanks Goya, it was an excellent game!

Aly Morrison said...

A lovely looking Austrian general Ian…
And a cracking looking game … A favourite battle from a favourite period.

All the best. Aly

Stryker said...

Thanks Aly. I have come late to the war of 1812 but in many was it should be the perfect period for me as it nicely blends my two favourite periods Napoleonics and ACW. What could be better than the combination of Wellington’s boys and snake fences!

the Archduke said...

Mmm, it was the fear of losing with a British army against foreign Johnnies that lead me to acquire Austrians in the first place. I too love the general figure. He is really businesslike. Are there more in the wings? Is he as far from pure HHs or copies thereof that you have ventured?

Stryker said...

Nigel, I have two other poses of general to do. The only other outsiders in the ranks are the odd s-ranger and those RHA mounted officers.

David said...

"so tempting but to risk losing to the Yanks! No thanks." That cuts deep Rob!

David said...

I suspect you outdid me with 154 newly painted soldiers. Very Impressive! You also now officially know more about the war of 1812 than I do...

Old Nick said...

Outstanding looking game. Hope you enjoyed the rules. I find the fun and they move along quickly. Most players figure them out by the second or third turn.

Wellington Man said...

I also thought this was remarkably heretical of you, Ian, but I'm glad you went for it as he's a cracking figure. And there are two more, you say?

Lundy's Lane looked like a hoot, That's a very nice sage-green bit of cloth that Goya has there, but it was a bit saddening to see his Alberken Canadian Militia getting so batterred by those dastardly HH Belgians.

Stryker said...

I think 154 painted to your standard would be a full time job for a year David! As for the War of 1812 I am enjoying the fact I know so little about it...

Stryker said...

Thanks very much. Trouble with the rules is you can lose a whole load of troops in the three turns it takes to grasp them!

Stryker said...

Ah yes, but they are sort of Hinton Hunt aren't they? There will be a couple more appearing on the blog soon!