Guards Update and more fun in the desert

I had hoped to be showing you the completed Coldstream Guard unit but other distractions on the painting desk have put paid to that for this week. I can report however that all the rank and file are finished and part of the command - just have the two standard bearers left to do.

These are all vintage figures - the two officers are amongst my favourite of Marcus Hinton's creations.

One very pleasant distraction during the week was a trip to Goya's new seaside residence where Mrs S and I were treated to a lovely lunch. Goya had cunningly planned it so that whilst Mrs S & G toured the grounds we retired to his study for a quick colonial game using the 'Men Who Would be Kings' rules.

I played the British in this encounter whilst Goya played a rabble of foreign types. The lancers have been beautifully painted, the infantry shown are all S-range Minifigs.

You can't have a game like this without camels.

Goya's new study easily accommodated a 5' x 4' table and he reckons a 10' x 4' is possible at a push.

If you have camels you must have palm trees too, it's a rule in colonial wargames.

It was a great looking table like something straight out of Featherstone or Morschauser!

The rules encourage you to name your leaders and these cavalry were under the command of one W. Churchill.

This was a tense moment when a band of tribesmen suddenly appeared on my flank - thank goodness for the stiff upper lip.

We didn;t quite finish play before the ladies returned but I think my force managed to live to fight another day.

If you've never played these rules I highly recommend it, you don't need many figures and things move along at quite a pace whilst not overstretching your brain which for me is a plus!

A garrison for Hougoumont

I decided that I wanted a unit to represent the Coldstream Guards for our forthcoming refight of Waterloo. Last time we played the game in 2023 (link) the Nassauers were given the job of defending Hougoumont which although in terms of numbers may be justified, doesn't have the same appeal as a garrison comprised of the lads in red.

The unit will be made up of BN/4 Private (firing). This is the test figure.

My existing British Guard unit (who before were simply designated 'The Guards') will now become the Grenadier Guards. Production is well underway so hopefully they'll be ready for your inspection soon.

Austrian Infantry on Parade

I've been promising a parade for a while so here it is, my complete force of Austrian infantry - 240 Hinton Hunt figures - enjoy!

L to R, back row: IR 4, 23, 26 third row: IR 32, 51, 59 second row: Grenadiers and Grenzers, front row: Jagers. 

Archduke Charles leads the review.

Don's flag rather showing up my own efforts to be not quite right but I'm not going to change them now!

The two Grenadier units are my favourite.

That's a whole lot of white - the Austrian army laundry bill must have been huge.

Will there be more? Well, who knows...

This time last year I was struggling to find the figures to make up a force of five units but thanks to the generosity of Don and the labours of Goya I finally have a force that General Mack would be proud to surrender to Napoleon.