Finnish Costal Defences

Ever get the feeling you’ve been out-geeked?

http://www.alternativefinland.com/kuivasaari-coastal-artillery-fortress/

A game of two halfs

First Half

I finished the latest batch of AWI figures. Ahead of schedule too. The Germans and Rebels have now been painted, based, flocked, flagged* and magnetised, and they are now sitting in their Ferrero Rocher boxes.

* Not the Germans. I don't have any flags for them but I have a plan.

Pics below are all pre-flag and magnet.

Jägers

Americans

German line and grenadiers

The collection now musters the following:

4 Continental regiments

3 Militia regiments

1 Rifle regiment

3 6-pounders (can be either side)

1 British Light battalion

2 British Line regiments

1 German Grenadier battalion (small)

1 German Musketeer battalion

1 Jäger battalion

15 light dragoons await paint.

Half Time (Digression)

As I'd run out of superglue and didn't want to put off finishing the basing, I glued the last couple of units to their bases with PVA. I don't think all are very secure in position. I expect one or two might prove to be 18th century ancestors of my brother's famous Subbuteo player from the early 1970s, Sir Stanley Dropbottom. The figure of Sir Stanley slotted into his plastic base, but unlike his teammates at Portable Rovers, he wasn't glued firmly in place. As a result, when flicked, he was wont to fly off in one direction, his base in another and the ball in yet a third, and entirely unpredictable direction. This made him no longer suited to an attacking roll, and Stan saw out the final years of his long and distinguished career in front of the defence. Sadly no photos of Sir Stanley exist now, but I was able to find the picture of his Scottish cousin below. 

Sir Stan played in 'Everton-style' blue back in the early 70s. Cousin Jimmy McDroperse is seen here in Celtic colours. 

When the club chairman/manager/striker/fanbase lost interest in what today would be called 'the project', the hallowed turf of Portable Road was torn up and was used as a battle mat by the chairman's younger brother. But legends never die. Years later at Blundell Park, a cry of 'Sir Stanley Dropbottoooom!' would go up if a ball went at right angles to the kicker's intended direction. 

Second Half

Earlier this evening I listened in on the Helion 'virtual book launch' for Don Hagist's These Distinguished Corps, and very interesting it was too.  The subject of the book are the British light and grenadier battalions of the War of Independence, with the author taking a ground-up, very granular approach. He explained he likes to find out about the individual soldiers and their experiences. One very useful type of document he cites are the records of soldiers' pension petitions, as these set out the men's career paths, origins, trade, and injuries. The book also explains the method of fighting adopted by the light and grenadier battalions. I'm very tempted to get this.

https://www.helion.co.uk/book-launches.php?sid=67feff39f211d876fc9c4d0c5c07a251

The author also runs a blog specifically about the British ORs, which I have jumped into yet:

http://redcoat76.blogspot.com

Interlude

Säkkijärven polkka

I’ve loved this tune for a few years now. This is a slightly slower version than normal, so easier for me to sing along to, but my tongue still gets twisted 🧐.

I also like this film because it has that ‘feel’ I want to capture in my Continuation War games.

Eteenpäin pojat! 

The Hessians are coming!

Inspired by Steve’s Hubbardton posts on Sound Officers Call, I ordered some German infantry (grenadiers, musketeers and jägers). Naturally being a very balanced sort of person (‘a chip on both shoulders’ I hear someone say) I evened things up by ordering more Continentals (cocked hats and caps) and militia.

The hated mercenaries. Booo!

The King’s ungrateful rebellious subjects. Where’s Christopher Walken when you need him?

The painting stage is over. Most have been based. Not all, because I ran out of superglue, most of it ending up everywhere but where it was needed. I managed to glue my fingers to the glue tube, and figures to my fingers, but could I get all the little blighters stuck to the bases, upright, where I wanted them? Eventually yes. Eventually. I don’t have any finger prints at the moment though.

The Germans are in close order, 5 or 6 to a base, and the Continentals, like the British, in loose files at 4 to a base. Each base here representing a company sized formation. I’m deliberately using the term ‘German’ because at this scale, with my painting, they could be either Hessians or Brunswickers. No candy-striped pants. The models are actually Brunswickers from the Pendraken range, though I cannot discern any difference in the catalogue.

Rather conveniently, the Pendraken pack size (30 figures), padded out with NCOs from the command packs, is enough for a battalion. To that I add a command group on square bases.

Awaiting basing are the Jägers and militia. I experimented with grey acrylic spray primer for the Americans. Not sure I like it, though it did give better coverage than the black.

A couple of sessions to texture and paint the bases, and I should be ready to run Hubbardton at the weekend.