Saturday, 2 November 2024

Tall Order and a Hospital Pass

Wednesday saw the arrival of my order from H&R, which I hope to complete by year end. With some odds and ends which I had already, the total amounts to 30-odd units plus general staff figures. Total individual figures comes to 1475 (1481 if you count the 6 guns). When finished, the WAS/SYW collection will be over 8000 figures and just about complete.

The breakdown by contingent looks like this.


Dutch

Hessian

Brunswick

Schaumberg-Lippe

Reichsarmee

Hanoverian

Mixed

All

Gren mitre

1

1

0.75

0

0.5

1

0

4.25

Gren bearskin

0

0

0

0

0.5

0

0

0.5

Jägers

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

Musketeers

5

5

2

0.25

4

0.5

0

16.75

Inf total

6

7

2.75

0.25

5

1.5

0

22.5

Horse

2

1

0

0

1

0

0

4

Dragoons

2

1

0

0

1

0

0

4

Hussar mirleton

0

0

0.5

0

0

0.5

0

1

Cav total

4

2

0.5

0

2

0.5

0

9

Staff

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

Artillery

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

Total bdes/packs

10

9

3.25

0.25

7

2

2

33.5

Each brigade is 1 game unit of 2 bases. I'll actually have figures for more units than this, since the H&R infantry packs include enough figures for 1 1/4 units. Extras might go to the Reichsarmee which looks a bit light in numbers. And in truth, the Schaumberg-Lippe boys will get mixed in with the Brunswickers, as  they only fielded 1 battalion, plus 1 small squadron of exotically uniformed 'carabiniers' and 50 jägers. The guns will probably be shared out (Dutch/Reichsarmee/Other Germans).

All but 4 units of cav have been prepped and spray undercoated. These 4 cav have been prepped but not yet sprayed. That, and dabbing flesh on faces can be done whilst listening to Grimsby struggle at home in the Cup to semi-professional Wealdstone.

I really ought to get some games in, so those 9 weeks before New Year will soon disappear. Maybe get the Germans done first and finally do Minden.

****

At lunchtime on Friday I caught up with David-in-Suffolk (a true gent) when we attended the very instructive talk at the National Army Museum on 'How the ACW Changed the British Army'. This was a talk by Michael Somerville, author of another book by Helion: https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/bull-run-to-boer-war-how-the-american-civil-war-changed-the-british-army.php

The author started by discussing the 'traditional' view that the British (and other powers) took scant regard to the ACW and paid the price in WWI. Needless to say this view was exploded. Many examples were given of how warfare changed during the ACW and how the British Army did in fact evolve to deal with modern developments. In fact, some of the changes began before the ACW. Reflecting later in the day, I wondered how much of these changes had also been prompted by continental European wars, and Britain's imperial conflicts. To be fair, the author did touch on the latter. One other theme that came across was how much more professional the British Army officer class was than is usually portrayed. This 'myth-busting' wasn't much of a surprise given Peter Brown's, Don Hagist's and Robbie MacNiven's work on the similarly dismissed Georgian army.

By the way, some of these talks can be listened to on-line, so if you are too far away from London, you might still be able to enjoy them. 4 AM might be too early for those in the Pacific NW though! What's On at NAM

David and I had a good chinwag over sandwiches in the museum's caff afterwards, and we both noted how helpful other bloggers have been in our hobby pursuits. Leftfield observation: we also noted how the museum cafe seems to be a magnet for people looking after very young children. David suggested that it was a meeting place for nannies taking care of children from the local (wealthy) Chelsea area.

Walking along Royal Hospital Road afterwards I passed a young woman and her young ward talking to a Chelsea Pensioner outside the Royal Hospital (London's equivalent to Les Invalides, but still used for its original purpose). As I passed I overheard the boy say that he had made a 'tricorn'! I felt like stopping and saying "GOOD LAD" but felt I shouldn't betray my eavesdropping. I couldn't help but think 'how many kids that age (7ish?) knew what a tricorn is?'.

20 comments:

  1. Seems like a tall order to paint neatly 1,500 figures by year end even if they are 6mm. Hmm. I am often up a 0400 so may give it a listen sometime.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I painted 715 in just over a week and another 360 in a week/10 days so it is possible.
      Chris

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  2. A most interesting and thought provoking talk by the sound of it. I admire your organisation and hobby maintenance of the aim. I look forward to seeing how the new figure arrivals enhance your gaming experience and breadth of possibilities…
    Alan Tradgardland

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    Replies
    1. It’s worth keeping an eye on what’s on. The subjects are often a little obscure, and not (for me) my core interest, but that’s good as it broadens the mind.
      Arguably my new figures won’t do much to broaden my scope of games. More of the same.
      Chris

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  3. Oh boy, there’s going to be much twiddling of paint brushes over the coming weeks. Man that sounds like some bloody big force. Have you given up on Ferrero Roche for storage, cos you won’t have any teeth left and you’ll be fully diabetic at this rate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ferrero Rocher have given up on me I’m afraid. They switched box shape a while back so (thanks to Richard) I sourced some new boxes.
      Chris

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  4. That's a mighty impressive force you have just taken delivery of Chris!
    The talk at the NAM sounds interesting....I have often thought, if the British Army and officer corps were as useless as often portrayed, how did they manage to win so many battles/wars?
    As to the youngster in Chelsea, that is the benefit if a private education and a nanny, I expect!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The impression I always had was that the rank and file pulled the toffs plumbs out of the fire.
      As for the Youngster: he didn't sound like he was privately educated. Nor look like it either. Just a normal kid.

      Delete
  5. Well 8K of figures is a lot for sure! It would be good to see them all en parade once completed, just to get an idea of the size when based.

    The talk sounds good and always nice to learn new things or get a fresh perspective, plus of course meeting up with fellow gamers and Bloggers:).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Might do a New Years Day Parade at your suggestion Steve.

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  6. An impressive total. I'm resisting temptation to use H&R for WW2 desert (or some of the new 1:144 on the market) in the expectation I'd be able to get it painted quicker.....
    Costing it out provides the necessary cold shower.....☺
    I agree David is a true gent.
    Neil

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    Replies
    1. Western Desert sounds tempting Neil! Most vehicles are 40p each and infantry are £5 a pack of 50, so you could knock up two battle groups for £20.

      Delete
    2. aw shucks - you are both too kind!

      Delete
  7. Your forces when complete will look really impressive on the table, I like the H&R range, they have a style all of their own, looking forward to your project.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Donnie, I agree with you on H&R. I used to make my units like mini dioramas but I found nd it a bit too fiddly with the firing and advancing poses, so typically just use the marching poses.
      There’s some shots of previous batches that I painted a few posts back.
      Chris

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  8. Wow, from what I've read above, you are already cracking through the minis. Impressive work rate and some target... all the best, I'll be watching with interest in your progress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Once I get the bit between my teeth Richard, I do crack on. But I can go months without lifting a finger.
      Chris

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  9. There's a very pleasing whiff of megalomania in this; I hope the painting goes well and speedily as planned. The NAM talks are pretty good, I'm grateful to you for pointing them out to me and it was great to meet and have a chat ( I do smile at the slightly unlikely cafe clientele, I wonder if the 'yummy mummies' are keeping the place afloat financially! ), let's hope we can do so again soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They certainly keep the average age of the clientele down!
      Chris

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