Some flags for the Observation Corps

Time to do some flags now I have two painted units.

I use 1.5mm OD x 0.8mm ID brass tube for the part of the pole round the flag itself. Although commercial flag are available I usually make my own either by finding the flag details via Google and cutting and pasting the detailed into a template I've made up or by finding a flag from a site, in this case Kronoscaf. A little tweaking of the dimensions is usually required. I like round about 40mm x 40mm.

The brass tube is cut to fit the flag + roughly 0.5mm. This will make the finial at the top of the pole. I use a hacksaw to cut the tube as this ensures the cut end stays open and is not squashed or distorted. This is important when cutting subsequent lengths from the tube.

Taking a pair of pliers I crush one end of the brass tube flat. Then taking a needle file at 45 degrees, rub the flattened end to a point. As its soft brass this is fairly easy to do. 

The flags are cut from the paper and pritt sticked. This tacky paper glue works perfectly and allows me to slide the two halves of the flag into place round the brass tube. The finial pokes out of the top like a spear head.

Sometimes I touch up the edges of the flag with a mix of coloured paint. This hides any white bits and adds a little texture if needed. The glue needs to dry and set, which doesn't take long, then the flag can be crushed up to give it the look of cloth flapping in the breeze. 

Finally the flags can be added to the poles. I use 0.4mm wire for the flag poles. The brass tube slips down over the top and the bottom of the flag comes to rest round about hat height. Should some disaster befall the flag then it can be replaced quite easily, as it can if it turns out to be wrong!!!! 

News from Google - head's up chaps!

This was posted on my admin page by Google - just wanted to share it here as a heads up for anyone who follows....

"In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs.

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.

We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.

Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer"

So if you follow the blog and use anything else other than a Google account, you might have some problems! Handy eh!

Painting Russians - Red Undercoat and Strong tone

The figures I bought from Ingo's Figuren are very cleanly sculpted and cast. The Russian Observatin Corps uniform of red waistcoat and breeches is very simple too. So I thought I'd try using the "Army Painter" style method to paint them. 

I picked up some red spray paint from an online shop called Fat Buddha in Glasgow. The spray is for graffiti style painting so is fast curing with a wide spray top. Perfect for undercoating I thought, especially since it was almost a 3rd of the price of regular modelling spray.

It came out ok and cured very quickly....but a rather orange red I thought.....!

However, I thought, if worst case came, I could use a darker red topcoat brushed on. No panic though once fired they were fine.

Vallejo red went on once the spray was dry. Black for gaiters, hat and pouches, hair and stock. Mahogany brown for the musket, golden brown for the belts, white lace, bronze for the front of the pouches, buttons and top of the musket barrel. Then flesh over the red undercoat. 

Everything worked fine, and less than 30mins later the fig was ready to wash. 

I tried GW Earthshade, Army Painter Strong Tone and GW Devlan Mud, the latter now quite old and possibly a little thick, on a piece of paper to try to see the effect their use would have. The Army Painter Strong Tone is almost midway in colour between the two GW shades and about the same consistency as them too, so I decided to use it. It is a little darker then the Earthshade and thought the figs needed to be a little darker to match my earlier unit. 

I'm very pleased with the result and will finish the rest of the unit like this and the rest of the infantry like it too. 

In the above pic are two traditionally painted figs, the red sprayed fig, one with a brushed red undercoat and two unpainted undercoated figs.

The Battle of Santo Malanca

Taking advantage of cold weather but low snow levels the Austrians under Kollorfeldt launched a column with the objective of seizing the import town of Santo Malanca. However Kollorfeldt, presuming his opponent was unable to fight in the wintery conditions gives little thought to scouting or screening his flanks and allows his Croats to bring up the rear.

Unbeknownst to him, Campari's General Avvio has not only managed to locate the Austrian column but is about to launch an attack on his line of March.......

With the town a little way up the valley, Kollorfeldt was sure that he would be able to seize it and it's important bridge and settle down somewhere warm in time for supper. His reverie was disturbed when a trooper from the Dragoon regiment providing the advance guard rode up and told him the way was blocked by red coated infantry. He had little time to think before the sound of artillery came from his right flank and he knew he had blundered into a trap.

Kollorfeldt ordered his first two infantry units forward, together with the dragoons. He would lead an attempt to burst the through the blocking force. Order were sent to General Gummstiefel to turn the rearmost elements of the column to face the flank attack and to send the Croats round their flank to force them to disengage. 

The dragoon's cantered up in the powdery snow and drew their swords their change was short, and already they could see that their own flank was in danger from Avvio's cavalry. As they closed with their foe a strong volley of musketry rolled out and cleared many of the brave men from their saddles. The charge closed, but the horses wouldn't press home against the line of steel. They recoiled and a second charge went in. More musketry and more saddles cleared. Madness perhaps, but success would clear they way for the infantry and open the road ahead for the column. 

Kollorfeldt cursed as he watched the dragoons fail to batter through the enemy infantry. As a young ensign he had charged with Eugene and against the Turks - cavalry was unstoppable then. He turned and ordered his men to deploy into line. He would have to shoot his way clear. 

At the rear Gummstiefel was in trouble. The Croats advance had forced the artillery to draw back but Kollorfeldt's movement to the front had split the column in two and now he was flanked by Campari re was little he could but try and find space to fight so he ordered his regiment about and started to retire. He called for a messenger to pass a note to the Kollorfeldt - but he had scarcely time to dictate his message when the man when down in a hail of lead. A quarter of the regiment lay dead around him - Gummstiefel prayed for nightfall.

Kollorfeldt's advance had ground to a halt and now it was clear there was little he could do. All around him his men lay dying, cut down by the sabres of attacking cavalry or shot by heavy volleys of musketry. How would he survive the disgrace of this defeat? In the last rays of the winter sun he saw his chance - he ordered his staff to draw their swords and together they spurred their horses forward, galloping clear of the carnage the small band cut through the Campari ring and away form the battle. Someone had to bring the news to imperial headquarters - Gummstiefel was clearly to blame for losing contact with the rest of the column and had dragged the whole lot to destruction....yes..that would do....

Some notes - 

A scenario based on one from Neil Thomas's One Hour Wargames and in turn based on Salamanca. Alistairs's Austrians had two choices, stand and fight it out or try to cut their way clear. Andy's Campari  army managed to defeat them in detail once the colon had broken up, but it could have been different had Alistairs dragoons cut their way through or Andy's cavalry ran out of space then they galloped into the the gap between two Austrian regiments! A nice simple game, but a tough one.

The Russians Are Coming!

Just before the holidays I bought some of Ingo's Figures 28mm Russians. Nice clean castings with a basic pose that was straightforward and business like.

I finished my those figures yesterday and just need to add flags and basing.

I have more on the way, another 3 units of Observation Corps infantry and some artillery crew for unicorn guns. That should see me for a good few weeks painting, by which time I ought to have the Foundry Hussars and Crusader Cuirassier off to the painters. 

By the end of March I ought to have more than half the army done. After that  I plan on having some dragoons, a unit of foot grenadiers and a further infantry unit and mounted command. 

As each of my units really represent 2 battalions and the Russians fielded 3 per regiment I need to work out how best to represent this - as they are Russians and "quantity has a quality all of its own" I'll need to get more!

For Flags I may make some up myself based on the excellent examples on the Kronoscaf SYW site. (If you've not seen this, go look!). On the other hand by the time I have all this lot done I might treat myself to some ready made examples. 

This is my main project for the year and possibly my last SYW army. I'll have Hoegaarden, Naples and the Russians, plus my "late" Austrians. I don't think I have space for another army - I still have bits and pieces to paint and add - like the foundry character sets, civilians etc., the Austrians need some cavalry,  Naples needs more officers, so there's plenty to keep them going. Looking far ahead I really do fancy getting some more AWI too and no doubt Crann Tara will ruin everything and bring out more excellent generic Savoia figures........!