Stuff from the Lead Pile

 Rotten weather this weekend meant a chance to catch up with some painting. My 19thC kick continues with these Rifle Brigade figures from Great War Miniatures. They've been kicking around half done for ages, so I decided that had to change.

Getting the dark rifle green was a little tricky but I added a wash of Citadel Contrast Dark Angels Green and that seemed to get that "darker than bottle but not black green" colour I was after. The poses are excellent - lots of movement and action in them, perfect for skirmishers. 

Raking about in the drawer I found an RA artillery pack and 17 Warlord plastic Russians.....17...one short! If anyone has a Warlord or Great War Russian officer going spare let me know!!!

Once those are finished all of my Crimean War figures will be done - another project nailed.

Painting will slow now. I have some writing to do, some 18thC figures to base and some photos to take. 

19th Century - Guns & Greens

My Crimean War game of a few weeks ago was good fun, but the British lacked some guns and could have done with deploying a screen of skirmishers. With North Star and others being out of stock of Great War Crimean stuff I decided to repurpose some spare artillery crew from the Foundry Sikh wars figures which I bought from Graham C. The only difference between them and their later Crimean War colleagues is the addition of a peak to their forage cap it would seem, so they were swiftly painted out of their white summer campaign trousers and back into blue. For guns I borrowed two British Napoleonic models which were not stuck to the base of my 1815 army.  The result below I am quite happy with and I'm sure they will see service soon.

Crimean Gunner

The British Guns

On a different note I received a photo of some new 1859 Austrian Jäger which Pirans Warriors are soon to be releasing.

At present there is only a single jäger figure on offer so I have been holding off as I'd prefer a mix of poses on a base of skirmishers. I think these new figures are perfect and Terry tells me that more cavalry will be available soon too so I'm looking forward to be able to put a small all arms Austrian force on the table soon as another foe for my 2nd Empire French and a friends 1864 Danes. If one isn't too fussy...and I won't be... they would do for earlier or later fights in Italy, Hungary or against Prussia. Uniforms were different and more Napoleonic looking for the former two, and hidden beneath a greatcoat for the latter. Come time I may well look to expand the Emperors armies into these periods, but for now, these chaps will do.

Crimean War - Brits and Russians

I've taken the opportunity to catch up with some basing. These lads have been sitting on the windowsill waiting patiently for some cavalry to complete both sides and I managed to get some Cossacks on eBay recently so there was no excuse to wait any longer.





The Russian Infantry are all Warlord from their recently released range. Painted with Citadel Contrast Aggaros Dunes which I think is perfect of a weather stained Russian greatcoat. They are all magnetically based on movement trays to make them easier to shift on the table.




The Russian cavalry lurking in the background are Gt War Cossacks. I have more to do once I receive some more bases from Warbases.

12 Cossacks, 4 units of 18 Infantry and two guns.





The British are all Gt War too. They are in 12 figure units. This puts them at a numerical disadvantage to the Russians but they will be better armed so that will be offset. As with the Russians they are magnetically based too.




The cavalry are Gt War Hussars. I also have a number of officers and ADC's from the Foundry range which will make nice little vignettes.




12 Hussars, 4 units of 12 Guards.

About half of the Russian inf, and a few of the British were done by me, the rest were purchases online. I've wanted Crimean War stuff for sooooo long. Now I'm ready for a game of Rebels and Patriots or The Men Who Would Be Kings, once this damned virus buggers off !