255th Anniversary of Minden

Hello,

Another post, breaking my one day posting record.

A friend Steve, whom I've asked to join me in blogging, hosted a gigantic 1500 model game of the battle of Minden (Seven Years War).   The rules were the fun, easy to learn "Napoleon's Battles".  A total of nine Grognards showed up to play the game, but Steve was able to control the chaos.  I don't think I'll ever host a game that big.

Here is his After Action Report I am blatantly cutting and pasting out of an email:

"OK, on to the battle.  I set things up historically but both sides had their own unique strategies.

The French Left was commanded by Clay who commanded de Gruchey's French infantry division,  To his immediate right was Doug who commanded Prince Xavier's Saxon infantry division.  Next was Tim who commanded Fitzjames' large French cavalry division.  Gerard commanded de Bauperaeu's  main French battle line.  Martin commanded de Broglie's large elite corps on the French Right.

David commanded the Allied Right which included the entire British contingent under Von Sprokern.  Jeff commanded the Hessian/Brunswick infantry and Allied German cavalry under Von Holstein.  The Allied Left under Von Wangenheim was commanded James.

Seeing the exposed British flank Clay and Doug tried to swing their divisions in on them in an attempt to pin the Brits so Tim's cavalry could ride them down. This was partially successful but the French Command had to move over toward Gerard as Jeff's cavalry was initially very successful and Gerard was on the ropes.

Clay's division found itself out of command and immobile due to Contades moving toward the French Right.  Doug was able to get his Saxons close enough to provide support as Tim finally launched his Cavaliers against the Red Coats.  After many charges the French cavalry were able to drive back the British infantry, killing Von Sprockern in the process, and the poor Hannovarian Guard were all but surrounded.  At this point the British cavalry under Granby was finally forced into action.  The "Best cavalry in Europe" now drove into the poor Saxons and drove them back and captured Prince Xavier in the Process, thus saving the Allied Right.

In the Center Jeff's cavalry charged on turn one and never let up, routing several units.  Somehow Gerard held on as Von Holstien's cavalry were never able to achieve a decisive breakthrough.  Because both overall commanders concentrated on the Center and Allied Right the Allied Left ended up being little more than an artillery duel.

Around 5:30 some of the guys had to leave so at this point the French had lost nine of the 15 units to break their army (9/15). The Allies had lost four of 15 (4/15).  I declared it a Minor Allied victory.  It was a very tough fight with some very good generalship on both sides!  The French commanders can be happy they avoided the catastrophic defeat Contades faced in history."

Steve has probably painted 3,500 SYW minis, so hopefully he'll host another massive game again in the future.

love,

Baconfat

In the Heart of Africa Game and a New Camera

Hello,

Last weekend I attended a In the Heart of Africa game put on by the always clever scenario designer Dave.  This was a test game for some tweaks he's done to allow the rules to be used for larger battles.  I must apologize for the awful pics; they look as if we were playing in a dungeon.

The British Empire forces are aligned into two groups.  Our goal is to remove the Germans from those two hills in the background.  The green felt simulates jungle.  The Brits are in two groups to attack the Germans from two points and lessen the German ability to concentrate fire.

Here's most of the evil Germans.

 The rest of the villians.

 Here are my fellow Brit John's forces.

Here, you can see how I've disorganized my portion of the Brit force.  We're running between cover, getting closer to the Krauts, avoiding their nasty machine gun fire.

 Oh dear John isn't hugging the cover, but running over it.

 Ouch, almost everyone on the right flank is dead.

 The inhumanity.

 Preparing to assault the left hill.

 Everyone pops out and bang, dead Germans.

 Brit reinforcements show up on right flank.

More Germans advance to the hill I'm about to own only to also be overwhelmed.

 The Huns about to lose the right flank hill and the game is called.

It was a fun game as always, when Dave designs it, but sadly football is about to start and we won't be seeing much of Dave till next year.



Frustrated by the poor picture taking of my kid's meal Barbie camera, I've gone and bought another.

Here's an old camera pic of some in progress models.

Here's a new camera pic.

The picture is a little better, but it does have 83X zoom.  Now people can finally see the true scale flies I painstakingly take hours to paint on all my bases with the aid of a microscope.

love,
Baconfat

Dragoons and a Drummer

Hello Enlightened One,

Today I took a few pictures of some plastic Perry French Dragoons that I recently finished painting.  Well as finished as they're going to get; I've noticed now on the computer, that I've forgotten to paint any socks or head spots on the horses.  They're good enough, I'll paint some socks on the hundred or so French cavalry that I've yet to paint.

I attempted to paint them as the 20eme Regiment de Dragons, because that unit was involved in conflict all over Europe.

I hope to use these guys for Sharp Practice games.

Here's the drummer for the French fusiliers I recently finished.  Drummers take so much longer to paint, with their fancy pancy jackets, that they don't always make the group photo.

Till next time when I hope to have some Perry Prussian Reservists and random space marines painted; If I get busy maybe some French Line Lancers or terrain.

Love,

Baconfat

Imperial Guardsmen, a Few French, a Couple Space Marines, and Ral Partha Africans

Hello,

I've gotten a few models out of the painting queue.

First are some old Imperial Guard models called Mordians.  I've painted them an impractical red, because I painted a few others red some years back.

I've gathered up all my red 40K models, maybe they'll be a retinue for the two inquisitors.  The Imperial Guard models could be their ships crew.  I hate the idea of everything in the 40K universe being manned by cyborg zombie servitors.  It's plainly a waste of good cyborg parts, when you have trillions of humans eating food, you should put them to work.  Use the cyborg zombies for important work.

Here's a couple French sappers, a Warlord Games  and a Genie of the Guard Sapper.  The sapper is just a Victrix Imperial Guard body with a Perry cuirassier head.

I saw a picture on the internet of over a hundred space marine chapters and thought it might be fun to paint one of each.  To start I painted two of the easiest chapters:  Death Strike and Dark Hunters.   Paint  completely blue, add a couple details, wash, and done.

Lastly are some old Ral Partha  or possibly RAFM Africans.  I painted these up very fast without any sort of reference or idea of the correct colors, so please forgive me if they're all wrong.

Till next time, when I promise to have the previously promised French Dragoons pictured.  I haven't attached their scabbards yet.  I've also started some Perry Prussian Reservists and some French Chevaux-Legers Lanciers.  The lancers will be the 5eme Regiment because I like the colors.

Love Baconfat

French Voltigeurs and Two Lady Survivors

Welcome Dear Viewer,

I don't have too much to show you today.  I managed to finish another ten models.  

First are eight plastic Perry Voltiguers.

Here's a rear shot.

Here they are with the first seven I painted last month.  I only need to paint nine more.  The newer guys are a little darker; my army painter shade is getting too thick.  I wish I knew what to thin it with.

Here are two Reaper models.  The left one is metal and the right one is "bones" plastic.  The bones model wasn't a very good mould.  There isn't much of a nose of the lady's face and the chainsaw blade is flimsy and whimsically bendable.  To top off the rather poor paint job, I made a stupid looking base for her.

And I forgot to paint their hair bands.

Till next time, when there should be some 40K Imperial Guard models and some French Dragoons, that I'm about 80% done with.

love,

Baconfat