Plans for 2020

So I was overly ambitious for this year, I changed jobs which threw off my game plans and I strayed from the 18th century but fear not, I shall be back in this period with relish,
1. Begin working on the ho/how buildings
2. Possibly some skirmishing
3. Lots of terrain projects mainly finishing up some kits and gear
4. Touch ups on figures

54mm figures for display, or large scale games

Before I jumped head first into 1/72 gamming and collecting, I began to collect 54mm figures. IR figures out of the US had a fine metal collection of figures. Between 1987-1992, I painted up a few of these as both British, American and Loyalist units.
Sadly, when my parents divorced and seperated, most of my belongings were swept up in my Dad moving out. Several of my figures I thought were lost and thrown away.
What actually appeared to happen, is that my Mum and sister had just gotten a box and just pushed them into a cardboard box.
When I was at my fathers home last week, while cleaning up part of his workshop, we found the collection!
Most of the figures have fared well, there are a few who need some major restoration. However, I plan on using some of the 28mm arms and weapons to try and fix them.
The worst figure is a French and Indian War Highlander whose feet are now missing. He is modeled as a Grenadier, so I plan on repainting him as a member of the 42nd Regiment at Ticonderoga, with his feet hidden by the brush and wood the French had or he may become a 78th Fraser's Highlanders coming in the surf of Kennington cove
Some of the musicians are also in disaray, so I shall have to see how I can resurect them.
Stay tuned.
Most of the figures were painted as Royalist Provincial units of 1775-1784. Others I began to paint as British Regulars.
I had a few Continental troops, I didn't seem to have many officers.
The toy soldier types my son is now using in his own toy soldier battles.
Most of these I had painted as French and Indian War. There are also Second World War and some Napoleonic French and British Highlanders mixed in

a Cannioner-Bombardiere, 1756-63

American Provincials with other toy soldiers

mix of French

painting the kilts was fun

some more  British and Airborne 

a Royal Artillery crew whose gun didn't survive 

British Rangers and light infantry 

a Black Watch piper

This Black and Fatal Day: Bloody Brook, Massachusetts, September 18, 1675

Another fun installment of my favorite era, New England Colonial forces against the First Nations people of the area, and I have the figures!

Once I get some time, I will do battle.
The idea for this game comes from one of the issue of Wargames Illustrated. Somewhere I have it, and I have the figures. Just finding the time, which I seem to have due to the Covid 19 pandemic and some time off, that is if they don't call me in to work.

18th century Rangers rethink

An article in the August 2019 issue of Wargames illustrated points out something that I had picked up from the Osprey publishing book on Colonial American Rangers.
Not all rangers were created equal. Gorehams in Nova Scotia and Roger's Rangers in New York.
Other colonies attempted to raise Ranger companies but they were met with limited success.
I'll add more to this on my own research in a bit as well as shots of my own Rangers

My take on some Colonial Rangers

Bosworth 1745

Charles Edward Stuart has invaded England. Rather than what actually happened,  the French have sent a stronger force consisting of more Elite troops and cavalry and infantry.

part of the French force

Languedoc Dragoons 

Bombardier du Marine

Volontaires de Hainaut

Regiment Karrer 

Next up will be the Jacobites 

Double Dutch! UK invaded 1667 and 1688

Another fun idea from Wargames illustrated August 2019 edition.
Bonus use of my pike and shot units to mix in with my early 18th century kit.
Me thinks an attack on Languard fort is in order. Just need to find the time to do so.
I have a castle which can fill in as the coastal fort.
The Dutch can be in blue coats from my 1640s style while the English will be in Red.

Over the hills and far away: UK assault on South Africa 1807

Inspiration from my favorite author and the old osprey publishing book on the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
This project I plan on doing during 2020, I got sidetracked in 2019.
My research will be to fill out units for the Dutch, the British are mostly ready to go.

The Dutch troops will be a mix of my blue coated American's who wore a similiar uniform to the dutch, and adding in some AWI militia types as I'm sure that the Dutch settlers were not up on the fashions, having spent most of their time trying to farm to survive.

My British force will be a mix of the 1790s and 1800 troops that I still have.
more to come hopefully shortly

The descent on the river Plate 1808

The unsuccessful campaign in South America by the British inspired by my favorite author
This was my other project which fell by the wayside for a few reasons
1. I traded most of my Napoleonic French to a fellow collector and
2. I changed jobs and had little time off
However 2020 is looking good so far and I will be doing this one.

My Spanish troops are from those of Spanish gurriellas which I have plus some French painted up as Spanish a la 1780s-90s.
and just for colour, I may add in some native auxilliaries.

My British force will be the same as that for my South African adventure, as in reality, they came from the same source.

Roddy Mcourlly 1798 Rebellion

I've been interested in gaming this conflict as my ancestors are from Ireland and I share the name of a song. As well, my late great Uncle Fred sang the wind that shakes the corn.
I have sufficient figures for both sides
Just need to get them on the table

Roddy, who I've painted as a highwayman 

My British and Loyalist Irish will be made up of AWI types with the late 18th Century Light infantry 

The Rebel Irish will be made up of AWI civilian militia types 

There may be a few French types thrown in for colour, 

The British/Loyalist units will be made up of AWI British as well as the 1790 types I've been able to paint up.

Fort Chambly 1776

Now I know that Chambly was not besieged by the British against the Americans but it could be an interesting battle
Inspired by the Osprey publishing book on the Quebec 1775 campaign
As well, one of the back issues of Wargames illustrated gave me an idea via their invasion issue, and the Quebec 1775 Osprey publishing book gives some ideas as well.
The main thing is to build Fort Chambly with the bricks I have.

Once it stops snowing in April, I can try to knock together some stone towers.
All pictures courtesy of Wargames illustrated July 2019 Issue 381

Georgia on my mind. 1740s actions between the British and Spanish

No not a Michael Bolton inspired but rather the Osprey Publishing book on Colonial American troops in the Southern colonies against the Spanish
The Spanish troops in question will look slightly French, but will have Plains Indians as their allies. One Regiment I have painted as Bourgoaine which were a French Regiment at Louisbourg but whose colours are Spanish
My go to French Canadian militia without the snowshoes will act as sailors off of ships or militia with Spanish guerrillas  to fill out.

The Anglo-American troops are made up of some Colonial units I have painted, and some of my Jacobites which can fall in, as many Highlanders migrated to the Southern Colonies.
Should be fun in the sun, mozzies, aligators and swamps

French counter revolutionary actions 1790s

One of the articles in Wargames Illustrated lists this scenario as an interesting game idea. More to follow.
I have several civilian type figures which could become counter revolution French. It makes for an interesting side project along side my Irish Rebellion actions I am also working on.
I plan on modeling the French counter rebels in a mix of SYW French in blue coats and civilian French militia in the knit caps minus the snowshoes, and the Revolutionary French in the National coats of blue faced red (AWI Americans moonlighting as French)

And I have to find what issues this was in, ahhhhhh

As of 2022, I found the article and have a scenario on the table 

The Battle of carrickfergus 21 February 1760

As mentioned in the previous posting Battle of carrickfergus was a French invasion of Northern Ireland during the Seven Years War one of the most interesting aspects of this action was that three of the regiments involved had actually been involved in operations in British North America on the French side we had the Reginald going and going to be both of which had served in the Garrison of louisbourg during the siege of 1758 and the 62nd regiments which is served in the siege of Quebec in 1759 furthermore this campaign is very easily adapted to the wargaming table due to its small size and also to the fact that I have most of the figures already in order to fight the battle within WarGames Illustrated magazine the figures used are from the author's collection however within my own collection I have better suited civilian type militia figures for the Seven Years War. Which at 1/72 scale it really doesn't matter the style of clothing however the Caps being worn or probably better than Irish Rebels have 1798 where the newer style clothing started to come in at the end of the 18th century as well there are several armed civilian types I have in my collection in metal from rafm miniatures.

The French force for the battle

Carrickfergus with castle and garrison

The Irish Loyalist Militia man the walls.

Defending their homes against a foreign invasion 

French begin  advance

They begin to try to breach the walls

My son Ian and I played out this game as we hadn't had a Black Powder game together in some time. In this game, he acted as the British-Irish commander while I took the French.

The French troops attempted to bombard the town. In the process, they were successful in taking out most of the Royal and Royal Irish Artillery. However, as the French Infantry advanced, the Irish militia held firm better than their historic counterparts. The British Grenadiers actually broke morale several times! Quite the scandal! 

However, in the end, despite the French breaking over the forward wall of the town, they could not overcome the defenders. They quickly departed the area before being defeated in detail.

War games Illustrated issue 381 July 2019 3 18th century campaigns

This issue consists of invasion scenarios with which cover the period of my Irish Highlander blog we have the Battle of carrickfergus 1760 the French attack on Ulster there's also the American invasion of Canada 1775 there is also the  Civil War of 1793 in Revolutionary War France.

I have previously done some of the 1775 invasion of Canada but this one adds to it.
I have the figures of this period so let's party!

Seaports and towns, HO/HO scale card stock buildings

• Back in the 1990s, I had purchased 2 books of New England themed buildings for a town, and a seaport.

I lovely built them and used them for my many battles. Until I moved to South Korea for my first teaching job. And I haven't been able to find them since 1997.
So I made my last hobby purchase on my card for a VERY long time and will be slowly building them.
Oh and that includes a 3d puzzle of Hogwarts castle which is currently scattered on my sons bedroom floor as he has the space for.
So my North American theater scenery will be fine.
Hmmm, New England seaport, 1770s raids or War of 1812 battles.

 starting to get them built in January 2020

Back about 1992, I had a copy of both the New England village and Seaport books, but due to university, moving and living in Asia for 19 years and a my parents divorced and selling of the family home, these models were lost.

My dad still had the original books with the models I hadn't built. However about a year ago I bought the books again and have finally got around to build them again.

Some of the bits I will leave out and use wooden bits for railings and steps

Another new idea, Hudson's Bay vs Northwest trading company Battle of 7 Oaks, 1821

One of the interesting scenarios and conflicts which I have read about was the violent rivarly between these 2 fur trading companies.
The Northwest Company had been built by investors in Montreal, and may have had a prevelance of French speaking members while the Hudson's Bay company were an English speaking company, and who had a longer established relationship with the first nations peoples in the region.
I have several metal and plastic figures which could be used as fur traders.

Warlord Games Plastic Colonial Militia

As part of my subscription to Wargames Illustrated, I received a free sprue of figures or kit as a promotion. This month, is an 18th century spruce of American Colonial militia. This means I have figures for both 1775-84 & War of 1812. I could even have them for the 1750s.
I will try to build and paint them this summer.
I have a few heads from one of the WW2 sprues with bonnets, so I may see if I can paint a few as rangers/highlanders or as Brant's White Volunteers. (these eventually went to the Black Watch in Korea 1950s troops I built)
A few of the heads also have round hats with one brim up so I will also paint a few as Virginian troops.
The round hat types will be made into militia/frontier types which can be used from 1750-1820.
The package arrived on my son's 14th birthday, but he wanted an iPhone instead, so all is well.
So far I have built 3 of the figures
More to be done once I know my days off on new job.
As of July 2019, all the figures have been built and some basic paint has been applied. I shall have to get some pictures soon.

typical 18th century militia 1720-90

these will be used from 1775-1840

to be painted as North Carolina troops

Battle of Lake George, 1755

 Baron Diskeau's force made up of Regiment La Reine and Regiment Landeauc

 the Anglo-american force of Sir William Johnson's force

half of the Amerindian and Colonial force

and the other half

the French advance towards the Anglo-american camp

the French fire

and the British Artillery fires back

the French regulars begin to take casualties 

The French continued to fire into the camp and unlike the historical outcome, the Amerindian force rushes the camp for a chance at the spoils of war. 

The English Colonial militia, loose faith and flee towards their boats in the lake. The colonial regiments charge into the woods to clear the right flank, but may have doomed their position as when the Amerindians rushed the camp, the defense collapsed. Sir William Johnson was able to flee with a portion of his force.

My version of Culloden April 16, 1746

My first 18th century game of the season.

The Jacobite line forms up

the government forces take position near the old farm.

rather than wait for the British to open fire, the Jacobites begin their charge

the Jacobites attempt to take both enclosures

but fall into a pincer movement

the British right consists of a combined Grenadier battalion

the Jacobite casualties add up

the Jacobite smash into the front line of government

and the Irish Picquets take position in an enclosure

the government horse flank half of the Irish picquets and the only Jacobite gun

history repeated itself by having the Jacobites cut down in a crossfire, the rest of the Jacobite army under the command of Lord Lovat, flee, the 45 is over, now the chase for charlie begins