Friday 28 February 2014

Spanish Municipal building.

This model will be a replacement for a one i built and sold on ebay to raise  some cash for figures. I may make 2 and sell the duplicate on ebay at some point. 

The walls glued and secured by elastic bands with the roof sub frame glued in situ to get the right pitch. 



The courtyard wall prepared  for later. 

The internal floors cut to size and the baseboard with the engraved courtyard area. 


This is the one i sold and the intention is to duplicate this in most respects. 









I will update this over the weekend as Carl has added plaster and paint to the model. 



Sunday 16 February 2014

15mm Battle of Vimiero.

Vimiero hill. 

Having completed several test games of Napoleonic Command we thought it was time to try a historical scenario. This was lifted straight from the Genera de Brigade Peninsular war scenario book. Once again we used Neal's superb 15mm collection of Dwarves  to game this one.

I took the British and Tom took the French.

Neal was his usual impartial self as umpire


Th British starting positions with the Light Division on the left.

The French ready to advance,

The French, having won the dice off went first and advanced along their entire front.

No redeployment for the British as they waited patiently for the approaching French columns.

Disorder points accumulated by both sides at this point following threat assessments by both sides before the end of turn 1. 

In turn 2 the French continue to advance.

French guns deploy.

The 95th redeploy into skirmish order.

French redeployment with guns unlimbered and columns into line.


Ffrench prepare to assault the British positions east of Vimiero.

I could have done without a double 4 here!

The 95th are pushed back.

 In a revolutionary new tactic the British right sinks into Vimiero hill.

French infantry deploy into columns to prepare for the assault on the ridge.



On the right the British have moved to threaten the French flank while the French artillery turn to face them.

A view along the ridge line. The main French effort is focused on the Light Division.

Charges going in all along the British left.


Further along the line another French column advances up the hill.

The redcoats fail to stop the charge.

The other charges also go in.

The British line assaulted by 4 columns.

The French pressure on the British line results in the British brigade..

losing initiative indicated by the red counter. In their next move the will need to take action to reduce the threat level against them.

A similar outcome on the other flank which is being assaulted by 2 brigades including an elite grenadier brigade.

The most threatened unit must lose a base which, after a 'dice off' turns out to be the battery! The brigade loses the initiative and must fall back.

The 95th fall back into Vimiero and the light infantry retreat off the table...

The other brigade sees a unit withdraw behind a friendly unit. Having lost initiative the brigade is unable to execute their flanking movement.

The French columns react to the British by wheeling to threaten the their flank.

The French Grenadier brigade also turns to face their flank in response to the sight of dust clouds to the west.

The British wheel their line to face the new threat to their flank. The remaining British brigade now has 2 French ones to deal with.

The French charge.

But the redcoats hold them off and they react to their failure to charge home by deploying into line.

The beleagured Light Division once again lose the initiative.

A large gap in the line appears, will the reinforcements arrive in time to save the day? With both British brigades having lost initiative again its a case of holding on as best as they can.

So we called it a day as time was getting on with the British still in control of the ridge which was the main objective. How long they could continue to hold is anyone's guess but the British commander was distinctly lacking in morale.

We have decided to introduce a special rule for skirmishers to reflect the tactical realities of the Peninsular war. The British brigade skirmish screen in the reaction phase will be allowed to reform and take up its usual position on the left of the Brigade. British and French light infantry  battalions operating as skirmishers can reform behind their own lines. 

Next week we will be doing the Spartacus slave revolt in 10mm using Hail Caesar.


28mm Spanish Taverna

Taverna 


Having sold my previous set of buildings to raise some fund for new toys i will be wanting in the near future its time to make more . First up will be a Taverna followed by some houses, a Municipal building and a villa.

Materials used are MDF, card and plastic pantile roof sheets. Render is simply white filler with brown paint added so that any chipping wont reveal white bits.

Carl has been helping with all of these projects for once, probably has an ulterior motive in wanting me to make some 40k buildings!
Having cut out the windows and doors the walls are glued together. 


Card corner stonework added. 





Arched front piece added and card corners added. 







The brown render has been added. 

The back. 

First coat of masonry paint, Homebase toffee cream then Sandtex Ivory stone on top. 







Windows added with some open for variety and mounted on its base.



The walls added and textured with plaster used for the path. Roof sections added and Santex Hot brick brushed over a dark chocolate undercoat.





First dry brush of the roof and the garden walls with Toffee cream. Shutters added to windows.Texture added to the garden. This was simply dried out tea from tea bags. These have also been highlighted. 


Final highlight of Ivory stone with static grass and a couple of tables added.


The finished model with some rope hanging from the wall. 







I have done two of these, one for my own use and the second is on Ebay Link. Selling these duplicates helps fund new toys and a big order for Calpe is on the horizon together with an order to Mabuhay painting service for a brigade of Austrians which i just cant face painting!


This is similar to the villa i will be doing for my own use. This one has just been sold on Ebay so i need another for my own games.




I'll be doing updates for this during the week and hope to have it finished by Friday

Thanks for looking.

Mick