WIP 15mm Polish Winged Hussars

 As part of my ongoing triage, I came across three zip locked baggies containing some 15mm Polish Winged Hussars. I am unsure of the brand but they have the look of Essex Miniatures. They were from the collection of Joseph Lappin, and have been sitting in a storage box for far too long. 

A jumbled mix of figures from a baggie has enough for 2 elements of Wing Hussars. I have 18 figures in total that I am working on.

I wonder if the figures were originally Joseph's to begin with. 

I have memories of sitting at one of the chess tables in the Halifax Public Gardens in the summer of 1976 or 1977 painting figures along side Charles Gallagher. Charles was a larger than life character, unofficial leader of our gaming circle in the mid 1970s and a mentor to many of us as we discovered the joys of miniature wargaming in the early 70s. I clearly recall him painting some Winged Hussars that day. Charles unfortunately passed away in an auto accident before the decade was over. It was to Joseph, that fell the task of dealing with Charles' estate. 

Montreal Saga Grande Mélee 2025

 Yesterday, our local group had our annual Saga tournament. Our local local pool was joined players  from both the Quebec City and Ottawa-Gatineau area. Two of our local players had to withdraw earlier in the week for personal reasons. In all we had seven active tables, 

The tournament was in three rounds with massacre points accumulated to provide a final point tally,  Each round for each table produced a winner and a loser. Twenty scoring points was available for each matched pair, based upon your overall difference in massacre points. I suffered a serious loss (19 to 1), a victory (14 to 6) and a final defeat (11 to 9).

As well as honour and bragging rights we were fighting for trophies this day.

Last place and best painted army voted by participants and staff

The top three point scorers, Gold, Silver and Bronze

The schedule for the day

9:00 Ouverture des portes

9:30 – 12:00 Ronde 1 (Terre sacrée/Sacred Ground)

I was defeated this round by the winner of both this and last year's tournament. I couldn't roll a save if my life depended upon it. I faced Karl and his Burgundians.

13:00 – 15:30 Ronde 2 (Brandissez vos bannières!Raise the Banners)

This photo was taken before we had completed our initial setup. Alex had only placed his Warlord and 3 points of his Free Companies. I as second player finished my setup. Overall, the dice gods give and the dice gods take away. Alex had the same problem with his saving throws that I had suffered in my first game. My sole win of the day.

15:45 – 18:15 Ronde 3 (Le combat des chefs/Clash of Warlords)

The final round of the day is Clash of Warlords. Again this photo was taken before our deployment was completed. I had yet to place my Mounted Warriors. This was a very close game. Gavin with his Scots won with 22 massacre points versus the 20 points I accumulated again him. At end of the match I was still able to roll two Saga dice, while Gavin could manage three 

TARDIS? - SAGA - Objective Marker???

 Another possible idea for an  objective marker. The figure for scale. Is this the legendary blue box that travels through time and space? It might explain what has happened to some of my mail. As for the Doctor he might even be the real McCoy.

A tongue and cheek view of a TARDIS

TARDIS appears in

SAGA - Objective Markers

 These are some objective markers that I painted up for possible use at the Montreal Saga Grand Melee event being held this upcoming Saturday (Nov 22nd). Three of them are the set FMT4 Hidden Lairs which I purchase from North Star Military Figures. The fourth was part of Bob Murch's the Masters of Devil Reef. They are part of the Cthulhu 28s Line and was included with the Kickstarter campaign. It may be available on its own but I do not know if that is the case or not. A sample archer from Claymore Castings is included for scale.

FMT4 - Hidden Lairs

Cthulhu 28s Line - Statue 

SAGA - Levy Archers - Claymore Castings Completed

 This is the third unit of 12 levy archers from Claymore Castings that I completed. They are for use with both my Age of Chivalry Scots or various English factions. I used some Kraurtcover Scenics Meadows of Purity and Army Painter Battlefields Highland Tuft for the bases. I am very happy with the look.

WIP SAGA - Levy Archers - Claymore Castings

 This afternoon on my Discord Paint and Chat I put the push on to produce a third unit of Levy Archers. They will be needed for next weekend's SAGA Grand Melee here in Montreal. The figures are from Claymore Castings.

WIP SAGA Arthurian Warband

Last year I purchased an unpainted Arthurian warband second hand. However it came without any horses for the calvary. I had tried various solutions including some Persian plastic horses that I had stored away but nothing meant with my satisfaction. In the end since the figures originated with Gripping Beast I wrote to the source and they were willing to sell me the horses separately .During today's  Paint and Chat I initiated work on them.

As well this week I got another dozen trees based and ready for the tabletop.  The forest is complete.

Since taking this photo the bases were completed. Brown texture paint, two types of flocking and some long grass tuffs were added.

Gaelic Warband Chariots

 Today I received three completed Victrix Miniature Celtic Chariots. These figures upgun both my SAGA warband or Clash of Spears forces. A happy addition.

 

MTB05 - British Regular Army (French & Indian War) Part 2

Thursday night was a game night with our local club. Graham delivered the 2nd installment of the British forces to me for Muskets and Tomahawks, Six Highlanders and six American colonial militia figures. I asked that the Highlanders be painted as the 42nd Regiment with Blue facings. The unit was briefly deployed to Halifax in 1757. As always Graham did a superb job on the figures.

42th Regiment of Foot

Colonial Militia from Boston sitting fire to stores in Acadia

I added the comment about the Colonial Militia in recognition of how my family arrived in Nova Scotia. In 1758 Captain John Hinckley and his sons were part of the American colonial forces that marched from Annapolis Royal to the fortress of Louisbourg. They were part of the garrison who came to  demolish the great fortress while the troops of the regular army were redeployed to take part in the siege of Quebec. The expulsion of the Acadian had taken place in 1755. The remains of their settlements still doted the countryside. In 1759 a young John Hinckley (son of the Captain) was one of about 20 settlers who came up from Massachusetts to settle in what is now Truro, NS. The hard work of clearing the land having been achieved almost 150 years previously. 

My source is the History and genealogy of the Hingley Family in Nova Scotia by A. E. Marble published in 1966

GF9 - Small Autumn Wood

 Last November Tistaminis sponsored our Saga Tournament (SAGA Montreal Grand Melee).  Using the discount they offered the participants I purchased some Gale Force Nine products. Amount them were some much needed terrain. I assembled the Small Autumn Wood today to see how they looked.  Nine trees of various heights and colours to represent the autumn season.

Who is advancing through the woods? More about them tomorrow.

If an Artillery Barrage

falls in the woods does anyone hear it? The last couple of evening I've just been touching up some simple terrain pieces. A dozen trees, basing them for ease of transport and stability on the gaming table. Plus a rock face to serve as for a difficult terrain piece. I have no idea where these pieces originated but they've been in storage a few years. Now that I am actually playing again I had to dig them out. Hopefully this weekend I will find my river.

Smoke and flame in the mix.

Gaelic Forces Arrived

The last eight days have been non-productive as far as gaming has been concerned. The only thing that was accomplished was the addition to a Gaelic force that I saw for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Last year when I was out east (Halifax)) I ordered a copy of the  Infamy Infamy rules from Too Fat Lardies.  

When I saw these figures on Facebook marketplace I immediately thought they would be a perfect match against my Romans for Infamy Infamy as well as a solid start for an Art de la Guerre Gaelic army. The Montreal club is planning a Too Fat Lardies day in January and I now hope to make a contribution with an  Infamy Infamy game. 

All photos taken by the seller.

The total was 88 figures based as12 elements of six various Gaelic warriors on 60mm bases, and another 16 slingers based as 4 figures per 60mm circular skirmish elements. I believe the seller told me the figures were by 1st Corps. The only thing I contributed to this army was the addition of Magnetic base bottoms from Litko Game Accessories.

 

25mm Roman Marines

 This was a second unit from the army of Jef Lauzon. My guess that the source of these figures was originally Minifigs. They have been rebased for any number of skirmish style gaming, such as SAGA, Clash of Spears or Dragon Rampant. In their previous life they were ready for action in any number of WRG/DBX formats. The figures soaked for a week in water to facilitate the debasing process. After a week, they just lifted off their previous base. I did a touch up on the shield as the white trim was flacking off.

Flacking white trim on the shields.

Above two photos showing the effects of the restoration program.

Warg Riders - Lord of the Rings

 I have slowly been building up my Orc army using both the old Harlequin line and Games Workshop. Our local club has started a monthly Age of Magic night and I hope to be able to throw together a respectable Orc warband. I hired the services of a local painter to help with the backlog and he rapidly completed 15 Warg Riders. Three are metal and the other 12 plastic, all from Games Workshop.

The three in front are the old metal figures.

 

MTB05 - British Regular Army (French & Indian War)

 Last May at Cangames in Ottawa I picked up a 300 point British Army designed to be used in Muskets & Tomahawks II. The figures are by North Star Military Figures. I was introduced to the game last year at the Montreal Historical Wargaming Club and liked the scale. The price was right and the figures were purchased from a dealer at the con.  I was fortunate enough to engage the services of a skilled, local painter and last Sunday he delivered the first 12 figures to me. 

MTB05 - British Regular Army (French & Indian War)
Purchases from Centuries Historical Miniatures & Tabletop Gaming.

Here are the figures with the rest of the rest of the loot I picked up in May. I came home with far less than I brought for sale and was happy with the trade off.

For the British regular units I asked that they be painted as the 15th Regiment of Foot. 15th Foot – Buff facings, white lace. (Louisburg, Plains of Abraham, Montreal).  The main reason was they were garrisoned in Halifax at the start (1758) of the French and Indians wars. Graham did not disappoint and the figures look fantastic. Photos below of 8 true men of the 15th Foot and 4 reliable Mohawks.

The total contents of the box are listed one the North Star website as

MTB05 - British Regular Army (French & Indian War)

This is a 300 point army designed to be used in Muskets & Tomahawks II.

The British Regular Army contains:

1x British Officer

2x British Regulars units (8 figures each)

1x British Light Infantry unit (Highlanders) (6 figures)

1x Indian Unit (4 figures) - includes a unique Indian figure not available to buy elsewhere.

1x Colonial Militia Unit (6 figures)

Clash of Spears - October 5th

Yesterday was my intro to  Clash of Spears. Although I had supported the game through Kickstarter it was the first time I played. Six players spent an enjoyable afternoon. Three newbies were each paired with a veteran player. 

Numidian won against the newbie Ligurian tribe.

Carthaginians beat a newbie with the Romans

I bested a Gaelic warband. It was very much a learning game and my opponent was an understanding teacher. I definitely look forward to playing again. With time to read the rules with a better understanding of the game mechanisms.

 

WIP - Numidian Field Force - New Directions Part 4

The second unit of Javelin men is now finished and what will pass as my command stand is drying under the lights. Everyone goes into action in about three hours time. Wish me luck.

2nd Unit of Javelin men ready for action.

 

Command Stand drying under the lights

WIP - Numidian Field Force - New Directions Part 3

 Work continues to get my Numidians ready for action for Sunday's Clash of Spears gameday, A quick photo of the first unit of infantry.

Numidian Spearmen.

The 2nd unit is still being worked upon. In the background of the first photo below are the crew of an elephant also being painted. It is part of a Greek Warband for SAGA.