Looking Back...

2014 was a busy year! Early in the year I had the joy of seeing the publication of my first book with author credits... Donnybrook! Unfortunately, real life conspired to limit what I was able to do by way of support for the rules. They have proved popular nonetheless and in the spirit of the way the rules were intended, many gamers have taken them and made them their own, pushing them in other periods and tweaking rules to suit.

During the first three months of the year, I was heavily into the Lord of the Rings. Besides painting over 100 models, I actually got in a game! I have lots more models and I'd like to return to Middle Earth again in the future.

Games Workshop managed to grab a pile of cash from me in March with the release of the huge Imperial Knight kit. I bought five of 'em - but only managed to (mostly) paint two. Oh, well, I still have the other three...

While I was in 40k mode, I added two squads to my Death Korps of Krieg army.

Then during the last half of the year I managed to maintain focus on one project - The American War of Independence. I painted five battalions of infantry, three squadrons of cavalry, twenty-four skirmishers, two cannons, and four officer vignettes. I actually completed the goal I initially set for the collection (including three battalions of infantry I painted earlier) which is nearly unprecedented for me!

Happy New Year! I'll have another post in a few days with my plans for 2015...

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and your families the very best for the holiday season...

Stro'Knor Macekiller

I decided to start a new blog that focuses on my retro-mini (Oldhammer and Rogue Trader) collection...

Stro'Knor Macekiller

Renegade Miniatures

Renegade Miniatures is back and open for business...

Their site features a pile of ECW collection in their gallery page! It was kind of nice to see because I boxed these models up stored them in the garage. I haven't really missed them until seeing all of these photos! Their ECW models were among my favorite. The ranges are all not as complete as I would wish, but they fit in very well with Foundry (Dark Ages), Artizan (WW2), and Bicorne (ECW)... these three are based on my experience and I'm sure the other ranges fit in nicely as well and I highly recommend them.

AWI American Artillery

Here are the last of the combat units for my original goal for the American army...

I have limbers and a powder wagon to add at some point, but artillery wasn't as nimble in the AWI as in later periods. The limbers were usually civilian hires and their wagon teams were moved to the rear in fighting. It was not at all certain that they would come back if the battle was going against them! Limbers would be more useful in meeting engagements where the guns need to move onto the field.

I left the cannons loose on the base so I can swap out the guns for other calibers or use the same guns with the limbers. The Perry limbers actually come with their guns so if I can round up some loose artillerist models I can make two more stands - probably far more than I would need for most battles. I plan to add a pair of 40x40 stands to place behind these models to form a small artillery park with drag men, spare equipment, crates, etc.

Brigadier General Daniel Morgan

Finally we come to the commander-in-chief of my little army, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan and a couple of his loyal rifles...

I am nearing rarified air - actually reaching the goal I set for a historical army! In a few days I will finish it off with a couple of guns, a summary of the American collection, and a plan for the British going forward!

Colonel William Washington

Here is the commander for my mounted brigade, Colonel William Washington (though he might not always represent the esteemed colonel in fictional scenarios)!

It may also be more accurate to field the mounted elements of the army without a brigade commander as these were often in reserve under the direct command of the commander-in-chief, but I like the idea of having the famous colonel represented on the table!

AWI Skirmishers 06

Ok, 24 models in six days! Here are group shots of the two 12-model units...

I'd actually like to expand this part of the collection to 24 militia and 24 uniformed models, possibly with some light infantry uniforms mixed in. However, this is plenty for now.

Up next, a couple more commanders and a pair of cannons!

AWI Skirmishers 05

AWI Skirmishers 04

AWI Skirmishers 03

AWI Skirmishers 02

AWI Skirmishers 01

The initial goal for my skirmishers is 24 models. Before starting on the last few units, I culled though my lead pile and found 24 unique sculpts to form my 'light battalion'.

These models are not meant to represent any particular unit and will be fielded in groups of 6-20 depending on the scenario. I can also use these models for a true skirmish game!

South Carolina Militia

Whew! I managed to paint four infantry battalions in October! My infantry collection is up to three Continental battalions and five militia battalions, each of four stands. I can combine these is different ways to vary the number of battalions and size of the units depending on the rules and/or scenario. I think one of keys to maintaining my focus on one period for the last few months has been the variety of troops in the project. I don't think I could have painted as many models if they had all been in the same uniform.

I have some skirmishers, a couple of cannons, and a few more commanders planned for November and then I hope to start on the loyal subjects of King George! The plan for Brits are similarly varied with Highlanders, British Legion, Light Infantry, etc. Once I get enough units for Cowpens I might actually get in a game!

AWI Militia 04

AWI Militia 03

AWI Militia 02

AWI Militia 01

This will be my fifth and final unit (for now) of American militia. The pose of these models made it hard to fit more than four on the stand so I'll cram six on the next one!

Virginia State Infantry

One more unit next week... more militia!

Virginia State Infantry 04

Finished unit tomorrow...

Virginia State Infantry 03

Virginia State Infantry 02

Virginia State Infantry 01

As I mentioned last week, I really liked the scheme of blue and red coat, red vest, and blue trousers that I used on a few models in an earlier unit. Several sources show a Virginia State Infantry regiment in this combination.

This stand is also the 'transitional' base I mentioned that will match up nicely with the militia stand where I mixed in some hunting shirts, giving me a great amount of flexibility in arranging units.

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Another Commander

With all of this infantry, I thought I might need another brigade commander!

I painted this model in a way that I might use him to command a brigade of Continentals or militia.

AWI South Carolina Militia

Done and dusted!

Regular readers are sick or hearing this, but in case you've just stumbled on the blog, my flags are designed to be easily removed and replaced. This unit can be used for any militia, ragged Continentals, or even loyalists with a quick flag swap!

After painting so many units, I am running our of unique command models. I had a pack of Wargames Foundry command that I must have purchased ten years ago (?) so I grabbed an officer model from that pack. Obviously sculpted by the Perrys, it fits in well. The Foundry models are a little shorter and a little stockier than the modern Perry minis, but not appreciably so... I'll call him Colonel Stubby!

Right! I'm on a roll. The next unit has already been mounted on painting stands and undercoated. I liked the color scheme on these models so much that I decided to paint a unit (mostly) uniformed in that manner.

Stay tuned!

AWI Militia 04

... and here's the stand of hunting shirts mixed in (on the left). The Continental unit will have a stand of three mixed with uniformed models and will be perfect to allow me to seamlessly bulk up either unit!

The command stand will be finished by tomorrow!

AWI Militia 03

Only one more stand to go!

AWI Militia 02

I want this unit to blend both with the marching battalion I painted a few years ago (2011!) and a uniformed unit that I plan on painting next week. You can see the uniform creeping in here and I'm going to paint some models in hunting shirts (which I will also sprinkle into the uniformed unit next).

AWI Militia 01

Right - here we ago again, this time with a militia unit.

Meeples & Miniatures

Neil Shuck and Mike Hobbs over at Meeples & Miniatures have featured Donnybrook on episode 133 of their podcast. The Donnybrook bit starts about 40 minutes in, but the entire episode (as well as the 132 before it) are entertaining and well worth a listen!

Thanks for the review, guys!

AWI Continental Line Infantry Battalion

Whew! Five stands in five days including counting the bity command stand, but it had the extra work of the flag!

This gives me two battalions of Continentals and three militia. Of course, these models could be state troops or even uniformed militia with a flag swap. Next week I will try to finish another militia battalion!

AWI Continental Line Infantry 04

Command stand and the finished unit tomorrow!

AWI Continental Line Infantry 03

AWI Continental Line Infantry 02

Note the mix of civilians to allow some stands to be combined with militia stands to form different size units...

AWI Continental Line Infantry 01

These posts will be short. I plan on posting an update each time I finish a stand of models...

Starting off...

Follow Me!

Two quick hits for my AWI Americans...

These gentlemen will serve as brigade commanders, one for the Continentals and one for the militia. The top figure is the exclusive Perry model I got when I pre-ordered the Rebellion! Black Powder supplement. I plan on adding one more, which is probably more than I'll need for my little army, plus a mounted officer to lead my cavalry brigade.