Painted Russians!
I finally had some hobby time today, so here it is- a finished stand of Russians!
A 10 pdr. Licorne of Horse Battery #8 ready to do some GBH to the French. Front Rank miniatures, and a joy they were indeed to paint. These are some of their best figures in my opinion.
The brave (if rapacious) Count Bricoloff is a conversion- head of a Russian dragoon added to the body of a Prussian general officer from Front Rank's SYW Frederick the Great vignette. I'm quite happy with it, and the cloak was a lot of fun to paint.
One gun model is fine for the Black Powder rules. Only five more models to do, and I'll have a full battery for Republic to Empire!
The green coats are a little lighter than they should be. The Russian green was a very dark shade. But as with my French, I find that in 28mm I need to make allowances for scale colour, and to lighten the shade somewhat. Otherwise the figures end up looking too dark on the tabletop.
The gun is already a veteran, as I fielded it (although with a "naked" base) for our first Black Powder game that we played last week. It was a hard-fought encounter between the British and the French, and while the French were victorious in the end, it was extremely close- a bloodbath for both sides. But it must be said that it would have been much more of a walkover for les Crapauds had it not been for the excellent performance of the Russian Horse Artillery, in fact the only artillery piece in the game.
For the longest time, the beleaguered licorne passed all its break point rolls, and pretty much devastated what had been up to then a successful French attack on the centre of the British line. It halted one infantry battalion rendering it incapable of any further offensive action, and proceeded to savage another which promptly high-tailed it off the field.
To top things off, the gun then went on to destroy a regiment of Chasseurs au Cheval. By this time the French were desperate to take out the Russian battery, so the French commanding general ordered the cavalry to charge in what proved to be a suicidal frontal attack. Les beaux sabreurs hurled themselves at the gun, only to be decimated and utterly broken in just one turn. Urrah!
The licorne finally met its end when it received a flanking volley from French infantry, but by then it had almost single-handedly plunged the French plans into ruins.*
The Tsar would have been well pleased with the performance of the 8th Horse Artillery. The Russians more than justified the British subsidy!
* (Unfortunately, I was the commanding the French! )
A 10 pdr. Licorne of Horse Battery #8 ready to do some GBH to the French. Front Rank miniatures, and a joy they were indeed to paint. These are some of their best figures in my opinion.
Notice that the Czar's representative, Count Anatoly Maximovitch Bricoloff, observes the proceedings along with the British liaison officer, Major Bartholomew Fetlock-Withers (MP), 3rd Lord Nosebridle.
Seconded from His Britannic Majesty's 36th Regiment of Foot to serve on the staff of the Army of Silesia, the major is here to ensure that both King George and Parliament are getting the biggest "bang" for their subsidy guineas- and that the funds earmarked for outfitting the battery do not surreptitiously end up being channelled into cases of vodka.
The brave (if rapacious) Count Bricoloff is a conversion- head of a Russian dragoon added to the body of a Prussian general officer from Front Rank's SYW Frederick the Great vignette. I'm quite happy with it, and the cloak was a lot of fun to paint.
Ready to dispense death and destruction on Bonaparte's hordes.
One gun model is fine for the Black Powder rules. Only five more models to do, and I'll have a full battery for Republic to Empire!
The green coats are a little lighter than they should be. The Russian green was a very dark shade. But as with my French, I find that in 28mm I need to make allowances for scale colour, and to lighten the shade somewhat. Otherwise the figures end up looking too dark on the tabletop.
The gun is already a veteran, as I fielded it (although with a "naked" base) for our first Black Powder game that we played last week. It was a hard-fought encounter between the British and the French, and while the French were victorious in the end, it was extremely close- a bloodbath for both sides. But it must be said that it would have been much more of a walkover for les Crapauds had it not been for the excellent performance of the Russian Horse Artillery, in fact the only artillery piece in the game.
For the longest time, the beleaguered licorne passed all its break point rolls, and pretty much devastated what had been up to then a successful French attack on the centre of the British line. It halted one infantry battalion rendering it incapable of any further offensive action, and proceeded to savage another which promptly high-tailed it off the field.
To top things off, the gun then went on to destroy a regiment of Chasseurs au Cheval. By this time the French were desperate to take out the Russian battery, so the French commanding general ordered the cavalry to charge in what proved to be a suicidal frontal attack. Les beaux sabreurs hurled themselves at the gun, only to be decimated and utterly broken in just one turn. Urrah!
The licorne finally met its end when it received a flanking volley from French infantry, but by then it had almost single-handedly plunged the French plans into ruins.*
The Tsar would have been well pleased with the performance of the 8th Horse Artillery. The Russians more than justified the British subsidy!
* (Unfortunately, I was the commanding the French! )
Labels:
Horse artillery
3 comments:
Great to see your gun all finished off Robert and that you were able to put it straight into action at your club. I'm looking forward to using my own 6 gun horse battery.
A nice touch with the British Officer making a guest appearance.
I understand why you have went a little lighter with the Russian uniforms. I have done the same with my Prussians and Russians. In our scales the highlights on the darks can be a killer to see.
Regards
Paul
The FR Russian Horse Arty Licorne & crew have turned out superbly. I agree with your comment about the dark green jackets needing to be highlighted with a lighter shade but a very diluted black ink wash also has the effect of upping the contrast.
Love the British liaison officer and his Russian companion - that cloak looks fantastic!
Cheers,
Doc
What a beautiful artillery piece and crew. I can't believe I missed these on the internet. Your painting technique blends the models together seemlessly.
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