Lone Star British Paratroopers

 Using a Crescent anti-tank gun and slight conversions of some old Lone Star paras, I have created a bit of additional firepower for my 1/32 parachute regiment force:

ECW by Norman

 Norman recently sent me some more pictures from his vast collection of 1/32 scale figures.  In this case we have a force of Royalist troops forming a last ditch defence against a Parliamentary assault.  I think the figures are mostly from the 'A Call to Arms' range. Very fine they look too:

Parliamentary troops advance towards the town:

Royalist pikemen

Royalist cavalry emerge from the town gate:

Battle is joined:

More of Norman's Soldiers

 A few days ago Norman Paterson sent me some more pictures from his collection(s).  This time we are taken to the Napoleonic wars in Egypt, with 1/32 French infantry under attack from Mameluk cavalry.  They are all beautifully painted.  I think the infantry are Airfix and Armies in Plastic, while the cavalry are by Italeri. Enjoy:

More Jungle Fighters

 A few more Airfix 1/32 scale figures. At last I have acquired a Bren gunner figure, who is supported by two riflemen:

In addition I have a Japanese officer and another kneeling firing soldier:

All painted with speed paints in about four hours.

A Commotion Within the Shire

Now Cuthbert is a bad man, he and previous generations of his family, through theft, violence, forced marriage and swindles, have gained vast areas of the shire amassing huge wealth. However, Cuthbert was invited by the King to partake in the war in France, where he and other nobles formed a contingent of the English army.  While Cuthbert was away at war, his main rival and neighbour, Rupert, decided to move. After a few skirmishes much of the land taken by Cuthbert is recovered. However; Cuthbert soon learns of these developments and gains leave from the King to return to England.

On arrival at the shire Cuthbert is greeted by a small army consisting of aggrieved nobles and hired knights blocking his path along a low ridge.  Cuthbert deploys his men and the two forces prepare for battle. His forces are at the bottom of the table.

Both sides have a mixture of foot and mounted knights and men at arms, archers, Rupert also has some crossbows. Looking along Cuthbert's right flank:

And Rupert's left left:

The two leaders ride out to confer and decide on how the battle should be fought, but this soon breaks down into loud cursing and swearing:

The leaders return to their lines and Cuthbert orders his archers to deploy forwards:

There follows an exchange of fire and both sides take some casualties amongst their archers and crossbow men.

After a few volleys of bolts and arrows Cuthbert's cavalry move forwards on both flanks, feeling confident as they outnumber Rupert's mounted knights, the two sides clash:

A cavalry melee develops on both flanks and Rupert's men take more casualties, here is the other flank:

And Rupert's cavalry breaks:

As this is going on, the archers continue to fire and Cuthbert orders some of his foot soldiers to advance to take the high ground:

A bitter struggle ensues and initially Rupert has the edge, but more of Cuthbert's men join the fray:

Over on his right flank, seeing his cavalry turn tail, Rupert deploys some pikemen to deter the cavalry from turning his flank:

Only just in time as Cuthbert's knights storm up the slopes:

but, the horses are blown, and take many casualties fighting a wall of pikes uphill.

Cuthbert orders more of his infantry forwards and  a series of melees occur across the field; the crossbowmen are badly beaten and flee.

Then, Rupert's cavalry on his left flank break and this allows Cuthbert's knights to swing around the flank;

The mounted men sweep away Rupert's archers and in behind his lines:

At the same time riding at the head of his reserves, supported by his archers Cuthbert moves into the centre. Rupert decides that the day is lost and he and his knights flee the field. There will be terrible retribution at the hand of Cuthbert!

All figures are 1/32 scale. Cuthbert's troops are Britains Deetail, while Rupert commands a mix of herald, Revell, Italeri, Timpo and Accurate figures.  I borrowed the fast play rules from the internet, adding some morale and fire factors.

Britains Deetail French Imperial Guard

On occasions I get the urge to paint something different and I find painting larger scale figures quite satisfying.  I have good number of Britains 'Deetail' figures, that even in good condition look quite ropey and, although I should imagine serious collectors shudder at the thought, I like to paint mine so that they are more presentable.

I have enough French guards (with a few repairs) to form a wargames unit; so last weekend I decided to paint them.  This is the result:

The standard bearer is a converted line infantry officer:

This scrap line infantry figure has had a new pack added, a pom pom (from a map pin) and a new arm with musket and he has been painted as a line voltigeur:

Action on the Eastern Frontier - 1/32 Medieval Toy Soldiers

Having received warning of a large Ottoman raiding party moving up the valley on the very edge of Christendom, a small force of Holy Order Knights, led by Duke Frederick, deploy along a low ridge in an attempt to ward off the attack:

The force consists of two units of pike armed men-at-arms, two groups of archers, the Duke and his foot knights and a small band of mounted knights.

Moving up the valley is an Ottoman warlord with, two bands of heavy horsemen, archers, light infantry skirmishers and three groups of heavy infantry:

The battlefield is a narrow valley with the road running up the centre. The flanks consist of steep rocky hills covered in pine trees, that are impassible. The only avenue of attack is up the valley.

The Ottomans decide to demonstrate on their left by deploying their light troops and their archers moved up on the right to harass the right hill:

The archers, which are just out of range of the Christian archers begin to cause casualties amongst the defending troops:

The European archers concentrate on the advancing Ottoman skirmishers causing light casualties. Soon the skirmishers are in javelin range of the Christian men-at-arms  and cause some casualties. Not wishing to sit under fire the men-at-arms surge forward and slice into the lightly armed skirmishers:

However, coming up behind the Ottoman skirmishers is a group of heavy infantry, who charge into the fray forcing the Christian men-at-arms back:

A considerable melee ensues, with the Ottomans gaining the upper hand.

Meanwhile on the other side of the field the Ottoman archers continue to mow down the defending men-at-arms:

Who pull back out of range of the archers.

Now the Ottomans launch a second attack and infantry move up along the road:

However, as they advance they come under heavy fire from the Christian archers and after a few moves the attack falters and they pull back:

On the Ottoman left their infantry continue to push the Christians back (who have some rotten dice throws!) and soon the Ottomans are in reach of the ridge. Seeing the danger the Duke orders his mounted knights to counter-attack; they move into position:

But it is almost too late as the Christians are now falling back onto the ridge following more losses:

Just as they are about to collapse the Christian heavy horse arrive and smash into the Ottomans:

But, the effect of the cavalry is not great and the Ottomans continue to press forward. Also, the Ottoman warlord has spotted the Christian knights attack and he orders one of his cavalry units forward:

The Christian knights fail to stop the Ottoman infantry over running the defenders and soon the Ottoman infantry gain the hill and are in amongst the Christian archers:

To make matters worse the Ottoman cavalry now arrive and crash into the unformed Christian mounted knights, bringing down half their number:

Soon the hill falls to the Ottomans and the remnants of the Christian defenders fall back:

Meanwhile on the other side of the field the Ottoman archers move up to reduce the range of the Christians up on the hill; however the lose a large number of men in the process:

With the collapse of the Christians on the left, the Ottoman warlord senses victory is close. He personally leads his reserve cavalry forward and orders his fresh heavy infantry unit to advance on the right:

Back on the left the Ottomans, having gained the hill reorganise, then turn to attack the Christians in the flank, but a counter-attack, led by the Duke himself, cuts them down and they retreat:

The Duke withdraws back onto the ridge and awaits what he know will be the final onslaught. With the left-hand Ottoman cavalry reformed:

and a mass of infantry and cavalry advancing on the right, Duke Frederick prepares to make his last stand:

The end comes quickly, Ottoman horsemen smash into the Duke an his knights;

 while armoured infantry surge up the hill to overwhelm the pike men and archers:

And more cavalry sweep around the open flank into the defenceless archers:

It is over, the way is open for the Ottomans to sweep into Europe.