I admire those wargamers who are not butterflies like me. They inspire us by their discipline and single mindedness. I am not one of those, l flit from wee project to wee project, sometimes getting there.
This being a significant anniversary in the life of the Duchy of Tradgardland I decided that it was high time to see where the Duchy is in the latter part of the eighteenth century. So with numerous scribblings on the back of metaphorical fag packets made here are some thoughts and concrete plans-
Scale:28mm
Unit sizes : bigger infantry units 40- 50 figures, smaller units around 24- 30
1790- I have always loved , since l saw them in a uniforms of the world type book as a boy, the Swedish and Russian uniforms of around 1788 with their comic opera style. I also want to use uniform information l have on Norwegian uniforms of the period .
Painting: majority being done by professional painters, a few bits n bobs/ wee units/ personalities by me.
Flags : commissioned from David ( https://nba-sywtemplates.blogspot.com/) partially based on ideas of mine from fifteen years ago.
When : set in a Tradgardland winter.
What : civil war with intervention rages in Tradgardland
Who : A dispute between brothers as to who is the rightful Duke.
Where : mainly set in the Smaaland province of Tradgardland
And that’s it for now ! Comments and ideas please ( if you can due to blogger) and more updates soon…
Always happy to see someone doing something different especially in terms of unusual uniforms which has drawn me to the 1830s bell-topped shako era - though as like you I am also lured by the siren flutterings of butterflies I am easily led astray when it comes to painting projects.
ReplyDeleteStephen
Going off piste period wise is always fun. Bell topped Shakos are terrific fun too. Sometimes l think one can lose too much energy and time fretting about unfinished projects.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
I can only admire the younger self who would devote himself to a single period and project, steadily building the army unit by unit, with any reading focussed on the same period. I forget when the butterfly first flapped its wings, probably when available finances increased to the point where it was possible to afford more than one project. It's very easy to buy more than you can paint.....
ReplyDeleteI have not yet used painting services; instead I'm exploring faster painting methods (Contrast paints and washes) on figures that wil allow.
Neil
I am very new to painting services but sometimes it is the only way , for me, to get complicated figures painted or to take a period forward. It is not cheap but the painters deserve a fair wage for their work. What I am trying to do is to paint so my figures can blend in with professional ones without a glaring difference. I am trying washes too btw.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
This all sounds very interesting and I hope to follow steady progress hence forward. I won't ever pay someone else to paint my figures...I am too poor/mean......a friend paints for a living basically, with two or three regular customers who keep him busy six to eight hours per day fir as many days per week as he cares to dedicate to it. He charges about £5 per figure ...which is cheap I think, by accepted rates...but I can paint them myself and spend that £5 on more unpainted additions to my armies!
ReplyDeleteI thought I would never go down this route but I am realistic enough to realise that it can be the only way for me to realise my imaginations dreams. It is a luxury l admit but l am fortunate to be able to do this whilst cutting back on other things. The Duchy has been a place to go through difficult times, an escape, a refuge. It has also been a catalyst for projects, friendship and inspiration.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Interesting project. I keep trying to focus on just my ImagiNation to try and get it 'finished' and currently having quite a good run of painting. I really need to sort out maps and background and then play something. But I want to do fancy hand drawn maps so will probably waste weeks planning that and then give up...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the project.
A
I am not artistic at all, unlike my late wife and two thirds of my daughters, but like to scribble maps and plans. I try not to compare mine to others or fear frustrated but it can be difficult to do so. Good to hear about your run of painting and I look forward to hearing of your games.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
A very interesting project and looking forward to seeing where it takes you. I am trying to focus my projects on 18th century only but it is hard not to flit onto other things!! Never used anyone to paint tuff for me but I can see the advantages of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Painters do have their place in the hobby . Hope the eighteenth century focus goes well.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
That’s an interesting alternative period. I agree on the respective uniforms of the Swedes and Russians. I particularly like the Potemkin style hats. As well as looking different, Duffy in Russia’s Military Wsy to the West reckoned it was more practical than the traditional Frederician uniform which the Russians had before and after this brief period.
ReplyDeleteChris/Nundanket
Very interesting nugget from Duffy. I read the book years ago but have never owned it. It was a blip, flash in the pan, uniform wise but an interesting one. I can’t imagine the Swedish uniforms were terribly practical but I may be wrong…
DeleteI read recently, can’t recall where, that the Russians converted all their cavalry to dragoons around this period. I would like to know more…
Alan Tradgardland
Sounds like an intriguing project !
ReplyDeleteThanks, l do hope others will enjoy reading about it.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
An interesting idea.. If you want, I can send you an electronic copy of Ulanov's book on the form of the Russian Army for the 1700s (from the reforms of Peter 1 to the beginning of the reign of Alexander 1). True, it is exclusively in Russian.
ReplyDeleteThanks. A kind offer but l would not be able to read it.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
I am guilty of too many ideas and not enough motivation to see them through before the next shiny thing comes along. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMe too, to the nth degree. Thanks!
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Sounds like fun! Good luck on it; I totally sympathize with the "hobby butterfly" affliction, which at the moment is torn between the Great Game at home and ACW at work. Totally ignoring the ACW and Jacobit projects I have on the burner, plus a collection of Mutiny figures on the way!
ReplyDeleteThe joy of diving off piste to a new hobby obsession. Something we all enjoy. Embrace and enjoy the new period.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Ah, the Wargames butterfly. I too have admiration for people who are not distracted by shiny toys, new rules, new periods and scales.
ReplyDeleteIt’s just not me.
Such ‘Discipline’ and the idea of a relaxing hobby somehow don’t always seem to go together.
I do like your last sentence, very true. It is not me either.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
For me, projects help make life more tolerable! LOL! If I complete them, outstanding. If not, that' okay to since I return and pick up where I left off from time to time and enjoy myself. This is great stuff from a period I'm unfamiliar with. Best of luck with this, I look forward to hearing more in the future!
ReplyDelete