TLC administered

 Started work on some figures today- click on photos to read captions.

Hard times of olde Albion..

 It can difficult  to be on guard duty in Lundenburh, Albion this time of year...

A virtual derive in Massachusetts

 Yesterday morning I had a wander through Massachusetts archives. It was most enjoyable and provided inspiration for the current figures I am working on. Time just gets devoured in such a venture and I realised I had spent over ninety minutes over coffee.  I wander about and find inspiration from my wanderings , often an image is worth a hundred words. 

My favourite was this painting of The Boston Lancers-

A couple of these splendid gentlemen are currently on the painting table. I liked the inclusion of the civilians in the painting too. Maybe I ought to invest in a couple of such figures...

Below are another couple of units currently being converted.

 

Little battle with Big Wars

 On the table set up to play today or tomorrow...

Making progress

 I have been making some progress with irregulars troops to serve Army Star Spangled or Maple Leaf Country. The battered toy soldiers were mended with matchsticks, masking tape and glue ( sounds like something the mice in Bagpuss would use) and are currently undergoing painting-

Here they were as they arrived with the conversions begun  , in a sorry state but filled with potential for gaming. Arms have been added to the standing cowboys and the matchsticks and taping begun.

Albion Cyclist Volunteer Rifle Corps

 Been working on these over the weekend...

J

Recent Recruits

 I have been fortunate to win some eBay bids recently. Here are a few figures I managed to get-

I bought these (along with some useful but not too exciting interwar infantry for Albion and Maple Leaf Country which I haven’t photographed) firstly because I really wanted a Royal Company of Archers figure to be a bodyguard for the Albion Monarch. I had bid unsuccessfully on some quite a few times. Secondly because the figures with axes ( sappers) intrigued me and  would work well in the woods of Maple Leaf Country too. Thirdly the Omdurman period (?) infantryman looked like a well animated and painted toy soldier. I have photographed the bases as I wonder what make they are. Any ideas?

Finally a challenge! These very battered figures will need loads of work before they can fight again. I wondered when I first saw them if they were just too badly damaged. Anyway I will see what I can do over the coming weeks...

 

Swiss Sharpshooters Company , San Francisco 1870

 Some further conversions, this time in the form of an independent military company ( an organised militia unit that is not part of the National Guard or part of the official California State organisation)  from San Francisco- The Swiss Sharpshooters. The photo and painting is from around 1870. 

This represents one of dozens of such units in the County, often organised from ethnic groups, for example, Swiss, German or French.

Further conversions...

 Using the cut off heads with HaT bodies- 

Yet more National Guardsmen for Army Star Spangled 

Yaegers! Another unit for Army Star Spangled

 Here is a unit for Army Star Spangled. It is the California Jaeger ( which I found referred to as yaegers in some documents) Company from the first half of the 1870s. I found these pictures on which to base the conversions below. I felt that some skirmish or light infantry were needed to be recruited. They are Britains plastics with metal replacement heads.

102nd Cavalry Regiment, New Jersey National Guard 1930s Army Star Spangled

 Been converting and painting today in 54mm  as the wind howls round outside. New heads added to old toy soldiers. Beginning of Army Star Spangled of the early 1930s.

I am pleased with how they have turned out. Good toy soldier feel finished off with shiny varnish. Next task is to look for uniform information and photos of the Canadian Army of the period including the Canadian Militia...

Don’t stop the cavalry or On the Border 1880s

 Relations are not currently good between Maple Leaf Country ( Albion’s favourite daughter) and the Star Spangled Republic. Cross border incursions and skirmishes have been rife of late leading to tensions in both these neighbours. Army Star Spangled has mobilised the National Guard and regular troops also. Albion has sent some cavalry to the border to defend Maple Leaf Country and deter further invasions. Advance guards of both armies are about to run into each other in the forest that the border runs through .

The 2nd regiment of Alabama state troops and accompanying cavalry are about to encounter opposition...

Simple toy soldier conversions using head swops, replacement metal arms and paint jobs. Working on more National Guard figures currently, hopefully they will feature in the next game. This is the first time I used the new cloth with larger squares.

Starting work on Army Star Spangled...

 Started on Army Star Spangled today. Head swops and use of metal replacement heads too. A couple of dismounted cavalry, Alabama National Guard and New York National Guard. I also ordered some heads from Dorset Toy Soldiers before breakfast. So far so good.

Army Star Spangled or opposition for Maple Leaf Country & Albion

 Recently I had been thinking about another country to add in with Albion and Maple Leaf Country as an opponent. This , as some of you may recall, is a 54mm toy soldier ongoing project. The idea is to use old toy soldiers, convert some and maybe a few recasts. Anyone I was researching American uniforms of the later nineteenth century, particularly dress uniforms of the National Guard. I was aided in this by the fantastic prints from the Company of Military Historians -http://www.military-historians.org/company/plates/images/postCWUS.htm#z available on line ( I have a volume of their prints of the FIW and AWI bought in London 1986 which is a terrific book) and some books of my own-

Notes were taken and ideas pondered upon. I was also helped by a splendid new blog https://wargamingwith54mmtoysoldiers.blogspot.com/search/label/United%20States%20Infantry%20c.1880which shows what can be done with Britains guardsmen etc. I am looking forward to getting some eBay Britains and Dorset Toy soldiers heads and the fun can start. I was amazed at the variety of American uniforms in the prints. Loads of conversions asking to be worked on!

North Albion troops on parade

Finally finished my 54mm North Albion troops yesterday with a coating of pva to add shininess. They have been worked with on and off for ages. All have been given new paint jobs ( apart from three pipers etc) and quite a few required new rifles, legs and bases etc. They have come up well. Any suggestions for their deployment most welcome...

Converting and basing for 1549 in 40mm

Today I have been doing some background reading for my Landsknechts in Devon project . As well as that I have been working on converting some figures-

With the 40mm figures above I have used some bows and arrow bags from a Perry Miniatures late Medieval sprue. I think they do look in case so far but the proof will be in the finished items when painted.

I based and textured the Landsknechts etc and here they are drying.

The Helion book is a compelling and fascinating read and I would recommend it to those interested in 16th Century history and warfare. Helion are producing some excellent books ( and have done so for some time ) and are deserving of our support.

Inspiration and washers.