Tabletop Workbench Dez. 2023

 Zum Jahreswechsel ein paar Schnappschüsse vom Maltisch Ende 2023.

Bemalt: russische 2. Grenadiere mit Batallionsfahnen und Trautmannsdorf Kürassiere für die Reichsarmee bzw. die Habsburger

 

In Vorbereitung fürs Grundieren: die restlichen Trautmannsdorf Kürassiere und einpaar russische Panduren oder Kosaken

Fertig lackiert und verpackt als Weihnachtsgeschenk für meinen Patensohn, mit dem ich die Figuren angemalt habe: die aktuellen Blood Bowl Zwerge.

Nur im Zeitlupentempo gehts voran für meine WH40K Wüstenkämpfer, aber ein oder zwei Malabende hatte ich 2023 doch reingesteckt.

Workbench February 2023

For my flats pojects, I recently took stock where I am and where to go next. At the moment I have lots of units started or half finished, so not many results to show but all the more items in process.

The big units coming slong bit by bit are the first Russian infantry. Here you can see some of the first finished batallions (2nd Moscow regiment) and, still unbased, the first half bst. of 2nd Grenadiers, patiently waiting to be completed.

The next batch of Russian Grenadiers just came off the paintline, so the first batallion is nearly complete (and the lonely drummer of the 2nd bat. is waiting for his comrades).

And here's the pipeline for the next few painting evenings.

Top: Hessen-Darmstadt, nearly painted.

Bottom left: Russian Grenadiers and Austrian Cuirassiers waiting to be washed and primed

Bottom right: more Russian Grenadiers patiently waiting to leave their cardboard box and see the light of day.

My other projects (WH40K, Rapture) are on hold, I can't get over the "writer's block" to pick up the next mini. The flats are somehow easier to design and paint, so I'll stick to them for now.

Flachfiguren: die ersten Russen

Der Plan ist schon uralt, aber jetzt ist tatsächlich das erste Batallion russische Infantrie fertiggeworden, das 2. Moskau. 

Ich möchte Schlachten aus dem (Spät-) Sommer wie Zinna, Paltzig und Korbitz nachstellen, daher hab ich für die Sommeruniform entschieden. Also nicht die "übliche" Optik in dunkelgrün, sondern (langärmlige) rote Westen. Zusammen mit den roten Hosen ergibt sich damit eine sehr eigene Optik, die ich vorher so gar nicht kannte.

Obwohl bei kronoskaf für die Linieninfantrie steht, dass jedes Batallion eine Leibfahne führte, gehe ich auch für die regulären Musketiere nach anderen Quellen, und gehe von einer Leibfahne pro Regiment beim ersten Batallion aus.

Das sind nochmal Figuren von Grünewald, für Grenadiere in Sommerweste hat Grünewald mal Formen gehabt, jetzt aber weitergegeben, daher gehe ich dafür zu anderen Anbietern.

Workbench January 2022

Over the Christmas vacation I made zero progress on my tabletop projects. But my last  workbench update was long enough ago, and I did some small things since the vacation ended, so here are some small steps forward.

For my SYW flats, the 2nd batallion Ernestinisch Sachsen, with its mix of companies and uniforms representing several different small principalities, is now painted and ready for varnishing and basing. NB that the flags are pure fantasy, based on random internet finds of Saxonian coats of arms from the general region and from centuries before and after the 18th.

2nd bat. Ernestinisch Sachsen, top: 2 companies Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg, bottom: one company Sachsen-Coburg-Meiningen ("C", white uniforms) and one company Sachsen-Hildburghausen ("H", blue uniforms). Flag designs are mine and completely ahistorical (the coats of arms are real, but don't match the time and territories).

The next batch is kind of the flag platoon for the 2nd bat., 2nd Moscovskii infantry regiment, now half finished: 

And after that I'll add some artillery and a first unit of Russian Grenadiers (the latter are my first minis not from Grünewald, but from KILIA):

And here's a late addition to this update: a snapshot of the bottoms of some bases, freshly provided with labels to identify each unit and the sources I used for painting it.

Although I'm eager to get Rapture on the table, all Rapture related activities are moving very slowly. I'm not yet happy with the new Angels and kept adding washes, a bit of rubble on the bases etc:

Angels #2 and 3 as they slept through the winter

Angels after another wash and painting the rubble on the bases. Next up: one more round of highlights, I hope I will like the results then.

Still in the works, needing at least some weathering and some decoration with posters, garbage etc., are the wall elements that I showed unpainted last October. 

One small thing is finished and ready for use: the first item from a small purchase of additional Rapture stuff I ordered while their online store was open for Mag-Con late last year, an MDF box for Rapture unit and mission cards.

These boxes are available with branding for each Rapture faction, I got the one for the human "New World Order" faction.

The inside of the box offers two slots for unit and mission cards. I didn't bother to do more than just gluing the pieces together, I think the dark brown laser cut edges and the wooden inside look acceptable as they are.

Workbench October

Three snapshots from my current workbench: Russians, Saxons and Walls.

The first SYW Russians have come off the painting line. I still need to finish the missing drummer and NCO to complete the first batallion of the 2nd Moscow regiment, but here is what I have so far:

No foto, just a progress report on Ernestinisch Sachsen: 

The fun thing about "obscure" Reichsarmee units like this is the mix of uniforms. I have one batallion with the Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach uniforms painted up, am currently working on two companies of Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg and looking forward to two more companies with different uniforms each.

The ugly thing about these units is the huge lack of information about flags. The kronoskaf page linked above has completely fantasy versions of flags based of mid 19th century color schemes and coats of arms - better than nothing but clearly not something you would have seen in the SYW.

I have instead opted for my own fantasy version. I will use four flags with 18th century versions of arms I found on helpful Internet pages like this one, representing three of the contingents. And rather than inventing fantasy color patterns for the fields of the flags, I'll do them all in white (if anyone challenges that I will argue that each Saxon mini-fiefdom will have wanted a colonel flag (Leibfahne) on their own, and wait to get better proposals ;). 

Here is the second batch of minis for the first batallion soon, incl. my fantasy flags for Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach - painted and coated, but still waiting to be based.

Thirdly, I need to get ready for the long awaited shipment of the Kickstarter delivery for Rapture, which should be going out any day now. I have started to assemble a set of lasercut MDF wall segments from Bandua to get a bit denser coverage of a 90cmx90cm table for this game, in addition to the more sophisticated, but smaller pieces shown here.

I really like the large number of wall elements in ("only") two sizes, this allows really putting larger structures on the table that look like they are belonging together. On the other hand, there are some small accessoires coming as part of the set, and together with some unneeded sticks from the MDF plates, and a few small items from my bitsbox, the wall segments are not completely identical.

I will give these a simple, mostly spray-on paintjob similar to the MDF garage shown here recently. Another case of "stay tuned", as is to be expected in a workbench update.

Workbench: SYW flats plan and progress tracker

 

This post is my current todo lists for SYW flats. I'll try to remind myself which minis I have bought, cleaned up (remove flash and rinse with soap), basecoated, painted, varnished and based, and try to plan out a good mix of poses for future purchases.

1. Zinna leftovers

Imperial army

• Hessen-Darmstadt (1 bn): 1st half cleaned up for priming Sept.22
• Württemberg (1 bn): done (pics to follow)
• Baden-Baden (2 bns): done
• Ernestinisch Sachsen (2 bns) - group 65-1 ready to fire - wild mix of uniforms. Done.

Not really part of the Zinna OoB, but rounding off:

• Esterhazy Hussars: bought (same group as Nadasdy), first half painted
• plan is to use the uniform info from kronoskaf (but correct uniform color towards the normal sky blue in the FB photos) and flags from here and here

2. first Paltzig brigades

Here I will also try to list the series number of the minis used to remember what is what.

Russians

I want to paint these in summer uniform without coats as far as possible. The good news is that this speeds up painting and creates a nice visual effect, quite different from the blue coats dominating the look of my current armies. The bad news is that infantry units all look alike, the only distinguishing factor is the flag design. So I wonder when it will get boring.

I will try to list the units from my initial selection in the order in which I want to buy and paint them to keep things interesting.

• 2nd Moskovskiy (2 bns): group 262 advancing done
• 1st Grenadiers (2 bns): bought from KILIA, 1st half bat. painted, another half cleaned up for priming Sept. 22
• original idea was to use Grünewald group 252 firing, probably using the old/new classic hats not the weird 1757 ones. BUT: Grünewald only has Grenadiers with coats, not the ones in summer uniform :( so use the ones from Kieler Zinnfiguren, they even have the early, weird hats.
• Gruzinsky Hussars (1 unit): bought from KILIA (Austrian Hussars firing, to be used in skirmisher setup)
• note that according to Funcken, the Russian hussars were modelled on the Hungarian ones in the Habsburg army
• Artillery (1 bat): later, maybe from www.zinnfiguren-kw.de
• Sibirskiy (2 bn): maybe group 261-2 Reserve, later
• Kazan Cuirassiers: later
• Cuguev Cossacks: later, check http://www.zinnfiguren-schum.de/ for a few very nice minis
• Austrian Pandurs bought from KILIA, let's see whether they could be used for Russian Pandours, too

Prussians

• Lestwitz (2 bns): to be bought (firing) group 65
• Artillery (1 bat): to be bought (other size than what I currently have, tbd)
• Nesse Grenadiers (1 bn): to be bought, maybe advancing group 82
• von Beyer Grenadiers (1 bn): later
• Jung-Sydow (2 bns): later

3. first Korbitz brigades

Prussians

• Horn Cuirassiers (from Korbitz OoB): later, start here to balance the lack of cav in the Paltzig increment
• Jung-Platen Dragoons: much later
• Dingelstedt Hussars: much later

Austrians/Imperials

• Gyulay (2 bns): later, Hungarian inf with blue breeches
• light Kurmainz artillers (1 bat): later, use Kurmainz handlangers
• Banal Nr. 2 Grenzers (1 bn): later
• Alt-Modena Cuirassiers (1 unit): much later
• Marschall (2 bns): much later
• Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld Dragoons (1 unit): much later

Piquet unit values revisited

  

Playing through my fourth Piquet game (starting here) I got confused by my own notes on unit BDVs.

In my first attempt to summarize house rules, I listed based on a starting BDV of 6 and the Cartouche default unit shifts on p.68 ff of the rule book.

And in my recent roll call of minis painted so far, I noted unit BDVs based on geenric defaults and with some historical adjustments to reflect the general prejudice on unit qualities.

Between the two, the values for Prussians match. But for the Empire, they don't. And I don't think I would have remembered the Russian ind/art up1 morale.

So I want to try again here and hopefully come to a more consistent result.

1. Infantry

1.1. Guard Infantry 12-10-10

Should be rarely used for scenario specific situations only.

1.2. Elite Infantry 12-8-8

Typically used for Grenadiers and rarely for other elite units.

Prussia: Grenadiers

Empire: good Grenadier units

Austria: good Grenadiers

Russia: Grenadiers, at,12-8-10

1.3 Regular infantry: 10-8-6

Typically used for normal, experienced infantry units

Prussia: Musketeers, Fusiliers, good Freikorps (e.g. Wunsch)

Empire: average Grenadiers, good line infantry (e.g. Guards, units having a generally good reputation or a good day, maybe first battalions of larger regiments like Kurmainz just for variation)

Austria: average Grenadiers, line infantry

Russia: Musketeers, 2nd rate Grenadiers (e.g. observation corps) at 10-8-8

1.4. 2nd rate infantry: 8-6-6

I'm hesitating to use the "trained militia" category here. I will use this not for hastily raised militia, but for the average or below-average units of more or less professional armies like the Empire and Austria.

Militia would be 10-6-6, i.e. same firing effectivity as regulars but worse in melee. On the other hand, 2nd rate militia with 8-4-4 seems to punish melee and morale too much. So I will reduce both combat stats, and leave morale at 6 unless some special circumstances need to be reflected on top.

Prussia: rarely used, e.g. for 2nd rate Freikorps, garrison troops

Empire: all not-so-good infantry

Austria: rarely used for bad infantry, e.g. loans from not-so-professional armies.

Russia: rarely used for bad infantry, e.g. observation corps at 8-6-8

1.5. Specials

For now, I only see one special case that doesn't fir the categories above. Maybe if I get to larger Jäger units (Russians, perhaps?) I will add more here.

Habsburg Grenzer units which are less effective at firing, but tough. As per Cartouche army lists, they should be "Elite Natives", i.e. 10-10-6.

2. Cavalry

Not much to vary here, except maybe an attempt to show the better quality of the early war Austrians and the improvements of the Prussians over time. But maybe it is better to do this via the sequence deck, e.g. with additional cavalry move or cavalry melee cards, not via the unit stats.

2.1. Hussars (light cavalry) x-6-6

Empire: second rate Hussars might be x-4-6

Austria: early war / veteran Hussars might be x-8-8 as per Cartouche army list (elite light cav)

Prussian army list shows 50% chance to be elite x-8-8

2.2. Dragoons (medium cavalry) x-8-6

Empire: second rate Dragoons might be x-6-6

Austria: early war / veteran Dragoons might be x-10-8, but only a sixth chance per Cartouche army list.

2.3. Cuirassiers (heavy cavalry) x-10-6

Empire: second rate Cuirassiers might be x-8-6

Austria: early war / veteran Cuirassiers (50% chance per army lust), and converged Carabiniers, are x-12-8

2.4. Russian Cossacks: Regulars x-4-6, Irregulars x-4-4

I'll want to have at least two categories: reliable, trained "professional" units and the truly irregular troops which basically had no battlefield role (but a lot of value off the battlefield). Cartouche has 50/50 trained vs 2nd rate militia.

2.5. specials

I'll worry about other specials like converged Carabinier / mounted Grenadier batallions when I get there...

3. Artillery

As you can see in my latest roll call, I don't even have any artillery units yet. But I already know the basic prejudice I want to reflect, e.g. high quality Austrian artillery. Cartouche army lists shoe regularbartillery in all these armies.

3.1. Elite Artillery 10-4-8 (Light and Medium), 12-4-8 (Heavy)

Russians get up1 morale for 10-4-10 resp. 12-4-10.

Selected Austrian units

3.2. Regular Artillery 8-4-6 (Light and Medium), 10-4-6 (Heavy)

All Prussians, Russians, normal Austrians and selected Reichsarmee units

3.3. 2nd Rate Artillery 6-4*-4 (Light and Medium), 8-4*-4 (Heavy)

Use this for remaining Reichsarmee units.

Note: the 4* indicates values one "down 1" below D4 - the value can't go below but when I adjust the base BDV (D6) behind these values the 4* will first turn into a straight D4.

Zinnfiguren OoB notes: Option 3 Paltzig

Ein Ausschnitt aus dem OoB der Schlacht bei Paltzig würde nur einen Bruchteil der beteiligten Einheiten abbilden, wäre aber eine Chance, die Russen in Sommeruniform (rote Westen, keine Röcke) zu zeigen.

Russen

Hier könnte man mehr Russen als (schon von Zinna vorhandene) Preußen malen. Vielleicht eine Infantriebrigade mit ein oder zwei Grenadiereinheiten und ein paar verschiedene Kavallerieeinheiten, einschl. paar Irregulären. 

Hier wäre die Brigade von Generalmajor Panin plus etwas Kavallerie und Artillerie:

Einheit	Bestand / Plan	Kommentar
2. Moskau	0/2
1. Grenadiere	0/2	Russische Grenadiere hatten wohl sogar eigene Fahnen, schön bunt :)
Sibirien	0/2
Kazan Kürassiere	0/1	Zwar Kürassiere, trugen aber keinen Kürass (jedenfalls 1759 noch nicht). Sehen also aus wie Dragoner.
Georgische Husaren	0/1	Etwas Farbe...
Tschugujeff-Kosaken	0/1	Wenig Uniform-Infos, aber etwas irreguläre Kavallerie muss eigentlich sein
Artillerie	0/1

Preußen

Hier geht es um zwei Dinge: Wiederverwendung von Einheiten von Zinna (auch wenn sie nicht direkt in Paltzig waren) und eher etwas zu viel Infantrie, auszugleichen durch den Kavallerieüberhang von Korbitz.

Das geht am einfachsten, wenn ich die Nachhut unter Wobersow baue:

Einheit	Bestand / Plan	Kommentar
Malachovsky Husaren	1/1	schon vorhanden
von Beyer Grenadiere	0/1	könnten auch erstmal durch Willemey oder Burgsdorff dargestellt werden
Lestwitz	0/2	das wären endlich mal preußische Musketiere mit Dreispitz, nicht immer die komischen Füsilierkappen. Und rosa! Sogar die Rockaufschläge!
Jung-Sydow	0/2	Garnisonsbataillon, da könnte man in Piquet mal eine Leistungsstufe unter 1st Line gehen
Nesse Grenadiere	0/1	kommen auch im Korbitz OoB vor
Med. Artillerie	0/1	6-Pfünder

Fazit

Auch wenn mich beim Aufschreiben der Optionen die Sache mit den Braunschweigern, Hannoveranern und Württembergern echt gereizt hat: das hat einfach keinerlei Überlapp mit Zinna.

Von daher bleibe ich, denke ich, doch beim ursprünglichen Plan: einen Ausflug zu den roten Westen der Russen mit dem hier dargestellten Ausschnitt aus dem Paltzig-OoB, und wenn mir das dann langweilig wird, Ausbau der Zinna-OoBs mit den Österreichern und Kavallerie (auch für die Preußen) von Korbitz. 

Mal sehen, wie lange die Vorsätze erhalten bleiben...