Highlanders March To The “Song Of Drums And Shakos” And Pipes

MARCHING TO THE SOUNDS OF BUGLER AND BAGPIPES THE SOLDIERS OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON ADVANCE

Despite my enthusiasm for the Napoleonic period currently being on the wane, I've still completed three more bases of 15mm “Essex Miniatures” (just two pictured above though). My “Song of Drums and Shakos” project has recently been waylaid by efforts to paint up yet more blisters from “West Wind Productions” “Secrets of the Third Reich” range, as well as my recently purchased “Open Fire!” boxed “Flames Of War” starter set by “Battlefront Miniatures”.

Two of the Highlanders are from the ‘blister’ PNB6 “Highlander at the ready”. The Highlander bagpiper is from PNB10a “Command pack: 2 Highlander Officers, std. bearers, drummer in kilt”.

The three 95th Riflemen are from the ‘blister’ PNB11 “Rifleman advancing”. The 95th Rifleman bugler is from PNB13 “Command pack: 4 Rifleman Officers, 2 Buglers”. All of the models were undercoated with Chaos Black, before their uniforms were painted using Orkhide Shade and Thrakka Green. Their ammo pouches and some strapping were painted Calthan Brown, their faces and hands with Elf Flesh, and their rifles and some of their other straps with Dark Flesh and “Coat d’arms” Brown Ink. All of these areas were then washed with Devlan Mud. Like the Highlander models before them their water bottles were painted with a combination of Ultramarines Blue and Asurmen Blue and their backpacks with Astronomican Grey and Badab Black.

It now seems doubtful that I'll complete any further Napoleonic models in March 2010, as my painting of the fifth and final resin model from the “Flames Of War” starter set is coming to end. The German StuG G assault gun has currently only received the first of two undercoats of Tausept Ochre. Once based I plan to finish off the remaining models from “Battlefront Miniatures” OOP ‘blister’ BR722 Rifle Platoon (BEF); a project which was started in July 2004. Currently I've only finished the Command Stand, Light Mortar Team, Boys Anti-Tank Rifle Team, and half a Rifle Squad.

Highlanders to March to the “Song of Drums and Shakos”

I first encountered the fantasy skirmish rule set “Song of Blades and Heroes” by “Ganesha Games” last year, and immediately purchased the PDF version from the “Wargame Vault”. At the time I planned to use them to help encourage me to paint a rather hefty consignment of “Heresy Miniatures” I bought a couple of years before, but alas, the project never took off.

A few days ago however, I discovered that Sergio Laliscia has written an adaptation of the rules for the Napoleonic era. “Song of Drums and Shakos” seems the perfect solution to help me maintain my enthusiasm for my long-term “Black Powder” project. It should let me ‘field’ my painted 15mm "Essex Miniatures" models almost straight away, as opposed to having to wait several months before I’ve painted enough to play a (small) game of “Black Powder”. Admittedly instead of using single based models I’ll be using a (40mm x 20mm) base of troops, but it should make the skirmishes appear more ‘large scale’.

As a result I have already set aside eight bases of my (already painted) Napoleonic French into a 401-point force, and begun painting (in earnest) a 395-point British contingent. This later ‘army’ will consist of three bases of (Gordon) Highlanders including an Officer, three bases of Chosen Men (Rifles), a base of Light Company infantry and a Grenadier Company.

The ‘standard’ Highlanders are from the ‘blister’ PNB6 ‘Highlander at the ready’ from “Essex Miniatures”. Having undercoated them with Chaos Black their straps and plumes were painted Skull White, treated to a wash of Devlan Mud, before being ‘picked out’ with Skull White again. Their face, hands and knees were painted with Elf Flesh, and their pouches in Calthan Brown. Both were then also washed in Devlan Mud. I painted their water bottles with Ultramarines Blue and Asurmen Blue; their backpacks with Astronomican Grey and Badab Black; their collars and cuffs with Sunburst Yellow and (oop) Yellow Ink; their rifles Dark Flesh and “Coat d’arms” Brown Ink; and Mechrite Red and Baal Red were used for their red coats.

In order to speed up the painting process, and ‘cheat’, the predominantly red tartan of their ‘Highland dicing’ consists of a simple wash of Baal Red over Skull White. Orkhide Shade and Thraka Green were used as an alternative for the dark green tartan of their kilts.

The red jackets of both the officer and standard bearer were painted using Blood Red to make them stand out. Mechrite Red was used for their sashes, and both areas were then washed with Baal Red. Both figures’ sword guards were painted using Burnished Gold and “Coat d’arms” Brown Ink.

Napoleonic "Black Powder" Project Planned For 2010

My main project for 2010 will be the creation of both a French and opposing British army from the Napoleonic era using 15mm “Essex Miniatures”. Originally envisaged in March 2007, this venture initially started out as an eccentric attempt to create two “De Bellis Antiquitatis” forces with which to learn Phil Barker’s rules. Indeed I only finished basing a twelve ‘element’ French infantry army (using basic Blades, Bows, Psiloi and Auxilia elements) last month in order to help ‘teach me’ the game.

However the very recent purchase of Rick Priestley and Jervis Johnson’s 1700 – 1900 rule set has changed this goal. Instead, I now hope to have painted enough figures for me to participate in a ‘proper’ “Black Powder” battle (with twenty-four strong Infantry units) by December 2010.

As a result I intend to complete work on at least one (40mm x 20mm) base of 15mm Napoleonic models each week. Only then will I pay any attention to some of the other minor projects I have tentatively given the green light to for 2010.

Foremost amongst these other ventures is a ‘Ghostbusters’ themed homemade rule set using a selection of models from (predominantly) “Heresy Miniatures” and “Wyrd Minatures”, as well as scenery from “Ainsty Products” (via “Old Crow Models”).