Birthday Weekend

Previously for a couple of big number birthdays I’d painted a commemorative miniature. For my 40th I painted a Grey Knights captain (no you’re not expected to know what that is) and for my 50th I painted a Warhammer giant (pretty sure you can understand what that is), and Warlord Games’ sale had me coming around to the idea that 55 was another birthday worthy of a commemorative figure.

I embrace a broad swathe of our hobby. This is the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, the “feathered serpent”. It was reasonably priced in the sale…

Over half a kilo of resin! Blimey O’Reilly!

Limited time and the weather, in my opinion, not suiting spraying on the undercoat, has meant that this beast of a model hasn’t ended up as a birthday special. You will see it in all its technicolour glory eventually.

Happily my birthday tends to coincide with the Battleground show at Stockton. There was a good turn out of the Westerhope boys to put on a game of Naseby, 1645. There we are, resplendent in our sky blue!

It’s a great show, if you’ve never been. Very friendly, well organised, smashing venue, some great games and a good mix of traders. There’s even lectures! I understand I missed a grand talk on border reivers which would have suited me down to the ground. I was too busy trying to overturn history and secure a Royalist victory.

Okey’s dragoons crackle with flanking fire as Rupert’s cavalry trot by.

The Royalist centre and left flank cavalry. Figures all painted by the Westerhope manor governor John. Mostly figures from the sadly defunct Warrior Miniatures. I did spot at least one interloper of a Foundry Miniature.

The left flank Royalist cavalry isn’t the pushover it should be and the right flank cavalry steam through the opposition… and over hill and dale… the majority of us agreed that victorious Royalist cavalry needed to pursue. Much to the frustration of the Royalist infantry, they disappear out of view. The infantry tussle, sorry, push of pike had begun and the Royalists were giving as good as they got when it was already time to pack up! 

We’d had an entertaining day, as ever a pleasure to spend time with the Westerhope boys, and there’s always fellow enthusiasts and other friends there to exchange ideas with, generally catch up with and have a laugh. I think that Robbie (of Independent Wargamer fame) may have had more to say about the new Napoleon movie than Joaquin Phoenix has lines in it!

So what did I make of my birthday weekend?

First class!

Late 17th Century Wargaming Part 7

 Way back in part 3 of this occasional series I covered a little of the history of the Battle of Killiecrankie, 1689 and showed off the Jacobite forces I have for the battle.  Now it’s the turn of the government army to enter the limelight.

The right flank contained the only English troops, Hastings’ regiment of foot along with Weem’s highland company. In Black Powder Pike & Shotte terms the former is a large unit whist the latter is a tiny unit (Pike & Shotte doesn’t actually include tiny units, but it’s simple enough to include them).

Being at the rear of the column of march, possibly charged with escorting the baggage, Hastings’ English infantry ended up holding what is usually the senior position in the line as the Jacobite army formed to the right of the line of march. A fine body of men! Front Rank miniatures painted by Steve Shann and waving Warfare Miniatures flags. All figures Front Rank painted by Steve unless I say otherwise. Saves me repeating myself!

I’ve seen one modern line drawing of a grenadier of Hastings’ regiment in a continental fur cap. I liked it so went with that look for the grenadiers.

I’ve painted Weem’s highland company and the baggage. The highlanders are Essex (unloved and unwanted in my 1745 collection!) and the baggage are Warlord and Front Rank.

 The highlanders were on the extreme right, due either to being told to keep out of the way or having formed a rearguard on the march. The baggage is important to represent in this battle as it distracts many a Jacobite from pursuing the broken government troops.

Next we find the commander in chief Mackay’s regiment. The government centre wasn’t positioned in close mutual support as I’ve photographed them above. Due to terrain and to cover the frontage of the Jacobite army above them, the government centre was stretched thin. A reminder of the dispersed dispositions:

Government army shown bottom in red. The guns were in glorious isolation (well they had the small mounted contingent behind them, which I can represent with figures drawn from other parts of my late 17thc collection) as were Kenmure’s regiment.

Mackay’s regiment. Part of the Scots Brigade in Dutch service.

Leven’s foot. Recently raised, but I’ve allowed that they’ve received redcoats and consequently look quite martial.

The light artillery and Kenmure’s foot. The government army was able to transport leather guns with them. I’ve used a suitable Warlord ECW set to represent the artillery. The piece is crewed by a converted Front Rank gunner, one of the Warlord matrosses and two Front Rank matrosses.

Kenmure’s regiment was even more recently raised than Leven’s. So I’ve shown them in hodden grey, pretty much every day, civilian clothing.

Then on the government left flank we have Balfour and  Ramsay’s regiments. These regiments together with Mackay’s formed the Scots Brigade.

On the extreme left, under the command of Lauder, was a composite unit formed from the grenadiers drawn from the three Scots Brigade regiments. Again these sport continental fur caps. A natural choice since these chaps are part of the Dutch army.

To finish with, a couple of shots of the Scots Brigade standing together. The Jacobite army was really no match for these regulars. Well, it shouldn’t have been…

The next instalment of late 17thc wargaming will be another after action report! So watch out for that.

Thanks for reading!

Cheers

Chris