RSM/Pax Britannica Catalogue 1986

A huge thanks to Don for sending over this catalogue (I have only posted the 20mm pages here). Looking through the catalogue I realise that at one stage or another I have owned examples of about 90% of the released figures. By comparison, the Dayton/RSM catalogue would appear to be missing a few figures (I cannot see Grant, Lee for example). However their are no Austrians etc. in this catalogue and as I recall they were Hezzlewood sculpts.

Next up will be some proper painting!

Pax Britannica 20mm Catalogue c.1984

For those interested in this kind of thing, I was very lucky to get my hands on this original catalogue of the Steve Hezzlewood 20mm figures. Now I know that at least some of the Napoleonic figures marked *Available January 1985 were released as I owned some, but I am pretty sure a lot of the Colonial figures were never made. Which is a real pity.

Remember This Kind Of Stuff Corp?

Well my good friend and wargaming buddy Barry has started a website for those who played with Airfix soldiers, Action Men and read this kind of comic here:

http://www.v-for-victory.co.uk/

So to all of us who threw modern day collectors pieces (with gripping hands, realistic hair and eventually Eagle Eyes) out of the top bedroom window in the hope that the parachute worked and remember reading phrases like "Achtung Spitfire!", "Aaagh!", "Ye Gods!" and "Aiiiyeee!", fill your boots!

1st "Koningin" Prussian Dragoons

As promised here are some more Newline figures, this time Prussian cavalry to back up the Silesian Landwehr. I have changed my mind a lot about the Prussian army of the Napoleonic Wars. They really are quite colourful and these light blue uniforms really will stick out on the table.

Obviously the smaller Newline figures do not fit with the figures intended for own collection. These guys are destined for the United States. I still have a few hundred cavalry and slightly more infantry to paint up and will be using the proceeds to continue with my own 20mm projects. The next few posts are mainly British Cavalry and the first of my Crimean British.

Scruby Prussian Artillery Crew

Here are the first of my Scruby Prussians, a four man artillery crew. The gun itself is a 12pdr Kennington piece-but I will be replacing it with a genuine Scruby piece in due course.

I have gone a bit picture heavy* with this post just to explain how the figures work.

The artillery crew figures come in one pose (bottom left). Due to their "slender" proportions all that is needed is a little bending of arms/twisting of heads and legs to produce a convincing crew. I used wire for the trail spike and rammer and Greenstuff for the cannon ball and rammer sponge head.

Although described as 25mm in the Historifigs catalogue, as you can see from the comparison shot (bottom right), they match Kennington perfectly. Both are 1/72nd scale (as are Art Miniaturen and Tumbling Dice for that matter).

Now then, when I rediscovered Scruby figures the obvious problem could have been their availability. Hinton Hunts, Minifigs S range, Lamming etc are no longer made and so collecting might simply have been a case grabbing whatever I can, when I can. However, I am very pleased to say that Mike and Alison Taber run a very efficient mail order service at Historifigs and I can pick my figures to suit.

Finally, of the figures themselves. Elegant is a word I keep repeating-but it really is the best word I can use to describe them. I really am taken by them. It could be "rose-tinted glasses syndrome", but they will be forming the backbone of my Napoleonic (and later) armies.

* And finally, finally, there is an absolute dearth of images of Scruby figures on the internet, so this will be my continuing contribution to the wargaming community!

Dutch Infantry

The Dutch/Belgians were not held in high regard by Wellington during the Hundred Days Campaign and while they may not hold the French back forever, they will look good while doing it (or not)!

Back in the days of yore, the marching figures from the Airfix French Artillery box made adequate Dutch infantry, these Newline figures are a massive improvement.

Newline have updated their website recently to the much more user friendly "click to buy" type. I have such a huge lead pile I have been good so far, but the Austrian artillery limber and ammunition wagon do look good. Mmmmm.

Next up some Scruby Prussian artillery and then some more Newline stuff.

It Has Been A While....

Apologies for the lack of postings last month. It is Salute 2010 in April and I have been painting up figures for the Continental Wars Society display game-I had put the painting off for too long and just had to stop all other activity. I posted all the painted figures out yesterday.

I can now get back to the other jobs in hand. I have 3 more figures to finish and base for a Newline Dutch battalion, so I will be posting again this week with them.

As you can see* from the picture I have a quite a few Scruby figures in my collection now. (I received my first order from Historifigs last week, a fast and efficient service). I am making up a Scruby Napoleonic gun crew and will be posting them after the Dutch post.

*For those interested the figures in this picture are mainly French Old Guard with a single British Light Dragoon and a Standard Bearer in a plumed bicorne.