AWI 54mm French and British Artillery

 Good Day fellow Grognards and Young Guard!

We are quickly approaching the anniversary of the the D-Day invasion.  I haven't dusted off my WWII miniatures in some time.  Years ago, it was a ritual for the gaming crew to meet on the weekend closest to the anniversary and run an invasion related game.  Unfortunately, it has been some time since that has occurred.  Definitely looking to renew that tradition.

Until then, I offer you some further AWI 54mm project work focused on Artillery.  Below, are some images of both a French and British Artillery teams.  The majority of the teams are BMC/ Americana figures, including the artillery pieces.  I did substitute officers from the Armies in Plastics line.

First up....54mm AWI French Artillery.

Secondly, the AWI 54mm British Artillery.

PAINTED MINIATURES SCORECARD:

2021 Painted Miniatures: 169

2022 Painted Miniatures: 86

Next up...a change of pace.  No, I haven't finished painting all of my 54mm AWI.  I still have a unit of Woodland Indians, a Militia Cavalry Regiment and a Militia Regiment to paint at a minimum.  Taking a breather, I'll be sharing some of my efforts focused on a game from Wiley Games, called Galactic Heroes; part of the Fistful of Lead series.

So until next time, wait to the close and give them the grapeshot!   GAME ON!!!

AWI 54mm French Grenadiers

Welcome back fellow Grognards and Young Guard!

I hope you are enjoying this series on my 54mm AWI project.  This year, I have dug deep to get this thing in gear and build forces for the major antagonists and their allies.  I must admit, there is still a gap in my Hessian forces.  As Bono said, 'I still haven't found what I'm looking for'.  Sooner or later, I will find the Hessian Grenadiers that will be the 'must have'.  Until then, enjoy the French Grenadiers below.  

All models are BMC/ Americana models with the exception of the standards and the officer.  Those are from the Armies in Plastic range.  As you might have guessed, due the similarities in styles of uniforms of the periods, these miniatures often just need a different paint job to reflect their given country.  Again, a shout out goes to Warflag.com for the free banners, resized from 28mm to 54mm.

The Grenadier below are from Bourbonnois Regiment.

PAINTED MINIATURES SCORECARD:

2021 Painted Miniatures: 169

2022 Painted Miniatures: 72

Next on deck, I'll be showcasing units of both AWI 54mm French and British Artillery.

Keep sharp, steady arms and GAME ON!!!

AWI 54mm Continental and French Officers

 Greetings Fellow Grognard and Young Guard!

Today's post is about officers!  Without good leadership, an army is just a rabble!

Below I have for you two officers that have joined the ranks of my 54mm AWI troops.

The first is a conversion of a BMC/ Americana figure of Lafeyette.  I cut off Lafeyette's head and replaced it with the head from an Army in Plastic model I had in the extras bin.  I pinned the head and body together and secured with glue.  The conversion was fairly easy.  Painted and ready for action,  I present some pictures below.

Next up is a French Officer.  The model is a BMC/ Americana Lord Cornwallis model.  No conversion work, just a simple alternate paint scheme for the French army.

PAINTED MODEL SCORECARD:

2021 Painted Models: 169

2022 Painted Models: 36

Next Up:  AWI 54mm French Grenadiers!

Until then...GAME ON!!!

54mm AWI Loyalist Cavalry - Tarleton's Legion

 Good Day Grognards and Young Guard!

Last year I was delighted to find a range of 54mm AWI models that exhibited a high level of detail.  In my humble opinion, they are second to none.  The company is LOD Enterprises.  A hair larger than the Armies in Plastic and BMC/ Americana models that dominate my collection, it is not significant enough to keep from using them.  They match well against the size of the AIP Cavalry already in my collection.

I can't wait to get these models on the table.  There was a small issue with my purchase.  One of the mounted troopers was missing a sword scabbard, so the guys at LOD made it right and sent me an entirely new model to fill my ranks!  Shame GW doesn't give customer service like that any more!

I promised I'd send LOD some pics of the finished troops on the wargame table, but due to my game being derailed by snow at SOA 2022 in January, they have yet to get to the table for gaming.  I will make good on my promise to the good folks at LOD!

In the meantime, here are some pics of the troops I staged.  As you can see, they are based on Tarleton's Legion. They are Loyalist troops raised in the colonies to fight for the crown!

PAINTED MODELS SCORECARD:

2021 Painted Models: 169

2022 Painted Models: 10

(I promise, there are many more to come!)

Until next time, keep your powder dry and your saber sharpened!  CHARGE and GAME ON!!!!

54mm AWI American Continentals

 

Welcome fellow Grognards to another installment of my 54mm AWI forces for Rebels and Patriots.  Things have been busy around the household and I've been distracted with a bunch of deliveries from ebay around another of my projects for Dragon Rampant.  But I digress...

As promised, I have uploaded some pics off the trusty smart phone to show you the 24 point American Continental Army ready to do battle.  Of course there are other items in the works, but more of that later.

American Continental 24 pt. Army List

Line Infantry (Continentals - pre uniform standard "Browns") (12 models w/ Leader) 4pts.

Line Infantry (Continentals - post uniform standard "Blues") (12 models) 4 pts.

Light Infantry (12 models) (Aggressive) 7 pts.

Line Infantry (Militia) (12 models) (Timid, Good Shooters) 5 pts.

Light Artillery (Cannon and 4 crew) 4 pts.

Figures are mainly from Armies in Plastics as well as BMC/ Americana and some conversions using figures and parts from each to better represent troop types.  Flags are all from warflag.com and re-scaled for 54mm.

First up, the pre-Continental Uniform standard Continentals in brown uniforms.  Pennsylvania had a regiment early in the war outfitted in this kit; red collars and trim, brown jackets.  Figures from Armies in Plastic.

Next up, another unit of Continentals, however, this time outfitted in post uniform standards issue in their dress red, white and blue!  Figures from Armies in Plastic.

To support the Line Infantry, a unit of Light Infantry, given the 'Aggressive' trait to help in hand-to-hand combat.  The Light show some conversion work.  For the regiment standard, I cut the head off of the Armies in Plastic troop, removed his loading rifle, and drilled holes in his hands for the brass wire for the flag pole.  I then did a head swap with a BMC/ Americana Hessian, to go with the unit which are all BMC/ Americana Hessians.  With a little Dremmel work and a cut piece of pipe cleaner for the feathers, I was able to create a better Light Infantry head gear look.

Following them are the Colonial Militia.  I used Armies in Plastics figures for these and chose models without bayonets.  To reflect this I gave them the 'Timid' trait as well as the 'Good Shooter' trait.

Finally, supporting the army is the Continental Light Artillery and 4 crew (Note:  I have six models painted up for crew to use for Medium Artillery if needed.  Figures are BMC/ Americana.

Next, a few shots of the troops in battle array!

So, there you have it.  A full 24 point American Continental Army ready to fight for Freedom and cast off the yoke of British tyranny!  

I have a few more 54mm AWI projects on the table at this time.  Another regiment of Colonial Militia (12 models) are in progress.  A half painted unit of French Line Infantry (12 models) are awaiting the newly purchased troops to help fill their ranks.  A unit each of British and Continental Cavalry (6 models each) are in the works as well as two units of Northeastern Woodland Indians; 18 models per unit.  All of these figures are from the Armies in Plastic line.

Sooner or later I'll get my purchased vs. painted stats up and running to show my 2021 progress.

So, until next time, keep your muskets clean and your bayonets at the ready!

NEXT UP: 54mm Northeastern Woodland Indians

54mm Cheap Terrain and a little elbow grease...

 This is double post day, trying to catch up...

In my last post, I snapped some pics of my AWI British in front of some buildings and tents.  

Tents are from a Timpo.  They were hot glued to a piece of cardboard and then base coated.  The whole thing was then painted and base was flocked.

The buildings are actually all wooden birdhouses you can pick up at a Michael's Craft store.

There are two versions used.  The first log cabin I used as a log cabin and then added cereal board siding.  The roof on each is individual cut cardboard roofing.  The original chimneys were removed and I added foam chimneys to the side carved from pink foam board.  Window and door details were added as well.  Base coat was applied and they were painted up for colonial period.  The watering trough was made from a foam block and covered in cereal board planks.  Barrels are the large wood barrels at Hobby Lobby painted with Sharpie wood grain applied!

The third building is a block house.  It started as a shed/ house, but then I figured I would add simple guns slits for a block house as I had seen at Old 96 in SC and the reconstructed block house there.  I still may cut the slits into the wood to give more of a depth to the firing slots.  Right now, the magic of Sharpie is again doing the job!

I'm planning on creating another building for my town.  I need to add a church as the town center.  Now if I can only find one more of those log cabins....

Next Up:  54mm AWI Continentals

54mm AWI British

 Well April is almost through and still so much to do...

Making good on my promise, below are a few shots of my 54mm AWI British forces.  I have built this force around a 24 point army for Rebels and Patriots by Osprey Publishing.  Of course, it could be used for many other rule sets.  Each figure is individually based.  Using a 40mm round base, I used a ton of cardboard from soda can holders, etc. and hot glued two of the discs together to make a base.  To add more weight to the base, I then slapped on some wood putty around the edges, after the soldiers had been secured to them. 

The figures are a mix of BMC/Americana and Armies in Plastic. As always, before painting, I wash my toy soldiers in a dish washing liquid warm water bath and let the air dry.  This helps remove the mold release agents and such to allow for a good base coat with a made for plastic primer, Krylon, that you can pick up at any Walmart.  Soldiers are then hot glued to the carboard bases.

Long story short, here is the current list for the British in Rebels and Patriots terms.

Line Infantry (includes your officer) 12 models  = 4pts.

Line Infantry 12 models = 4pts.

Light Infantry 12 models = 6pts.

Shock Infantry (Grenadiers) 12 models = 6pts.

Light Artillery (4 models) = 4pts.  (pictured with 6 models as used for Medium Artillery)

Additionally, for variety, I have the German Jaegers; 12 models for Skirmishers for 2pts and you can add Sharpshooter to the for 4pts.

In the works are some Native Americans and a unit of Cavalry.

Not all units need standards, but I chose to give my units each standards.  Each standard was converted removing a rifle and drilling holes aligned through each had to directly feed the pole.  Flags were upscaled from 28mm to 54mm, free from warflag.com. Wood glue is applied to one half and wrapped around the pole, bending the flag to give a wavy appearance and let set dry.  Of course this happens all after the model is painted!

Line Infantry (unit #1).  Figures are from Armies in Plastic.

Line Infantry (unit #2).  Figures are from Armies in Plastic.

Light Infantry (hats were slightly shaped with Dremel tool from Hessian hats).  Figures mainly are BMC/ Americana with officer and standards from Armies in Plastic.

Shock Infantry (Grenadiers) (I did some head swaps on the color guard.)  Figures are mainly from BMC/ Americana.  Standards were created from two Armies in Plastic troop with BMC/ Americana Grenadiers head swaps.  The officer is from Armies in Plastic.

Light Artillery (shown with two additional crew as Medium Artillery) (Had to do a repair job on the officer.  The models often have only half a pistol so I had to fabricate one.)  The cannon and crew are BMC/ Americana figures.

Skirmishers (German Jaegers).  Figures are from Armies in Plastic.

The British Army (so far...)

Hope you enjoyed the troop inspection! 

Next Up:  Simple 54mm terrain!