Muskets and Tomahawks Progress

 

As I paint I’m listening to people playing Muskets and Tomahawks and Shako and Bayonets. I found I’m absorbing quite a lot. Anyhow, to the progress.

 

British Regulars, HM 44^th. Gandamak, if memory serves. Certainly Monongahela. They earned their wages. These are Blue Moon and are depicted skirmishing.  I’m going to add the 60^th Royal Americans. We will see them soon.

The Pennsylvania Provincials with their green coats. Blue Moon again.

The New Jersey Provincials ditto. I have drummers to add for these and the 44th.

Rogers Rangers at the top of the page. The first of three Ranger Companies. Butler’s and Gorhams to follow. I think Gorham’s should wear black coats and blue bonnets. An abiding memory. I must check.

More to come.

The French and Indian Wars

 

A long term interest of mine. With a deep and rewarding reading list. Fascination lies therein. Not just the tribes but also the colonists. The French method concentrating on the Fur Trade.  The English one on land acquisition. It all played out with Global consequences. A painters paradise too.

The first decision of a F&IW Project is just what are you trying to model? There were big battles (relatively speaking)  formal lines and all.  They were important too. All the same the most common combats were not like that at all. No, they were like  Monongahela (where a British Army died)writ small. European methods didn’t do well in the woods. Innovation was required. The French excelled in this and the English steadily improved with Ranger companies and Light infantry. Most engagements were small scale affairs that defined the Wars. Most gamers opt for that.

Delightfully very few figures are needed to play This Very Ground or the famous Muskets and Tomahawks. In both cases a unit can be 6 figures plus a Leader with 8 being normal and 16 the dizzy heights. Rebels and Patriots might run a few more but it needn’t. This is a project that can be done with great economy. Except you probably won’t do that.

The reason being the sheer diversity of troops involved. Thus the figure count begins to grow. Which French Militia? The Montreal or the Quebec? Do they look different? Sort of. Different skills? Arguably. Better have both.

It is no better with the English. Take Ranger Companies. Roger’s, Gorham’s. Others too? Oh yes. Do they look different. Of course they do. Different skill levels? Naturally.

There are some core troop types. Indians obviously. Also American Frontier Militia. These are raiding games. The Militia are the defenders mostly. Supporting the Militia were the Provincials, trained as European Regulars-sort of. It varied a lot. Civilians are required too. They can be captured or rescued or simply protected. Sometimes actual British Redcoats were available. A Regiment or a Company.

For the French the Colonial Marines are an essential. Formidable. Also Regulars were available now and then. For counter raids you might get some Indian civilians. And so it goes. Cabins or Longhouses? Both, I’d say. The cabins you see here are from Red Vectors WW2 Russian Village.

Is it worth it? Very much. It is a wonderful gaming experience. Of course you need not wait to begin gaming. The figures you see on this page will do for a game of Muskets and Tomahawks or This Very Ground.

You might guess a significant number of Blue Moon F&IW figures have just come my way. I anticipate about four posts on this topic.

Gonzalo -The Final Furlong

 

Above, Blue Moon Spanish Heavy Cavalry, some are fully equipped Gendarmes barded horses and all. Others have lesser armours. This is my take on the Spanish noble cavalry. 

A lot of the lesser nobility were in financial difficulties and it showed in their armament. Distressed Gentry supplied much of the military momentum across Europe. Assets and wealth were flowing relentlessly upwards. Centralising as we might say today.  

Those with good titles but empty purses sought military success to restore the family fortune.  It was worse for the poor of course. They joined the Army too but were unlikely to enjoy the tangible benefits of Royal attention.

I will note that the Caballeros were quite prepared to stick a lance into a French destrier if they thought it would defeat its rider. The French hated this. Good horses were very expensive. Also, Spanish Heavy Cavalry could and did fight as Genitors if circumstances required it.  I cannot say where the first flag above came from. The second is from David at Not By Appointment.  

Blue Moon Genitors above and below.  Good figures with a fine variation of pose and equipment. Note the feathered darts also found in Ireland.

Blue Moon Stradiots next.

Again fine variety of pose and equipment. The resulting units look the part.

I intend two units of these Stradiots. They could after all be found on all sides.

Venexia arquebusiers and crossbows. Mostly I have kept the Blue Moon and Venexia cavalry in separate units. I will make an exception for the Gendarmes. They work well together.

I thought I might usefully add a few flags. Imperial imagery for the Spanish and their Allies.

Pretty good Stradiots from Blue Moon.

A Venetian influence for these Blue Moon Stradiots. Another stronger unit below. I actually have Stradiots from Venexia and Mirliton too. All are good figures. I guess I just like Stradiots.

With that the project is nearly done. A base or two of gendarmes.  Another Colunella and more German Pikes for France are in the works. A unit of Italian swords and halberds and a couple more of crossbow skirmishers. We are near done. Parades will then ensue for each army. 

Looking for a Rani? India 1857

 

Above Blue Moon's Rani of Jhansi. Smart, brave and well liked yet. Venerated even. The late Angus McBride was a wonderful illustrator. He painted the Rani like this. Many thanks to Iain below in the comments who reminded me of this splendid image.

Back to our model with a better look at her face.

Time was we had Irregular, Dixon and Blue Moon to represent the epic Indian struggles of 1857. Irregular is gone now. All the same they may turn up second hand and so are included.

Here we see the Rani accompanied by an Irregular Bugler and officer. Not a bad fit I think. Let's do more.

I bought the Blue Moon Indian Command pack in the hope that it would fit with my existing collection. You may judge if it does by the pic’s below.

 

Here is her nibs with a base of Dixon Indian Cavalry.  Not such a good fit is it? Now things get odd. Below, Dixon infantry protect the Rani.

 

This is a very good fit. Indeed, better than that between Dixon mounted and foot.

Now to Irregular Miniatures infantry with the Rani. 

A tad small I think. 

Not so above with the Dixon Cavalry. Very compatible I’d say.

I cannot advise on the Blue Moon infantry as I have none. I can tell you that Blue Moon infantry can be bigger or smaller. The 7YW are bigger than the ’45 fellows. The former match Old Glory, the latter Essex Miniatures. If the Blue Moon 1857 offering is among the smaller fellows they will do. If not they won’t.

To conclude I can see Dixon Miniatures infantry and Blue Moon/ Irregular cavalry working very nicely together. While the Dixon Cavalry go really well with the irregular infantry. Separate units enable a wider selection.

Here is the artillery. Dixon first.

Irregular Miniatures next.

I hope this is useful for those contemplating a new collection or just additions to an existing one.

Addendum

I couldn’t help being inspired by Angus McBride’s rendition of Lakshmi Bai Rani of Jhansi. Mine I thought was a bit plain by comparison. I reached for my brushes. 

Much better. Thanks again Iain.