The Grand Duke and others

Things are fairly quiet in the Duchy at present, though there are rumblings of discontent in the southern provinces. Grand Duke Hudibras has taken advantage of the good weather to take a ride through his country estate, in company with his secretary, Baron Pschmidt and his Quartermaster General Warnerhus de Tettingen.
The Grand Duke is dressed in the green and blue national colours, and is a Jackdaw Duke of Cumberland figure, Pschmidt (the p is silent, as in swimming pool - with apologies to P.G.Wodehouse) is in the yellow and is, I think, a Willie model), while Warnerhus is another from the Jackdaw British High Command group.

Later they were joined by the High Constable, Graf Aldrian von Tronek, who brought along  Lord Killwillie, leader of the free company (allright, mercenaries) known as the Celtic Ranger Free Highlanders. A group of Scots in enforced exile after the 1745, and doing what they do best - fighting anyone and anything, especially if paid for it. The Grand Duke is negotiating their services in the expected shennanigins.
Again, von Tronek is an old Willie figure though I can't remember which, while Killwillie is a Willie Bonnie Prince Charlie. The painting job on these figures is not brilliant (especially Killwillie's plaid, but my eyes ain't what they used to be.

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest -

 The Grand Duke's daughter, Duchess Charlotte leads a small party of huntsmen in pursuit of whatever crosses their path. They are out for fun and the noise of the huntsman's horn is likely to frighten off any game. Along with the Duchess is an old school friend from England, Lady Anne Laurence, and bringing up the rear is the old Marshal Saxo, once a renowned soldier, now at 82 a tutor in military matters to the Grand Duke's sons, and here acting as bodyguard to the Duchess. (She doesn't know about the squadron of dragoons that follow ,at a discrete distance). The Marshal is held in great esteem by the Humperstinians in general, and is known affectionately as 'the old salt'.
Figures mainly Willie, from the hunt series. I hope I've managed to get a reasonable representation of  Dalmation in painting the dogs.

Recent Acquisition

When I got back from our French trip* yesterday there was a card from the postman through the door telling me I had a package to collect, as it wouldn't go through the letterbox. As I'd made arrangements for any recent orders to be held till my return this was a mystery. Subsequently I presented myself, with ID, at the local sorting office and picked up a package from Canada. This is what it was -

 

 

Now, I'd completely forgotten that I'd ordered it, so it was a nice surprise. I've had the first 4 volumes for sometime and it's only thanks to the wonders of the internet and Abebooks that I've been able to find the final volume. It even comes in a plastic sleeve, so I don't have to struggle with library jacket material to cover it myself. Between the five volumes there is enough information to outfit any 18th century British army (including colonies). Such a pity that in those days colour pictures were expensive and thus rare.

*details on my main blog  steamsteelandtorpedoes.blogspot.com

First Recruits

As from Monday MrsJ and I are off, with two other couples, in three caravans, on a short 10 day tour of Southern Normandy. I tried to hold out for the coastal areas but my subtle scheme was seen through for what it was - an extended tour of the D-Day landing zones. I have been offered a couple of days on the way back to the ferry. Outnumbered, I take what I can get.

I shall be taking some figures to paint, if I get the opportunity. I know the other couples tend to be late starters, so I'm hoping for an hour first thing in the morning. I'm taking a unit of Fife 'n Drum Americans in buckskins. This unit acts as the Grand Duke's light infantry, and is drawn from his forresters and gamekeepers. So the main colour scheme is green and brown.


                                   

 

I've spent the day basing them on individual copper discs (available from many outlets on most highstreets, costing £1 per 100 - cheaper than equivalent washers) and then filling in with hole filler.

I'll undercoat tomorrow and they'l be ready to go.

 

I've also based, but won't be taking, a group of Dragoons from Outpost Wargames Services. This lot are part of their 'Highwayman' range and don't fit my OOB, though I shall have a unit of sword waving figures, so they will be Revenue men and locally based border patrols.

 



Their basing is cut from Ikea blind strips, one blind provides enough bases for umpteen horsemen. For these 30mm figures I use the full width of the strip, while for my 25/28mm figures I trim off about 3mm and then round over the cut edge.

There are a couple of other small projects on the desk, but they must wait. More later. So until the 20th of May, au-revoir.

Plans for the Past

Originally I had planned my 18th century escapade to be the War of Welsh Independence, similar to the AWI but closer to home. I can't seem to get my head around this and it seems to me that it would be more a matter of minor skirmishes, ambushes in the passes and British excesses, very similar to events in the Highlands at the time, so I dropped the scheme. Instead I am taking a look back at the history of the Grand Duchy of Humperstein*, back in the days of Grand Duke Hudibras Alberich Theoderich von Amelung, who reigned from 1738 to 1778 and had considerable trouble from various relatives and nobles from the Dukedom. Troubles that would be compounded later by the Emperor Napoleon and cause further trouble in the 19th century.

Also, by building up a selection of forces I will be able to take advantage of all the wonderful figures available from the armies of Britain, France, Prussia et al that can be obtained from Minden, Fife 'n Drum, Jackdaw, Willie, Tradition and so on. Accordingly I drew up an OOB for three equal forces, basing my plan on the original Sittingbad forces in 'Charge', with minor alterations.

Eventually I shall have Force A made up of British and Hanoverians, Force B of Prussians and Austrians, and Force C of French and Americans. There will also be a free ranging two units of Highlanders who will fight anybody, even each other if there's no one else. (If the French can have their 'Wild Geese' then I can have the 'Celtic Rangers'.

So, three armies, each containing :-
Command Unit
1 unit Light Cavalry
2 units Heavy Cavalry
1 unit Light Infantry
4 units Line Infantry
2 batteries of Artillery
1 unit of Engineers

I shall be using units of 48 infantry (24 Light) and 24 cavalry. This will let me split the units into two should I need to.

The current pile, each box representing one unit waiting to be painted, the packets at the front are either command packs or artillery packs.

To this end I have, over the last few months, started accumulating the various figures, and am about half-way** to my goal, without yet painting a single figure. Note to self - stop getting sidetracked by new releases or extra units - stick to plan. I hope (ha!) to paint these myself and expect it to take a couple of years to complete***, by which time I shall be fed up of the sight of a paintbrush and my eyesight will be gone.

That's the plan. Keep your fingers crossed.

* As seen in my other blog, Tales from the Grand Duchy of Humperstein
** Actually, a check against my list shows I'm only 25% of the way.
*** Realistically it will be longer, but one must have a goal.

Introduction

This blog will cover events in the Grand Duchy of Humperstein in the 18th century, covering the 'Potato Wars at a time of internal strife and upheaval.