AN ALONG COMES THE 44TH

 

With this year being the 250th Anniversary of the start of the American War of Independance I have been running a lot of Rebels and Patriots. With my old gaming buddy having moved to the Great White North, (Damn Torry!), I can no longer count on his forces to supplement mine, so I have begun painting the 44th Regiment of Foot. I chose them because first I really like the yellow on a red uniform. I also picked them because of their history. First being part of Braddock's Expedition where they lost half their number, fighting out the rest of the war at Ticonderoga, Fort Niagra, and finally Montreal. Then returning after a stay in Irland, to Boston in 1775 and fighting at Brooklyn, White Plains, Danbury, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth Court House. A very busy carrier in North America. They even made it back to fight in the War of 1812 including New Orleans. The Second Battalion even managed to be at Quatre Bras, and Waterloo. 

When completed they will have three Line Companies, the Grenadier and the Light Company.  

The Light Company

The First of the Line C Company. 

Once this batch of British is complete, I will switch over to Continental Line in their red, white and blue uniforms. Following that in no particular order will come Continental Lights, Continental Rifle, artillery for both sides and a full native war party. 

At present I can field enough troops for a six-player game, which eventually will grow to a twelve-player version.  

THE HYBORIA, PUNIC WARS PROJECT Part 1

Carthage Vs Rome

After what feels like forever, I finally have the 1st Roman Legion ready. This took so much more time for all the standard first-time painting issues like picking colors, learning the best sequence to paint them in, understanding what would need detailing and what could be simplified, and all the rest of those things. Then came the decals. On the other figures these take a short time to prepare and put on, but with the Romans it got complicated. First, Warlord only supplies eight of the Laurels instead of ten, which is the figure count. If I wanted them all the same on a Legion, and I do, I had to find some more. As Warlord does not sell these individually, I had to find someone that had these and was willing to part with them. Fortunately, I know a guy. It just so happened that the only person I know who is painting these had not used the Laurels and sent me his extras. Next was applying them. They come as a left and right side, so need to be lined up to look natural. I can usually get decals on ten figures in about fifteen minutes, but these took me a full hour. Ugh!!! Enough about that. The key question is was it worth it?

1st Legion Without Decals. 

1st Legion with Decals. 

The answer is a big YES!!! Here are closer, and better shots of the figures. 

Hastati and Principes (L&R)

Velites and Triarii 

Like with my other units these are all two stands, so that's sixty figures in those battle units. The opening picture shows you the units backs, with the Hastati in contact and the Principes in support. The next wave of figures is already started, with Spanish, Celts, the 2nd Legion and a number of horses already started. I'm not sure what will make it off the paint cue first, as I let my muse lead where it may, just so long as something is making progress.