Adventures on the Wargames Table

I recently hosted friends Colin and Bill for a spot of ACW using the Sharp Practice rules. Here's a few pics of a very entertaining game as the Rebs ambush Union wagons. The Union camp. Rebel cavalry attempt to turn a flank! The Rebs moving up Plenty of musketry! Most of the figures and all of the scenery from my own collection. Wagons and tents by Colin.

A little more painting for my ACW forces. A pair of pack horses and a handler for the Union army. Two more casualty/shock markers for each side. Can’t have too many! Horses by Redoubt and men by Dixon. Thanks for looking!

I hope to be running some intro games for potential new recruits to Sharp Practice soon and I thought these would help avoid any confusion as to which card represents which leader. Designed and manufactured by top chum Colin of Charlie Foxtrot Models.   All of my Leaders are based on 2p coins, so the 4mm magnet will hold them quite firmly. After my usual basing recipe (Americana Honey Brown, VMC Tan Yellow, VMC Dark Sand and Foundry Boneyard light) I picked out the numbers in thinned black just to help make them clearer.

To complement the set I made for my Union forces (and as a rest from all the Mediterranean goings on) here are some casualty/shock markers for the Confederates. All metal Perry figures.

Sharp Practice, amongst other games, lends itself very well to having Non Player Characters to interact with, or perhaps for the GM to deploy.  So with a farm completed I thought it would be good to paint up some inhabitants.  Here are a gun-toting farming family and a few farm workers. These figures are a mix of Redoubt civilians and farm workers, Dixons ACW civilians, along with some Perry ACW/AWI militia and civilians.

More troops for the Confederacy!  Yes, the infantry now have some mounted support in the form of eight cavalry figures and a leader.  All Perry figures, the leader is metal whilst the troopers are from the excellent plastic boxed set. The painting recipe is basically the same palette as used for my infantry (see links in the Painting tab, above) with Foundry Bay Brown and Chestnut used for the horses.  Socks and other markings were done using Foundry Boneyard. Given the increasing role of cavalry as mounted infantry during this period I felt it was essential that in addition to the cavalry I also have some dismounted chaps.  But then I’ll have to get some horse holders too!  Given that these are primarily for use with Sharp Practice, the eight mounted figures become six on foot plus horse holders. All Perry metal figures. Thanks for looking!

Initially I was a little surprised to read about snipers in the American Civil War, but really I shouldn’t have as ‘sharpshooters’ had been around in some form for perhaps a hundred years or so.  Anyway, I decided these were a ‘must have’.  This Union sniper is a Dixon’s figure. The Reb sniper is from 1st Corps and I’ve paired him with a Perry artillery limber to give him some suitable cover.  The 1st Corps set has two kneeling figures with a selection of heads - highly recommended! A while back I mentioned posting up some army pics for my Union force.  So here they are!  The gaming mat is Geek Villain, Sicily and again is highly recommended! There are still some troops to be added (e.g. cavalry and maybe a unit of Zouaves or a black/coloured unit, etc) plus a host of supports.  This lot comes in at around 100 points so plenty to be gaming with.

Our miniature landscapes need, in my opinion, to look a little ‘lived in’ to get the most from our games.  Given that many of our battles are set in rural, or at least semi rural, areas then some suitable livestock are an obvious choice.  So, I’ve painted some. These are from Redoubt (cows and pigs) and Warbases (rabbits).  Bases from Charlie Foxtrot Models. Here are a few closer shots. I felt that painting the cows the usual black and white would limit them to a European setting, tho I may be wrong.  A bit of Googling resulted in me opting for a more generic looking scheme of pale brown and creamy off white.  This is Foundry Buff Leather and Foundry Boneyard, respectively.  Want to add another couple of bases.  These could just as easily be objective tokens in scenarios such as foraging raids too. Again Google helped choose this reddish brown scheme for the piggies.  This is Foundry Spearshaft. Just for fun, I wanted some rabbits!  Foundry B...

Perry Miniatures do a great set of wounded and dead figures for ACW so I picked up a pack with a view to making some little vignettes as scatter pieces.  However, I’ve decided to make some shock markers instead. In SP2 units can pick up points of shock that represent the cohesion of the troops being eroded as they become fatigued during the fighting.  As shock accumulates the troops become less effective and may eventually be forced to withdraw.  Hence it is very important to keep an accurate track of shock. I particularly like the figures on the right with a Union soldier helping a wounded Confederate soldier.  I’ll get another pack and paint the figures for my Rebs, so each side will have six. I’ve not yet found any suitable cavalry casualty figures so those units will have to make do with wounded infantry for the time being.  I might see about making a few more markers using figures from either the Redoubt or Dixons ranges. Thanks for looking!

Well, you’re probably getting a bit bored of seeing chaps in dark blue jackets and light blue trousers… but here’s another group of eight figures and an NCO for each of the units of sixteen, one of “right shoulder shift” and the other “advancing”. (Note - first pic has the Officer, not his new NCO) Flags to follow soon!  This completes my starting force, shown here , so I’ll sort out some army pics.

The ACW painting production line rolls along!  Two more groups of 8 advancing plus a leader. More Perry plastics and Charlie Foxtrot Models trays.  Painting recipe here .  I now have around 80 points of the North’s finest but still plenty more figures to go.

Back to the troops! Bashed out another unit of skirmishers for my Union force. Kept them fairly uniform apart from one chap who has non regulation brown trousers. Again, Perry figures, but all metal instead of the usual plastic.

These are Perry metal figures mainly from their ACW range along with a couple of bits from AWI. The fellow in the middle is a Doctor figure (as a ‘Physic’ support option) that I picked up at a show some years back, possibly a North Star model? If not playing SP2 (What!? 😂) then these will just be little vignettes to make the battlefield look more interesting.

This week I’ve also added a 12lb Napoleon cannon and a leader to my Union force for SP2. Perry plastic figures.  Artillery tray by Charlie Foxtrot Models. Painting info for the crew here and cannon here .  Thanks for looking 🙂

I’ve painted up the first unit of Union infantry in line.  With a level two leader that’s 18 points for early war and 24 points for later. All Perry plastics (right shoulder shift style) with Charlie Foxtrot movement trays. The recipe can be found here .  Next in the painting queue is some heavier firepower for the North.

The Union forces have their first troops!  Perry plastics and here’s the painting recipe: Prime with Halfords grey primer Jackets & Kepi - Foundry Union Blue shade Trousers - Foundry Union Trouser Blue shade Straps & Bags - Black Musket - GW Scorched Brown (highlight with Foundry Conker shade) Water Bottle - Foundry Slate Grey mid Water Bottle Strap - Foundry Boneyard shade Hair, beards, boots etc - Either black or dark/mid brown Some of the hats and the odd pair of trousers were painted using Foundry Bay, Spearshaft or Rich Butternut. Apply the GW Agrax Earthshade wash (well shaken first to avoid it giving too much shine), but not to the lighter blue of the trousers.  Allow to dry fully.  Then highlights of the base colours and lighter shades.  Finally a quick spray of AP anti shine varnish.  Basing as per my Confederate troops.