Monday 29 January 2018

French Foot artillery limber teams and caissons

Deliberately staggered so that they would look suitably ordered yet not uniform, the lads await orders to move.


One of the best things about having a table top battle that one can leave set up until a suitable rendezvous time is that it can often act as a catalyst for the perennially lazy wargamer!


Now I am sure that most of us are in a similar boat.  Loads of plans, a youngish family and limited time to game, let alone finish off the projects that sit  by week after week, month after month, year after...stop me if it all sounds so painfully familiar.


Well the game currently underway has enthused me to do what I have promised myself time after time.  Finish off some artillery limbers and caissons.


The caisson is an old Hinchcliffe model at least twenty five years old


These are nearly all old Foundry figures that I have sitting painted and waiting to be based for, I'm ashamed to say, 15 years!


Well, lift the head, pull the shoulders back and look every fellow gamer at the NWS in the eye again young man for six are now completed.


I did promise Cookie these would be finished before the next days gaming.


Well done that man.

26 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you Anthony - one does aim to do the best with my limited skill set when it comes to this kind of thing.

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  2. Impressive and beautiful limbers and caissons, great job!

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  3. Replies
    1. Thank you Seriuss - one of many unfinished projects Im onto at the moment.

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  4. You make Napier proud - he loves his caissons.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Mark. Yes I think most of those old limber teams and caissons in 15mm used to be mine as well!

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  5. Excellent work Carlo, these really add to the look of the thing! :)

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    1. Thank you very much Mark and though they are nowhere near as good as yours, they suit my table I think. I will be putting a link to your post on your Perry Austrian teams soon if that's ok by you.

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  6. Great additions Carlo.

    Your story is sadly all to familiar for me. Those limber horses on my painting desk stare accusingly at me but it does them no good what so ever. The little painting that happens tends to go the way of the fighting units. Sob!!

    Salute
    von Peter himself

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  7. Looking very nice! Aren’t artillery trains fun?

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Stew. I really get excited about Pontoon and Bridging trains mate so they are my plan for next month. Can't wait!

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  8. Wonderful enhancements to your collection Carlo.

    I can sympathise with the delays in getting those non fighting units to the table top but these prove that they are well worth the effort.

    Salute
    Von Peter himself

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    Replies
    1. Cheers once more Von Peter and I am very much enjoying getting them on the table mate. A few more items in the offing over the next few months.

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  9. Very nice work indeed. The presence of limber and caisson always impresses. My old Bicorne miniatures are presented with the lid up because they came with an insert showing the various rounds. Still some of my favourite pieces.

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    1. I have some of those too Paul and they look splendid however they will need a good deal of TLC to bring them up to speed.

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  10. Terrific to see these Carlo. Particularly in all their splendour with rope traces attached - super work! Super effect!

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    1. High praise indeed from yourself Kevin. The traces are a bit of a cheat having been pre- made however they do look the part.

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    2. Where did you get the premade traces Carlo? Is there a manufacturer that does them?

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    3. Hi Kevin - I order them from Ian Hinds at Hinds Figures in Derby. They are now the owners of all the Hinchcliffe licenses and they sell the traces in lots of four strands as well as the cross beams for 50p each a pop. As you know, so many of the best equipment models etc. are in that Hinchcliffe back catalogue and for wargamers such as ourselves, they are gold!

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    4. Thanks so much for the info Carlo. I'm straight on with buying some as my French limbers are missing of the cross beams and I've been unable to fit the traces. Brit limbers are easy achieve with rope made of 3 spun strands of .4mm jewellery wire - no mid team beams required. Looks like I'll be up to the same trick as you soon! Thanks.

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  11. They look wonderful, Carlo. I don't have much of a backlog of unpainted train, but I do have difficulty motivating myself to diverting the time and $ from 'Fighting" units to support. Some day, more limbers et al)!

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    1. I absolutely hear what you are saying Peter hence the reason these were sitting waiting to be done for so many years. I must say that having the two armies out on the table has been just the thing to get me motivated to start moving on these things. It obviously hit the right nerve for me at the exact right time.

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