Syracuse versus Later Achaemenid Persian TtS

The hill is taken early by the Syracusan Hoplites which would prove decisive

 

Great fun game tonight as Guido and I took on Jeff in another To the Strongest game. So much fun.

Light cavalry on the flank tries its best. In fact it fought superbly.

Jeffs excellent Hoplites

The view from the Persian lines 

Absolutely love the new chits from BigRedBat Shop.

It was an enormously fun game and though the Syracusans had a narrow win, it was a well fought out battle.  Great set of rules.

"To the Strongest" Hundred Years War

 

French Knights prepare to assault the English invaders ahead

It had been too long since Peter and I had a game of To the Strongest.  We had chatted for well over a year about battling out in a 15mm version of the game on his special gaming mat.  I am fortunate enough to have both of these armies in 15mm, having apinted the French many, many years ago.  They are so old in fact that they have played WRG 7th Edition, all the versions of DBM and now given a new life in TtS.

The English were painted by bmy good buddy and old school friend Paul around the same time.  We played m,any a battle between these two foes over many years.  When they were not getting an outiung at his place we did a lovely figure swap and both walked away happy.  Both armies are almost exclusively Museum Miniatures.

The view early on in the game.  Those stakes may prove a drama

Central English command.  I still need to get a few banners for these lads

Some of the casualties of war on the side.  A base of English and French knights.

A clash in the guts

I didn't take half as many photographs as I would have liked as we were having too many laughs.  With the gallery cheering on every English victory (these ex-pat Poms really hate the French unless its Napoleonic's when suddenly they are all Napoleon or Davout!) it was I against the world...and the world won.

Great fun game.  Still think there should be a bonus to hit for English Veteran longbow as 30% does seem a bit light on however I am sure Simon Miller, the author of these excellent rules, has that all well in hand.

Until next time.

Calpe Prussian Foot artillery battery

 

The Prussian foot battery looks pretty animated through a wide array of poses

Following on from my other post this week I wanted to showcase some more of the superb work of Big Chris from the club.  On this occasion it’s the wonderful Foot battery from Calpe as well as its limber team and an attached caisson.

Quite a beautifully animated series of sculpts with so much attention to detail

Wargames Foundry Mounted Battery Commander ignoring the impassioned please of an
Aide De Camp in typical Teutonic fashion.  Painted by yours truly. 

Caisson team from Calpe

Another view of the command stand.  You can never have enough of these.

A close up of the detail on the Prussian limber team riders

A close up view of the foot battery in action

Once again Peter Fitzgerald has done a superb job on these sculpts.

Did I mention I painted these lads myself????  I did? Oh...

Love the Officer on foot with telescope

So these and the Leib Hussars are the only painted and based Calpe Miniature Prussians I have in the collection.  Chris has painted up quite a few of the wonderful High Command figures however they still need to be composed on stands and based.  Later in the year I think.  

I need to finish whats on my paint desk over the rest of February and then hit the Calpe Prussian Infantry battalions I have ready to undercoat for the rest of the year.  Wish me luck.

Calpe Prussian Leib Hussars nearing completion

The lads awaiting some slightest details and then the final fixing to horses

After many years these lads are nearing completion. I grabbed these from Peter Fitzgerald on a visit to England many years ago and also enjoyed a fine lunch with his lovely family. True gentleman.

These lads were painted for me by “Big Chris” awhile back. I painted the horseflesh in my usual enamels and oils wipe method and completed the basing. I think we will all agree that the Hussars are the star of the show!

Wonderfully sculpted figures and cracking officer.

I am sure that Von Peter himself inspired me to have this regiment in my army through his own wonderful collection.  Peter gave me so much assistance in the early days of  building a formation for 1813 from his own research during his formative University days if my memory serves me correctly. He is also a wonderful promoter of Peter Fitzgerald’s excellent Calpe range. My good friend Cookie is building up some 1813 Saxons using Calpe as I type.

Until next time.