Progress Report --

Well let's see, what progress do I have to report?

Sunday was another "painting day". Pete came over and we both got quite a bit done. Except for basing, I've now finished another three units (eight units if I "cheat").

The foot guard unit is finished as well as two cavalry units (one cuirassier and one "galloper"). I also cheated and made duplicate standard-bearers for the four "blue coat" battalions which sometimes serve as extra troops for Pete (and sometimes as vile Stagonians).

In addition, I've cut some bases for a second "grenzer" unit . . . well, okay, they aren't really grenzers, but they are some odd irregular troops (mainly GNW Russians) that I'll base as Grenzer substitutes.

This means that when I've finished basing, I'll be able to field:

• 11 "line" battalions -- 5 red coats, 4 blue coats, 1 gray coat and 1 yellow-coated
• 2 "grenzer" battalions -- well irregulars at least, based in my LMI diamond configuration
• 12 companies of foot skirmishers
• 10 mounted regiments -- 4 "Heavy Horse", 4 Dragoons and 2 Hussars (really Cossacks)
• several artillery pieces and crews
• assorted Generals and Brigadiers

All-in-all, I'm pretty well pleased . . . particularly since these are only "stand-in" troops until I can paint my RSMs later this year.


As for the battles, I don't know if the Duchy of Pfalz-Kognat-Obersayn battle took place this past weekend or not . . . presumably there will be a report soon if it happened.

As for the Landgraviate of Ober-Schweinsberg civil war proxy fight, Murdock and I are set to fight it out next Sunday if we get some clarification on a few details from Jonathan. Murdock will supply the troops and I'll set up the terrain.


-- Jeff

Two New Battles Due --

Well, it looks like there will be two upcoming battles using my "Tricorne Wars" rules.

One is the "proxy battle" that we will be fighting for Jonathan involving the warring brothers (Asgar and Arnold) in their battle for control of the Landgraviate of Ober-Schweinsberg. At the moment, it looks like February 17 is a possible play date for that one.

The other battle will be taking place elsewhere as a scenario involving troops from the Duchy of Pfalz-Kognat-Obersayn. It seems that they want to give my rules a try. (I don't know when that one might be played).

However, for the Ober-Schweinsberg battle Jonathan has not only provided a map, but orders of battle and information on uniforms and flags as well.

Of course we won't be able to match things perfectly -- not having all of the proper colors of uniforms -- but we should be able to get enough troops onto the table top.


-- Jeff

What's Happened; What's Coming Up

Since my last post Pete and I had another "painting day". I didn't finish anything . . . but I pretty much came close with a pair of Heavy Horse units. When they are finished, I will have ten mounted regiments of my "substitute troops".

These will be four Heavy Horse (two each "Trotters" and "Gallopers") and six Other Horse (four Dragoons and two "Hussars"). True, not all of the Dragoons are "full-size" and the "Hussars" are really Cossacks masquerading as Hussars . . . but still, this will serve until I can get my RSMs primed and painted.

As for what lies in the future, it appears that we will be playing out another "proxy battle". There is a civil war raging in the Imagi-Nation of Jonathan, on of our fellow bloggers.

It seems that a pair of brothers (twins, if I recall correctly) claim the throne of the Landgraviate of Ober-Schweinsberg. One, Prince Asgar; the other, Prince Arnold. They have both been crowned Landgrave (by different bishops) and each is supported by many followers.

Anyway, it looks as if a battle may well be joined sometime in February. Jonathan has posted a map of the area around a town (Unter-Schweingau) where (presumably) the armies will meet. He has also sent us a list of officers for each army.

We don't yet have a list of forces involved, nor have we set a date for the battle . . . but we will when more becomes known. I do know that I'd like to get in another painting session in order to finish some of my troops (since they may be required to fill in for one of the brother's forces) . . . and, of course, I will be watching the Super Bowl this Sunday.

Meanwhile, healthwise while I'm feeling a bit better . . . although still a bit "fragile", my dear wife is suffering. Today her doctor requested x-rays and a CAT scan to see if she'll require surgery (she's been suffering severe nerve pain in her neck since the holidays).

If surgery is required, that would definitely change things . . . still, for now we will continue to work toward a tabletop battle


-- Jeff

First Painting Day --

Well, today was the first time I've really had a chance to do any painting in my new hobby room. Pete of the Duchy of the North came over this afternoon (Sunday) and we put in about 3 1/2 hours of painting.

Now since it is too cold here to do any priming outside (I use a black spray primer), I wasn't able to start on my RSMs since they are still in a bare metal state.

Instead I began re-painting some more of my Great Northern War figures to 'stand in' for my Saxe-Bearstein troops.

While not finished, the figures shown in the photo are the major result of the session. Obviously the flag is not correct for Saxe-Bearstein . . . it is however correct for the ten or so figures that started out as the Danish unit that formed the core of this project. A new Saxe-Bearstein flag will soon appear.

I also managed to get a fair portion of a cavalry unit 'prepped' for the next painting session. Meanwhile Pete worked primarily on his artillery and on getting some cavalry ready to prime.

I've always found that getting together to paint is a great way to get a lot done . . . you sort of 'feed' off of each other, getting ideas and learning different techniques. Also, if interrupted, you get right back to painting (which isn't always the case if you're painting solo).

We'll probably do this again next Sunday, health permitting.


-- Jeff

WSS . . . a Future Project --

While I've been "laid up" I've been thinking about my next project.

Well, okay, it won't be my next project, but it is something that I plan on doing at some point. The "War of Spanish Succession" in 15mm.

"Why 15mm?" you ask.

Well I not only have a lot of nice 15mm Mediterranean-style buildings, but I've got close to 800 figures for the period already. I posted a photo of my painted units . . . (ah, stop looking for it) . . . that's right, there's no photo . . . guess that that means none are painted yet.

Anyway, while lying in bed I've been thinking of how I would alter my "Tricorne Wars" rules to handle the WSS . . . and I've had some thoughts. The scale would be roughly 1:30, which will work well with my rules . . . although there will be a number of changes that will be necessitated -- typical squadrons would be 4-6 figures, for example.

When will I get to this? Not soon . . . but it is still fun to begin thinking about it.


-- Jeff

Status Report --

Please allow me to apologize for not posting much of late. Both my wife and I have been suffering through some minor health problems -- not really very serious, but sufficient to keep us from doing things we like to do.

I have been doing some work on the new version of my "Tricorne Wars" rules . . . but that is about all that I've been up to recently. Family visiting over the holidays have left us with a flu bug (first my wife got it; now I seem to have it).

Anyway, never fear. While I might not be feeling well right now, news of Saxe-Bearstein will return soon.


-- Jeff

Index of 2007 Posts --

As has become my custom for the first post of the new year, below you will find an index of my 2007 posts for this blog. The general format is the date (moving backward), the title of the post and (in parentheses) the number of comments:

December 2007

23rd -- History of "WAG" Battles -- (9)
13th -- A Prince is Slain -- (9)
9th -- A note re: Blood Axe Miniatures -- (3)

November 2007

29th -- Temporary Infantry in S-B Service -- (13)
27th -- Battle of Ubergang -- (9)
26th -- Battle of Ubergang About to Start -- (6)
20th -- Another HOTT Battle Fought -- (1)
18th -- Breaking-in My Game Room -- (4)
8th -- Units at Tippelbruder -- (2)
4th -- Some RSM "Other Horse" -- (7)
4th -- RSM Heavy Horse -- (3)

October 2007

19th -- RSM95 Marching Musketeers -- (8)
13th -- Display Case Arrives -- (7)
6th -- Thoughts on a Game Table -- (6)

September 2007

27th -- [off topic] Game Room Cleared -- (12)
24th -- [off topic] New Display Case -- (7)
16th -- Niggling Computer Woes -- (2)
3rd -- The Furst is Furious -- (4)
1st -- Back "On-line" with PCLinusOS -- (2)

August 2007

30th -- Computer Problems in Transition -- (1)
28th -- Battle of Polkfurt -- (6)
27th -- Victory at Polkfurt -- (4)
26th -- Polkfurt Playtest Today -- (1)
17th -- Another Playtest Scheduled -- (9)
9th -- Ouch! Cortisone and Kidney Stones -- (11)
6th -- Tippelbruder Defenders Get Ready -- (2)
1st -- My Saxe-Bearstein Infantry -- (5)
1st -- My Saxe-Bearstein Cavalry -- (1)

July 2007

31st -- Saxe-Bearstein's "Heavy Horse" -- (6)
26th -- Stagonia Gets it's Own Blog -- (4)
26th -- Morale of Small Units in "Tricorne Wars" -- (1)
24th -- Making Do -- (5)
19th -- Dragoon and Cavalry Flag Templates -- (2)
16th -- Playtest Revelations -- (10)
12th -- Another Playtest Battle Looms -- (7)
3rd -- Dragoon Uniforms for Saxe-Bearstein -- (6)
2nd -- Battle Highlights Various Rules -- (8)

June 2007

30th -- "Tricorne Wars" Playtest Tomorrow -- (5)
27th -- (off-topic) Vardo Talk (i.e., Gypsy Wagons) -- (3)
24th -- New Playtest Upcoming -- (4)
18th -- Uniforms Using New Template -- (16)
17th -- More Uniforms Templates -- (2)
16th -- Basic Infantry Flag Templates -- (1)
12th -- The Hussars -- (11)
9th -- Uniforms of Mounted Troops -- (4)
8th -- Uniform Template -- ()
8th -- Line Infantry Uniforms (4)
3rd -- Variable Dice Woes (2)

May 2007

25th -- NEWSFLASH -- Major Map Correction -- ()
19th -- New Recruits Arrive -- (5)
14th -- A Morning at Murdock's -- (10)
8th -- I'm Semi-Back (sort of) -- (7)
4th -- Move Update & Quiz -- (6)

April 2007

28th -- Moving Week / Off-line for a While -- (10)
22nd -- Names for Saxe-Bearstein Units -- (3)
20th -- More on Saxe-Bearstein Units -- (1)
15th -- The "Big Picture" -- (5)
13th -- Saxe-Bearstein History -- (4)
13th -- Duffer's Drift Link -- (2)
10th -- Side-tracked While Waiting -- (3)
5th -- Tensions Ease in Saxe-Bearstein -- (1)
3rd -- Tensions Rise in Saxe-Bearstein -- (4)
2nd -- My Use of Flags -- ()
1st -- Game Table Quandary -- (6)

March 2007

27th -- Another Order Placed -- (3)
24th -- A Wonderful Resource -- ()
23rd -- Command Odds & Ends -- ()
20th -- First Thoughts on "Orders" -- (6)
15th -- [off topic] Roman Galleys -- ()
11th -- Two More New Links -- ()
9th -- "Steve" Begins to Blog -- (1)
9th -- (OT) More House Pictures -- ()
4th -- National Symbols -- (3)
1st -- Some Very Great News -- (7)

February 2007

27th -- Another Country Discovered -- (4)
26th -- Going to a Convention -- (2)
18th -- WAG Starting Forces -- (5)
17th -- Thoughts on Frei Korps -- (2)
14th -- 2nd Blank Uniform Template -- (1)
10th -- Blank Uniform Template -- (3)
9th -- Some New Links -- ()
6th -- How Many Units ??? -- (6)
2nd -- Some Very Good News -- (4)

January 2007

27th -- Real Life Stuff to Cause Delays -- (3)
21st -- What's in a Name -- (6)
20th -- Three Hours on the Phone -- (2)
17th -- Initiative in "Tricorne Wars" -- (1)
14th -- Update and Two New Blogs -- (3)
4th -- How to Paint an Army -- (5)
1st -- Index of 2006 Posts -- (2)

Summary of 2007

We, all-in-all I had 90 posts with 392 comments this past year. On average that's a post about every four days, with about 4 1/3 comments per post . . . not bad, I'd say.

Have a great New Year!


-- Jeff