All quiet of the Western front

I'm afraid after many years of groaning, my computer at home has finally given up the ghost. This means there might be a little delay in war gaming/painting madness for a while.
The French are coming on great guns though, with the next batch of Voltigeurs being covered with mud as I type, ready for their new bases.

Today is a painting day!

A Voltigeur tries his luck.

A voltigeur sees his chance and takes a pot shot at a British Colonel.

Leading from the front

Unlike the British Officers who tended to buy their commissions and come from high born families, the French Officer rose through the ranks by acts of shear bravado and example. Jumping around in front of the troops like a mad man they made an obvious target for a rifleman and many paid the price.

"They are among us!"

A good cavalry commander, of whom the French had many, knew exactly how to deal with skirmishers.
Way out in front of the battle lines, a rifleman had to keep his wits about him in order to keep his head.

Voltigeur detachment

A small detachment of Voltigeurs prepare to jog out in front of the Battalion and take up skirmish positions.

Lieutenant Simmons

Lieutenant Simmons senses the time is right and orders his company forward after the withdrawing French.

In the bag

Riflemen trade shots with Voltigeurs on the other side of the river. Riflemen were famous for their good humour in battle and these two take bets on who can bag the mounted officer.

An oldie, but a goodie

There's forty shillings on my bum, for those who'll volunteer to come, to list and fight the French todayyyyyyyyy, Over the hills and far awayyyyyy.( To be sung in a Northern folk twang. )

Take another step back Harris, and I'll shoot you myself!

The thin red line.

Rifleman Blunt

Not the sharpest tool in the box, rifleman Blunt advances in the open. It looks like Louis will get his third man after all.

The Sly Old Voltigeur

A veteran of many skirmishes, Louis takes his time and waits for the new recruits of the 95th to show themselves. Two kills under his hat today, can he make it a third before wisely retiring.

Voltigeur Officer

Sub-Lieutenant Marcel of the Voltigeur Company.

A Grenadier

A French Line Battalion was made up of six Companies. Four of these were centre or Fusilier companies, named after the weapon they carried. However, the other two companies in the Battalion were called 'Flank' companies and were seen as the elite. Grenadiers were one such Flank company, they were the largest men chosen for their size and strength. They would be used to assault building or bridges, where real muscle power would carry the day. Their names stems back to the days when the biggest, strongest men were chosen to throw grenades. The weapon dropped out of favour but the name remained.
Voltigeurs, literally meaning vaulters, were the smallest most agile men in the Battalion. They would be sent out in front of the advancing unit to skirmish and weaken the enemy line. Although these men were not armed with the rifle like the 95th, they were good shots and knew their weapons well. The French were known for sending vast hordes of Skirmishers forward in advance of their units.

A French Voltigeur Skirmishing

Two weeks with the Rifles

Hello, I'm back from my two weeks in Crete. While I was there I caught up with a book I've had for ages, ' Rifles' by Mark Urban. It follows the story of the 95th Rifles through their history and the many colourful characters who noted down their exploits along the way. Being surrounded by similar terrain to that of the Iberian Peninsula, I started to scribble away.

I found the book and It's characters a great source of inspiration, but couldn't resist drawing up the opposition as well. As I am painting up and reorganizing my French forces, I started to get carried away with Voltigeurs, the French light Infantry of the Battalions.

I'm off to conquer Crete for two weeks!

I thought It was high time I got back in the saddle and took the fight to the enemy, I chose Crete to invade for no better reason than the weather is nice and hot. I'm a bit like that, see you all soon, Secundus.

Rebasing the French horde

Today I have pulled out two units of French from my cabinet and have set about rebasing them for the game 'Napoleon'. My original units were 36 man strong and so by down sizing them to 24 man units, I have more than a few Fusiliers spare. These will be drummed into extra units and I've had to order more Flank companies to complete them. Also I'll need a few more command to make up the new units, I'm quite looking forward to getting back to painting the French. That's the good thing about painting uniforms...once you've learnt the tricky colour schemes you can just steam through them.
I cringe when I think back to when I first started painting Napoleonics. All those different names and classes of soldier, the Grenadiers, Voltigeurs, and Fusiliers and what the hell is a Tirailleur? As for Chasseurs and the Carbineers well I give up, what's all this about the Leger troops I've just learnt the troops of the line, what does Leger mean? Thankfully after many years of painting and learning along the way (slowly) they no longer keep me awake at night. This is just two regiments from the cabinet...I have a long to go.

Foundry 'Napoleon' Rules

Keir has pointed out a good site to go to if you are interested in the new rule set by Foundry, www.befreiungskriege.wordpress.com . I am new to the period in gaming terms, so the game is quite exiting for me and my friend. There are a few things we have agreed to change but it seems to be the terminology of 'units' more than anything else so far. We like the idea of four 'units' being called a Brigade rather than a Division. The units of 24 men seem more like Battalions to us.

I'm just glad I have a rule set to work too after waiting for years for the fabled 'Warhammer' edition to arrive. I think Foundry have stolen a march there, pun intended. As always, I will handle the painting side of things and let Alanicus bash out the rule mechanics, both of us playing to our strengths and saving a lot of time

The Curse of the Gamer/Painter

It seems every time I pick up a copy of War games Illustrated, I am bedazzled by a new range of figures which plays havoc with my painting production line. Having set my sights on finishing a range, I am left confused and find myself wandering off the path into a mine field of other periods. I know this is the curse of every Painter/collector/gamer and they'll be many who read this that will find themselves tormented also on a monthly basis besides myself.

I have recently ordered a copy of Foundry's new rule book, Napoleon, after seeing It in the magazine. It looks very nice indeed and has got some good reviews. Having painted up a French army four years ago I am tempted to rebase them for the game. I painted up my army in the hope that by the time I had finished it, there would be a good 28mm Napoleonic game produced and It looks like my long wait is over. Originally, I thought It would come from Warhammer but Foundry have stepped into the void It would seem.
I rather like the idea of rebasing for It gives me an chance to touch up some of my old paint work and get things properly organized for once. I must say after having an army sitting around for so long, It's nice to think I might actually get inspired to finish them and use them. I'm hoping It might even shift me out of English Civil war mode and onto British redcoats. Now I have actual unit sizes to work too, the painting should be a lot easier too. I do enjoy knowing what I'm meant to be doing and now I can work towards an Army list. I'm also looking forward to getting back to speed painting large units again rather than my detailed WWII Platoons. However Father Time may have the last word on all my plans as usual...Oh well lets just see what happens. Next week I may see something else...!
If anyone has played the game I would be Interested to hear your views on the matter.