JWI Blue Clans line infantry (Revell Nap. Prussian infantry)

New things around, first of all a new, entirely black backdrop. Some movement trays too - more is to come. These trays are for my homebrew ruleset A Risk to Take and can hold a d6 and up to 8 troopers.

There are 40-some figures in the box, I did not paint the mounted commander. Instead of a quickshade I used the Vallejo Sepia wash. Quick and dirty but it seems to be working. The figures were really bad to work with (something PSR doesn't consider very often): the plastic did not take the undercoat well, bent and there were a lot of flash and mould lines. This is the situation with many old moulds. Still the pack of soldiers cost a half of a Zvezda box (because they are apparently worth as much as large their container is).

Finished - Jackewline yellow dragoons + 10k hits!

Fitting both for the earlier civil war and war of independence era. The Jackewlinese name 'Vraqsul' originates from 'vraquyr / vrakech', dragon. With these lot from Zvezda my yellow clan army is almost complete (it lacks volunteers, skirmishers, a freshly raised regiment in white coats and a cuirassier regiment) and already fields a considerable amount of force (an artillery battery, a foot, a dragoon and a heavy dragoon regiment).

The box contains 18 figs and horses. 3 are dismounted. These are very good skirmishers and can 'mount' in a game if necessary. The other 15 are mostly depicted with swords drawn.

Command and first rank.

And yeah, ten thousand hits... Very nice. Thank you all. I found no way to actually celebrate this, so my advice is for you to keep on reading and I will keep on posting.

JCW Generals (and officers) - Chovain Siarad Aldarren

I'm still not sure when is the best time to post, but here it goes anyway.

Fig - Zvezda 'Napoleonic Russian heavy infantry - grenadiers'

Chovain Siarad Aldarren taq-Dirongarten of the green clans was born in 10570 in the city after his taqnehn  was given (quasi-house name as it goes with the lesser houses), and lived the life of a gentry there until the age of 20, occasionally visiting his northern estate of Alderra. He joined the army just before the disastrous events of the First Escape and the destruction of the kingdom. He bought a rank of a Captain and raised a fusilier company (after winning a fortune from Lord Nolvar in a night of card playing). The sudden act of patriotism later taught him the fact that he's a good commander on the field.

JCW Generals - Friedrich von Zwillingen

Well not really a general this time, but a great character indeed.

Figure – Zvezda SYW Prussian Grenadiers
Did more highlighting on the vest and attempted to do some details on the face. 

There is no date of birth for Friedrich von Zwillingen, a son of Frickland, though the place of birth is recordedly Strates-Zygnyack and it is presumed that he was born in the Tidguri year of 10543 (he himself stated he was 48 when first coming to Jackewline). The Heer’s records indicate that he joined the army as a corporal in one of the volunteer border guard troops and fought against the Republic of Londion for at least four years, becoming a Sergeant. Then, already married to Annelise Helstedt, he –presumably as a punishment for some sort of crime he committed – has been sent to the colonies in Malacha and later inwards to the frontier of the jungle and desert near the Hvaningenstelni-Malachian borders. He spent the majority of his years in service there. His first child was born in Neu-Klermant.

Jackewlinese limber team + Stable

Well, first things first. This is a rather, how to say, primitive way to model a stable. Well, this is what I got.

It's made from one of the spare kit boxes (a Zvezda one, I think), just some raw plans on the paper and it's done.

Also, a bit out of topic before moving on, but it seems from my latest acquisitions that Italeri re-issued some of their first series, just bought #6001 Scots Greys and #6004 Highlander Infantry (both being among the first 1/72s they've ever produced), the box stating they've been crafted in 2011, which is very good news! These re-issued sets come in boxes with yellow stripes (and a 'Wargames Approved' stamp on them), there were a bunch of early Russian grenadiers as well which I should use sometimes later.

And a warm welcome to Grimsi Grogs as a regular reader.

Finished units - South Dorroseani line infantry

As the Italeri figs (chasseurs) are being painted, the stripped Zvezda Voltigeurs don't need to be light troops. Well, I thought white crossbelts wouldn't really fit this time, that's why they're painted yellow. Also, the standard regiment of foot (which is at the moment the Italeri Russian infantry) has no shoulder decorations, but then there was this idea: how if some of the line regiments from another part of the country are dressed differently? With this solution, they've become Southerners and voilá.

Lost one fig in the process so one battalion includes the flag bearer.

Finished units - one more Dorroseani Guard Grenadier battalion

Bought the Italeri 'French Infantry 1798-1805' set to use as Dorroseani militia: it contains six grenadier figs  and they fit well to the Zvezda Old Guard grenadiers, of which set I've got a bunch of spares. Painted eight along with the Italeri ones so here's a complete battalion.

Still experiencing with the bases.

Finished units - Fricklander Grenz

42 figs totally, finished in one weekend. Mostly the bits (skin, weapons etc.) were to be painted up, then the usual dip.

These guys fight as a part of the Fricklander expedition forces at the side of Jackewline. 

Command fig, macro

Soldiers

The Yellow Islands liberation campaign

Prelude to the campaign: setting up a base for operations

By 10593 (counted to the Tidguri annales) Dorrosean left only a small force to maintain its regime on the Yellow Islands, concentrating on the main strike force led by David Meales on the main land. Seeing the advantage of the situation, while marching with his Methorin allies on the northern Jackewlinese coast, Lord Shailvaisq of Dirongarten commanded his first general, the low-born Halcigula Halh to launch an attack on the northern fortifications in the Islands, and use it as a base for a rebellion. This rebellion aimed to free Anqalturi, the 'house' of the yellow clans and put an end to Dorroseani conquest. 

The local clansmen soon joined Halh and produced even more fighting troops (though usually with low morale). After succesfully defeating a fort's defenses in one of the southern islands, he landed his small army of five battalions (four foot and one horse, not including the local patriots) on a bigger isle and prepared for the attack. He also managed to turn the natives against the Dorroseani, but they have achieved low success as the enemy used every house in the small village near the southern coast for fortifications. 

Later two Dorin frigates joined the siege, but have been sunk by the outnumbering Jackewline fleet. The enemy hadn't given up, but lost almost everyone except a dozen of their troops on the island.

-To be continued-

American Conquest has a lot of advantages to Cossacks: first, the bird's eye view seen on the picture above. Second, the troops scatter and rout instead of dieing. And third, there are natives too to be played as 'barbarians'. Disatvantage: it crashes a lot, especially in multiplayer mode.