The Assembling Might of the Markgraaf

On an upland heath IR 1 Prinz Georg and IR 2 Margravine Josefina's Own maneuver, screened by the Sobelsburg Jagers...

...watched critically from the rear by Babbington's Legion.


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So here we have them, the first two regiments of the first brigade in the Margraaf's army. In the distance is IR 1 Prinz Georg, screened by the Sobelsburg Jager Regiment. Directly behind them are Babbington's Legion, a mercenary regiment composed mostly of British Catholic exiles. Formerly in Gallian pay then in service to the Free Stadt of Cottbus, they now serve the Markgraaf as a steady veteran regiment. In the foreground is IR 2 Margravine Josefina's Own, the latest regiment to join the colors.

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The figures are Spencer Smith (IR 1) and Front Rank Miniatures (the rest). IR2 began life as 1990's vintage French Republican infantry before a little conversion work turned them into tricorn'ed heroes in waiting. All scenic work was composed using a basic brown cloth with some touching up using Microsoft Picture It photo suite.

Militia matters- pikes.

I was browsing the Holger Eriksson Great Northern War range of figures at the Spencer Smith website when I came across models 53E3 and 53E7 - Swedish infantry with pikes. I confess to a real lack of knowledge about the war itself but the photos of the pike-wielding figures did get me thinking! The Moscow militia of the Napoleonic Wars were armed with pikes: Why not so arm a unit or two of militia for my ImagiNations of Hetzenberg and Dunkeldorf-Pfühl?

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I can see such a unit in my mind's eye. It's from a poor area, low down the scale of the military appropriations budget. It has obligations to meet but little money to spend, and even military-grade muskets may be in short supply. It has to equip itself somehow and opts for a mix of pikes and muskets in the style of English Civil War regiments. Do you have thoughts and opinions on this idea? Feel free to leave a comment!

The Margravate of Dunkeldorf-Pfühl: 1st Regiment.

The first regiment of the Margrave of Dunkeldorf-Pfühl is mostly finished. All I need do now is complete the command element and base the regiment. These Spencer Smith figures do require a different approach to painting. It's necessary to deliniate details with a fine black line in order for them to be seen. Even so, they were quick and pleasant to paint, and I shall be ordering some more when my lead mountain has been reduced a little. I plan to add another two or three line regiments to make up the First Brigade, a dragoon regiment and artillery battery.

The Margravate of Dunkeldorf-Pfühl: 1st Line Regiment.

Not the best of images, but I think it shows the Margrave's 1st Line Regiment is nearing completion. The standard bearers are Holger Eriksson figures and the rest are Spencer Smith.

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This is the first time I've painted any of this range, and it's been an experience. The detail on the figurines is only hinted at in most places, which requires a bit more concentration with the brush than I expected. Even so, with my new policy of - "if it can't be seen from more than three feet away it don't get painted," they work very well when seen en-masse. I just have a few details to add then they'll be ready for basing.

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In between times I've been working on a hexagon-based blank map ready to sculpt the campaign world on and it's nearly finished. There are plenty of mapping programs out there but although I downloaded a few my elderly PC doesn't seem to like them much. A number of options are available in the shape of downloadable ready-made hex-blanks, so I got one of those and adapted it. It should be finished by tomorrow, so I'll post it here.