Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Waterloo 2019 - part 1

On Saturday I was the guest of Durham Wargames Group and umpired their 54mm Waterloo game.  We used a much stripped-down version of Funny Little Wars.
Most of the figures were from the vast collection of Durham club stalwart Conrad, while Mike S brought his recently finished Dutch Brigade. I contributed a relatively trivial 400+ figures, mostly French.
Battle commenced at 1.00pm (1000 real time), ended at 8.30pm (1515 real time).  As to what happened - read on!
The French right - some of Conrad's beautiful figures.  I spotted some of Airfix's finest among the infantry.
The French left.  Some of my line & light infantry (Supreme and ACTA) with Guard (Timpo) beyond.
 The Allied right - with Hougoumont top left.
 Another view of the French right.
 The Allied left - looking rather thin!
 Allied centre - with Conrad's Rocket Troop and some of my dodgy Brits.
 Allied light cavalry.
 British & KGL light troops.
 British infantry - plenty of Airfix and Timpo here!
 2nd KGL Light Btl under pressure from the French at Lay Haye Sainte
 The French surge forward
 British cavalry deploy to shore up the Allied left.
 The Allied red line looking thinner by the minute
 French heavy cavalry advance
 French artillery bombard the Allies, while infantry advance
 La Haye Sainte soon feel to the French.  Despite intense and confused fighting round the farm, their grip on the farm was never seriously threatened.  This put at risk the entire Allied position!
 The Allied right having a relatively quiet time.
 French columns closing on the Allied centre
 Sadly some of the party popper canister misfired - the Brits weren't impressed!
French columns assaulting the Allied position with what appeared to be overwhelming force.

At around this point we paused for lunch.  The Allies were under serious pressure but it was still anyone's game.
at

18 comments:

  1. Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com26 June 2019 at 11:42

    Where is Blucher? for that matter where is Grouche!!

    Wonderful!

    But this sort of thing is why I gave up 54mm plastics, they seem to have no morals, cheap and easy, they breed like crazy. You buy one little box and paint them up and its ok but buy a second box and in no time at all the cupboards and shelves and every nook and cranny are bursting with 54's looking for a fight.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tim Gow26 June 2019 at 12:01

    Ross Mac
    Oh Ross - how you exaggerate! Though I did hear of a chap in Yorkshire who started accumulating 54mm Napoleonics for a game in 2015 and now has over 1,000. But how true can that be?

    ReplyDelete
  3. KEV. Robertson.26 June 2019 at 12:08

    Hi Tim- thanks for posting this very impressive battle with 54mm. My old mate Gordon (80) who past away recently collected huge amounts of 54mm Toy Soldiers- he would have loved to see your Battle- Gordon was more the Collector rather than gamer...I miss him greatly. KEV.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tim Gow26 June 2019 at 12:17

    Kev Robertson
    Glad you enjoyed the post. I hope Gordon's figures went to a good home!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Martin Rapier26 June 2019 at 12:30

    That looks magnificent Tim. I look forward to the next instalment.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Brian Carrick26 June 2019 at 14:05

    Spectacular, especially the flying rocket! Do you know who made the buildings?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tim Gow26 June 2019 at 14:24

    Martin Rapier
    It looked pretty good!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Tim Gow26 June 2019 at 14:25

    Brian Carrick
    I think the buildings were mostly resin models. Perhaps someone from the Durham group will provide more information?

    ReplyDelete
  9. KEV. Robertson.27 June 2019 at 12:19

    Hi Tim,
    Most of my friend Gordon's Collection of 54mm went to his younger Brother- Ron. Ron also is a huge Collector of Toy Soldiers- so it all stayed in the Family. We use to have a Sydney Toy Soldiers Club back in the early 90s - it has all ceased now- unfortunately. Regards. KEV.

    ReplyDelete
  10. John Y27 June 2019 at 14:05

    Wow. For some time, I have withheld against the possibility of acquiring and painting 54mm Napoleonic forces, but that display has shaken my resolve. Also love the use of party poppers.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tim Gow27 June 2019 at 22:32

    Kev Robertson
    I’m relieved to hear the toys are safe!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tim Gow27 June 2019 at 22:35

    John Y
    You know it makes sense! I began accumulating (I can’t say collecting as it sounds much too organised) 54mm Napoleonics for our 2015 Waterloo game. I now have er, some. Availability of suitable plastic figures is very good. And party poppers are pretty cheap....

    ReplyDelete
  13. Old Silly1 July 2019 at 08:28

    Great stuff, well done all

    ReplyDelete
  14. Stan10 July 2019 at 13:02

    Great Game Tim and the rest of the club!
    For my 1/32 or 54mm still is the on and only true scale! Despite the fact that everything is available in 28mm is still prefer 54mm over everything! And yes they do take almost as much space to breathe in the house as I do ;-)

    Please have a look at my 1/32 blog, just a few posts so far..Maybe later on I will dive into my collection, but it is currently spread over two places! I don't there to say how much Napoleonics I have but for sure past the 2000 if not way more!

    http://stansarmee.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  15. SoA Shows North10 July 2019 at 14:05

    Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Tim Gow11 July 2019 at 16:37

    Old Silly
    Thanks - a good day out!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Tim Gow11 July 2019 at 16:38

    Stan
    Thanks - I've had a look at your blog and added it to my reading list.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tim Gow11 July 2019 at 16:39

    SoA Shows North
    I think that about covers it!

    ReplyDelete