Russian pin-ups

Yes, I thought that would get your attention.  And for all the wrong reasons.  This post actually relates to the chaps in this box - 54mm HAT figures.

As you'd expect from HAT, the figures are lovely (though I think thi photo may be upside down) and are provided with separate packs.  I didn't see that they were going to stay attached for long with just a dab of PVA so some thought was called for.

Here I have assembled the components of my masterplan.  An unsuspecting Russian Musketeer - let's call him Little Ivan, his pack, pliers and a pin!

Using the pliers I shoved the pin into Little Ivan's back.

Ouch!

The pliers were used again to clip the pin so that only about 5mm remained visible.

A dab of PVA was applied and the pack shoved into place.

Little Ivan joins his friends while they wait for the PVA tp dry.

Back to the trenches

Sorry it's been so quiet around here of late.  Blame mostly pressures of work.
Anyway, back now to what my dear wife calls 'cocking about.'  I bought these sandbag sections off eBay a few months ago - I think they are 28mm scale and amount to a total of 4 feet in length.  I have based them using some scrap mdf and hardboard and gave the ensemble a basic pant job topped off with Ronseal's medium oak satin varnish.

The chaps lurking within are ancient 54mm WW1 Brits.

Battered B-25

Another dusty derelict from the Partizan plane purchase now. This only slightly ratty B-25 was finished in a fetching shade of dark blue (under half an inch of dust) but the markings were at best decidedly flaky.

My efforts involved some repairs and a new set of decals. I decided to preserve the dust - it's an original feature!

Muenchengratz, 1866

Martin has already posted a report of this game over on his blog - see it here.  So I'll not say much except where I feel the Austrian point of view needs representing more accurately!

In the game I was General Clam Gallas - derided by the Prussians who claimed 'he eats better than he fights."  Which just makes me like him all the more!  Anyway, in between ordering and eating a seventeen course lunch I conducted a masterly defence of the area.

Here is my Austrian corps deployed for defence...

...and here my tardy Saxon allies march lethargically into position.

As hordes of unsmiling black-clad Prussians flowed over the bridge my chaps set to with shovels and dug in.

As my chaps came under pressure I managed some inspired dice rolling!

Meanwhile the Saxons  - having had a brief glimpse of the enemy - buggered off.

In between courses Clam Gallas had displayed enough leadership to hold off the Prussians and then extricate his men.  Clearly a major Austrian victory then.  No really.