Friday, 1 January 2021

Baby Boomer

It's New Year's Day, 2021, here in the Land of the Small Flightless Bird, and so I've decided to start the year with a bang.


It is New Year's Day, 1813, and
the Emperor is reviewing his Guard

The newly-raised Horse Artillery are ordered
to demonstrate their remarkable manoeuvrability.

The Battery Captain shows off his stuff  by advancing...

.....deploying and pivoting with speed and precision.

The Emperor is really quite chuffed.


My new battery looks ever-so-slightly ridiculous with its tiny wee Hinton Hunt gun, so perhaps it's less of a bang and more of a pop and and puff. Nevertheless, I'm delighted to have finally got my hands on one.

Happy New Year, everyone

WM

Edit: The gun, of course, is a vintage Hinton Hunt A3: French Field Gun. It's missing its little ammunition chest, unfortunately, but I have another gun which still has this which will be making an appearance eventually.

Horse Artillery Captain: What are you looking at, old boy?
Foot Artillery Captain: I'm trying to see what he's going to paint next.



22 comments :

  1. Those are some impressive mustaches on the gunners! Clearly old Boney needs to have a chat with his quartermaster so that these fine men don't have to provide their own organic soup strainers!

    The little Hinton guns are an amusement. I wonder what he was thinking to have sculpted them so small? Perhaps sculpting a little cork for the barrel attached to a cord would be nice... That said I do appreciate your dedication to the old school look of the army. My next post will feature a size comparison of British artillery pieces that may be of interest.

    Well, like the officer of your foot artillery, don't keep us in suspense, we are all wondering what will you be painting next?!

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    1. I'd tell you if knew, David! It's all pretty freestyle at the moment, so anything could happen.

      I like your cork idea. Perhaps it's actually a cunningly disguised champagne bottle?

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  2. Lovely figures to salute the New Year !

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    1. Thank you Tradgardmastare. Let's hope it turns out as advertised.

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  3. I say those Horse Artillery look spiffing ! . A Good New Year to you all , Tony

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    1. Thank you Tony. 'Spiffing' is exactly what I was aiming for!

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  4. Excellent paintwork as usual. And as they say, a wee gun is better than no gun... Happy New Year.

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  5. I suggest you would need an amendment to M&M to add - 'Uncorking guns takes half a move'.

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  6. Battalion gun notwithstanding, these figures are amazing! Lovely brushwork for the new year.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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    1. My best regards to you also Stokes. HH guns are a bit daft, but it adds to the charm.

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  7. Personally I think you should get +1 to all die rolls when using a proper HH cannon! Your artillery looks magnificent Matthew and the limber is a triumph.

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    1. That is a brilliant idea, Ian. As for the limber, it wasn't supposed to take quite this long for it to get a proper HH gun to drag around. I may even start using it now.

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  8. I think it might be time to paint some more of those chaps who did all the fighting, you know the ones I mean... Ligne. If not those splendid Garde chappies might get their resplendent outfits all messed up.

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    1. There are oodles de Ligne lining up for Phase 3, Rob, although I may sneak in a few more guardsmen while I'm about it. Their lovely uniforms are just too irresistible. Besides, how else am I to thrash my dastardly opponents?

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  9. A smashing looking unit Matthew...
    As to the gun... it’s not the size that matters... its what you can do with it that does 😁

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Quite so! It's tricky, but just occasionally one can spring proper tactical surprises with horse guns!

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  10. Yes, all of the above but.... just take another look at that train and riders.. I ran out of superlatives when commenting on WM's masterpieces long ago. This level of detail just makes me very relieved that I opted out of gun teams decades ago. Laugh at HH guns and you laugh at my whole allied gun line, so I rather like Ian's concept.

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    1. I'd do more, but there's a bit of a French limber shortage I'm sad to say.

      Happy New Year, Archduke!

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  11. Beautiful as ever Matt.
    Regards, James

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