Frontier Soldiers of New France 1683–1760 Vol 2

 

Another Helion book arrived a couple of weeks ago — this time Frontier Soldiers of New France, Volume 2 by Kevin Gélinas. Like the first volume, it’s beautifully produced and absolutely packed with detail, but this one takes things further into the real life of the Compagnies Franches de la Marine and other colonial troops in New France. Unlike the first volume it is not co-authored by the late Rene Chartrand, but his influence is apparent.

Gélinas goes beyond just discussing regulations and standard gear, offering insight into how soldiers truly lived and fought—think snowshoes, moccasins, and tough leggings. The book provides an intriguing perspective on the ways European military practices adjusted (or sometimes failed to adjust) to the North American wilderness. Each chapter tackles a different aspect: from campaign clothing and gear for summer and winter, to cookware — like the curious ‘marmite cooking pot’ which I will not explain here — and shelters, bivouacs, and even officers’ unofficial equipment choices. The illustrations, photos, and colour plates are top-notch, making this resource invaluable for wargamers, modelers, and reenactors alike.

If you enjoyed the first volume then this is for you. It’s another cracking addition to Helion’s From Reason to Revolution series (No.145 in fact), and essential for anyone interested in the French and Indian War or the colonial frontier of New France. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 978-1-804516-79-9                227 pages, paperback.

Interesting find on Temu

 

I stumbled across this on Temu. They’re about five quid and are 20” x 20” and certainly look the part. I bought another four to add to the original two, so we shall see what they’re like en masse. Equally they will be effective breaking up the tabletop or surrounded by hedges or woods. Just a nice item with lots and lots of potential.

Kingdom of Wurtemberg Division by Piano Miniatures #1

My mate Togs from the LaSW group 3d printed me a modest collection of Wurtemberg troops to round off my allied contingents for my French army. These are all off .stl files from the wonderful Piano Miniatures. 

Shown here are a battalion of jäger, light infantry skirmish bases, foot and horse artillery and the 2nd Chevau Legere regiment of cavalry.

A few bases of light infantry.

Chevau Leger Regiment

Horse and foot artillery 

The Jäger battalion. I’ve done them in skirmish order.

Some commanders.

And some more commanders.

I have a couple more battalions to do that are wearing the earlier casket helmet which was replaced around 1806-1807, maybe a bit later? Somewhere in the Shed of Despair there is a unit of light infantry also in the Rumford’esk helmet. Might as well get them done.

The ONLY thing I would say is that the minis are a little fragile. However a bit of care sorts that out. 

#2 to follow soon with line and light infantry and the guard, just as soon as I’ve finished their bases.

Russian Imperial Guard, 1807

So here we have a bonus. I forgot I had these three battalions of the Semonyevski Guard Regiment for my early ((1805-1808) Russian Napoleonic army. Now, thanks to my current basing activity I have squeezed them in among the various Baden and Wurtemberg troops to get them finished. 

They are wonderful castings from Elite Miniatures, depicted as they are stoically standing to attention under enemy fire. They will of course be incredibly unwieldy on the table but one doesn’t expect clever manoeuvres from Russians; either stand and do not move, or at them with the bayonet! Hurrah! 

With 20+ battalions already I don’t really NEED this regiment but I’d regret it I’m sure as who had a Russian army WITHOUT the Imperial Guard. They will be brigaded with the Guard Jäger Battalion.

Grand Duchy of Baden Napoleonics #2

My basing frenzy has now resulted in  the completion of the Baden infantry contingent for my Napoleonic collection. I’ve included them solely because they were involved in the siege of Danzig in 1807 (my Napoleonic stuff being more or less focussed on 1805 to 1808). They are a mixture of metal and 3D printed figures. The metals are Murawski Miniatures. The 3D ones were from a guy on eBay who doesn’t appear to be doing it any longer.

IR No3. These are Murowski Miniatures 

IR No 1. Resin 3D prints.

All three battalions, from the left IRs 1, 2 and 3. 

These chaps can now join their artillery and cavalry buddies in barracks. I probably lay ought to get a battalion of IR No4 at some stage …… now where’s that latest Piano Wargames Kickstarter?

Something New: Grand Duchy Of Baden

The first units of my Baden contingent. In this post we have the Baden jäger btn, a battery of foot artillery (guns on the way), a command stand, the Baden Hussars and the Baden Light Dragoons. With the exception of the hussars which are Perry hussars wearing their pelises , and a 3d printed command stand (Piano Wargames) the rest are Murowski Miniatures.  I have three battalions of infantry which are almost based up.  A nice little addition.

More to follow…..It is such a shame that Piano have been running a Baden kickstarter! 

Bath Time !

Another displacement activity (not the Archimedes variety) is this Paraguayan general at bath time, complete with his own standard issue Paraguayan flag bath towel. Thinking now I wonder if I shouldn’t have included this in a larger vignette. ……?