Swedish TYW Horse

Hard on the heels of the Finns and Croats are two squadrons of Swedish Horse. These took me ages to finish as I really hate painting horses and I was not very happy with the 'look' of the units until after I had applied a coat of shading fluid. I think they look good. One trick I've learnt about my horse painting phoebia is to undercoat and paint them on the sprues and then assemble them. Minimal touching up required. Obviously only works for plastics! I've stuck Wallenstein's Lifeguard together and undercoated them along with some more Finns and a couple of stands of dismounted dragoons. Thankfully more tufts are on the way, as are more mdf bases from East Riding Miniatures.

More Croats and some Finns

I'm making good progress finishing off the remnants of my TYW armies. This weekend I completed another six Croats and six Finnish horse, plus a couple of generals. In my preChristmas tidy up I seem to have mislaid some of my flags as I can't find my Maverick Croat banners anywhere so I've had to use the ones in the Warlord figure sets. They will do for the moment. I have no idea at all what banners, if any, Finnish horse carried so I will improvise. On the painting table at the moment are six more Finns, 12 Swedish Horse and some cuirassiers. I really need to get the mounted elements for my dragoons done but there's no rush I guess. I had hoped to have a game over the festive break but the weather and other commitments got in the way, so I have no idea when I'll get these troops on the table other than in a solo game, although John said he'd come up next week weather permitting. I am looking forward to it.

Thirty Years War Croats and more Dragoons

My first unit of Croats is now complete. I am reasonably pleased with the end result although the photos as always show up a couple of bits of sloppy paintwork that has now been remedied. I do like the Army painter dip (although I brush it on) and the shiney look. Lovely TAG figures.

I also finished a third base of dismounted Imperial dragoons (Warlord Games, horse holders by TAG).

I am on a roll! They just keep on coming! Thirty Years War Imperial dragoons

My production line technique of a few 20 to 30 minute painting sessions  during the day (only possible when I am not a work of course!) is still paying off as I today finished 2 units/bases of Imperialist dismounted dragons. I wasn't sure how to base these up as my typical 6 figure mounted unit count as a standard-sized unit in Pike and Shotte, but 5 or 6 figures on foot is a small unit, even if you count the horse! Given that dragons can only really be effective on foot this could cause a bit of a dilemma. A standard dragoon unit gets one D6 more when firing compared to a dismounted unit of the same number of figures. I want to keep the 80mm unit frontage as standard for all foot units but couldn't really justify, or fit, 8 figures (the minimum for a standard foot unit) on the base, especially as I wanted to include horse holders. Well, in true pragmatic Colin style I have decided that as the base frontage is the same as that of a standard unit then the dragoons will be counted as such, with the benefits of a standard rather than small unit.  I think they look really good, imagine them having just dismounted and running forward to give harrying fire on the Godless Lutherans! figures are Warlord, except for the horse holders who are TAG. The guidon is attributed to von Tilly's dragoons. I have 2 more bases to do plus the mounted versions. In terms of other prog  ress, I expect to have a unit each of Croats and Finnish cavalry and some commanded shot done by Sunday night. Oh, and my Army Painter dip has now gone past its best by date as it is really gloopy.....

Yet more Thirty Years War stuff......

Over the Xmas hols I have managed to stay sober enough to finish quite a few figures, but first up is a close up of my Imperial Harquebusiers.

 The Imperial forces now have a substantial artillery train of one heavy and three medium pieces. A mix of Warlord, TAG and 1st Corps.

 I thought I'd give the imperialists a sniper, as there was I think (I stand to be corrected) a fledgeling jager corps of sorts.  Anyway, nice model and why not...?

 A close up of the Imperial demi culverin - Warlord miniatures.

 The ninth Imperial regiment in my army.  Probably a good time to stop?

 Above and below are my markers for disorder and casualties. The casualty markers are from Warbases and I am really pleased with both sets, although the Warlord Games 'dismembered body parts' are a tad gruesome.

 Above and below show expanded Swedish brigades, I've added a third unit of shot to each brigade.Pictured are the Yellow and Old Blue brigades which  both look rather good I reckon.

 My demi- cuylverin with master gunner added.

Yet more Thirty YearsWar Imperialists....and some Saxons

 I spent much of the last two weeks in a basing frenzy as my Imperialist Harquebusiers above might demonstrate. Six units of very nice Warlord figures.

 

 

I also finished two more regiments of Imperial foot. Both Warlord plastics. Once you/ve got them stuck together they are quite easy to paint - I set up the production line last seen with my SYW collection and got through them quite rapidly.

Above are some Saxon and Hessian horse. I bought these off ebay and rebased and touched up/repainted these Bicorne miniatures (mainly) figures.

I am currently trying to finish off my Imperialist artillery and Croats - hopefully by the end of the weekend and then have some Finish cavalry to start on plus dragoons.

MORE THIRTY YEARS WAR ADDITIONS

Here some more newly completed units for my Swedish TYW army. Three regiments of Swedish foot, including the 'Yellow' Guard regiment and a regiment of Scots (more than likely wholly inaccurate but they look good). All Warlord figures, mainly plastic but the Scots and some of the pikemen and officers are metals.