Palisade Fort

I finally finished enough of my Palisade fort to get it on the table. Its not quite big enough to make a fort or moat and baily castle so i'm printing some more sections. It does make a great table edge piece when all stretched out. Perfect for a town walls where the defenders are sallying forth.

As for cost/time comparison. I estimate it cost about $40 worth of material, took 80+hrs to print, and about 3-4hrs of actual labor. While I could have done it all manually for a bit cheaper my current life situation would have meant the project would take a year instead of weeks. Working full time in the armed forces with a 4yr old and 2yr old boys, my hobby time is very limited. Printing allowed me to do other things while printing like spending time with family, at work, or painting other projects. Buying a resin kit would have the same time saving effect but would have cost well over $100USD.

Of course I had to get out some models to see how it would look.

April Club Game

For our April game we are back with Muskets and Tomahawks for the FIW.

In this scenario the Colonials where trying to resupply and defend an outpost in contested territory on the Lake Erie coast. While the French and French Canadians endeavored to prevent this.

Their where 3 objectives: 

>First was the Outpost that the Colonials need to defend while French try to burn down.

>Second the new cannons that the Colonials need to drag from the shore to the outpost.

>Third a wagon full of food and powder that also needs to be dragged to the outpost.

British Force:
1 Provincial officer, who was mounted with a saber.  

4x12 units of Provincials with Muskets, they where auxiliary and trained. Half started in the outpost and half by the cannons and wagon. 

2 light artillery in the form of a Brigantine just off the shore line.

French Force: 

1 Marine officer w/ Musket, Light troop and scout.

2x9 units Marines w/ Muskets and Tomahawks. 

1 Canadian officer w/ Musket and Tomahawk. Scout, Coureurs des Bois: Native

 2x9 units of Coureurs des Bois armed w/ Muskets and Tomahawks. 

1 unit of 5 Indian w/ Rifles and Tomahawks. Scouts, Native, Indian Allies: Auxiliaries, Hunting Rifles. 

The first round ended with the Colonials either drawn or driven away from both the cannons and wagon with several casualties. The French had taken none.
2nd round showed the Provincials rally and unleash devastating firing line volleys inflicting heavy casualties. A unit of Marines and des Bois routed off the table. The Indians launched into melee and at first had the upper hand but eventually lost, fleeing with one 2 left.
3rd round started in French favor with 1 unit of Provincials routed and the supply wagon destroyed. But then the artillery finally found their range, driving back the marines. The Provincials in the outpost sallied forth to press the des Bois who wisely fell back.

By the end of round 3 the French had lost exactly 50% of their force while only inflicting 25% casualties on the Provincials. While they had completed 1 objective the Colonials had them on the run with the cannons and outpost well secured.

Virgina Provincials

Finally finished my 26 Virgina Provincials for FIW games. This brings my total number of completed models for Muskets and Tomahawks to 59. Unfortunately all but 8 of those are British forces so I need to start on some French before I can get a game in.

28mm British Frigate

Just about finished me first 28mm ship. Will be tabled as a British Frigate for FIW and as a Pirate Hunter. Crew has been primed but not started painting them yet. Still not sure what to name it. First thought was HMS Wyndehurst after my family farm or HMS Thomas after my son.

The model is from Old Glory and came with everything you see here. I only painted 12 of the 22 cannons it comes with as it crowds the deck with any more and most rules set wont really support that many guns.

The Battle of Garry's Tavern

Been a while since I played anything and even longer since I have posted. On thanksgiving day some of the lads met up at Garry's for a 7 Years War battle using his figures and terrain. Gareth and I commanded the British/Prussian devisions while Bill, Dave, and our host Garry commanded the French/Austrian devisions.

The battle was set up so that a large but poor quality French force (right side) met the smaller and more skilled British force (left side) along a road. A small tavern sat along the center of the road.

The Prussian cavalry and British devision I commanded in the foreground.

The French and Austrian devision across from me.

 Austrian Cavalry

Beautiful battle line 

French infantry

Prussian cavalry ready to charge

Scottish Higlanders

The cavalry square off atop the hill.

  

Battle line advancing in good order.

Cavalry cross sabers and destroy each other.

 French lines advance.

Black Watch in the woods holding back numbers 3 times their size.

Infantry square off and exchange volley fire.

The French realize that they will loose if they stand and take the British volley fire so charge in to overwhelm them with their numbers.

Black Watch slowly pulling back but holding their own.

Our right flank open and exposed

The notorious tavern