7 ACW topics on the go!

[FierceKitty]

Not pointing fingers here. But there are a few "Tango Wars" on TMP boards from time to time.

[Hertsblue]

Why are we bothering with someone on another forum? Have we really run out of topics of our own?

[Roy]

ACW in 1:1 figure ratio scale - any takers in 10mm? [Sorry. I know these are another manufacturers miniatures].

g

[toxicpixie]

I'm gonna need a bigger table...

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Or a bigger boat
Superb, now let's see the full corps!

[Ace of Spades]

Hmmm... now that is a nice unit! 

Rob

[Leman]

What a lot of ACW. 

[Roy]

The blurb from the blog post belonging the above picture ~

If you look above you'll see a 400-man American Civil War regiment, in 3mm, arrayed in line at 1:1 scale. I know I'm as mad as a March hare but I find the look of this amazing. Ever since I've been gaming with miniatures I've always wanted to see 19th century formations as they would have actually been deployed in the field and with these 3mm castings it can effectively be done.
Even on a largish 5x8 table these units will be huge. This regiment in line takes up approximately 45 cm (18"), so a brigade-level action is about the limit, I think. Nonetheless, the good news is that with gaming the American Civil War there were many engagements fought at this lower level.

These 3mm castings are from PicoArmour which I believe sources their stock from Oddzial Osmy in Poland. While barely discernable, these little guys actually do look like ACW infantry, cavalry and artillery. Of course these models are meant to be seen in a mass, not as individuals, and in this I think they are a great success.

When you look at this unit you can really appreciate how hard it must have been to keep any level of command and control over these formations. Just think that this is an 'average-sized' battle-worn regiment. Some of the green Federal formations, fresh from the recruiting depots, would have easily been twice this size. In looking at this I can understand why good NCO's and junior officers were so highly valued as the Colonel would have only a limited effect in the center of these strung-out formations - especially if you compounded the problem with the sound and chaos of battle.

Each 20mm 'strip' has 8 figures and so my 'My Mad Plan' is to set four of them up in two ranks on 20(d) x 40(w) bases. This way a standard-sized ACW regiment of 400 men will require about 12 bases (48 strips).  A pack of 15 strips only costs around $4.00 so this project is as cheap as chips. I picked up enough to do (in 1:1 scale) two brigades of infantry, a couple regiments of cavalry, horse holders, officers/flunkies and two artillery batteries. I know, its pretty esoteric but it should look neat on the table. I'll follow-up when I get a unit painted and based. Ah, another project to add to the list...

http://analogue-hobbies.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/new-madness-11-scale-acw-in-3mm.html

[fred.]

Do we know if this is how they actually deployed in battles? It would be so unwieldy and get tangled up by terrain. 

From the sizes of battlefields, and the number of units involved is it possible to work out what area they were actually occupying.

As you say this is a battleworn numbers of troops, so the NCOs behind and skirmishers to the front can be ignored for  men per foot calculations.

[Roy]

[my fault, should there be any confusion ~ forget to mention these aren't my figures, or my blog]

As to your questions fred 12df, I ain't got a clue. Sorry.

[Leman]

See if you can get hold of a copy of 'Battle in the Civil War' by Paddy Griffith in which Peter Dennis profusely illustrates all the various formations in beautiful pen and ink drawings.

[Ace of Spades]

This is indeed how a unit would deploy into battle. The only thing you miss is the so called 'line of fileclosers'; the NCO's and extra men for the colorguard that would form up about two paces behind the second line to keep the line straight while manouevering in the field and the correct position of the combined musicians.  What you should do if you want to get it right (and even more important: understand it) is to get a ACW drill manual; preferably 'Gilhams' which shows all formations and the relative positions of officers, colors, musicians etc. even up to field artillery and cavalry drill.
Check the link below and pay special attention to the 'School of the Battalion' for your new project.
http://www.drillnet.net/GILHAM/Gilhams.htm

Have fun with it! If you have any questions just let me know; I've been doing this for about twentyfive years and was lucky enough to be able to march with 25.000 other re-enactors at the Gettysburg 1998 re-enactment

Cheers,
Rob

[Roy]

Cheers for the link, Rob. Appreciated.

I've been doing this for about twentyfive years and was lucky enough to be able to march with 25.000 other re-enactors at the Gettysburg 1998 re-enactment

1998 - I'd just finished secondary school and gotten a job. First pay packet went on Foundry 28mm EIR, as WHAB had just been released.

[Ace of Spades]

I was in my second job I guess and spent most of my money those days on re-enactment supplies and trips but also still quite a bit on my 'small' armies; mainly 20mm plastics though in those days, WW-2 of course (because I re-enacted that too, and Napoleonics, and early 17th century, and Boer War and... and... and... 

Cheers,
Rob

[toxicpixie]

I was in my first proper job about then, and also getting into WHAB, had just rediscovered a love for the bright flashing bronze and got a 28mm Mycenaean army. I think I've painted three chariots and about half a dozen pike and bow since then...