1860s Europe in 3mm - best rules ?

[Sunray]

I am currently working on a mix of IM and Brigade Models kit for the battle of Corinth 1862, specifically IM's railway, ACW station, ACW/Western train and rails, plus some Brigade Models ACW and factory buildings, to model Corinth and the railway running through it. Will post when complete together with some of the Peter Pig 3mm troops so you can see how it all fits together.

Very interesting project.  Martin Goddard's  PP figures are a bit more chunky than O8 sculpts, and the close order troops are joined at the hip.   but paint up well.  I have just received PP pack 61 "Small Fort" - the artillery included in the pack.  These - although obviously ACW era - could be painted up to look like heavy Krupp breech loaders

[Sunray]

I have just acquired a small ornament type model of Schloss Neuschwanstein - a quick check with tried and tested Ithoreal method (6mm and 3mm figures) reveal that the windows and doors are not far off 1/600 scale.  The steps of the castle are exaggerated in size.

It would work well with 1860 era Germanic wars as an objective.  A centre piece for my Ruritanian v Prussia epic. 

[Leman]

The small fort will be making an appearance as part of the Corinth defensive works.

[Sunray]

The small fort will be making an appearance as part of the Corinth defensive works.

Would the Irregular 2mm trench (IKM3) work as part of these defences  ?  Ian exaggerated the detail so its bigger than true 2mm.

Accounts from the Franco Prussian war relate that earthen works were more durable than stone/cement forts as they could be easily repaired.

[Leman]

Not familiar with the 2mm trenches. Tend to use homemade earthworks for the ACW as shown on the Altar of Freedom website, only a little smaller to fit with the 3mm figures.

[toxicpixie]

This sounds like a cracking set of projects!

Much as I love Irregulars blocks (and have a veritable shed load), I kind of wish I'd gone 3mm with PP and 08. But then, I'd probably still have them in bare lead and be vacillating over painting them. The 2mm blocks can be banged out toot sweet and on table in an hour...

I can second BBB (which would be my go to for any vaguely large battle), but "Trapped like a Fox" has lived in my loft for several years - I really want to play it as the campaign looks ace, but never quite managed to get enough people interested for long enough.

[Leman]

It's certainly an unusual game as all the players are Austrians playing against Prussia. Beautiful presentation, but I'm only ever likely to use the tabletop battle section.

[toxicpixie]

Yes, I loved the set up and campaign idea - I might try and convince club mates they want to play... thing is I was tempted to try and bodge it to use BBB for the actual games, but then they cover more area and bigger formations, and I dunno how much work I'd have to do to get adjoining sectors involved or not, or if I could just "bath tub" it. So I got excited, confused, then shelved it

Might be time to dust it off and suggest it later in the year, but we're looking like it'll be an AVBCW mini-campaign over summer using Peter Pigs old AK-47 rules so it might be a while...

[Leman]

I have bath-tubbed those games by using a mat divided up into 8" rather than 10" squares, units with a slightly smaller footprint and a reduced inches (18mm to the inch) rulers.

[toxicpixie]

And now I feel a trip to the loft coming on at lunch to see if I can dig Trapped out the mess

Might suggest a warm up by finishing the Crimea first, we've still got the Chernya to play through at the club...

[Leman]

A nice opportunity for getting Piedmontese troops on the table.

[toxicpixie]

I know!

I've got them in Pendraken's nice 10mm, but all my other Crimea stuff is 2mm

They have fought across the Chernaya before with my other group, but it's one of them that has the matching 10mm Russians, French, Turks and Brits...