Great Northern War; first 10mm wargaming project

[collegialhoagie]

As the title say, this is my first foray into 10mm, and I felt that opening a thread here could hopefully invite some constructive help and tips as I descend further into this project. My first goal is to paint up units for the battle of Helsingborg (1710), which makes for a good mix of swedish and danish units, which on paper makes for a pretty even fight but historically developed into a devastating Danish defeat.

Anyway, here's my first finished unit, a Swedish command stand.

I am trying out a pretty desaturated/dry basing scheme for this project, which hopefully lets the colourful uniforms of the period "pop". Historically, the battle was fought in the winter but I just don't like winter bases.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Looking good those and welcome to bedlam. On bases Id do them as fairly general ground, so you made the right decison there.

[Leon]

Those look great!

[Ithoriel]

Very, very nicely done!

I like the basing ..... and the figures, of course.

[fred.]

Great start. 

The basing works well to set the figures off. Looking forward to seeing more - as I've thought about using the LoA figures for Swedes. 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Will have to keep an eye on this...
Got a Swedish commission to do for these too!

[Steve J]

Brilliant work there .

[mmcv]

Great introduction, looking forward to seeing this project progress. Do you know what rules you plan to use and how you'll be basing the main troops?

[paulr]

Welcome collegialhoagie

     

Those look particularly good, as others have said the basing sets them off well

[collegialhoagie]

Thanks for all the kind replies!

Great start.

The basing works well to set the figures off. Looking forward to seeing more - as I've thought about using the LoA figures for Swedes.

Will have to keep an eye on this...
Got a Swedish commission to do for these too!

The LoA tricorne command units work well enough I think, the sash is quite speculative here as swedish officers didn't war one afaik, but I've seen a similar blue/yellow/gold sash in some general's portrait I can't remember atm.

Great introduction, looking forward to seeing this project progress. Do you know what rules you plan to use and how you'll be basing the main troops?

I'm pretty sure I'll be using Gå På, the command & control aspects of that ruleset sounds really fun from a first read-through and they are after all specifically designed for GNW. I'll probably have a look at Twilight of the Sun King at some point to have a lighter ruleset at hand, but that will have to wait because they're not as easy to get a hold of in the EU as Gå På.

Basing-wise, I'm aiming for 36 fig infantry units, 6 bases with 6 figs each. Easily divided into two 18 fig units on 3 bases until I have enough to field only 36-fig units.

[jambo1]

Very nice start to your project, will be following your progress with great interest.

[mmcv]

Sounds like a great plan. Those units will look impressive on the field.

You can get a copy of Twilight of the Sun King here for the EU market here it you fancy it: https://www.pikeandshotsociety.org/paypal-eu

[sunjester]

They are a fine start!

[collegialhoagie]

Once again, thanks for the kind replies. Here's the first cavalry unit:

Riksänkedrottningens livregemente till häst(Queen Dowager of the Realm's life regiment on horse).
A Indelt cavalry regiment mustering conscripts from the provinces of Halland and Bohuslän, stationed in Sweden for the first half of the war, taking part in the battles of Helsingborg 1710, Gadebusch 1712 and captured at Tönningen the year after with the surrender of field marshal Stenbock's army. In the muster of 1708 noted as being equipped with second rate uniforms, unserviceable muskets and small horses.




The cavalry standard has the height of 6mm which is I think is roughly double the correct scale, seems like a decend compromise between realism and visibility. At the moment only 3 squadrons/bases finished, as I need to order more marlburian dragoons to field a fourth, to make it a full strength rather than half strength unit in Gå På.

[sunjester]

They look pretty good indeed to me. Well done!

[paulr]

   

One minor observation, to me the command stand above has a more 'finished' look due to the edges of the base being painted to match the basing.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Beautiful

[jambo1]

A very nice unit of horse indeed, really good job on them.

[collegialhoagie]

   

One minor observation, to me the command stand above has a more 'finished' look due to the edges of the base being painted to match the basing.

That's a fair point! I kind of like the look/contrast of the darkened mdf wood sides, but then I need to be tidier in the future when painting the top side around the edges with a light dirt colour to blend in with the basing.... I'll probably go back and paint them dark brown. 

[collegialhoagie]

Finished up my first swedish infantry regiment, quite happy with how they turned out. I'm having a great time with this project so far!
I am wondering though if this thread should have been started in the painting diary section.....

Södermanlands regemente
An indelt regiment for the province of Södemanland, participating in most of the great battles of the war, from Fraustadt 1706 and lost at Poltava 1708. Re-raised to participate at Helsingborg 1710 and Gadebusch 1712.
From the perspective of representing the regiment, interesting for never turning in the old Karpus felt hats for tricornes during the whole GNW period, and one of the few regiments we know for sure were issued distinct grenadier caps.