Quote from: Techno 3 on 22 June 2024, 01:06:49 PMThere was someone on the roster sheet called Van Driver when I worked for BT.
(I'!! get my own coat. )

How many people work for BT - about 10%

Had a few days off and been quite productive.

Finally finished the English for the Bishops' War - 6 regiments of (96) foot, 6 of (30) horse, a regiment of (30) dragoons and 3 batteries of artillery. I shall pit them against the Scots 6 regiments of (96) foot (with a couple of frame guns per regiment), 5 regiments of (30) cavalry, 1 loose rush of (96) Highlanders, and 3 batteries of artillery.  With staff and associated hangers on, each army in about 950 figures.  Checking back I started the painting part of the project in September last year.

I've not been doing Bishops' Wars only, had a few distractions, including the Russians for the Russo-Japanese war. This is admittedly not a well researched force. I've gone for what I think of as the Black Powder* method of unit construction - 6 battalions of (36) infantry, 1 regiment of (24) cavalry, a section of 3 machine guns and total overkill of 3 batteries of artillery. All in all, barely 300 figures. The Russians took 2 weeks to paint.

Why the difference?

• The numbers. 950 in an army figures against 300. 950 is a big slog with waxing and waning interest, and SF distractions. An army of 300 figures is almost immediately visibly do-able.   
• Painting a variety of snazzy schemes as opposed to the rather simple unforms of the Russians. Each English regiment has a different base colour, which needs a bit of planning, with sufficient customising to make them not-quite-uniform.
• The high proportion of cavalry in the Bishops' War - about 1/4 of the head count against the  1/12 of the Russians. I think I'm not alone in grumping when painting horses. 
• The number of different troop types (4 types just of cavalry in the English army for the Bishops' War) each of which have a learning-to-paint overhead. For the Russians, there were really two types: the cavalry and everyone else. 

Coming next - the Russo-Japanese Japanese. Bit worried that I have an order being processed and I may run out of Japanese to paint before it arrives. **

I still have the table set for Eric. I'm on leave for the next two days. Perhaps time to put away the SF, and bring out 1640.

*I watch the Napoleonic Wargaming channel on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@NapoleonicWargaming - he always has standard infantry at 24 figures and large at 36. For Napoleonics I find this quite upsetting. 
** Usually, I don't start painting until I've bought everything 

That's good progress fsn. look forward to seeing your Bishops War stuff on the table. 

Did you find some decent information for the English in the end about cavalry unit flags?

I'm looking at completing a couple of units of English "Dutch Horse" for use at Newburn 1640 belonging to Lord Conway and Lord Wilmot once we have finished our Irish adventures.

QuoteDid you find some decent information for the English in the end about cavalry unit flags?

No. In the end, I went to maverick models and picked some almost at random.

OK thanks 

I downloaded an old series of articles about ECW flags that appeared in Military Modelling years ago that the authors allowed the BCW site to post before its demise. I will use a couple of those as standards for my units.

The Bishops's War English (on parade, not tactically arrayed.)

From top to bottom - infantry, staff, more infantry, cavalry, dragoons on the hill to the right.


From the other end - infantry to dragoons.
 

English supply column and heavy artillery



Scots (plus Covenanter tank)


In contrast, the complete Russian army (gosh, it looks so small)


Having said that one of the first, if not the first period I did in Pendraken (in 2013) was the ACW. The two forces are only 192 infantry, 40 cavalry and 4 guns, and that is quite sufficient for an enjoyable game in an evening. (I also note that a pack of infantry was £4 at the time.  )

From the general introduction of gunpowder armed infantry (say 1550) I prefer big armies when massed ranks and massed fire, however short range and inaccurate, were the order of the day. (about 900 figures each representing 10)

The introduction of the rifled musket (about the time of Crimea) is when I swap to much smaller forces. I think these suit the more advanced technology better, allowing for more moving about the table and longer range shooting. (About 200-250 figures each representing 25-30)

With motorised armoured vehicles, I go down further to a platoon/company at 1:1 figure ratio. I would do 1914 as a small force, but when the trenches come, I'd go to 1:1. I recognise the inconsistency as I'd do 1917 in Flanders as 1:1, but 1917 Mespot would be a small force.

It's a rich hobby - so much variety, so much to explore, so much that can be done.

   

Quote...
It's a rich hobby - so much variety, so much to explore, so much that can be done.

Well said, that man

Excellent pics of your Bishop's War troops and I love the detail you've added to the supply column !

Quote from: Steve J on 02 July 2024, 05:35:29 AMExcellent pics of your Bishop's War troops and I love the detail you've added to the supply column !

Thank you ... it worries me how much satisfaction I get from carts.   

Quote from: fsn on 02 July 2024, 07:12:42 AMThank you ... it worries me how much satisfaction I get from carts.   

A good doc can cure that....

Quote from: fsn on 02 July 2024, 07:12:42 AMThank you ... it worries me how much satisfaction I get from carts.   

I like painting artillery. My 15mm Italian wars have more artillery than they can ever get on the table

Quote from: Orcs on 02 July 2024, 10:26:08 AMI like painting artillery. My 15mm Italian wars have more artillery than they can ever get on the table

Oooh yes!

That reminds me, didn't Mr Leon promise us some caissons?

I like the artillery for my Napoleonics because its a 4 man crew and gun, as opposed to 96 infantry...

That would never do! I have limbered and unlimbered guns, necessitating buying twice the amount of artillery, so my guns usually have 6 or 8 figures gathered around them.