Making some footbridges ...

Before the Kings Jagers get embroiled in their little adventure I needed to make some footbridges for crossing rivers. So I dug into my oddmments of cardboards and cut some lengths to fit across my standard river sections, these I scored to represent planking; after that on the underside I added some supports which double up as fixing points for some wooden post supports made from wooden skewers. Off to the paint shop ...

Out of the woods ...

A party of the Kings Jager corps in civilian garb, led by Captain Sharfe,  have emerged from the woods into a small village and are taking great care as they progress ... something's afoot ... (more to follow)

---oXo---

As my Wittenberg militia battalion is to receive uniforms, I spent a little time taking the figures in the best poses and basing them singly and converting a couple of officers adding muskets and a pistol. They can be used as armed civilians, brigands/smugglers, or in athe above case regulars in disguise (figs are a mix of Redoubt, Front Rank and Old Glory)

Merry Xmas ..

The King and Queen of Wittenberg and the royal family

wish you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

Artillery drill ...

The Loyal Belgravian Volunteers have recently been granted regimental status by the King of Wittenberg, here we see General Waldebeck and his aid watching some of the newly uniformed men carrying out some artillery drill with their battalion gun (uniforms have been ordered for the rest of the regiment)

(Figs: Artillery crew - Front rank SYW British)

Prinz Albrecht Kurassier on Parade ....

At the palace the King and the Field Marshal ride out to inspect the Prinz Albrecht Kurassier regiment (figs are from Front Rank)

---oXo---

Meanwhile in the south General Waldebeck

is on the move with his staff and small escort of Uhlans ...

I 've replaced my 40mm personality figure of General Waldebeck with a nice one from Drabant; he now wears a nice new coat and rides the horse presented to him by the King for his services during the 3rd Belgravian wars.

Cavalry - Work In Progress

Kurassiers, from Front Rank, get one step closer the horsies finished - riders nearly there, hat lace and swords etc todo plus belts.

For my 40mm collection, I've finished casting a hussar regiment form Nürnberger Meisterzinn moulds, plenty of painting todo as my lead mountain starts building up again.

Raid on Hottenweldt

Looming out of the early morning mist the fort commander spots the Wittenberg raiding force; the River Marines in their boats towing barges full of  Grenadiers. The fort fires their cannon to little effect as the daywatch has not arrived and they are shorthanded ...

The Grenadiers land and make their way to the rear of the fort, while the fort's day watch rush through the main gate.

The River Marines reach the wharfs and start to disembark ....

Hearing the sound of  cannon fire from the fort the town militia turn out and send a group of men to protect the warehouses...

The Grenadiers move to attack the fort entrance .....

The militia deploy while their commanding officer remonstrates with the garrison commander for not moving his regiment forward (he has strict orders to protect the town) ...

The River Marines work their way along the wharf, as the militia sets up a barricade to defend the warehouses

The grenadiers break through into the fort .....

the River Marines attack the militia defending the warehouses

The main body of the militia hold their ground; the River Marines have beaten back those defending the warehouses and prepare to set fire to the buildings. The raiders seeing the town garrison regular troops in the distance make a decision to withdraw

The River Marines cover the embarkation of the troops onto the boats while the buildings at the wharfside are ablaze .....

The rading forces leave, using their boats and some commandeered from the wharfside

 

Hottenweldt in Hesse-Limberger ...

Its early in the morning at Hottenweldt, a view of the wharfs from the fort ....

A cart makes it's way down to the wharehouses from the town ...

There's a little bit of activity by the warehouses as some items are loaded into a boat ...

The day watch wend their way slowly up to the fort for another day on duty ....

Will they have a peaceful day ??

Wittenberg: Some news and a conference ...

The King meets with Count Hermann on his way to the map room for a conference with the Field Marshal about the border wars in the south....

Count Hermann: Sad news your majesty, your elderly cousin Ludwig of Zinzendorf has passed away.

King: That is very sad news, I only received a letter from him last month 

Count Hermann: Did you know that as he died without issue you inherit his title and lands

King: Really ?

Count Hermann: Yes. I have received assurances from the ambassador of the Imperium that they will not oppose the inheritance.

King: We'll have a look at the maps to see where the Principality Zinzendorf is when we see the Field Marshal. 

The King, Count Hermann and the Field Marshal meet in the map room ...

Field Marshal: here is map of the area around the Kingdom of Wittenberg, you can see that Zinzendorf is in the south west.

King: Inheriting Zinzendorf means we will control more access to the trade on the river Oudear.
Count Hermann: Yes indeed. It will make a good addition to our lands, adding to the recently 'acquired' Braunlandt and Hoflandt.
King: I am most annoyed with Hesse-Limberger's disruption of trade on the river Oudear, they have been raising tariffs and impounding goods destined for Wittenberg.
Field Marshal: here is a map showing more detail of the southern border region. ..
 

Field Marshal: I suggest an attack on the main Hesse-Limberger trading town of Hottenweldt - we can send the river marines on boats from Vanderhof with additional support - landing by the wharf's, destroying the facilities plus stored goods and if we have time attack the town itself.
King: Excellent idea, make the necessary arangements; that will send a clear message to them.

---oXo---

Down South in Hesse-Limberger

The little fort is completed (iwth ramp) and in position for a couple of piccies ...

----ooXoo----

South of Wittenberg, further down the river Oudear in Hesse- Limberger, the officer in charge of a fort keeps a close eye on the boats moving up and down the river.

Where is Hesse-Limberger ? its south of Saxe-Jarslberg, south of ... hmmm better get a map of the southern border region updated !

A little fort ...

The Kurassiers langiush unfinsihed on my workbench while I build a small fort. I found an offcut of 3mm MDF board which had an interesting sort of hexagonal shape - might be able to make us it as a base to a small fort I thought; so I evened up the shape to make it symmetrical. - this got me going and I carried on constructing the fort uising cardboard and foamboard.

A closer view of the fort after the initial build. It is currently manned by my unpainted Jagers (conversions of varaious figures - another unit waiting for paint)

The King is sitting at his desk in the libray, enjoying the view of the palace grounds while he considers the progress of the border wars in the south against Saxe-Jarlsberg and Hesse-Limberger.



Wittenberg - Converged Grenadiers Battalion passes inspection

The last of the battalions of the Wittenland army corps is approved for duty ....

[figs: New Battalion - Foundry; Inspecting officers: Old Glory & Front Rank.]

The commander of the Wittenland army corps satisfied that his infantry is in good shape has been inspecting the cavalry, the Uhlans and Dragoons are fit for service - he is dismayed at the state of the Kuirassier regiment and is actively trying to find enough mounts; they are however being currently issued with new uniforms.

Buildings and Flowers ..

Four new buildings to add to my collection of scenics, these are all madeup all HO (1:87) kits which I bought up recently nice and cheap - averaging £3 each - I got them at Toy & Train fairs and a Model Railway exhibition.

Meanwhile at the palace the Queen and one of her ladies in waiting look at the newly planted flowers in the formal garden ...

Wittenberg - Another regiment passes inspection

The last of the four infantry regiment of the Wittenland army corps is approved for duty ....

[figs: New Battalion - Foundry; Inspecting officers: Old Glory & Front Rank.]

I'm having a blitz on painting white-coated troops at the moment, one more unit to come - the converged grenadiers from the four regiments of  the Wittenland army corps.

The KIng gets a Surprise ...

Newly completed palace room....Previously on this story line

part1 who' takinging pot shots

part2 count herman waits for a guest

-----oXo-----

Scene: the King is visiting Count Hermann at his country estate. The King and the Count have been discussing affairs of state and have gone to the drawing room to relax and unwind ...

A short while later they are joined by the young Mademoiselle De Givanchy (a singer who has performed in many of the courts of Europa) and her aunt the Marquise of Zinzendorf, both of whom are in the service of Count Hermann (the spy service that is)

The King is looking rather speculatively at the Marquise, after a short while he says .. 'Marquise do I know you from somewhere ? You look familiar'

The Marquise and the Count exchange glances and the Count nods. The Marquise hesitates and before answering carefully removes her and and wig and says in a man's voice 'Von Lessing at your service your majesty'  bowing rther awkwardly.

The King rather taken a back, exclaims HA ! I kew I recognised you from somewhere and starts to smile. He then turns to the Count and asks rather stermly  'Has he been behaving himself ? to which the Count replies 'Yes, he has done great service for our country to date, he recently disposed of the Count des Armes for us'.

The King turns and looks at Von Lessing and bursts out laughing, unable to contain himself he sits down onto the sofa. After he has calmed down and had a glass of sherry he asks the Count where he go the idea for Von Lessing's undercover disguise. The Count tells him of the time he spent at the Russian court and his meeting with the remarkable Chevalier d'Éon.

They all settled down comfortably while King heard of the latest information 'the ladies' had gleaned during their last visit to Stagonia...

----oXo----

Note: To find out how Von Lessing ended up in the service of Count Hermann, see - Difficult Choices

Wittenberg - Customs and Revenue men

Wittenberg customs and revenue men out on patrol - got to keep an eye out for smugglers ...

[figures Irregular Miniatures SYW jagers+officer and Marlburian dragoons]

Monrovia - Jager Battalion

The Monrovian jager battalion is completed, it comprises three companies raised from different regions of Monrovia, which are formed into a composite battalion.

[figures Irregular Miniatures, standard bearer converted Old Glory Officer]

40mm: Saxe-Jarlsberg Border Wars (extra Artillery for Both Sides)

Both sides have taken a break from the border wars in the south. Saxe-Jarslberg has drawn back allowing Wittenberg to take control of the Hoflandt region (as ceded by the treaty of Witzend). The Herzog of Saxe-Jarlsberg is in discussion with his counterpart in Hesse-Limburger over their next move. Meanwhile Count Pottsendorf, commander of the Saxe-Jarslberg army, reviews his newly expanded artillery contingent.

A new battery of Wittenberg artillery is on the march to join their forces in the south.

[figs: A mix of Irregular Miniatures, plus castings from Creartec and Nürnberger Meisterzinn moulds]

Mill - River Section

It took some time to finish the mill and its river section off, as I had to figure out how to stick the painted clear plastic water sections to the base - eventually used double sided carpet tape. Instead of scatter I used some dolls house grass sheet. Some shots of the the completed mill river section ....

Water Carts and Jager Conversions

Finished the water cart for my 40mm collection, which was based on a 'O' guage model railway accessory and a spare plastic horse; thought the 25/28mm lot deserved one too so made one up using a Jacdaw french limber set for parts, barrels from the spares box. 25/28mm water cart on the left  40mm one on the right.

The Wittenland corps of the Wittenberg army will be having a Jager battalion, to start off the muster I've converted some spare 25/28mm figs (Foundry/Jacdaw), using some plastic arms from Perry napoleonic dragoons. The intention is to have the bulk of the battalion from standard castings plus these ...

Wittenberg - Infantry continue to muster...

Another infantry regiment from the Wittenland army corps has finished mustering and is just going through their final inspection.

[figs : New battalion - Officer Jacdaw on Foundry horse; officers/ensigns/drummer from Irregular Miniatures; rank and file from Front Rank figurines]

Buildings and a Water Wagon

I've been working on some buildings and a couple of modelling projects in the last week

Some refurbished HO (1:87) buildings (obtained during the last year from local Toy & train fairs) - they've had a repaint where needed and larger doors added, printed on thick paper from images garnished from the internet, so the 25/28mm figs don't look out of place when near them.

This lovely mill is from the Bachmann Scenecraft range.  I'm currently trying to decide how to fit it in with my river sections.

And lastly the water cart for my 40mm collection is ready for painting, after some work putting harness on the plastic horse with green stuff.