Fortress fever (1) - sloping front walls

After much thought I decided a sloping wall on the front of the fortess wall sections would definitely look better; so I removed the faux ditch in front of the sections and added a slope to the front wall

The stonework on the fortress was done using a paper sheet, unfortunately when I went to order some more I found it was no longer in production (aaargh !). So I scanned the back of one the straight fotress sections and made up a replacement paper sheet - slightly lighter (as close as I could could get to the colour); I tried it out on one of the bastions and added a 'sally port' door at the same time

Looked OK, so the rest of the sections were finished off ..

with that done I've been sketching out some plans for ditch, covered way and glacis to go in front. I think I can fit in a something representational without losing too much table space.

Fortress and siege fieldworks...

At the beginning of last year I posted some piccies of prints depicting the stages of a siege (see here). I had intended to sort out my fortress bits and siege fieldworks over the year - not achieved at all - although I had thought about it a couple of times. So in order to get on with it in the new year I got all my relevant scenic items out for a setup to see how things shaped up.

The fortress walls and bastions can be arranged in two ways, the first arrangement provides a projection from the back or side of the table.

the second arrangement sits in one corner of the table..

with an alternate section provided to represent a breach

I'm not satisfied with my fortress sections, they really need a sloping wall at the front and if possible I would like to have a representation of the covered way - so a little bit of rework is need. In addition I would like to rework the extra defences to the main gate. I'll be delving into the two main two reference books that I have for some inspiration:

• Fire & Stone: The Science of Fortress Warfare, 1660-1860, by Christopher Duffy
• The Vauban Fortifications of France (Osprey Fortress no 42)

The next thing I did was to put out all my field works to see if I could form some parallels and saps

Not quite enough, but I have some spare materials to build some more and will need to add more gabions if possible.

So plenty to keep me busy - my first project for the new year !

Happy Xmas

Tis the last post before Xmas ...

 

A royal command performance is about to start, the compere has just finished the introduction and welcome...

Unfortunately space does not permit the showing of all the acts taking part in the performance, so here are some of them ....

Herr Beiderbeck gave a dazzling display of virtuosity on the harpscichord, interspersed with witty banter...

The court poet read his latest work..

The singing nuns from the priory of Waldemart sang works by Hildegard of Bingen..

The highlight of the evening were the double act Moribundt and Weiss, fresh from a tour of northern europe - their 'Duke Lobster & Valet' was a rousing success ...

Jives: How is you aunt ?

Duke Lobster: Not very well her nose fell off

Jives: How does she smell

Duke Lobster:: Horrible !

 

Duke Lobster: I say Jives, do you have the scrolls ?

Jives: No it's just the way I walk....

 

 

A Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to All

Rehearsal...

Herr Beiderbeck, the master of the Kings's music, leads the palace ensemble in rehearsals...

[I've added 3 figures from JacDaw to my existing ensemble and given them a new livery - figs etc: harpsichord player: OldGlory UK (from pack OGP020); harpsichord - scratchbuilt; ensemble - 4 from Tradition; 3 from JacDaw (pack LWC02)]

Palace Servants ...

With all the extra people expected at the palace this Xmas, additional servants have been hired and a new livery introduced.

[servants : 2 from Jacdaw; 1 from Old Glory, the rest from Brigade Games Milady and Household Staff (BG-MSW008)]

A briefing for the King ...

Late one afternoon in the library, the King heard the knock from the large lectern,

He pressed the release catch for the secret door and was greeted by Count Hermann, 'Ready your Majesty ?', the king climbed into the lectern and they worked their way down the steep stone steps into the passages and cellars under the palace. 'This way your Majesty' said the Count ...

They arrived in one of the larger cellars; here Count Hermann had setup his 'operations' room; it was here he collated information from border patrols, spies and reports from ambassadors..

The Field Marshall joined them to dicuss the current status of the border wars in the south-west with  Saxe-Jarlsberg and the state of the Monrovian army.

Following the briefing, the King and the Count used another of the passages and came up inside the small cottage in the palace grounds - after a quick dust off they emerged to have a brief walk ....

After returning to the palace the King changed his clothes and joined his wife and some of the court for a spot of tiffin. 

 

A few more ecclesiasticals...

Some nuns and monks from Conquest Games ...

40mm: Artillery 'reworks' completed...

Saxe-Jarlsberg's allies, Hesse-Limburger, now have their own artillery contigent -  limber set from NZ molds, gun and crew from Irregular Miniatures.

Count Pottsendorf watches the Hesse-Limburger artillery at drill

 

The artillery from Wittenbergs' Zinzendorf provice have received a new limber set from NZ molds.

 

I've replaced the guns for the Wittenberg artillery with some from Sash & Sabre but used some Irregular Miniatures gun barrels instead - existing NZ limbers sets have been repainted - all in the gun colours used by the Duchy of Saxony (crew unchanged - these were cast from Creartec molds).

General Waldebeck watches the new Wittenberg artillery at practice

40mm: Artillery - Work In Progress...

I'm having a sort out with my artillery for 40mm; initially I've cast two limber sets up from NZ molds and bought two new guns from the Sash & Sabre SYW range. I find the NZ mold wheels difficult to cast so I've used some small Lego plastic spoked wheels instead. I've swapped the NZ limber horse rider heads with some from Sash & Sabre.

The two new guns and one limber set will go to the Wittenberg forces; the other limber set plus one of my spare guns and some crew which are on order, will be for Hesse-Limburger allied artillery contingent to Saxe-Jarlsberg.

New Hedging all done

Happy with the new hedging concept (see previous post) - I spent a couple of sessions making up all the hedging I could, had to buy some extra foliage clumps as I ran out, last thing to do was to have a couple of sections with gates. I made up the gates with some model railroad lineside fencing and plastic strip; then the gates were stuck on and painted.

All the hedging sections done and laid out on the gaming table, enough for now !

A shot of one of the completed gate sections ....

 

Scenics - New Hedging

For my existing hedging I have got some Merit plastic hedges, and some made from Woodland Scenics foliage clumps stuck to cardboard. These are getting a bit tired so I had a tryout on some half round wood moulding to check on concept - I'll be adding some bits of Woodland Scenics tree armatures to give some interspersed bushy height

 My first trial sections of new hedging, with different size figs (1/72 WWII, 28mm, 40mm), the wood is just painted a sort of grass green colour and the foliage clumps stuck on top.

A more ground level shot, hedges are a bit low for the 40mm in places - but OK for gaming.

So now I'll get into full production, will have about 25 6inch lengths when I'm finished.

Irregulars in Action - Hostage Rescue....

For scenario see previous post .....

 

---oXo---

 

The Irregulars and some Jagers prepare to move forwards ....

 The irregulars have crossed the river, while the jagers secure the next coppice ....

The jagers engage the brigand's lookouts, as the Irregulars continue their advance

 The lookouts retire under heavy fire and alert the camp ....

 The brigands now alerted, prepare to defend themselves ....

The main group of Irregulars make an ill advised rush into a coppice; some of them are hit and go down, the rest fall back under covering fire from the jagers....

Meanwhile the small group of mounted Irregulars had ridden round the back of the camp and achieved complete surprise ...

The riders charge in with pistols blazing and recah the captives ....

Meanwhile the Grey Rider impatient and concerned about the Irregulars moves up his small detachment of Feldjagers and disperses the brigands .....

The captives now released, prepare to share a horse with a couple of their rescuers to make their getaway ...

The Grey rider checks that the ladies are OK...

Aftre some sporadic skirmishing the brigands melt away into the woods; the rescue party returns home in good spirits...

---oXo---
 

The Irregulars were lowsy shots most of the way through the game, except towards the end when they started knocking off a few brigands - obviously their aim improved over time when under fire !

The Irregulars did take casulaties however none were killed; 4 with light wounds and two badly wounded. One feldjager was wounded and one jager was killed; On the brigands side they lost 10men (out of ~30).

The Irregulars prepare for action ....

Scenario: two members of the Wittenberg Royal Society have been captured by brigands on their way back from the Imperium; they are being held for ransom. A small force comprising a detachment of jagers in civilian dress, Mlle Givenchy's Irregulars and some mounted FeldJagers are to attempt a rescue...

---oXo---

 

The main part of the Irregulars prepare to cross the ford, Captain Scharfe and his jagers have secured the crossing.....a small group of Irregulars on horseback are on the move as well ....

not far across the border, the brigands camp.....

The two notables under the guard of some brigands ....

Looks like they're getting ready for their dinner ? ....

 

to be continued ....