My OTHER hobbies!

I just thought I'd share some of my OTHER hobbies while I'm getting back into things here. The other hobbies that take all my hard earned money and time are historical reenacting and MILSIM airsoft.

I've been reenacting various time periods starting in 1989 in a REALLY bad German SS unit. From there I jumped to ACW, then later on to AWI. A few years ago I discovered airsoft. Which is like reenacting but you're shooting plastic BB's at each other with VERY realistic copies of modern and WWII weapons.

These are just a few pictures of my "other" hobbies!

A Slight Interlude!

I know it has been quite awhile,well over a year to be exact, but I will be posting more very soon. I don't paint much over the summer months due to my room not being air conditioned.

Also,there will be a slight interlude,as I picked up some of the new Perry and Victrix hard plastic 28mm Napoleonics. These are VERY nice figures! I got a box of the Perry 1815 French,and a box each of the Victrix Peninsular War British, and flank company boxes.

I started the Perry French tonight,and may or may not post pics,as I want to keep this blog strictly AWI.

On that subject, I picked up a HUGE collection of 40mm Sash and Saber AWI figures on Ebay about a month ago. Well over 200 figures for a song pretty much! I've been tempted with 40mm figures since I've seen them at conventions, and I'm a big fan of Sash and Sabers work with 28mm figures over the years. I can't wait to get a crack at painting them!

Recently,I had sent out some of my horses,as I loathe to paint horses! I sent them to the great Howard Whitehouse,who lives close by,and who's work I admire, plus, I need to keeep himput of trouble!

Anyway,stay tuned, your regularly scheduled AWI blog will get down to business in the coming weeks and months!

17th Light Dragoons

My next unit is the 17th Light Dragoons. A small detachment of the 17th was sent South to serve with the British Legion under Banastre Tarleton. The 17th was given the option of trading in their regulation red uniform coats for the green of the British Legion,they did not,they clung to their red coats for the duration,but during the summer months they,and the BL work work smocks,or hunting shirts over their uniform coats and jackets. These figures are all Perry,2 different packs,one in the smocks,and one in the uniform coats.

All I need are the new Perry Tarleton Legion figures and I'll be set for my British cavalry.

O' Hara's Guards Brigade

My next unit,or units ,is O'Hara's British Guards Brigade.This brigade consisted of the 1st Battalion of Foot Guards,2nd Battalion of Foot Guards,and the grenadiers battalion made up of men from the guards regiments.

The Guards battalions consisted of men drawn form the 3 British Foot Guards regiments,the Coldstream Guards,1st Foot Guards,and the 3rd Foot Guards. Those 3 regiments stayed in England along with the regimental colors,which is why I have no color bearers in the units.The grenadiers of course carried no regimental colors. All 3 of these units are Perry figures,with a few notable exceptions in the command stands on the two Guards Bn.s which I added a Foundry command figures which fit very well.

Leslie's Brigade-Guilford Courthouse

My next unit,or units,are the regiments of Major General Leslies Brigade at Guilford Courthouse. This brigade was also a small one,consisting of only 2 regiments as well. The first,is the 2nd batallion,71st regiment,a highland regiment. They are in campaign dress of brown overalls,and the piper plaid overalls.The kilts of the Highland regiments went into storage almost immediately upon arrival in America. These are also Perry figures. On a side note,why wargamers insist on having Highlanders in kilts in their AWI armies is beyond me! I for one don't like painting the darned kilts,and,its just not historically correct!

Anyway! The next unit of the brigade,is the Hesse-Cassel Regiment Von Bose.This unit is different,in that it does not consist of Perry miniatures. This unit is from Sash and Saber miniatures,another very fine manufacturer of 28mm wargame figures I might add! It's really a 7YW Prussian musketeer regiment,but I filed of the gaiters for the more correct overalls that this unit wore while serving in America. I eventually plan on selling this unit,in order to replace it with Perry figures.

Websters Brigade,Guilford Courthouse, March 1781

My first 2 units belonged to Lt. Col. Websters command at the battle of Guilford Courthouse on March15,1781. It was a small brigade,consisting of 2 regiments who fought together most of the war.The 23rd,Royal Welsh Fusiliers,and the 33rd Regt. Both of these units are made up entirely of Perry figures.The flags are by GMB,quite possibly,the best wargames flags available today,just hard to track down!

The 23rd is depicted in campaign dress.Short roundabout jackets,no facings,very appropriate for the Southern heat. They're also wearing floppy slouch hats with their regimental white feathers.The fusilier caps being put into storage being too expensive and inpractical for field usage in the Colonies.

I really like this unit,and it was a pleasure to paint.

The next unit is the 33rd regt. They're also Perry miniatures with GMB flags.This unit is wearing cut down regimental coats and slouch hats as well.The 33rd was a regular line regiment,and had no special distinctions as the 23rd has. As with the 23rd,they were also a joy to paint,which is the case with all the Perry miniatures.

Early War British Light Infantry

Here are some of my early War British light infantry.The figures are all by Foundry,and are very accurate and well sculpted.I use these as skirmish figures,which is why they are all based singly.I do plan on using them though,as part of my British Southern Army circa 1780-83.