Casting Season

 It's casting season here at the Lead Gardens. The weather has "springed up" and it's perfect for getting
outside and starting on some summer casting projects. Outdoor casting has the advantage of keeping the  nasty metal fumes out of the house.

I purchased three of the new 40mm Prussian molds from Prince August. I found the new moulds to be a nice change from the sometimes awkward poses of PA figures. The apparently have listened to those of us who war-game with these big guys and need a versatile figure that will paint up to most 18th century types.

Here are the wargame friendly features of the new molds:

1. The mould will cast two figures at a time, effectively halving casting time---particularly if you go for big units (mine are established at 40 figures) I got this new unit done in about 5 hours in two sessions over a weekend.

2. The moulds have two separate heads-- the basic infantry mould has both a musketeer in tricorn heads and grenadier heads in mitre two each so casting the mould will supply the optional heads as well.  The officer, standard bearer, NCO, drummer molds have tricorn and fusilier heads. I bought all three moulds so I've got lots of spare heads now (to do a fusilier unit will take a lot of officer casting because the fusilier head only comes in the drummer mold)

3. The detail is more accurate for the Prussians.

4. The pose matches the older infantry advancing pose, though I hear they will be coming out with a march attack pose later.

5. The heads cast separately but are very easy to attach thanks to a nice sturdy peg cast on the head in conjunction with a plastic rod that is inserted into the mould before casting. This ensures that the hole for the peg in the body of the figure is perfectly sized.

 I went with a unit of grenadiers that will represent one of the units from my Imagi-nations. I have been upscaling all of those figures from my original collection of 30mm RSMs.

The only downside of the casting session was having to do a bit of vent cutting to get the heads to cast properly. That is typical of PA moulds so not a big deal really. The only thing I had real trouble with was getting the officer's sword and had to cast (it's a separate piece)…but I think it's because I use old figures for my metal and I'm guessing if I used some of PA's higher quality casting metal, it would make things easier.

I'll be posting progress on the painting of this unit soon.

Cheers!

New Musketeers!

 Just finished a new company of 40mm Prince August Homecast...these fellows will do service as a unit of my Imaginations. I'm gradually scaling up my Imaginations collection to 40/42mm to fit in with my French and British so I'm taking my already named units and imaginary history and up-scaling them for my home-casting project.

finished unit with the miscast muskets ready for repair...

These castings are from the newest PA molds that came out last November. As always the PA casting is pretty easy except for some musket barrels that did not cast to the right length. So I used my flat toothpick fix that works really well for most PA musket sword casting repairs. It works as well as the round toothpick solution for wagon/gun wheels.

 I also did a few minor head modifications to get better three dimensionality and some more extensive mods to make a standing flag bearer...but the PA figures (particularly the artillery castings) do well as a base for unusual conversions.

The toothpick fix...super glue works as both the adhesive and as a way to seal the wooden toothpicks.

All painted up, the toothpicks are pretty convincing!

And as a unit, the fix is almost undetectable!

Ready for the field!

Battle of St. Michel: Second Attempt

 The British, after a failed first attempt at capturing St. Michel, have, by some timely reinforcements (read frantic week of casting and painting...) returned to the attack and are making a second attempt to capture the all important pay wagons of the French forces in the area.

the much strengthened English advance to the attack

Newly arrived from Portsmouth, the 8th (Kings) Regiment of Foot

The newest addition to the British is the 8th regiment of Foot (Kings). I struggled to get the right shade of blue for the facing but I'm still not quite happy with how they turned out. Dark royal blue is a seemingly hard color to get right and I've not yet figured out the right solution (or brand of paint) to get it right...any suggestions are much appreciated!

The French still enjoy a superiority of horse

The Irish Regiment Bukeley in French service hold the right flank

The British attack columns crest a distant ridge

I'll be fighting this one out over the next couple of days...despite my occupation of the family dining table, I intend to finish this one and do a proper battle report.

I also spent the day cleaning a "spare" room in our house that, if plans go well, will become a new gaming space--though not quite entirely dedicated to gaming....at least a bit less disruptive to the household...and less accessible to the new kitten who has shown great and destructive interest in the goings on in the dining room! 

I think the British now have a fighting chance at taking the town...and I have new impetus in adding another two feet to the 6x5 table I'm currently limited to...but mum's the word... don't tell the Misses!

I'm also in heated anticipation of the new Prince August "Karoliner" molds coming out in a few weeks...they look really good and a nice addition for us PA fans who are using the figures for wargaming! If we could just convince them to make a grenadier in a bearskin hat....

Battle of Hofenfreuden

 As summer approaches, and as my teaching duties wind down, I'm looking forward to some quality gaming time with my son who is now able to grasp basic gaming rules. Today we took a couple of sections of "the green mile" to make a 4x6 foot battlefield and I set up a small 40mm Homecast battle that my son and I could fight out over the upcoming weekend in our dining room (as long as the wife can handle it...) [all figures are Prince August 40mm homecast.]

 Regiment Lorraine

 The "Black Horse" (4th Regiment of Horse)

 British 12th Regiment of Foot

 Colonel Gerlach's Jagers...a unit of my 30mm Imaginations ( translated to 40mm)

 The mighty 12th...

The Black Horse advances

British Royal Train of Artillery

Grenadier Company of the 12th Foot

More on the battle as it progresses...

We are using the classic "Charge" Rules by Brigadier peter Young for this fight.