General Chatter's "Despatches from the Rear"
(General Chatter is residing in a comfy, requisitioned Mansion, half a day's ride from the action.)
There is very little to report on the Hobby Front. Since the end of the last Campaign there has been a severe lack of gaming, due mainly to tedious work related matters, and the continuing over-crowding here at Chez Maudlin (caused by the return of my son due to all things Covid).I attach a couple of items that may be of interest:
A 50+ Year Old Misconception
It was quite rightly pointed out to me some months ago that I have been using the Airfix ACW running figure incorrectly. For the last fifty something years, I have assumed that the running figure in both the Union and Confederate sets was an ordinary soldier who, due to a whim of the sculptor, was waving his hand in the air. The misconception was made clear when I was advised that this figure represented a Sergeant as he had a sword.
Looking more closely at the figures it's true that, what I took to be an over long bayonet is a sword! Suddenly the arm waving makes sense; "Follow me men!" Once this had been made apparent, my units of running men seemed to lack something. Fortunately, Jacklex figures come to the rescue with the running infantry men from Jack Alexander's wonderful 20mm ACW range. Please try to ignore the terrible painting / photography!
See the sword? I didn't try to paint stripes on his tunic for obvious reasons.
Some Adventurous Types
Elhiem Figures have started producing a range of Fantasy figures in 20mm. Yes! 20mm, my favourite figure size. I have started daubing paint on some of them as can be seen in the following picture which includes an old Revell 1/72nd figure and a Valdemar figure for size comparison. The idea is to possibly play some skirmish type games with these.
From Left to right we have, Colm the Conqueror (Barbarian Hero), Geoffrey the Green (Wizard), Nobby "Two Knives" Longleaf (Halfling Assassin) all from Elhiem, then Wayland the Wanderer (Ne'r-do-well and teller of tall tales) from Valdemar, and finally Vincent the Valiant (Pantomime Hero) Revell Normans set. Again, please excuse the painting. More to follow in this line, eventually!
End of Communication. Stay safe everyone!
Links: Jacklex ACW figures, Elhiem Figures
I'd never realised that, either!
ReplyDeleteYour Rebel sergeant must have an elite squad - they're even running in step!
What I've never understood is why Airfix portrayed ACW infantry as wearing late 19th/early 20th century braces and ammunition pouches, instead of the leather cartridge box on the hip...
The Sergeant has clearly drilled them well!
DeleteThe inaccuracies (not to mention some of the strange poses) of these old sets would not be tolerated in these days of high quality sculpting, but of course for those of us more senior folk who played with them as children, they will always hold a special high ground!
Well you learn something everyday , never realized about the Airfix figure .
ReplyDeleteIt was news to me too Tony!
DeleteDidn't get this! Anyway, nice looking Rebs, and beautiful characters ready for the adventure!
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil!
DeleteThis is great news - many thanks.
ReplyDeleteI was debating as to whether Jacklex would suit my existing ACW plastics...and that fantasy range is perfect for my 20mm plastic ancients/fantasy.
For me the Jacklex figures are a perfect fit with the Airfix ones, plus they have the simplicity of design which also matches the plastics.
DeleteMatt at Elhiem tells me that his sculptor is working on more figures for the 20mm Fantasy range. Save your pennies Duc!
The Jacklex do mix really well with the Airfix as Jack Alexander intended.
ReplyDeleteThey do! They are also such simple and elegant figures.
DeleteHi Maudlin Jack -
ReplyDeleteI have always thought that the Airfix running guy was likely an NCO or maybe subaltern officer figure, but there were in the box so many of them they simply had to represent 'file' rather than 'rank'. So my Union Army has a whole brigade of these guys - 4 regiments of 3 'command figures' and 24 men.
At that I had plenty left over. They became flag bearers. This works best if the raided arm is bent further around to the front, and the hands pieced to accept thin modelling wire. These days I make flags from paper, the design hand drawn (I don't use State flags). To improve the look I cut the flags in a parallelogram or rhombus shape.
You'll see my 'frivolous fellows for this sort of work' in action here:
https://archdukepiccolo.blogspot.com/2017/02/stonewall-in-valley-10-battle-of.html
Your 'Two knives' Longleaf' character reminds me of the psychopathic character Belkar in the 'Order of the Stick' series. Modelled on him perhaps?
Cheers,
Ion
Which reminds me ... I haven't looked at that for months!
You have some splendid ACW armies Archduke! They must represent a fair few of the original boxes.
DeleteI have never thought of rhomboid flags - must try that.
I've seen the Order of the Stick comic strips but I don't really know too much about them so will have to investigate them further!
I have learned something today. Whatever next?
ReplyDeleteIndeed, but it's given me an excuse to buy some more Jacklex figures!!
DeleteInteresting detective work on the Airfix figure.
ReplyDeleteI can't claim this discovery Jonathan! Makes sense to me though.
DeleteThose fantasy types look interesting, I feel her another half finished project coming on!.
ReplyDeleteHa ha! I know what you mean Mr Sprinks!
DeleteYes- I would of said that the ACW Airfix figure looked like a Sergeant urging his men on-wards. 20mm is a great size. Cheers. KEV.
ReplyDeleteCheers Kev. Yes 20mm / 1/72nd is a fine size, though getting increasingly difficult to paint!
DeleteYup. Amazing the things one can sometimes discover about familiar things. I've been painting these for over 50 years (and playing with them longer) and tit was only 10 yrs (and about 2 weeks) that I noticed. (https://gameofmonth.blogspot.com/2010/10/revelation-hey-sarge.html)
ReplyDeleteI never would have spotted it if you hadn't pointed it out!! I would have carried on thinking it was just a whimsical sculpt. He goes well with the Jacklex figures.
DeleteThat's an amazing revelation re the Sergeant, who'd have known ? Iconverted all of mine to figures running with a musket at the port position (the muskets came from the lying figures iirc).
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that a lot of my early DnD figures were 20mm two.- so many good memories !
Eagle eyed Ross! I would never have noticed.
DeleteThe ones I had way back in the 70s were 25mm and usually quite chunky - these chaps are a little more, well, little.
Coooo! I feel bad now when I recall how I rejected the figures as a kid. Thank you for the link to Elheim link. Never heard of them until now, I am ashamed to say. My ECW figures for skirmishers have arrived, but no chance of painting or playing until 'The Cave' becomes less cluttered in the New Year and I can access my kit.
ReplyDeleteI guess that means your "Festive Season" will be spent decluttering..? I'm keen to see how the ECW skirmish works. Arthur1815 (see first comment above) has played ECW skirmish games I believe.
DeleteHi Maudlin! You taught us a good lesson, as it seems that that many of us (including me) never understood that our running ACW minis were sergeants. I think you should be cited in wikipedia :D
ReplyDeleteHa ha! No it's Ross Mac who discovered this - I'm just a messenger.
Deletehttps://gameofmonth.blogspot.com/2010/10/revelation-hey-sarge.html
I hadn't picked them as NCOs, top pick up. The painted versions looks beaut.
ReplyDeleteRegards, James
Thanks James - it was Ross Mac's eagle-eyed discovery and makes a lot of sense once you look at the figure again!
Delete