Figures for MicroDux - part 3

So here is the current final installment from my last order of figures from H&R.  I have some more H&R stuff  coming in the mail, and also plan to pick up some Irregular figures later this month to see how well they fit together, as I like both ranges.
In this installment there are a number of ranges like the Huscarls that with their kite shields are not suitable for the "Dux period".  These will go into storage for some future later Dark Age project.

On with the show!
Click the images for a larger version.

MD3 - Saxon Huscarls
First up those Huscarls that just don't fit the period I'm chasing at the moment.
Nice Command stand figures:

Infantry strip:

The code consists of the command strip plus ten of the infantry strips.

MA12 - Visigoth Infantry
Another code that really doesn't fit will with the current project.  I picked it up taking a punt on barbarian-type codes.
Single command strip consisting of two standard bearers, plus ten five-man infantry strips.

 Detail on the standard bearers:

 They obviously need a little flash removed.
And the infantry strip:

I'm not particularly familiar with the Visigoths, but this almost looks earlier roman in style?

MA14 - Gothic Cavalry
One standard bearer, plus seven three-horse strips.

 Detail on the standard bearer:

 Detail on the cavalry:

This code may find a place in my Dux forces yet.

MD54 - Heimskringla Longship Command pack.
These are interesting figures.  As you can see from the detailed figures below, they don't have bases as they are designed to be mounted in the Heimskringla range of ships.  They are nice figures but are larger than standard Heroics and Ros (more on that later).
The bag of MD54 that I received had two each of the poses below:

MD53 - Saga Warrior Crew Pack
The other figure set from the Heimskringla range.
I received 21 figures from 4 unique sculpts as per below.

Detail of the 4 sculpts.

Comparison of Heimskringla to Heroics & Ros
As you may have noted, the Heimskringla figures are much larger than the H&R ones.
Below is a comparison shot between some figures from the the H&R Viking pack and the Heimskringla figures.

As you can see, the Heimskringla are a lot bigger by comparison. I assume they probably come close to some of the larger 6mm ranges however.  Due to the size difference, I won't have a lot of use for these figures, but I may use one of two as champion figures for my Saxon forces.

Heroics & Ros Figures for MicroDux - part 2

More detailed shots of codes from the Heroics and Ros Ancient and Dark Ages ranges that I picked up to play TooFatLardies' "Dux Britanniarum" in 6mm.  Click on the images for larger versions.

MA17 - Ancient British Infantry:
Two types of strip in this code:
A command strip with leader, standard and horn blower.

And the infantry strip proper

I don't think this code will get a lot of use for Britons vs. Saxons, but I suspect I will be using some of the figures for Picts or Scotii.

 One Command strip and seven infantry strips in the code.

MAR13 - Late Roman Infantry Advancing

  

 One strip of standard bearers and 10 infantry strips per code.  Detailed pics of the individual strips below:
Standard Bearers

Infantry - these are armed with a sword (gladius?) and a shield.

MA20-Early German Tribesmen

 One strip with two standard bearers and 10 strips of infantry consisting of 5 strips each of two types.
Detailed pics below:
Standard Bearers

 Infantry Strip Type 1

 Infantry Strip Type 2

MD5 - Vikings

 One Command strip, and four each of two different types of infantry strips per code.
Lots of good stuff in this code, detailed pics below:
Standard Bearers

 Infantry Strip Type 1 - featuring Archers, "Vikings playing golf" and figures armed with sword and shield.

 Infantry Strip Type 2 - Axes, swords and spears/javelins with round shields.

MAR26 - Roman Pack Mules and Baggage Carts

Two four-wheeled bullock carts, one two-wheeled bullock cart and nine pack mules, along with drivers.
Details below:

Two-Wheeled Bullock Cart - this comes with a cover

Four-Wheeled Bullock Cart

Bullocks and Driver - note the yokes around the necks to match up against the carts.

Pack Mules and Drivers - useful for just about every period.

Dux Bellorum Arrives

My copy of Daniel Mersey's new Arthurian game for Osprey Publishing, "Dux Bellorum", just turned up today.
Primarily I bought this publication because I am very new to this period and I thought an Osprey publication would be useful for artwork and examples.  TooFatLardies's Dux Britanniarum appears to be a good set of rules, but most of the images are diagrams to explain the rules.  I felt that Dux Bellorum would be likely to have more pictures of models and artwork from Osprey books.

I am not disappointed.  There is a fair bit of "wargamer porn" in this book, and certainly it gives me a few ideas for schemes to paint by Britons and Saxons.
Have yet to explore the rules but I probably will at some point.  In his introduction Daniel talks about a focus on command and control, so it will be interesting to see what mechanisms are used.

Coming soon, more Heroics and Ros figures in detail.....

Heroics & Ros Figures for Micro-Dux

The order of figures from Heroics and Ros for the Micro-Dux project turned up last week.  However life being what it is, last night was the first time I had a chance to get them out of the bag and start to have a look.
Pictures from four of the promising codes are below.  Click to enlarge.

MAR11 - Heavy Roman Cavalry
There are essentially two different types of strip in this code.
the first has a lone standard bearer figure.

The second is the actual cavalry strip; 3 horse per strip.

You get 7 calvary strips (and the standard bearer) per code.

MAR28 - Late Roman Light Infantry

In this code there are again two strip types.  This time you get one command strip with standards and commanders, and then 10 strips of five figures of infantry.  There are two infantry poses, three of one, two of the other per strip.

 Detailed photos of the two strip types below:

MD4 - Saxon Fyrd
In this code there are four strip types; Command , plus three infantry types.  The Command Strip has three commanders and two standards.  There are infantry with a sword and round shield, spear and a round shield, and infantry marching with a kite shield on their backs and a spear over their shoulders.

Detailed pics of the individual strip types below:
Command Strip

Sword and round shield

Marching with spear and kite shield on back (less useful for the "Arthurian" period)

Spear and sound shield

MCR11 - Welsh Infantry
Actually from the medieval period range, but as you will see below, some useful figures...
First up, the command strip; commander, musician and standard.

 The the actual Infantry Strip; two figures with spears and round shields, a javelin thrower and what appears to be two figures equipped with spears and knives or swords (? Some experts may know what this is?)

 One Command Strip and ten infantry strips per code.

Dux in Australia

My copy of Dux Britannarium arrived at work today.
Very nice production indeed.
Book is very nicely put together and the cards in their case are excellent.
Below is a pic of where I've put the map up at my desk at work.

Dux Brit Update

I received my tablet version of the TooFatLardies Dux Britanniarum rules earlier in the week, and finished have a good read through them this morning.

Looks like a bit of fun!

As a result I'm kick off a project I'm codenaming MicroDux, which will be Dux Brit in 6mm.

My original intention had been to try out some figures from Baccus 6mm, but I discovered I had incorrectly added up the costs of that solution and I don't think it's going to be workable from a budget perspective.

Given that I'm going to be ordering the final few bits for my Argentines from H&R later this month, I figure I might just try out a number of their ancients codes.

Argentine Infantry Work in Progress

Here is one of my unpainted Argentine infantry sections accompanied by a bazooka team (click for a larger image).

These guys have been languishing in the cupboard for the better part of the last month since I originally based and undercoated them while various things have prevented me from getting them finished off.

They're next off the line though, before I go back to finish the unpainted UK Marines.

Here's the rest of the current understrength company.  I still need another platoon to bring it up to full strength, and it's missing any mortar support.

The missing figures for the final platoon will be ordered from Heroics and Ros this coming month (August), and hopefully I can get the Brits finished off before polishing off that final platoon.

Mortars for both sides are not done yet because I want to model some digging in around them, and I'm not entire sure how exactly I want to proceed with that.  There are some very evocative images of pits cut into the peat to get down to solid matter for the base plate that I want to have a shot at doing.  Maybe some trials later....

I've been a little stalled on the Falklands project overall.

I'd been reading "Above All, Courage" and the firsthand accounts of the attack on the RFA Sir Galahad from Guardsmen, Navy Pilots and medical staff had been quite confronting.  Coupled with stresses from work I had temporarily shelved the whole thing. 

 Now that I've managed to bite the bullet and get some figures moving again I picked up the book again this morning over breakfast on the deck here at home.  This time it was accounts from 2 Para (Chris Keeble and John Crossland, with a few more to go) from the section of the book on Darwin and Goose Green, and they've helped to push me back on again.
Certainly recommend this book, full of interesting little details and the realities (as far as I can judge) of war.

A Distraction Enters

Well, my house guests are now on their way to Melbourne, and I've just been down setting up my desk again.
As any of you that know me would have predicted, the Falklands project is a little stalled at the moment, mainly due to the interference of work and family life.

As a result, I have fallen prey to that virulent disease that plagues many wargamers - "ooh shiny!".
TooFatLardies are releasing their new Dark Age "Arthurian" rules at the end of this month.

Dux Britanniarum

I had been quite happy that I didn't need these rules over the last few years as reports about progress on the project known as "Beerwulf" have floated in on the TooFatLardies Yahoo Group.  I had even managed to look at all of the pretty blog posts from the final rounds of playtesting on the TooFatLardies blog, and thought to myself, "That's nice...might have a look in a few years."  I was also a little frustrated that this project seemed to have supplanted work on "Chain of Command" and the Boer War rules.

But a week or two ago Richard from TFL announced that pre-orders were open and I dutifully went and sent him about AU$50!  It's a sickness!

Having said that, from the battle reports, it looks like a good game with a good campaign system built in, and given it's TFL pedigree, I'm sure it will be worthwhile.  Note also that that investment includes the printed rules, cards in a hard plastic case, electronic copy of the rules, and (if you got in early enough) a limited edition 28mm figure of Arthur.

However it wasn't until I finally got around to listening to this chat between Neil from Meeples and Miniatures and Richard from TFL on the M&M podcast yesterday, that I realised how good the systems that TFL have put into "Dux Brit" are.  Give episode 91 of Meeples and Miniatures a listen, and if it doesn't have you heading off to order the game, you're a stronger man than I!

I had considered doing this in 15mm with figures from Splintered Light that are purpose built for the period, but instead I've decided to stick with my commitment and try it in 6mm.  I've had a natty idea for basing (more on that when the time comes) and I think it's a perfect opportunity for a first time purchase from Baccus Miniatures to see if some of their late roman and early medieval period ranges can be pressed into service in this period.

Pre-orders ship on the 31st, so it will be mid-late August by the time I get my hard copy and cards, but apparently I'll have the electronic copy in email on the day, so stand by for some early thoughts later this week.

Despite the lack of updates on the blog over the last couple of months, I have been thinking and doing hobby stuff and have purchased a few things, so there will also be some catch-up posts coming, in particular some better pictures of the Scotia minis I received recently.