Aesthetic Strategic Decisions

... now that's not easy to write, or to say after a couple of glasses of Transvladachian Vodka.
But it's a fair summary of what has been happening on the 40mm homecasting project front.
I decided to get motoring on this, and with the help of more ebay purchses and more casting and painting of my own, managed to get two sides onto the tabletop, that would be able to do a trial run of the rules along the lines of the Action scenario from The War Game. So, as a minimum, 2 infantry battalions, light infantry unit, cavalry regt, and gun per side (in this case, I opted to field 2 light guns with 2 crew each, per side).

Somehow, the units, previously based simply on card, didn't look quite right... You know, when you get that itch that needs to be scratched. They didn't seem quite "finished".
So, aesthetic strategic decision was made to base them in a slightly different way, maintaining something of the "old school" as it were... in a Gilder-esque style, using sand and glue, suitably painted and dry-brushed.

I had intended trialing this on one of the new units I had painted only. But got carried away, and before I knew it I was up to my elbows in sand and glue, and knee deep in units queuing up to be rebased thus.

Taking a look at the two sides:
First,The Electorate of Teutonburg Fredonia:

Below: the recently painted Transvladachian Uhlanen. Emigres from the eastern reaches of Europe, these are fearsome lancers in the service of anyone who will pay. Fortunately the Elector of Teutonburg-Fredonia has deep enough pockets to tempt them.

Below: Infantry Battalion Alt-Kanitz supported by Oldenburg

 Below: The Dvorak Dragoons

 Below: Electorate Light guns

And so onto their foe, a cobbled together alliance of ebay renegades, reflagged and based, along with some additional units of my own, which I simply called The Baltic League (this is pending the arrival of real foes for the project from Tradgardland, of course).

Below: Baltic League Infantry Brigade, under the command of The Duke of Pomerania; The Mecklenburg-Schwerin Regt (red coats); Pomeranian Grenadiers (Blue coats); Danish Prinz Karl regt (grey)

Below: Courland Cuirassiers. Like The Pomeranian Grenadiers above, these have switched sides since my previous post, as I decided all ebay-packers would be in The Baltic League, rather than have them sully the ranks of the Army of Teutonburg-Fredonia.

Below: to add to the abayers, I painted the Jagerkorps zu Fus:

Also by yours truly, Baltic League gunners, here shown first with light guns, and then with heavy mortar:

That's about all for now. Other than to say, work has begun on the next issue of CWJ... and I'm getting the 22 magnificent articles received (plus contributions for Tales from the Frontline section) into what resembles a journal. In short, that's a way of saying not all the articles will appear this time, but thanks to all who have sent material in.

More news on what will be included over the next couple of weeks, and I'll have the next issue out mid July (probably around 19th).