Garibaldi, Partisans, GENERIC UNITS, Painted Projects

 Garibaldi Prepares to take Command

This was a fun project, not least because it comprised stuff I really did not expect to use. The 'Box that Keeps on Giving' included someones home-cast cowboy, not particularly good, and more like 1/30 in scale. It had ended up in my store of casting metal more than once. The head is a converted medieval, while the horse came from that recent delivery of cheap plastic figures and fences. Other bits came from the spares box. I'm pleased with the result, and he can serve as a partisan leader in several conflicts.

(The 'Box that Keeps on Giving' was picked up for £5 in June 2023, I later gave £3 to a family member for kindly picking them up. It comprised forty-three lead castings, more than half of which were home-casts. Can record thirty-six have been very successfully integrated, only seven ended up in the melting pot, to create spare heads and weapons.... my frugal Scots blood is well pleased at 22p a figure.)

PART TWO

RAISING SOME PARTISANS or GENERIC UNITS

As part of my 1848 Danish-Schleswig project, have started to raise some armed civilians, using cheap Timpo ACW figures. Having seen Brian Carrick recruit a fair number of ACW red shirts, and subsequently use them to represent Garibaldi's followers in Italy, and French republicans during the 1870s, some generic and multi-purpose units would be very useful.

Have just purchased two batches of 1960s Timpo Confederates and Union troops with the intension of creating some armed partisans for the 19th century. The first cost £20 delivered, and numbers forty-two figures. The second cost £10.50 delivered, and numbers twenty-seven figures. These Timpo solid figures are  not as sought after as Deetail, Herald, or Timpo-multipart, perhaps it is the animation? But the casting is good, and they look fine painted up. 

                                                                              1st Batch

And here they are unpacked, and formed up. The pistol figures will make officers or artillerymen. The dual armed will become ensigns or artillerymen.

And here are the partisans I presently have, some of which are solid Timpo. I'm thinking about narrowing my usual base size to 40mm by 25mm?

2nd Batch purchased.

My plan is to form these figures into six battalions of twelve. Two of these will be wearing a lot of red, to portray Garibaldi's red shirts. Two more battalions will be wearing short green jackets trimmed in yellow, to represent the Fenian invaders of Canada. The last two battalions will portray Schleswig volunteers, in a variety of coat colours. And figures from all these battalions might be mixed or drafted as scenarios require. Some of the slouch hats will need to be converted into top hats.

                                                            INSPIRATIONAL GALLERY

                                       (for educational purposes, no copyright infringement intended)

                                                                              PART THREE

A recent visit to the local collectables shop was worthwhile. I picked up a much wanted lead midshipman for my Royal Navy collection for only £2. The shopkeeper allowed me a further seven plastic and lead figures for £3 more. I have enjoyed restoring these figures, and they will be very useful.

A French artillery officer.

Three Napoleonic Prussians were given miliput trousers and converted into Anhalt Dessau Infantry c.1840. In about 1845 they adopted pickelhaubes and tunics, but I will still use them in my 1848 games.

Figures cleaned and converted.

MGB

REPLIES TO FRIENDS

Cheers Brad. I must confess, I am determined not to wargame the Napoleonic Wars in 54mm as I feel it is too large a period, and more appropriate to the smaller scales. But the lesser known European 19th century conflicts that followed, including the three Italian wars of independence, would be suitable to a limited portrayal of battles in 54mm. So having two battalions of red shirts is a strategic start. One can only have respect for such a committed patriot as Giuseppe Garibaldi. By the way, I personally believe Garibaldi's red shirts derive from the American firemen clubs, rather than the Uruguay butchers, it is still a matter of debate.

Hi Q. I'm just glad the cowboy did not end up in the melting pot, now that would have played on my mind as a missed opportunity. These irregular battalions will add dimension to the 54mm collection.

Hello Donnie. It is fair to say this project is exciting my interest, and involves some creative projects. Have started Milliput conversions on a few figures to get the ball rolling. These Timpo solids were a bargain, and free of oxidisation!

Cheers Tony, I used milliput to increase the jawline and construct the 'Garibaldi' beard. With some luck, it has worked nicely. Just about to prime a load of partisan figures, some more milliput work set hard during the night.

Hi Quinn, I have only ever used the standard milliput, grey and yellow, but I prefer to use three parts grey to two parts yellow, as the latter is a bit too gooey and delays the milliput reaching full hardness. I have spent part of today working on the partisans, mainly converting their hats. Hope to start on some painting possibly tomorrow. 

Thank you, MJT. There is always a morale boost when something that had no use is made useful. Have converted about thirty partisans, and splashed on the primary colours. The detail will take a bit longer. Nothing great, but it's fun, and they will open up quite a few scenarios. Still waiting for the second batch to arrive. 

WARGAME 1st Schleswig-Holstein War (Flensburg 1848)

With it being such a lovely Saturday I decided to fight a garden war-game, and I don't mean cut the grass. It was time for some of my gunboats to steam into action, guns blazing, and deliver a knockout blow on these rebellious German-speaking Schleswig folk. The year is 1848.

Now I must confess, these rules took five minutes to compile, which matches my attention span for anything involving mathematical calculations. The war-game is inspired by a real action that occurred near Bogholm (try not to laugh) on the Flensburg Fjord on April 7, 1848.

Having been ordered to secure the fjord, a Danish flotilla took up their station, only to discover illegal Schleswig flags (upside down Dutch) were clearly visible on the land. And these Rebels had also constructed a fortified battery of artillery.

My wargaming flotilla comprised three gunboats, one whaleboat, and a civilian steamship. The opposition had two field guns and appropriate crew. There was also a fishing boat and a merchantman that could be useful, but both were unarmed.

THE FIRING BEGINS

I allowed the Schleswig battery a first move/fire advantage. Using a Britains matchstick firing 25pdr as my  judge, and at a distance of about eight foot for both sides, their two guns missed the ships.

MOVE TWO. Both sides now fired. The Danish having three shots per move scored a hit on the redoubt. A follow-on dice throw confirmed a hit on a Rebel gunner, and a reduction point on the redoubt.

I began to think the redoubt was a large and easy target? MOVE THREE. One of the Schleswig guns scored a hit on a gunboat, it actually stayed on the deck! A hit allows the player to decide whether he prefers a hit on the gun, or the hull, there are advantages and disadvantages in choosing either option as the results involve throwing a dice. Well, I went for the hull, this had the chance of knocking out the engine, but it also contributes towards a three-hit rule, that the gunboat would then start to sink.

MOVE FOUR. Two direct hits on the same gunboat! While still able to fire this go, it was still going down in the next.

MOVE FIVE. A Schleswig gun hits another gunboat, forget the Danish guns, go for the hulls! The Danish whaleboat successfully picked up the sinking ship's crew. MOVE SIX. The Danish are now reduced to two dice throws, and score a hit on the redoubt defences. MOVE SEVEN. Two perfect hits on another gunboat! MOVE EIGHT. A third hit on the redoubt takes down a gunner and removes all defensive value from the position. Obliged to test their morale, the Schleswig folk hold their position. And the battery scores the required third hit on another gunboat, which begins to take on water. MOVE NINE. The Danish are now down to one working gunboat and gun, but there are no further hits from either side...... I think it's all over. The civilian transporter rescues the crew of the second sinking ship.

RESULT

A Schleswig Victory, unlike the historical event. Surprisingly, no Danish fatalities, and only two for the Schleswig Volunteers. I think the number of hull hits (to sink) might need to be increased to four? Lucky for the Danish no magazines exploded, but that is reliant on the enemy targeting the guns and throwing a follow-on dice of D6, otherwise a D5 will knock out the gun, and lesser scores take out one of the four crew. This was a fun game to play, its only defect was my necessity to go and find the expended matchstick rounds, and move to opposing firing positions. This fast play matchstick firing game would work even better with guests, and not necessarily wargamers, IMHO.

MGB

PS. A useful source of information, and mentions the Flensburg action.

FLADENS HISTORIE

https://www.navalhistory.dk/English/History/1848_1864/TheWars1848_50.htm  

                                                                        PART TWO

Well, it is Sunday, it has rained during the night, and there has been showers this morning. In a brief break I hurriedly took out the c1900 collection of ships for a photo shoot. This is the first occasion I have had to see them all out, and in proper daylight. These ships were constructed for service on the gaming table, but also robust enough to serve outside, even if the ground is damp. The only things that would be damaged by a sudden downpour are the flags and the toy soldier bases. Here is a record of the collection. All ship designs are very strongly influenced by 1860-1910 tin toys, which look so appropriate next to shiny lead soldiers.

Additional Photos

And here are two 20th century ships. Two more, belonging to the Soviet Navy, are in storage, one of which is going to be scrapped and rebuilt in wood.

MGB

Replies to Friends

Thank you, Brad. The blog was created to record the collection, and I wanted to view the entire fleet at sea. When we had that break in the rain on the Saturday, I could not resist a traditional matchstick war-game. And it was fun! Now it is time to prepare an English roast dinner to complement the visual spectacle, huzzah! 

Hello Tim. Thanks for the kind words. I can confirm my gaming plans are to use the fleet again in any viable garden (might be moving house this year). I'm tempted to suggest toy ships in the garden is the perfect medium for matchstick wargaming, after all, the guns have a splendid range, and the ships make a lovely target. When it comes to rules, a high score must be a good score, and I'm no accountant.

Thanks Donnie. It was a morale boost to wargame in the garden, and it has strengthened my interest in the 1st Schleswig-Holstein War. Last night a member of my family picked up a load of Timpo 1960s solid Confederates. These figures are not the most popular for ACW wargaming, but they are fairly nondescript, and they will make useful mid-19th century irregulars... Schleswig volunteers. Most of those used in the redoubt are converted Timpo.

Thank you, MJT. It was just good to see their colours in real daylight, and I don't mean the illuminating mid-grey light that we have for most of the year in the UK. Yes, the game was fun, and setting it up was quick and easy. I am painting up a store of ensigns, although each ship has an official listing and crew, many linked to the original tin toy manufacturer, it was nice 'shipping' a Danish flotilla with appropriate flags.

Thanks Quinn. Unlike our Australian brothers, we have no reliability in our sunny weather, so I made the best of it! I think the search for a perfect set of rules is a holy grail never to be found. Simple rules, and a well thought out scenario (actual historic battles, wargame campaigns, or diced terrain are vital here as they reject point-balanced games),  this is where effort should be directed. In the 1970s I picked up a complex Napoleonic set of rules, it almost put me off wargaming, it was Featherstone that restored my confidence to game with my toy soldier collection.  

Danish, Mecklenburg, Prussian, and Ruritanian Toy Soldiers

Recently received a packet of lead-cast heads from Irregular Miniatures, and having also home-cast some more of my own, have completed a fair number of figures which were otherwise painted, based, and varnished. 

First up is Prince Rudolf of Ruritania in his new staff car. The figure is a home-cast which I have converted into a seated position.. The attendant in the white uniform was the master of ceremonies in the palace ball, it is also the last metal figure from that cheap box of castings I picked up some months ago. The driver is a converted plastic marine, which arrived in the recent box of plastic toy soldiers.

original standard bearer, and driver.

Next up are some plastic herald guardsmen converted into Mecklenburg dragoons c.1848. They will be serving against my Danish army.

Here we see some Danish sharpshooters or Jaeger. Again, these are converted plastic guardsmen. And a nice contrast to the red coated Danish line infantry.

Three old lead figures have furnished a Prussian artillery crew for my howitzer.

And here are some plastic guardsmen now wearing the uniform of the Ruritanian military band, drafted to serve as an artillery crew for Prince Rudolf. All my Ruritanian representations are linked to uniforms that appear in the Prisoner of Zenda movie of 1952.

Outrider for my Prince Michael's Artillery company, making a crew of four.

Original drummer.

PART TWO

Recent acquisitions. From a second hand shop picked up this Ford Pick-up F-100 1956 die-east, made by Sunnyside Toys of Hong Kong, not sure when. The real vehicles was manufactured during 1948 to 1983. I also picked up this nice Matchbox trailer, made in 1978. Both items cost 50p each. Will need to fabricate the rear hatch and some wing mirrors.

Two more items from the collectables shop, one for my potential garage model. The shopkeeper kindly granted some discount, they cost £7 in total. As a Londoner of the 1970s, had to have the bus stop.

MGB

Replies to recent comments recorded below.

Thanks MJT, I must admit the staff car and Rudolf's gang have worked out very nicely. It will enhance what is a colourful but quite small collection. Yes, I spotted the bus stop and had to have it..... totally out of place for my wargaming periods, but who cares, lol.

Thank you, Brad. I have enjoyed returning to armies that don't wear drab coloured uniforms, lol. I still need some spares from Langley for near twenty old lead figures, a mixture of heads and arms. Most are connected to the Schleswig-Holstein Wars. I will then decline further projects and get to play a few wargames, mainly 19th century and Ruritanian.

Cheers Donnie. It is always nice to clear some projects, some of the headless figures have been hanging around for at least six months. Have just this moment discovered the bus sign is a post WW2 Tri-ang toy, part of their Spot-On range, code L130/7, listed as 1/42 scale (not that I care). And the design is fine for British bus stops of the late 1930s, according to one photo I found. So I will add it to my British toy town for sure.

Cheers Q. Blow me if the rain hasn't stopped today, Saturday. Might try and set up the table for a war-game! 

That's very kind Quinn, as I have mentioned elsewhere, it was a pleasure for me to return to the bold colours of the 19th century, the 20th century uniforms are so dominated with mud-brown uniforms. Have just this minute finished a test war-game in the garden (a sunny Saturday!). It involved gunboats and a redoubt. The Danish Navy engaged the Schleswig Volunteers. I can confirm it was a pleasure, great fun, and a working system. Will upload the photos in a few days.