15mm First Generation Napoleonics

While at work recently I  suddenly got the urge to pull out my old 1st generation 15mm Minifigs Napoleonics. They were my first metal toy soldiers.  Over the last couple of years I've bought small lots of more Minifigs and traded for a very large lot of Russian Napoleonics. I also have been thinking of changing up my games. While I still used Bob Corderys rules, I put aside my Heroscape board and went back to using a squared off board. 

French Army approaches from the top of the picture; Russian from the bottom.

Both sides advance.

The French continue to advance,  the Russians take up defensive positions.  French are on left, Russian on right.

The Russian artillery takes out 3/4 of one infantry regiment, the leftmost Russian cavalry hits the right hand French infantry regiment, causing 50% losses and the rest retreat.  On the Russian right 2 cavalry regiments force the French to pull back to defend the flank.

The Russians continue to pressure both flanks.

The French on the right flank breaks the cavalry regiment harassing it, making it fall back to the farm. On the left flank both Russian cavalry start losing men. Napoleon (on white horse)  falls back and forms up the army in a new line.

The right flank Russian cavalry continues to keep up the pressure. Meanwhile, the Russian infantry which has been holding back starts forward. The leftmost Russian infantry regiment breaks the French battery to it's front.

The French now start inflecting causalities to the Russian infantry; however the Russians press on.

The Russian continue to smash the French line. One cavalry regiment breaks the French regiment endangering Napoleon himself! 

Any other general would call it quits; however, seeing the losses the Russians are suffering convinces Napoleon to keep up the fight.

The French push back the Russians. Napoleon is sure the Russians will now break off the attack.

He is wrong; the Russian come on again. The Russians left cavalry breaks the French regiment at it's front. The infantry eliminates the French battery in the center.  The Russian battery brings the French regiment guarding Napoleon under fire.

At this point Napoleon decides that now is the time to call it a day.


This was a fun battle. I didn't use Bob Cordery's rule that when one force suffers so many losses it has to stop advancing.  One rule I've used before is once one side has a 2:1 advantage, the other side has lost the battle.


    

Blue Army's advance after Brooks Farm

The Blue Army, after their victory at Brooks Farm, continued their advance into Red's territory.  It now turned into a punitive expedition with the goal of extorting payment for the losses suffered. Unfortunately, the wagon train got lost (literally; I misplaced my covered wagon models) and so they would have to settle for what could be carried by mule train.

Higgins Armory Museum Closing

     This week I learned that my favorite museum, the John Woodman Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts was closing their doors after 82 years. The collection of 2000 pieces of armor, which belonged to a local industrialist John Higgins, first opened in 1931 in a custom built art deco building, which was used to house the collection and offices of his factories.
   As a child my parents made it a point to take us to local attractions. The "Armor Museum" as we would call it, was my favorite.  I still remember fondly the anticipation of the first glimpse of the Armory, which has a large suit of armor on the roof.

My brother Mike's favorite piece in the museum.

One of my favorites, a knight preying in a castle chapel.

Probably the most famous and popular suit in the collection.  Just about any article  I've seen shows this suit.

Molly dreaming: "If I could only get that suit I could rule the neighborhood!"

   The good news is that the collection is going to stay in Worcester, where it will be housed sat the Worcester Art Museum. I only hope the the building itself will last.

Steam Tractor with Peter Laing figure for scale

Steam tractor and car with Peter Laing 15mm Victorian parade  infantryman for scale. The car is marked "HQ", so  he must be guarding the general's office.

I don't know the make of these trucks, the driver is not Peter Laing.

Here is the steam tractor I bought recently with a Peter Laing 15mm figure next to it for scale. I think Ian Dury (a fellow Peter Laing lover and helpful guide to me) was right suggesting that it might be a model railroad piece. There are also a couple of trucks that I got in the same lot. They just seem to have a lot of promise for war-game scenarios.