Painting 15mm Falcon ACW Figures

 In the past I hesitated painting figures when I didn't have many of them. This means sometimes it would be years before I got the never just to start painting them. With my 15mm Falcon Miniatures I decided to paint a couple of units. Once I started I kept going, until I was down to 20 figures left to paint. 

Needless to say, the large purchase mentioned in an earlier post has given me more freedom in painting these figures.

I have been painting them as different militia units at the start of the war, with some liberties taken. 

When I won these figures, it started me thinking of going in a different direction with them. Another thing I started collecting are cigarette cards from the 1880s of militia uniforms of the United States. Being from Massachusetts, I have collected what I believe is most of the cards representing Massachusetts militia uniforms of the 1880s. My idea is to paint units of Militia based on these cards.

The first unit painted is the 2nd Corps Cadets Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.

New Falcon Civil War Reinforcements

 Last week in the middle of the night, I realized that it had been a long time since I checked Ebay for Falcon Civil War figures.

Next morning while drinking my morning coffee I went onto Ebay and found 8 Falcon ACW sets for sale. They were in lots of 2, and priced reasonably enough that I just bought all four lots. There were 5 sets of infantry that I didn't have, and 3 sets of cavalry. 

I was a little disappointed that there were no command packs or special sets such as militia or USCTs, but that is minor. With the cavalry I got two sets of cavalry in hats with shotguns. As my cavalry will be units of three, using Battle Cry size units, that will give me two units with two spare horsemen. I am thinking of converting these two figures into generals for both sides.

I was concerned that when I first opened the box, several of the packages had some kind of residual in the package. I was afraid it was "lead rot" (although after I read that they are made with the finest lead free pewter). After opening the worst of lot, I realized that it was just the foam in the package had disintegrated.

More Info on Falcon ACW Figures

One reason I like Falcon Miniatures is their early war Militia figure. Most makers of ACW figures will do Zouave figures, but rarely cover Militia uniforms. One company that does do militia units is Freikorps. I have ordered many of their figures. I find them on the small side, and are difficult for me to paint..
The other day I was working in the basement and came across some MWAN digests. The first one I opened had an ad for Falcon ACW. This ad was for the usual Civil War figures. I did start going through more of them and found under the heading " Bits and Pieces"  that the magazine received a 4 page listing of the 15mm ACW line.  In it it had listing for " the 79th NY, militia, Iron Brigade, zouaves, Garabaldis, colored troops, Berden's, and many other regular figures". They also mention sappers!  
This article has set me on my next hunt for figures. So far I've had little luck online, but the hunt is half the fun.

Painted Falcon Civil War Units

It's been a while since I have got this much painting done. Eight- 4 man units. I've been enjoying painting these figures. Instead of the usual Union blue and Confederate grey uniforms, these units are being painted using early war uniforms, which makes  each unit easier to identify. On their bases they are marked A,B,C, and D. This is so if I use them in skirmish games, I can keep track of wounds on the figures.

 

Falcon Miniatures ACW Militia

Recently I started painting some 15mm ACW figures for skirmish games. After painting some regular infantry as a militia unit,I decided to painted up a unit of Falcon Miniatures militia. I was so happy with the results, I painted up 2 more units.

I have a total of 20 of these figures. I figure each 4 man unit will represent a company. Their commander is a 1st generation Minifigs officer.

I still believe I might have a few more of these figures and continue to look though all my different containers of figures.

Mike Lambo's "Battles of the American Civil War June 1861-July 1862

     One of my last posts I mentioned about painting some 10mm ACW figures for skirmish wargames.  Since that time Mike Lambo came out with another solitare wargame book, "Battles of the American  Civil War June 1861- July 1862 A Solitaire Wargame". As I had commented on a couple of his sites that I hoped he would come out with an ACW game, I felt I had to buy this book.

   Last night I tried a game out. It was an enjoyable  game (maybe because I actually  beat general AI for once!). Of course most of his games are fun to play. It helped that I have played Avalon Hill's Battle Cry in the past. I am not saying it's  a rip off of Battle Cry. The units used are the same size and line of sight works the same, but the rules are different and the AI makes the game a whole different game. 

     The game itself has different rules from his other games, so you are not playing the same game as his other books. It also gave me an opportunity to use my newly painted 10mm ACW figures with this game.

One other plus with this book; Mr.Lambo is coming out with a second volume of ACW Battle scenarios. I was hoping he would do this with his Napoleonic wargame book. Perhaps if the second ACW is successful he will do the same for the Napoleonic game.

Once again my pictures show up in reverse order. This is the last move, where my cavalry close combat the last Union infantry and eliminate them, giving me the victory.

The Union AI army advancing on my right flank. In this game you roll three dice to activate three sections out of 6 sections. The Union couldn't  get the rolls needed to activate  their left until later in the game.

The beginning set up. The Confederates are grouped in the center of the game board.

Early Morning Painting

 I recently bought some 10mm ACW figures to use with skirmish games. I  based some of them on craft sticks and primed them with black paint. 

Last night they were divided into Confederate and Union units, and I started painting the uniforms.

This morning I woke up at 5:00am with a bad headache, caused by neck problems. At 6:00 I gave up trying to sleep. I got up and took something  for the headache, got a cup of coffee, and checked the usual websites. Slowly the headache went away, and looking at my painting station, got the sudden urge to do some painting. I actually got the figures just about completed, along with doing some more work on the Les Higgins duelists. I was happy with the results, doing more detail work on the 10mm figures than originally planned. I also believe that it might just be good therapy for my essential tremors.

Some of the painted figures, along with clip on magnifying glasses.

A strip of figures in the clamp, freeing up my hands so I can use both hands to steady  the paint brush.

A clip on work light with a good LED bulb gives good lighting without straining the eyes.

The finished figures. They just have to be taken off the sticks and mounted on individual bases.

Kinder American Civil War General

 While looking for ACW figures, I came across a small lot of Kinder ACW figures, which included a general wearing a chapeau bras bicorne dress hat. The lot was bought, so now the Kinder troops have a well dressed general.

Painting Homecasts

    My wife and I went camping this weekend. At the last minute I took along some of my Kinder Homecasts and some paints, hoping to get some figures painted.  Some painting was done, unfortunately, in the end the paints weren't working for me.

   When we got home I started using some other paints to finish the figures. I must admit frustration; this time that my hands refused to cooperate, and shook, making the job of fine detailing a waste of time. The Zouaves are almost done, although there is some touch up needed on the faces and the uniforms. Hopefully I will get some more painting soon.

Some regular infantrymen. After starting on them, I decided to paint them as Irish Brigade figures.

 The Zouaves. The faces need more work ( the figure on the far right looks like he was shot in the forehead by a Minie ball).

More Kinder ACW and the First Homecasts

     I recently received another order of Kinder ACW figures. With this order I  would only be one figure shy of having all the Kinder ACW figures. Unfortunately the seller sent me a copy of a figure I already have, so instead of being one short, it's two figures.  While waiting for this new order, I ordered more RTV rubber for molds. I have already made two molds, with a third being made at this time.

    I also decided to try Humbrol enamel paints for my figures. Most of the colors that I was looking for were out of stock; however the paints that were available give me an idea of wither or not to change paints yet again. I will say that after opening one and finding the paint next to useless, it soured me to using them. However, at one time in the past I used them, and found they had a good shelf life compared to Testors enamels. Of course while laying awake, the thought of going back to hobby acrylics. I might paint a few of the new casting using the different paints, and then decide on which paints to use.

   When the new Kinder figures came in, while preparing for the photo shoot, the camera broke. The only way that it can be used right now is using one hand to hold the batteries in place, the other hand trying to line up the shot and push the button, without shaking the camera. Needless to say, most shots are useless.  

Homecasts of the Kinder Southern Zouave (master on the left).  The painted figure was painted using Humbrol paints.

The new figures, minus one, which is currently being used to make a new mold.

Kinder American Civil War Toy Soldiers

40mm Kinder ACW toy soldiers. I bought them with the idea of possible conversions.

 

Comparison of Kinder, Prince August, Zinn Brigade, and Britain's 40mm figures.

The Kinder recruits from the rear.

More Casting and 2 Wargames

         My wife has had to work Saturday nights recently. I try to get all my work done early to get some gaming in. This week, besides my usual work, there was a union meeting which I had to attend, which went on for 2 hours. It was also a beautiful day so Jerry got some extra playtime in. It was getting late and it looked like little gaming was going to get done.

         After my last casting session, I decided to order some new metal. In the past most metal has come from old home casts that I never used.  I ordered some low melt, easy pour metal. Hopefully this would solve some of the issues with the molds filling properly. It proved to be a wise investment. After the casting session, there were enough figures to complete one army of soldiers in tricorns, and enough for another 4 units. I have learned not to skimp on metal.

        I also got two wargames in, one using Peter Laing Turks vs Mamelukes, just because they are such good figures.  The second game, my new 2mm Irregular Miniatures ACW armies "Saw the Elephant". And speaking of "seeing the elephant", for this game the rules used were fromThe Stronghold Rebuilt and are called "See the Elephant". There are several interesting twists to these rules that make them a great little set of grid based rules. Perhaps the best is that cavalry has a range of two, and when adjacent to the enemy, still only get two dice. The reasoning for the range of two is that cavalry often dismounted and fought as skirmishers. And when closing with the enemy,  they don't seem to simulate a heavy cavalry charge. I really can't think of too many cavalry charges in the Civil War  against infantry, simply because a charge against rifle muskets could be suicidal. The rules are free and I strongly recommend that you at least give them a look.

Newly cast AWI figures.

Peter Laing Turks vs Mamelukes

Mamelukes won the battle

2mm ACW battle.

The good thing of battles at this size is the board can be picked up and turned so you can view  the battle from the playing general's side.

The left Confederate brigade stays on the "reverse slope" to avoid the Union artillery. The Confederate cavalry on the right is "dismounted" and is firing on the advancing infantry brigade.

The Union start pushing forward a 3rd brigade into the fight.

The Confederate cavalry has been pushed back.

The Rebels deploy an infantry brigade to protect the right flank. At the left of the picture another brigade is moving to reinforce the right.

The Confederate left moves forward to try to distract the Union general. The Rebel  brigade on the right  deploys and is facing two Yankee brigades.

The Union left brigades push forward. The right Union brigade moves off the ridge to engage the dismounted Confederate cavalry.

The Union left have caused 50% casualties to the Rebel brigade and it has been forced back.

The Union now orders forward all their units.

The Union brigade assaults the left ridge and breaks the last regiment holding  the ridge. The Confederates right collapses completely and the Rebels concede the field. (If the Confederates had won the initiative roll, they would have conceded the battle before they lost so many units. This would be important in a campaign.)

This game proved a most enjoyable game. I changed a few things from the rules, mainly I used Battle Cry dice instead of 6D dice that are use in the rules.