Wargame News; First the Good News...

   BORE WAR-NING!  Before going on vacation, I had ordered two Airfix molds from Germany; copies of old Schnieder cavalryman and horse molds. I also found Frying Pan and Blanket Amalgamated's address and sent for a list of their figures, and found on Ebay of 54 old Wargamer's Digest that I bought.

   The molds were to arrive the day we left on vacation. They didn't arrive.

      When we got back from vacation, the molds were in the mailbox, along with a week's work of mail and an infestation of ants mixed in the mail. First sign of the ants is when my wife pulled the mail out and screamed and threw the mail across the lawn. After sorting through the mail and clearing the ants off it, I found the return letter from Frying Pan & Blanket Amalgamated. The letter informed me that they no longer take orders. As I had decided to use these figures for my War of 1812 project, I found myself back to square one with that project. When I entered the house my magazines had arrived. My stepson had stopped by the house and found the box and  brought them in. Unfortunately, that week we had drenching rains, and the box sat outside during them. When I opened the box, the rain had soaked through the box and the seller had just put them in the box with no wrapping on them. I had to use the spare room as a drying room for the magazines that were soaked through, hoping that the magazines wouldn't turn to paper mâché.

  I was somewhat disappointed with the cavalryman mold, as it showed on the illustration that among the different heads were dragoon heads. However, instead there are several heads with late 19th century caps and no dragoon helmets. Also to put the plug heads on, I need to drill holes in the body, a tricky proposition for me with my shaky hands. Still, it might be a helpful mold in my 40mm projects.

    One plus is I got a copy of the first war-game magazine I every owned. I bought it new at the local hobby store. Unfortunately, I lost the magazine during different moves. I am looking forward to reading it again.

Wet magazines in the "drying room". Luckily the pages didn't stick together and they all seem readable.

The copy of the first wargame magazine I ever owned. One of the main reasons I bought the lot.

One reason I loved this particular magazine were the maps drawn for the article on Quatre Bras. When I got bored in school (which was often) I would draw up battles using the little slash regiments as shown in the photo.

After looking at the magazine, I now think that maybe these maps are why I like my 2mm block armies.

The Airfix illustration of the cavalry figure, and the actual casting.

In this picture, I have drilled out the plug hole and attached 2 lancer heads. They should be useful figures.

Wargaming the War of 1812

    Before I had access to the internet, for several years my main interest was the American War of 1812. Recently I read a biography of the American general, Jacob Brown. He was commander of the American army that invaded the Canadian side of the Niagara area in 1814. He was the most successful American general during the war, but is largely  forgotten today. Reading of the 1814 campaign has renewed my interest in the war.

    Right now my big decision is which figures will be used.

Some of the figures I'm thinking of using; 15mm Minifigs 1st generation British Napoleonics(for both sides), 15mm Heritage Napoleonics, 20mm Frying Pan and Blanket Amalgamated War of 1812 figures, and 40mm Homecast Prince August and Zinnbrigade figures.

Some of the figures I started painting for inspiration.

Two other options are using Old Glory 10mm or Historfigs N gauge Scrubys. These are some Old Glory Napoleonics that were painted for a different War of 1812 project that I was working on.

Old Glory British infantry painted as Americans for the above mentioned project.

A Zinnbride figure converted for use as a early American infantryman. I got the idea for this figure from Ross Macfarland's Battle of the Month blog. In one of his War of 1812 games, I saw such a converted figure and liked the pose.

Two Zinnbrigade conversions. The  painted Zinnbrigade figure was converted to a march attack  figure. The musket is simply a piece of garden wire. Besides deciding on figures, I'm thinking of different rules from the usual Battle Cry or C&C rules. My wife and I are going camping next week. I plan to bring several War of 1812 books to reread for inspiration. Hopefully at the end of the vacation I'll have a better idea of where this project is going.

New Figures

     I have made a couple of new purchases. One was a lot of Frying Pan & Blanket Amalgamated War of 1812 figures.  There are enough figures to make an American regiment from 1814, if you are using their rules' THE COMPLETE BRIGADIER. Also, there were 12 artillerymen and 9 British infantry. After seeing them I went looking for the War of 1812 Militia figures I have, without success. While looking for the militia, I did find my Minifigs 4.7 naval guns which I had lost. I wanted to use these guns with my Peter Laing figures.

   Another purchase I made was some 10mm plastic figures from a company by the name of Gordon & Hague. They are based figures already painted. They come painted and based already. each base is individually packaged. I did some research of the company. It seemed that after a couple of years in business, the company who molded the figures went out of business. G&H then planned to switch to 15mm plastic figures; however they went out of business. I was getting interested in these figures. However, when they were in business the price of single stands were quite high. In fact I bought 10 stands which with postage cost $2.00 per stand. When I opened them, one figure dropped off the base with no abuse on my part. I dare say that if I want to war-game ACW in 10mm, I will stick to Old Glory figures.

A Gordon & Hague artillery and Confederate militia stand.

An assembled and primed Minifigs 4.7 gun.

The 4.7 manned by Peter Laing figures.

Frying Pan & Blanket Amalgamated British War of 1812 Infantry.

FP&BA War of 1812 American command figures.

FP&BA War of 1812 American infantry.

FP&BA War of 1812 artillery

20mm The Complete Brigadier

          Like many war gamers, I tend to buy more figures than I ever use. I get a great idea for a project, go whole hog researching the wars and figures that cover that period. After buying samples from different companies, I'll decide which figures I like the most and then buy the needed forces.  Usually I'll be motivated to paint the armies, start planning the battles and find the rules to use. If I'm lucky I might get a couple of games in. In the meantime, while looking through the different lines of soldiers, I'll see figures than plant the seeds for my next project.  So now I have thousands of toy soldiers, the majority I have never used.

     Among the figures that I never used was 20mm Frying Pan & Blanket Amalgamated, LLP. Yes, that's the name of the company! The figures are manufactured to be used with their rules, called "The Complete Brigadier". The figures are based on early American wars, from the French and Indian War to the War of 1812.  They even have a line of Wayne's Legion.

    When you buy the rules, you get a good boxed set with two books, one an introduction to wargaming and the second, the "Complete Brigadier" rules for battles.  The books are nicely illustrated, with delightful drawing a'la "Little Wars" in the columns.

     The figures themselves come in boxed sets. The infantry sets are enough for a regiment using their rules. You get two officers, two flag bearers, two drummers, and 18 privates.  You also get stands to mount the figures on. As for cavalry, you get six horses, six riders, and six dismounted. For artillery, you get two guns, two limbers, and two horses. Artillerymen are separate. They also have pontoon wagons and supply wagons.

  I bought three different sets; Prussian Grenadiers, Prussian Fusiliers, and War of 1812 Militia.  Below are some samples of them. I had painted the Militia regiment and figured they would be good to show what they look like. Unfortunately, being militia, they must have gone home, as I can only find one flag bearer!

The Prussian Grenadiers, with a Hinton Hunt Pavlov officer for scale.

Prussian Fusilier officer, War of 1812 Militia flag bearer and Prussian Fusilier Flag bearer.

Airfix grenadier with figures for scale.

One of the boxes the figures came in.

The Complete Brigadier: Introduction to Wargaming.

The Complete Brigadier: Rules for Battles.

         I am wondering if these figures are still available. The only way was through the mail. There is no  website for the company itself.  For several years one of my interests was the War of 1812. I am starting to think that I would love to get some of their figures from this period.