Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: PeteW on January 08, 2023, 10:10:43 AM
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..and so the first figures of my 2023 project are complete. This will be Union and Confederate armies for the Sharp Practice rules - so 50-60 figures each side. I expect to mainly use Perry figures for this.
(https://i.imgur.com/2WRT8dM.jpg)
Sabot trays awaited before I can base
(https://i.imgur.com/22pr2bO.jpg)
Test figure to narrow down paint selection
(https://i.imgur.com/n2lNiL8.jpg)
The production line, six at a time, which is a pain given the ACW units are generally 8 strong.
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They look really nice!
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Great start chap, look forward to seeing further progress
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They do look nice. I too look forward to seeing more!
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Cracking start 8)
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I may be wrong but isnt Terrible Sharp Sword from TFL, the ACW version of Sharp Practice ?
Are those rules worth investing I wonder, or have I picked up the wrong end of the sword ?
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Looking good! 👍
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Cheers all, the production line is gearing up, so hopefully new figures will be flowing shortly
I may be wrong but isnt Terrible Sharp Sword from TFL, the ACW version of Sharp Practice ?
Are those rules worth investing I wonder, or have I picked up the wrong end of the sword ?
I believe Terrible Sharp Sword was designed for the original Sharp Practice rules, which I've never read, whereas the currrent SP rules (SP2) include everything that is required for the ACW, along with several other periods and so i assume are more self contained than the original rules.
The Lardie website has this to say
Terrible Sharp Sword is a supplement which was produced for the first edition of Sharp Practice, covering the American Civil War with a complete list of rule amendments that allow you to recreate this heroic and desperate struggle on the tabletop.
In addition to the complete rule changes for the Civil War Terrible Sharp Sword includes a complete campaign system, allowing you to recruit your force, appoint officers and NCOs, equip and train them then take to the field. A range of scenarios and tabletop maps allows you to fight your war, to develop your men’s skills and your leaders’ abilities, to take your force from being greenhorns through to veterans and beyond.
PLEASE NOTE: This PDF supplement was for the first edition of Sharp Practice. It still contains lots of great games which can be converted with a little effort using the new unit Rosters in the main rules. Some of the ideas and mechanisms in this supplement have been superceded by the latest edition of the rules
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Ok, many thanks on the clarification.
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Great start to the year; great painting.
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The Perry drum was a little heavy around the detail and so falling into the category of " it seemed like a good idea at the time " a scratch built drum. Aluminium tube, cooper wire, with a bit of lead foil thrown in for good measure
(https://i.imgur.com/KjCKcOT.jpg)
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There's no kill like overkill!
Great looking drum.
: 3
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Nice!
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Wow! 😳
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The infantry are superb, but the drum is absolutely FANTASTIC!
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great stuff
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The descent into madness continues, with a third scratch built drum. This time I have left the tension rope off so I can paint it first. I'll let this dry before varnishing and will then add the rope.
(https://i.imgur.com/grks3BR.jpg)
In other news all the line infantry from the Perry's box have been cleaned up, have arms attached and are monuted on pennies for their use in the sabot trays. Primer next and then wholesale painting can commence.
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Not madness, one can never fault that level of attention to detail.
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Wow! Very nice drum!
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Cheers gents for the kind words
...and the finished drum. I'll add the sling straps once its fully fixed to the figure and likely give it a satin varnish to give it some life. Predictably I screwed up fixing the ropes so the tension straps are at the top and not the bottom as they should. But calling this good enough for Government Work !
(https://i.imgur.com/gGQU8fu.jpg)
Level 2 leader up next - not easy to see but I've carved a sash into the body below the belt, added a little green stuff and sword sling. These details will be more apparent once painted.
(https://i.imgur.com/DbsNAoO.jpg)
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Mental :o
But in a good way of course 8)
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I'm loving the details you are adding - looking forward to more :)
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While working on the mass of the Sharp Practice Union force I couldn't help completing a few characters. Here is my level 2 leader - Perry's plastic figure with a couple of added details.
(https://i.imgur.com/kFEGKTG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/09LnQqw.jpg)
For ease of play my rule of thumb will be all level3 or greater leaders will be mounted on horseback,
all level 2 leaders will be officers on foot,
and all level one leaders will be NCO's.
All to be mounted on their own sabot. I just need to find a way to include the respective leader number in an attractive way.
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Great work all around. I really like the blues you are using on the Union uniforms. In my experience it is hard to get an accurate dark blue that still had some depth to it.
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What about poultry? You can get 28 mm chickens and have the number of hens equal the leader number. Perhaps switch to another animal over 5? Eg 1 sheep is 6, two sheep 7, etc.
Cannonballs would be a martial alternative. Or simply discarded detritous, eg water bottles, hats, muskets, swords, etc.
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Colour Party complete - while this is a level 3 support team who can resist their colour and spectacle
(https://i.imgur.com/xzMVKyq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PaQb3MF.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1mjxHlU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/B7YjeaC.jpg)
Great work all around. I really like the blues you are using on the Union uniforms. In my experience it is hard to get an accurate dark blue that still had some depth to it.
Cheers - base colour is Dark Prussian Blue mixed with Black. Shaded with black, highlights a light dry brush of Oxford Blue. Seems to work quite well, and is quick to do.
What about poultry?.......
I'm thinking something simpler, using numbers most likely, just trying to find the way to help them blend in best.
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Fantastic work! A command stand to be proud of!
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Cheers MG
The first eight man group all complete and based on their sabot tray. Very pleased with the result. Four more groups well underway and so time to order the final figures I need to get the force fully up to strength.
(https://i.imgur.com/2A98Ap4.jpg)
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Those look great! Well done!
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Looking good! Very sharp! 🇺🇸
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I'm thinking something simpler, using numbers most likely, just trying to find the way to help them blend in best.
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Lovely painting by the way.
My, admittedly limited, experience with Sharpe practice is that the leaders are usually remembered with the number only really being required for confirmation. Obvious numbers would detract from the spectacle - there already enough shock markers littering up the place. If you make your own tokens then could you do away with numbers entirely? So have tokens in the bag with a picture of the base? Eg abandoned drum, rifles, barrels, livestock, small shrub, flower bed, cabbage patch, camp bed, aide de camp, horse holder, etc, etc.
Other alternative is just write them on the underside of the base.
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(https://i.imgur.com/CBhieY4.jpg)
...experience with Sharpe practice is that the leaders are usually remembered with the number only really being required for confirmation....
Plan at the moment is to have level 3 leaders or higher mounted on horse back, level 2 to be infantry officers on foot, and level one to be NCOs, so i just need a way to differentiate when there is more than one type in play. I'm favouring the method used by Tactical Painter at the moment with numbered sabots - but we will see.
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Nicely done and those drums! :-*
We used to give all our Sharp Practice 2 officers Carry On film character names and found that we never forgot who was who! Sid James characters were generally top tier command.
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Loving your figures and units. Well done again!
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cheers guys . Good progress made with 39 figures completed in the last month - a first for me I think.
(https://i.imgur.com/Z51DLfs.jpg)
Drummer is now complete with his scratch built drum, and 4 core groups.
(https://i.imgur.com/54TDFxV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/OC8yk3E.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gjWSr0n.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fIH884c.jpg)
I have 6 skirmishers and 2 NCO's to construct and paint, but have otherwise completed all the figures I initially ordered. I need one more 8 figure group and a level 3 leader to be up to strength and then to start putting together the remaining support units I'm likely to want.
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I like the progress you've made. Well done!
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Cpl's Wavely Waverley, and Manley Pointer ready for action
(https://i.imgur.com/69mDstZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0PL9dF4.jpg)
Both to be level one leaders.
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Oh, I've seen these two over on Facebook. :) Very cool.