First foray into the American Revolution Updated 19 09 25

[has.been]

very pretty. Hope you enjoy the games.

[sepoy1857]

Wow! Very nice painting.

[CapnJim]

You've done the terrain and troops justice there.  Well done!

[TacticalPainter]

Nice to do all the painting and terrain but nothing beats getting it all on the table and playing a game. My regular opponent Dave has created a campaign for Sharp Practice loosely set during the 1776 New York campaign. It takes place over five tables and we played the first game this week. I'm controlling the rebels while Dave takes the British.

Sharp Practice games always unfold with a good narrative and that makes it a lot easier to work it into a game report and I enjoyed putting this together. You can find the full game report here:

https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/10/ill-take-manhattan-campaign-scenario-1.html

[Grumpy Gnome]

That looks great! Sounds like a fun campaign.

[TacticalPainter]

The next game in the campaign will need a barn, a piece of terrain I'm yet to add to my 28mm collection (plenty in the 20mm collection, but a bit small). Rather than work from an existing MDF model as I have with my other buildings I decided this was straightforward enough that I should try to scratch build one instead. I know, a bit old school in this day and age, what with laser cut MDF and 3D printing, nonetheless for those interested I've put together a step-by-step tutorial on how I did it that you can find here https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/10/scratchbuilding-28mm-wooden-barn.html

The shape is made from foam core:



The wooden planks were made from coffee stirrers (bought from a craft store.....I've got better things to do than grab handfuls from the nearest Starbucks):



Here's the finished result:

[levied troop]

That’s a masterful bit of building, it looks great.

[TacticalPainter]

The next scenario in our Sharp Practice campaign requires a bridge, something I don't have in my 28mm terrain collection. Given how happy I was with the way the coffee stirrers worked for the barn I thought I'd have a go at scratch building a simple wooden bridge using the same technique as I did for the barn.

I gave some thought to putting a rail on the bridge but I thought I'd keep it simple and it would also allow the bridge to work in 20mm for my second world war games in Burma or Russia:



As it is it works just fine for the AWI in 28mm:



But it would also pass muster for somewhere like Burma in 20mm:



I used the same painting technique as I did for the barn to give a similar result:





We played the scenario yesterday and the bridge was centre stage:



I'll work on the report for the game and hopefully post it in a few days time.

[CapnJim]

Hmm.  I was not aware that the British in the AWI has armor.  That's not Hoyle....but it reminds me of the 2014 200th anniversary reenactment of the War of 1812 Battle of Chippewa.  As the armies were forming up for the battle, a British WW2 Lancaster bomber flew over behind the British lines.  Who knew?   

Seriously, folks, well done again!  Nice figs AND terrain...

[TacticalPainter]

Hmm.  I was not aware that the British in the AWI has armor........Who knew?   

Ha, they don't need armour, they have the light dragoons. Ask my militia :-(

[has.been]

Good decision to leave off the handrail (bridge). It will also
stop the silly sight of big based troops galloping along the
top of the railings.

[CapnJim]

Ha, they don't need armour, they have the light dragoons. Ask my militia :-(

I see.  The battle report ought to be interesting then...

[TacticalPainter]

This is the second game in the campaign, Engagement 2: Miller's Crossing. The British suffered an embarrassing defeat in the first game and they were keen to take their revenge on the rebels and restore British prestige. Could the Americans repeat their performance and drive back the British again? The full AAR is here:

https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/11/ill-take-manhattan-campaign-engagement.html

[vtsaogames]

Great stuff! Fabulous terrain and excellent figures. Thanks for the report.

[CapnJim]

Great report.  I see what you mean about the dragoons!  Ugh...