About twenty years ago I used some Spanish Civil War figures to create two Hungarian infantry battalions suitable for use with Frank Chadwick's COMMAND DECISION rules. The figures were designed by the late Dave Allsop, and I converted some into gun crew.
These figures were loaned to another wargamer, who used them for several years before returning them to me. They were then put into a storage crate, which ended up in our garden shed. When the latter was demolished, the figures were moved into a new storage crate in my wargame/toy room. When I began my current renovation project, I decided to include some of these figures amongst the ones I was going to renovate, varnish, and re-base.
Because the original figures were rather dark and the colour of the boots and leather equipment was wrong (the latter were black and should be brown), I ended up having to almost completely re-paint the figures ... but I was very pleased with the end result.
They will now form part of my growing collection of Axis Eastern Front/Great Patriotic War figures.
These figures were loaned to another wargamer, who used them for several years before returning them to me. They were then put into a storage crate, which ended up in our garden shed. When the latter was demolished, the figures were moved into a new storage crate in my wargame/toy room. When I began my current renovation project, I decided to include some of these figures amongst the ones I was going to renovate, varnish, and re-base.
Because the original figures were rather dark and the colour of the boots and leather equipment was wrong (the latter were black and should be brown), I ended up having to almost completely re-paint the figures ... but I was very pleased with the end result.
They will now form part of my growing collection of Axis Eastern Front/Great Patriotic War figures.
Two points of interest for me here Bob:
ReplyDeleteFrank Chadwick Command Decision Rules which sadly seem to have moved onto the Wargaming Rules heap of obscurity .. I rated editions 1-3 highly, although having IV (Test of Battle) I have not played i yet but IMHO the new mechanisms seems to have been introduced in response to features of other rules systems (that were a commercial competitor) rather than a need. It was also a rule systems that seemed to be played in 20mm (originally) then pushed for 15mm (again for commercial reasons?) but probably played best in 1/300 or 1/200. I shall pause to remember a fallen brethren as it must be a decade plus since I have played them. I felt they found a goof representation for the battalion.
Secondly the Hunfarians, interesting to hear you went SCW to get troops that looked like them. I recently picked up some great 20mm or 1/72 HaT Hungarians in Winter Dress (Stalingrad)
http://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2181
I am also the proud owner of a IBG Hungarian Toldi tank but it was a fiddly little thing to put together:
https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2018/06/hungarian-toldi-tank-20mm.html
If I were a betting man I would say you have some Romanians too!
Geordie an Exile FoG,
DeleteI bought all three editions of the COMMAND DECISION rules plus the World War I version, which was entitles OVER THE TOP. I like the battles and mini-campaigns outlined in the latter, and I've often looked at the 'bathtub' BARBAROSSA campaign book for potential ideas for my own much-planned Eastern Front/Great Patriotic War campaign.
The World War II Hungarian uniforms were close enough to those worn by Regular Army units during the Spanish Civil War to be almost indistinguishable to all but the most ardent rivet counter. That, and the fact that they were all that was available at the time, made the choice obvious.
I also own a couple of model TOLDI tanks. Mine are basic resin models, but should look all right once they had a coat of paint. If not, I'll create a 'look alike' from stuff in my box of bits and pieces.
Do I have any Romanians? Funny you should ask that question ...
All the best,
Bob
Apologies for HaT read Stretlets .. my Romanians are HaT!
ReplyDeleteGeordie an Exile FoG,
DeleteNo need to apologise. They are both manufacturers of interesting ranges of figures.
All the best,
Bob
Hello BOB,
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be doing very well indeed on the re-basing / re-furbishing all your 20mm units...On another matter from a previous post- I followed your Link to try and read a little more about the '1871 Battle of Dorking'...looks very interesting and a great Project of 15mm / 20mm and a relatively small scale one at that- for the battlefield...provided you can find the necessary castings to paint up the British in Home Service uniforms and the Germans as well...wouldn't mind betting that someone has a go at doing The Battle of Dorking in 54mm with 'Toy Soldiers' - do like this sort of Colonial Fiction. Thanks for Posting. Regards. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI'm finding my renovation project very cathartic. Not having a deadline to meet means I can do a batch of figures whenever I feel like it.
If I was going to re-fight the Battle of Dorking with 54mm-scale figures, I'd break out my Prinz August moulds and make my own. The figure comes with optional Home Service helmets, and I could buy spare heads in picklehaubs from Irregular Miniatures to make the Germans.
All the best,
Bob
Nicely done, Bob. Love the shiny toy soldier look.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Chris.
Chris Kemp,
DeleteAs I get older, I have come to prefer the shiny, toy soldier look. It reminds me that they are toys and nothing more.
All the best,
Bob
All the best,
Bob
Welcome back old friends!
ReplyDeleteTim Gow,
DeleteThey've renovated rather well ... and I've still got some more to do.
All the best,
Bob