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| I really need to clean up my desk. Immediately behind are the start of B Company of the Ft Henry Regiment. |
Saturday, September 8, 2018
On the worktable
I've decided to bring the Rebel gun crews up to my old standard of an officer and 3 gunners for field guns. In this case it meant adding a rammer and a kneeling officer with glasses both of which were apparently available in Britain's original Confederate artillery sets.
The reversion to 4 man gun crews has given me a small poser. I used to base the gunners individually but these days I have been mounting 2 gunners on a base. I can fit 4 figures on a reasonable base if three stand behind the gun but both the kneeling officer and the rammer need to be off to the side so either I need a REALLY big base or I'll have to leave the officer separate. Its not an important question but I'm in the mood for consistency.
Born and raised in the suburbs of Montreal, 5 years in the Black Watch of Canada Cadets, 5 years at the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean followed by 4 in the navy. 25 years with CPC in IT simultaneous with 23 years running a boarding kennel. Inherited my love of toy soldiers from my mother's father. Married with a pack of Italian Greyhounds and 3 cats. Prematurely retired and enjoying leisure to game, maintaining our 160 yr old farmhouse and just living.
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Hmm, like the old Peter Gilder bases? (more or less) I don't need the angles on the grid but I shouldn't dismiss the idea without thinking about it.Thanks
ReplyDeleteI like the aesthetic of everything mounted to a base, but going to 4 crew does put pressure on that and awkward fixing by cramming is going to undermine the look anyway.
ReplyDeleteSo perhaps single based crew brings its own solution and then the benefits of being able to drop to a three man crew to represent casualties / a half battery or a low quality unit.
There is always something to be said for and against individual figures. I have realized though that a 4 figure crew is merely habit and I think I have a better solution.
DeleteReady to fire, well done Ross!
ReplyDeleteThanks, but almost ready perhaps.
DeleteI've always felt that artillery needed the flexibility of individual basing, otherwise it's quite a big footprint with the gun and all.
ReplyDeleteIt can be but at present I have one gun per 6" square grid regardless of how they are based. A change to that will need more guns!
DeleteIndividual basing does give lots of options for the future in case you change your mind about numbers in a gun crew. Too big a base would not look ok for me personally.
ReplyDeleteI'm experimenting with not keeping all of my options open, it a new approach for me.
DeleteI used to like the old Gilder artillery bases, but these days prefer individual artillery crew. Whatever you go for they look rather magnificent Ross.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee
DeleteI'd go with individual basing as well; although this would be case for sabot bases for the artillery. The way there's less to do the next time the standard changes...
ReplyDeleteI think gluing the 16thC figures down was been a big help in avoiding changes.
DeleteCertainly I would go for individual figures on a base even if the rest of thetroops are element based - unless, of course, the gun and crew themselves are a single element. The thing is, gun crews are around the gun, which does make multiple figure bases look awkward.
ReplyDeleteThey are a single element unlikely 20 years ago when the original armes were put together.
DeleteVery nice Figures Ross. Yes, in this scale individual bases seems logical and would probably look best and be most appropriate...I always think that a multiple base tends to suit the smaller figures ( such as 1/72nd)...Cheers. KEV.
ReplyDeleteMy first adult 54mm armies done 22 years ago were multi-based so its a habit I suppose.
DeleteVery cool, need to get some 54mm myself.
ReplyDeleteLots of good (and inexpensive) ranges of 54mm out there these days.
Deleteeverything works better with individual basing, combined with magnets and you have a system that gives precise definition of 'active' or 'casualty' forces.
ReplyDeleteGiven that you are working in 54mm, this makes each man a work of his own 'art'.
Not art, nostalgia. These are intended to look like old toys.
DeleteThose figures are magnificent - where do you get them from?
ReplyDeleteThree main sources: Homecast moulds, current reproductions and antiques which I am refurbishing. There are a few more recent production figures in the cavalry.
DeleteNo reason why the guy with the rammer can't go behind the gun to give you consistent basing!
ReplyDeleteJust bloody mindedness!
DeleteAtta boy, Ross! These look fantastic. If you do the officer as a separate entity you could also elect to use a mounted officer for a little variety.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention that Jerry, he could also command a pair of guns....
Delete