Wrapping it up for Lorenzo - AHPC14 - a great challenge!

Well back in December 2023 as I mulled over whether to join some online painting sessions I went and joined two at the same time, having never done these before. No regrets though. My painting capacity was stretched so that was a good thing and in more ways than I thought - I had assumed it would be just volume or rate. First up - the other event - Dave Stones "Paint what you've got" was meant for my existing paint queue. Well I managed just two lots - for 1848 - Pickelhaube Prussians and some Danish Volunteer Kepi Cavalry. I have been a bit naughty and slipped the Volunteer Cavalry into the "Final Collection picture". Its just a shameless plug for the the First Schlieswig Holstein War (which started on 24th March 1848). Hopefully Curt and my minion Sylvain will forgive me. Turning to Sylvain I must say a big thank you for his Musee des Fossilles backdrop to our Monday Crew. And I have really enjoyed discovering AHPC. Thanks to the Monday crew and all the comments people kindly left for me. The big story for my AHPC14 was I encountered the library challenge. This completely derailed my 1848 army painting plan. So the Lancers, Hussars, Cuirassiars, Dragoons, and more Artillery remained in the paint queue. In the event I managed..... 8 Danish Riflemen 8 Schlieswig Holstein Chassuers 12 Danish Guard Infantry 1 Danish Artillery piece I am happy with that, not to mention that at least another 5 units have now been started. Now back to the library challenge - this was fascinating - I got lost there. Which is at it should be. I then descended into fantasy courtesy of Doncaster Christmas Toy Fair. A venerable 1980's Games Workshop Cyclops was found hiding unloved at the back of one trade stand, who along with a Partizan freebie Empress Matilda 1140's era, made up my first non 1848 entries. Second up was a reconnaisance Spitfire from 1939 in "Camo Mint". A five quid snip at the same toy fair. I had then envisaged doing pink and then blue versions but I simply took too long on other entries that now demanded my attention. Suddenly Nissen Huts invaded my mind - apparently my first library trip was to one in a Nissen Hut. So this hut took a lot of time as it was built from scratch including the whole idea generation - Truly out of the blue: However it was the "more satisfying" for that creativity moment. Then another Partizan Freebie took my eye in the great figure heap - General Sikorski. He was duly painted up and some more DIY gave him a suitable plinth. Then it was back to 1848 with some Schlieswig Holstein Chasseurs. To complete the challenge I offered up a "figure bashed" sci fi character (magazine freebie ww2 german + bits and bobs) plus another toy fair bargain (1/32 ww2 soldier) who morphed into a cute monster - idea courtesy of the Wargaming Pastor. And last but not least was Noggin the Nog in 28mm from the little soldier company. Next here are some pictures.

As you can see a nice varied collection and Noggin the Nog sends his apologies but he is already gifted to my friend who suffers from dementia and was just delighted with him. It simply remains for me to thank everyone from Curt, organisers and minions right down to anyone who painted and presented - I really enjoyed this challenge both through my contribution and seeing what others created. thank you!

From Lorenzo: 1st Schlieswig Holstein War - Rebel Chasseurs plus History (68 points)

Next up I have completed some more of my forces for the 1st Schlieswig Holstein War. This time they are the Rebels - these were the German speaking people living in Schlieswig Holstein that was ruled by the Danish Monarchy as a Duchy. With two parties claiming ownership, against a background of mass european unrest, war ensued. 1848 was a decisive year for Europe as a whole.

When the war started no one was quite ready so the rebels who were supported by members of the German Confederation acquired some uniforms from the member states. This was important as their own supplies were of course the same colour as their opponents.

These Chasseurs are equipped in part with German style uniforms. This shako was only adopted by Prussia in 1854 for its own Jaeger. Notably they seem to have acquired some old Hanoverian British style water bottles! The figures are British Crimean Light Infantry by Strelets and are in their chunkier style. Like many 1/72 plastics which can vary from 20mm to 26mm! they always look better painted. I used basic vallejo acrylics along with some citadel contrasts on the brass fittings as a trial which i like and will probably try again. Notable with this war was the use of cockades - these figures sport both the rebels blue white and red cockade and the yellow/gold, black and red cockade of the German Confederation. One of the wargamer benefits of an unplanned rebellion is that standing instructions on equipment might not be honoured. This gives the painter freedom which is just as well because there are no complete ranges in any scale for the 1st (1848) or 2nd wars (1864). Which brings me to books. As the theme is libraries I thought I would dwell on the books I have found useful in my hunt for wargaming ideas about the Schlieswig Holstein Wars. First up has to be Ralph Weavers Partizan Historical Guide No9 "The Armies of the First Schlieswig Holstein War 1848-1851". This is most definitely the place to start. The guide gives brief details about the history before devoting most of the book to the armies along with some potted campaign sections.

I have found it an excellent and inspiring book. The bibliography shows the limitations of the print sources - but given many are German and Danish this guide as firmly anchored in my view. Another partizan guide called Uniformology No9 (again) covers the broader armies of 1848 European Revolutions. It does help give another flavour of the German confederation uniforms. Recommended.

Finally for 1848 Nick Svendsen published through Helion "the first Schlieswig Holstein war 1848-1850". This is an excellent all round history of the conflict as a military event. It covers the course of the war, the generals, the navies and armies as well as operations. It includes a good selection of old prints alongside new uniform illustrations which compliment those of the two other books. If you need more then the web has quite a bit on the naval side of things if you just search "first Schlieswig Holstein war". Finally for the 2nd war, where the Confederacy defeated the Danes in 1864, there are a lot more books available and often the war is covered in Franco Prussian (1870/71) and Austro Prussian (1866) war histories as they followed soon after: Plus Bismarck and Molke cut their teeth on the Danes, honing their political and logistical capabilities to make effective war.

Taking the library theme just a step further here is a book recommendation. I have found that reading about 1848 revolutions and rebellions reinforces the point that history for most people is quite stereotyped with constantly promoted themes. So finally I would recommend anyone looking for something different about the English or rather British Civil Wars can do no worse than read Anna Keay's the "Restless Republic". Straight off it is not a book about the wars as such but what followed them. That said I found it a really fascinating read. It is published by William Collins. Here is my map so far

Finally I reckon I have met the history task so claim 20 points plus the 12 figures at 4 points each. Grand Total 68 points. 

Sylvain: I am impressed by all the books you are referencing. The bonus location of the library you are claiming is supposed to be about "local history", but you are so passionate about the subject that I feel that you made it part of yourself. Your work on the uniforms is detailed and colorful. This is a great submission!