From RayR: Retreat from Moscow - North Star, 24th Legere (35 points)

Surprise Surprise! Here's more figures for my and Lee's  Retreat from Moscow project. 

These poor chilly souls are painted up to represent a detachment of the French 24th Legere, who fought in Ney's Third Army, 10th Division (Ledru), in Gengoult's Brigade. But in all honesty they could be from any French light infantry unit.

In Sharpe Practice, skirmish units are usually in 6 man units. The figures are from the great range of figures made by North Star for the Muskets & Tomahawks ruleset, which I bought as a set. I've included a commander, once again from North Star's range.

I hope more figures will be added to this great looking range........not that I actually need anymore figures???

But who am I kidding!

Once again I've included their very own base, which I painted up before the Challenge, when we found out no terrain items were allowed this time round.

I'm hoping to add another post later today, if I can get the figures finished?????

Onto the points, nice and easy...

7 figures at 5pts each = 35 pts

TeemuL: I have said this before, but I believe this is a fine example of this Challenge, you and Lee working together for a common target side by side. I'm sure the Challenge itself is a great source of inspiration, but your side duel lifts it to the next level. Talk about the positive peer pressure!

I like these models, too, I have bought something from this range in the past and have been happy. Your brushwork and frosty finish does them justice. Let's see if you finish a second post.

From KenR: 28mm Napoleonic French Artillery (120 points)

I've got three Project trains running side by side this year and it's Napoleonics time again, I'm alternating French / Prussian etc so here are the next reinforcements for my French Plancenoit build.

This represents a Battery of 3 x 6pdr guns plus a Howitzer which was attached to the Young Guard Brigade I am building. It consists of 16 figures with 4 to a gun on a 60 x 90 base. I was keen to keep base frontages consistent throughout this project and depth was just what looked right.

The figures are from Elite Miniatures and are sold as a Battery in one pack. For those who follow Yarkshire Gamer you will know that this has been a bit of a nostalgia dive for me, I painted a load of these for the Wargames Holiday Centre back in the day and after 25 plus years without doing any it was like putting on an old pair of slippers. I love em.

Points wise, 16 x 28mm figs at 5pts each make 80, plus 4 Artillery pieces at 10 each give me a grand total of 120 points.

These are getting posted on Saturday for the next Thursday so I would expect at least another ship before then. I'm working on some Spanish Heavy Cavalry for the Italian Wars at present whilst the next Napoleonics will be Prussian Landwehr.

TeemuL: I like your big ships, but I like these 28mm minis even more. Strong colours and neat finish is a strong combination. I also pay attention to your bases, it seems that is somekind of idea how the ground actually looks like and not just gluing random tufts here and there (and mostly trying to hide something...). Good job, and we will meet again today!

Third Thursday Things of Interest

Topic of today is quite an important thing, the Independece of Finland.

After the Finnish War 1808-09 (part of the Napoleonic wars) Grand Duchy of Finland was an autonomous part of Russia. Finns were not entirely happy with their situation and there were ideas of independence every now and then. The culmination was the World War 1 and Russian Revolution, which after several twists and turns lead to the declaration of independence on 6th of December 1917. First countries to recognize the independece were Russian Soviet Federation (led by Vladimir Lenin), France, Sweden and German Empire Janury 4th 1918. German Empire was involved in the independence process, mainly opposing Russia.

As I wrote, there were no war for independence, but it was a long process and political parties were not in consensus how to proceed. The nation was divided in two parties, especially after the independence usually called Whites and Reds. Whites were the official representativies of Finland, usually richer, upper class and more or less supported by Germans, while the Reds were the common folk, poorer, lower class and supported by Soviet Russia. Shortly after the declaration the government was not strong enough and a civil war was started, brother fighting brother. The war has many names, Red Rebellion, Civil War, Freedom War, Events of 1918 and so on, depending how objective or subjective you are/were and on which side you were.

The sides were quite equal, 80 000 to 90 000 on each side, but German support was stronger than Russian and after four bloody months the Whites won. Roughly 36 000 died or went missing in total, over 13 000 died on prison camps and almost 10 000 were executed. Both sides were quilty on many crimes and the nation was strongly divided for a long time, several decades in fact. Only recently (100 years later) there has been more open and objective discussion and research on this very sensitive subject. Future president C.G.E. Mannerheim was the commander of White army, having gained experience in Imperial Russian Army in Russo-Japanese War and on Eastern Front of WW1.

How all this affected World War 2 and Winter War, please return next week!

The Maiden of Finland and the blue and white flag (1906)

--- In Other News ---

Again there are some posts from terrific Thursday group and again most of the snow has melted. And my nine year old son made a monthly visit to the local library yesterday and got himself of children's storybook (perfectly suitable for his age) and a book titled "World War I" (I translated the title for you). I hope I have some meaningful discussions in the near future... :)