From DavidB: Rogers' Rangers (60points)

 what-cha goin' do PL

Alas, I have been busy this new year with lots of family and professional tasks. I did manage to complete another unit for my French and Indian War project. These are Rogers' Rangers and probably the most (in)famous unit of the war. Maj Robert Rogers was a commoner and raised by colonist parents who had a farm in what is now New Hampshire.  He was raised in the forests and at the time he was raised near first nations. He was very astute in diplomacy with first nations and issues on the ground with the colonies. He was well versed in fighting and traveling the forests and streams. When he initially joined the British effort he was disappointed by British use of locals. In the French and Indian War, provincial militias were used as fodder and disregarded as inept. The British Regiments relied on first nation scouts, and the grenadier and light infantry components for skirmishes and scouting. Rogers codified light infantry with the principles of patrolling and and the 28 Rules of Ranging. He recruited frontier men and trained them. He paid for their uniforms and wages when the crown would not. He attacked from places the French wouldn't expect such as miles long marches through swamps in late autumn and early winter. Moving through places deemed impassable. He would win fame and fortune and lose it all once being imprisoned as a debtor before escaping. If he wasn't defending himself against enemies in court he probably would have fought for the Americans in the Revolution. General Gage didn't trust him and had him removed as Governor of what is now Michigan.  Instead he had settled in Nova Scotia and raised more Ranger companies on his land replete with a ranger training area and target ranges, his brother assumed control and reportedly the site and training area exists today. Although he remained loyal and many of his exploits have been named lies by detractors, the price of the bounty placed on him by the French seem that those exploits are more than likely true. The exploits of the Rangers were certainly extraordinary. Also the fact that the 28 Rules of Ranging and principles of patrolling are Bible for the US Army Rangers. The modern ranger will out march, out fight, and outlast any force on the planet and for the American  Military,  Rangers are the QRF for tier one special operations. 

Like the French Marines, the Rangers are not uniformly equipped.

The caps they wore did have a bill that could be bent down to shield the eyes for precision shooting. Rangers could form up in line formation, but excelled in small  two to eight man teams. In buddy pairs one would not fire his firelock unless his partner was reloaded. Buddy pairs were the smallest of the fire-teams and emphasized covering each other with movements practiced for hunting and evading enemy forces.

12 models and Warlord gave me one repeat out of a range that has dozens of individual sculpts. .

Some flash as these are easily a decade old, but the sculpting and mix of gear is very good.

The fellow 2nd from the left above does have his bill lowered on his cap shading his eyes.

And Rogers himself with his wolf hound companion. Unless the breed changed that is. Warlord used colored woodcuts and early artwork for the uniforms and rarely did early artists show dogs and horses properly. I painted his dog wolf like as the sculpt and painting guide dictated. I did not paint the gaiters as blue felt ones. The Rangers would have used waterproof leather ones for the protection from the briers and brambles as well as the soaking the legs would get from swamps and rivers. I would not want to imagine how soggy your pretty blue felt gaiters would be after a three day March through Michigan Cedar swamps...sounds way too uncomfortable and a quick way to frostbite.

There was actual bead and tassel work on his satchel and medicine bags and the Rangers themselves are equipped with all sorts of blades, tomahawks, pistols, and proper Ranging gear.

These are the grandfather's of American Rangers and besides the French Marines they excelled at the skirmish nature of warfare in North America.  Many of the FIW veterans formed Ranger companies in the Revolution and even fought against Rogers Rangers that were now Canadian. I would argue that many of Rogers deeds were because of his tenacity and the friendships and allies he made with the rangers. I would not be surprised to learn that rangers from British and American sides aided in his escape from prison. Although Rogers did achieve the rank of Colonel, he was reduced to Major during many of his legal issues.

12 Rangers  for 60 points!

Good looking Rangers here David and a great history lesson too! I was unfamiliar with the "28 Rules of Ranging" so I appreciated learning about Maj Rogers' contribution to military learning. Nice sculpts from Warlord Games here and I really like that you painted the Major and his feline companion in this group of models, they all look great.

Sixty points added!

Dallas

From DaveB: Happy New Year! History with Compagnie Franches de la Marine (120 points)

  Epic holiday music

Greetings all! It is wonderful to be back in AHPC and it has been an eventful year. I received my 20 year letter which means my military service is set to expire in the next 18 months or Nov2024. No more deployments for the Old Man unless things get really bad. I have been ordered to not run anymore and I can only kick in two more doors....meniscus linings do not heal it turns out. On a side note, bicycle riding is a torturous exercise that derives grand amusement from my kids as I ride. They are all doing exceedingly well and are all living their own lives now and forcing me to travel all over Michigan to see them during holiday times.

I have scored many bits of hobby goodies (some in the picture below), but this post is all about my passion project of the French and Indian War, or the Seven Years War, or Queen Annes War, or as I like to say World War the prequel. When Europe erupted, all the colonies followed suit which did make it a global war with some places being more grand battles and others skirmishes. Since art school in the 1990s, I have been sketching and building notes on the forces involved in the North American Theater.

I have already painted several tribes and being native myself; Algonquin, Pottawatomie, Ottawa, and Iroquois have all been painted. At Adepticon, I received a parcel of Anglo troops to be ambushed in the American woods. Above is a very dapper Lieutenant of a Compagnie Franches de la Marine. I decided the Junior Officer( he does look a touch like the Snow Lord hence Lt Campbell) was an excellent choice to lead these fellows out as he does look very hirsute stylish in navy blue with the saber and scarlet sash. his fire-lock has been adorned in feathers from his native friends. He is wearing suitable forest attire in some leather gaiters to protect him from the briers and brambles. He has all kinds of equipment and knives on his belt and pouches as his theater of operations would be far ranging. Although French military, he is pure Canadian. The French Marines were organized into companies under a Captain and were made of local people with some being from France but most were settlers and residents of the colonies and were experienced woodsmen, trappers, and hunters. These men came from every European Nation. The officers were Canadian as they came from wealthy Canadian Families.  The French had a better handle on North America than the British. The French treated the first nations and colonists as equal partners especially in military operations. The French Marines punched well above their weight as they were primarily skirmishers and used the forests and terrain to their advantages, but were still drilled in line warfare and could form up with the French regulars in line formations. The French Marines were Canadian Milita and very good at what they did.

more on the desk including HH models freshly built

I used speed paints to block them in then worked Citadel and army painter acrylic paints to punch up the colors and highlights.

These are all warlord games metal models and did have some flash, but i really like the faces and animation on them

The gunsacks, leggings, gaiters, blanket coats and capotes.

They are milita and although they had some uniforms mostly they wore gear they would have been comfortable in and would help them, hoods are favored in the northern forests.

They have many styles of hats including the popular sleeve caps from recycled uniform coats. Anchors and company insignia would be sewn on them or brass plaques.

The officer cadre with the good captain flanked by his juniors being Mr Campbell and a Metis. 

I really liked the faces on these miniatures but the hands on them are like flattened sausages

So many wonderful poses and of the 20 troops I had no duplicate figures

I intend to use them in Black Powder, Muskets and Tomahawks, and Longrifles.

Silver bayonet is coming to North America and a few of these guys could find their way into those games as well.

just look at that magnificent ginger 'stashe

20 French Marines preparing to split of into fireteams

100 points plus 20 points for history!

___________________________________

It's fab having you back with us in the Challenge, Dave. Welcome!

It's great to hear that you and your family are all doing well and that you're adjusting the best you can to Civvy Street. I always enjoy your entries that have a connection to your Indigenous heritage. These French Canadians look terrific (especially that officer with the impressive whiskers), and seem more than ready to school their Anglo adversaries in the fine art of woodland warfare. More please! :)

Well done and a Happy New Year!

- Curt

From AndrewB: French Marines- Battle of Snowshoes(50pts)

I missed posting this earlier in the week, but here we are. I’m proud to finally have finished and brought to you the Compagnies Franches de la Marine from Footsore’s Savage Frontier Kickstarter, sold in the US by Special Artizan Services Miniatures!  

There are eight figures individually based, as well as the ‘objective’ team with a wounded man on a toboggan with a comrade walking alongside.  They’re full of character, sculpted in metal, and pretty painless to assemble and paint.  

One of the most challenging parts of this paint job is the overwhelmingly white wool nature of these guy’s clothing, while also understanding how filthy wool can rapidly become. Luckily, a local re-enacting group portrays another unit of this French half-marine force, and speaking with and seeing those fine men was incredibly helpful   The sheer overwhelming amount of off-white wool or canvas was more difficult to portray. Ultimately, these guys will be hard playing miniatures, and won’t disappoint!  

The improvised and slapdash nature of these troops makes me super happy, and I’m excited to get the trappers, British, and Indians completed so a large skirmish can take place for control of a blockhouse or somesuch in the northern colonies.  Keep checking for progress!  

This group should net me 50pts for 10 28mm figures! More next week!

From TeemuL: These do look nice, the white wool surely was painful to paint. The blue works good, a nice contrast. I like the basing, too, looks very nice.

From ScottM: LV-426 Monsters, Critters & Indians (140 pts)

My second stop in the Middle Ring is at LV-426, the Alien world. For this location I went with a medley of monsters that would easily fit in to any alien world setting. First up is a pair of 28mm plastic Gricks from Wizkids' Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures D&D range.

Next up is a pair of Flumphs from the same range as the Gricks. These two definitely have an 'alien' feel to them.

And finally is a lone Magmite. This 28mm metal fig is from Northstar Military Figures Frostgrave range.

And finally a size comparison shot with a 28mm Stargrave Medic.

Also to add to this post, I completed a box of Warlord Games Woodland Indians from their French and Indian War range.

So that should be:

• 24 - 28mm foot figs = 120 points
• 1 location (LV-426) = 20 points

Total = 140 points

From Millsy:

What a cracking collection of nasty space bugs Scott! I love all of them but the Magmite in particular is very cool indeed. I can almost feel the heat coming off him in waves. Every time I see a collection like this it makes me want to add to my own.

Nice take on the FIW figures too mate. I'm always impressed by people who can paint convincing skin tones outside the Caucasian space and tones with red in them are amongst the hardest I think. Awesome brushwork indeed.

PS. Now THAT'S how you label a post! Well done that man, carry on.

Cheers,

Millsy

From ChristopherS -28mm Settlers Defending (45pts.)

My first post of  the challenge is some skirmishing settlers for my French and Indian War collection which has continued to grow over the years, but has yet to see the battlefield which I plan to rectify this year. I suppose the delay has been I wanted to have the right amount before hitting the table ad hoc.

I think ever since I'd seen Last Of the Mohicans(1992) those many moons ago I was hooked with the period . The absolutely fascinating mix of Frontiersmen, regular infantry, Indians, settlers, militia creates a dynamic that gives many different opportunities of gaming from formal battles to bitter skirmishing all in different weather conditions and challenging terrain to navigate like spots of open fields mixed in with dense woods for example.

As for figures one is pretty spoiled for choice as most mainline producers carry a range of figures with some companies dedicated to the period itself. As for myself I went with Galloping Major and Redoubt miniatures as I find both quite painter friendly and packing tons of character.

The paints I used were my go to Foundry range which is my preference for anything Horse and Musket and earlier as I like the strong bold colors they produce. I also use some Vallejo paints which are great as well. The stones and such get a dusting of Mig pigments for some weathering.

I also painted up a preacher to help keep the spirits of the fighting men up and is a useful support option when playing Sharp Practice. I noticed I was short a supporting non commissioned officer for my French Compagnies Franches de la Marine so painted one of those up as well.

So that's 7 settlers, 1 preacher and 1 French Marine all 28mm should give me 45 points.

Thanks for viewing!

Miniature Company- Galloping Major, Redoubt Miniature

Great to see you back at the Challenge Christopher. Lovely work on these FIW figures.  There are some really nice shading effects and great basing.  I have to say that I also really like the cabins in the background, what is the source?