From AlanD - Prussian Landwehr (180 points)

Seeking to bulk up my 1813 Prussian army for Leipzig in 1813, I needed some Landwehr. The best figures are undoubtedly Calpe, but they are very expensive. The Warlord figures are disappointing, particularly with their comically enlarged hands. HaT figures have recently started a new foray into 28mm with a rerelease of Landwehr, Their previous attempt to get into the market suffered from figures that were underscale compared to most of the other manufacturers out there, but a couple of months ago they released two boxes of Landwehr marching and Landwehr skirmishing, and they have managed to match the scale of Warlord almost perfectly.

For this entry, I have painted the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Silesian Landwehr Regiment, using a mix of Warlord plastics, Warlord metals (the command figures) and the new HaT offerings. I think they mix pretty well. The HaT figures suffer from soft detail, and the muskets in particular are fairly dreadful. On the upside, they now release these in hard plastic, and en masse they will do the job. They are also extremely cheap!

I cut off the most egregiously overscale hands from the Warlord figures, replacing them with bits of leftover dark ages figures, which makes them less upsetting to look at.

I quite enjoyed painting these, which is lucky as I have another battalion on the way. Beautiful they are not, but with a game of Soldiers of Napoleon coming up in a couple of weeks I'm sure they will do their duty.

36 figures adds 180 points to the total thanks Millsy!

From Millsy:

Very nice indeed Alan! I've been waiting to see these for a while after hearing you talk about them on our paint and chat sessions. They certainly don't disappoint mate.

The yellow cap bands and the variations in coat colour really make these look the part of better quality troops as they were in the later war. No ragtag mob this!

180 points added to your tally and I can't wait to see them in person.

Cheers,
Millsy

From AlanD: Sending a Message (20 points)

Hello all! How lovely to be back in your company again, and welcome to those who are new to the Challenge.

My hobby time this year has been dominated by Prussia! Prussia ! Prussia!, as I slowly but steadily paint a force for the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. Two things have spurred this focus along. One has been playing Soldiers of Napoleon, a set of rules that I absolutely love. However, I can thank (blame?) the Challenge, and specifically Benito, for starting me off on this Prussia project. It began when I had the great pleasure of meeting up with him in Madrid in 2023 and visiting the incredible hobby shop Atlantica Juegos, a hotbed of temptation if there ever was one. I walked out with a box of Perry Prussian infantry, and here we are.

Anyway, to start off the Challenge this year, I present to you two Feldjaegers, galloping under fire to deliver orders. The figures are Calpe, now produced by Gripping Beast. Expensive they certainly are, but I have a smattering of them throughout my army as command figures and characters here and there.

With a satisfying 20 pre-Christmas points, I shall wish you the joy of the season and tidy up the house. Perfunctorily.

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Alan!

It was wonderful to meet up with you on the Antipodean Paint & Chat at the Challenge opening. (Though I regret that I was not too talkative as I was concentrating on getting my welcome entry done. I promise to do better next time!)

Well, if you're going to do Napoleonic Prussians in 28mm you can't do much better than Calpe, even if parcelled out here and there. What wonderful models, and you've done a magnificent job on these two troopers. I particularly like the messenger who is looking pensively over his shoulder. I imagine a French hussar hot on his heels, sword poised overhead, trying to cut that particular line of communication. I've not looked at 'Soldiers of Napoleon', which of course means I'll be shopping for a copy immediately after I finish this as I can't help myself from buying rules (especially those I know I'll never play). It's an addiction, really. I need help. No I don't.

These two will give you 20 points for your climb to your target. I look forward to seeing more in the coming months!

- Curt