From AlanD - Prussian Landwehr Cavalry (180 points)

My last Huzzah! for this year's challenge is a group of Prussian Landwehr cavalry, from the 1st and 2nd Silesian regiments. The figures are Perry metals, and are lovely, although ideally I'd like my Landwehr to look a bit more motley. These chaps are uncharacteristically pristine. Unfortunately, their pennons didn't arrive in time (I actually finished painting these a few days ago), and they will look better with bright white over yellow and red over yellow pennants.

That's it for me this year, and 18 cavalry figures will allow me to comfortable reach my goal. Despite being on leave this term I have been busy and preoccupied, so the painting has suffered a little. I have also been very slack commenting on the wonderful submissions everyone has been putting up, for which I apologise. Many thanks as always to Curt and the Minions (especially our own Millsy) for making all this happen.

From Millsy:

Very, very nice indeed Alan! Landwehr have a bad reputation at times and it means we don't see that many as we probably should have in the late war. That rich blue/grey uniform colour is lovely and the dagger edging on the shabraques and the facing colours really pops too. 

180 more points is a great way to close out your Challenge. Can't wait to face them across the table mate. Love em!

Cheers,
Millsy

From AlanD: Prussian Grenadiers (150 points)

At the end of last year's Challenge, I painted a single base of Napoleonic Prussian Grenadiers, with some left over Perry line infantry I had. The main difference between line infantry and grenadiers in 1813 was that the latter had moustaches, and as grenadier battalions were composite units formed from the grenadier companies of line infantry regiments, they did not carry banners. So, in what I hope is the final batch of Prussian infantry that I will paint for a long, long time, here are the other 5 bases to complete the battalion.

Apologies to Millsy for having to try to say something original about these. 'Certainly do the job' and 'samey' are both totally acceptable comments.

My progress is a bit slow this year, despite being on leave, as I've been caught up doing 1:1 terrain jobs like ripping up carpet. But with these 30 figures putting another 150 points on the board, my goal is in sight. 

From Millsy:

Whilst I appreciate the sympathy for a long suffering minion there's no need to apologise Alan.

There's plenty to like about these fine chaps. You've really nailed the Prussian blue I think, and the difference from the grey trousers is enough to show they are two colours, but without going too dark of light on either colour to ensure that. The drummer is particularly good, I always struggle to paint drums cleanly and you've managed that in spades.

Well done "finishing" your Prussians. I look forward to seeing them on the table at some point and I'm sure there will be more to minion somewhere down the track.

150 more points for your tally mate. You're within sight of your target with plenty of time to spare. Nice one. 

Cheers,
Millsy

From AlanD - Prussian Command (90 points)

There's nothing better than a great game to motivate me to get painting. Last Sunday, I had a game of Soldiers of Napoleon with Challengers JohnS, StephenS and Millsy, and Aled and Marty, who aren't in the Challenge this year. I hosted, and used the opportunity to get all my painted Prussians on the table. Predictably, they were massacred, despite the best efforts of Millsy, Stephen and me. Soldiers of Napoleon is such an enjoyable set of rules that I didn't even mind.

Although I can now field a decent-sized Prussian force, I was short two brigade command stands on the day. Millsy kindly supplied some Austrian allies, and I'm sure that relying on Austrian commanders for two of our brigades had nothing whatsoever to do with the bloody Prussian defeat. Nevertheless, I set out to rectify my lack of commanders this week, and here are the results.

Calpe figures are so completely terrific, and I love this command vignette. I love the sense of industry the sculptor has captured, with the brigade commander giving orders for his adjutant to scribble down, while another officer perhaps sketches a map and a Feldjaeger is poised to leap into the saddle and deliver the orders. 

The next base are figures from Front Rank. Still excellent, but without the same character as Calpe. They are a bit cramped on their base, but I couldn't find a bigger one. The blue Litewka coat of the officer waving his hat signifies that these are cavalry commanders, as does the adjutant's white uniform and green facings.

Finally, back to Calpe Miniatures for a couple of artillery officers. According to the notes on the Calpe website, cavalry officers sometimes wore black uniforms to match their black facings, so I went with that here. Again, lovely characterful poses. Is the officer turning to call up a messenger? Or can he hear the hoofbeats of approaching French hussars?

This lot should give me 90 points - thanks Millsy! I'll end with a photo from last week's game, taken just before the French onslaught crunched into the Prussian line. The arms belong to StephenS.

From Millsy:

Firstly, thanks for hosting another cracking game Alan. I always have a blast playing with you and the lads. Great people = great fun.

Given how poorly we performed I'm unsurprised you decide to replace my commanders. It would be fair to lay some blame at the feet of my generals, but having said that pretty much an entire army of freshly painted miniatures was always going to be a massive risk of getting a belting which was duly dished out.

Your new command look a) more aware of their surroundings and b) more engaged in the fight than their Austrian counterparts did. The uniforms are crisp, the horses well fed and the composition on the bases tells a great story. 

Top work mate. A very fine addition to a beautiful force. 90 points well deserved.

PS. Not sure where I am in that last photo. Perhaps sobbing quietly in the corner?

Cheers,
Millsy 

From AlanD - More Landwehr! (180 points)

This week's entry is a repeat of last week - a battalion of Prussian Landwehr. Millsy, feel free to cut and paste your previous comment! Like the last lot, they are a mix of Warlord, including a nice command vignette, and some of the new 28mm figures from HaT. These are the 4th battalion of the 1st Silesian Landwehr.

I had a very odd experience painting these. Have any of you painted in your sleep? One evening I was painting while very overtired, nodded off, and woke up with a start. The next day, when I looked at the figures, I found I had weirdly daubed yellow paint on the hands of a whole bunch of them. Strange. Hands were duly repainted the more traditional flesh colour.

So that's another 180 points, and definitely time to take a break from painting Landwehr. Here's a final shot of the two battalions together.

From Millsy:

[Cut+Paste]

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.
[/Cut+Paste]

Thanks mate, that saved me 10 mins :-P

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.

___________________________

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