Wargame Rules, Ratios, etc


RAISING MINIATURE ARMIES FOR THE LATE 18TH CENTURY

I am very keen to keep my wargame rules as simple as possible, yet capture the character of the 1790s. Morale dominates the games as the opposing sides are very different. Most of the French troops are 'levee' battalions, which I have chosen to base in column as their ability to change formation on a battlefield must have been limited, nor do I believe their volley fire had any great value. Of better quality, able to change formation, will be white-coated regular and blue-coated volunteer battalions, aided by a fair number of skirmishers. The British, Austrian, Dutch and German armies are often outnumbered, but they maintain the discipline and order of typical 18th century armed forces. Interestingly, French revolutionary cavalry have little in common with their later Napoleonic counterparts, the former are few in number, often poorly mounted, and no match for those in the service of the Allies. All figures are 28mm in scale, using a 1=25 ratio.

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Sunday 1 May 2016

MARTELLO TOWER, 1790s

Having constructed my Georgian town and harbour, it was time to improve its defences. Accordingly, here is my new Martello tower. I picked up the wooden pot in a charity shop for 50p, the red rotating frame and carriage is made out of left-over plastic sprue, the barrel is a Hinchcliffe Model's 18pdr. These towers were common in the Mediterranean and they impressed the Royal Navy enough for the British Crown to start constructing the same in our colonies in 1796, and in Great Britain and Ireland from 1804. A typical garrison mustered less than thirty men. I think this model will be a useful addition to my French Revolutionary scenarios. MGB



8 comments:

  1. What a splendid piece of work. I have long fancied making Martello Towers. Such inspiration!

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    1. Thank you, Sir, most kind. I have a keen interest in amphibious actions during the early 1790s and I can see some scenarios to knock it out. Michael

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  2. Great model, Nicely executed

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    1. Thanks Allan, I'm on a strict budget but I think it worked.
      Michael

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  3. It worked indeed. Great looking model. This is quite inspiring stuff and I may well have a bash at some terrain pieces myself soon.
    All "on a budget" of course, it seems to be more fun that way.

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    1. CB, it does make you look again at everyday products and imagine an alternative setting! Michael

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  4. Ingenious, a brilliant looking piece

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    1. Thats kind, Graham, thank you. Love those photos of your Crann Tara miniatures you put up recently on the AMG forum! Michael

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