18TH C. REVENUE SERVICE GUNBOAT

 As a follow-on to the last post on policing, my 18th century Revenue Service has been strengthened. I made this vessel out of plastic-card quite a few years ago but I was never quite happy with it. The masts and deck layout have now been improved, and it has acquired a fixed light cannon and four swivel guns. And the whole model has been repainted.  

MGB

18TH CENTURY POLICE/GEORGIAN TOWN 28MM

Despite my recent absence from wargaming some general maintenance did take place to my Georgian town. Thought it was also time the civil authorities had some ability to keep the peace without having to call out the Local Volunteers. The foot police are Trent Miniatures, the mounted are some converted Hinchliffe figures. I include some photos of new wagons, and another of His Majesty King George the Third inspecting some vintage artillery, these old pieces may date back to the 1930s?, and they can still fire matchsticks. Hope my paintjob has given them new life. 

MGB

 

Finally, A Road System I'm happy with!

My lack of roads on my main table has long been an issue. Commercial products are costly and often fail to provide a suitable flat surface for figures to cross over. Decided to use a piece of moleskin-cotton fabric I had in my store of cloth, which was uncannily the same colour as my brown bases. Chris (family/wargamer) felt it provided the answer but hardly looked anything special. So I decided to texture and seal the edges with wood glue and green static grass. But then I tested out some acrylic paint to create tracks on the roads, using brown, sand, and white combinations. To my pleasure, it not only soaked in perfectly but is totally permanent. What I also like about this material is that it stays snug and lays flat on the static grass covered board, no movement whatsoever. Did I mention the border edge is only 1mm high, and has little impact on multi-based figures. I'm very pleased with the results and have more than enough for any possible projects. The cloth was actually given to me by a lady friend in the trade.
MGB
(ps. recently put together this home-cast cart and some odd wheels which fortunately were the same diameter, decided to make a small vignette............... I blame the roads lol.)

CERAMIC ROWBOAT BY MANOR WARE POTTERY

A visit to a local charity shop furnished a fun item. It is a ceramic rowboat, made by a company called Manor Ware, which unfortunately ceased trading in the late 1980s, typically making holiday souvenirs for coastal towns. Can't say what it originally cost but I paid £2, and a quick repaint job has furnished a nice little ornament for my war-games table.
MGB

18th Century Gentry's Gig, and Commercial carts

While having a break from painting figures I was keen to utilise some of my own home-cast carts, and some wheels kindly supplied by a friend. I wanted to see how far my castings could be converted into other forms of 18th century transport. Here is my attempt to represent a Gig, a light weight form of carriage that appeared in about 1780. Have also made a better man-handled street cart. Finally, the French Revolutionaries have also gained another provisions cart.
MGB

AWI BAGGAGE TRAIN

Two more wagons were completed yesterday. With their loyal militia attendants, these will be attached to my British AWI troops. Another three wagons are just awaiting their drivers to be painted and they will be serving with my British FRW army. I'm rather pleased with the cart as this is my own casting using up some spare wheels. MGB

French Pontoon Wagon c.1792

This is my latest addition to my French Revolutionary army 1792-98, a pontoon wagon with several members from that corps serving as guards, and a civilian driver. Fighting in the Low Countries, this is a vital piece of ordnance. I decided to paint it in blue, appropriate to it having been previously part of the Royal army, and now serving the republican cause. The French have also gained a small cart, which is one of my own castings. (The mounted guards are Police Legion dragoons.)
MGB

Clearing spare figures, waggons etc

This model is a combination of a British Napoleonic waggon with French limber horses, and a converted AWI figure. It has been painted up as a civilian owned waggon which could be used in either AWI games or for the Dutch transport secured by the British Army for service in the Low Countries during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Some spare AWI Grenadiers  have been painted up belonging to the 40th Foot, with their distinctive white bearskins (assuming the skin was actually from a polar bear, I know the French crested their tarleton helmets with sheep's wool).

Here are a few Rebel Americans serving in George Washington's Commander in Chief's Guards. Might have to consider an officer's tent to go with these figures. Have also converted one casting into a clergyman.

And a few more of my own castings, this time belonging to the Batavian Legion or Corps d' Infantries legere de Bataves. Raised in 1792 and adopting a black uniform faced with sky blue. These are Dutch republicans fighting on the French side.

MGB

French Baggage Waggon c1793

Just completed a French baggage waggon for my Revolutionary Army. Decided to allow some distinction in the paintwork with red wheels, contemporary prints support this, and I have added some chalked on political graffiti. The second photo shows it next to a converted die cast metal model.
Michael

Salm-Kirberg Artillery and Baggage Waggon, 1793

More work on my various Salm-Kirberg units serving with the British Army during the 1790s. Have just completed a command base comprising an officer in the infantry battalion having a chat with another belonging to the horse artillery section. And I have also put together a supply waggon. Although officially civilians were hired to look after the baggage train I have long felt that some units may have allowed a few regulars to help manage this operation.
MGB

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Street lamps for my Georgian Town

Just a brief entry. Picked up these two brass street lamps in a charity shop for 75p. Possibly a little large but when they are painted up, I think they will look great in my Georgian town.
MGB
UPDATE
And here is a second photo, both street lamps have really painted up nicely. MGB

WORKING ON MY WAGONS AND CARTS

Presently working on a load of wagons and carts from Hinchcliffe. Started off by converting a galloper gun into a water-barrel cart. Replaced the very small wheels on another barrel cart, and used them with some spares to construct a baggage wagon, for the 4th South Carolina (Artillery) Regiment. Must say I enjoyed working on them. Another twenty or so carts and cannon to complete.
MGB

18th Century Coach and Horses (Westfalia Forge)

Have just completed my Westfalia Forge casting, available from Crann Tara Miniatures in the UK. I also had a few AWI figures going spare and converted them into some livery-dressed coachmen. This vehicle will now serve as a roving HQ for my British FRW army.  MGB