Period:: NAP
Battle: Fictitious, Peninsular. Around 1810
Scale: 28mm
Rules: Black powder
Forces involved: French - 9 bns inf, 1 foot gun, 4 regts of dragoons, 2 Hussars, 2 lancers and 2 chasseurs supported by a bty of horse guns. British - 8 bns, 2 dragoons and 4 hussar regts with 2 horse btys. Reserve of 2 Guard Bns and 1 foot bty.
Players: Noel (F), Pete (B), Gary (F)
Date: 9th, May 2013

Noel and myself endeavour to arrange a couple of days wargaming with our friend Gary at his place near Peterborough as often as we can. He has an excellent gaming room, an expanding collection of  armies and understanding wife.
First game up was a Napoleonic one using Black powder.
Objective: The light Division is conducting a fighting withdrawal and should endeavour to bring as many troops back to the baseline (foreground) as possible. British troops in the foreground are in reserve and can offer little assistance to the Light division.

 French initial deployment of cavalry and infantry.

 British initial deployment

 French initially assault with Chasseurs and lancers but the British cavalry see them off.

With a breathing space the British begin their withdrawal.

However French cavalry from the other flank come across and assault the line, singling out the battery at the end of the line. First mistake of the British was not to attach the guns to the line so that they could not be singled out. Quickly overrun the lancers wheel onto the line alongside. British cavalry close in to deal with the lancers.

 British make a further withdrawal as the French follow up with infantry.

 On the British left, the French with fewer cavalry in support press forward with infantry.

The British are now finding it more difficult to withdraw before the French and make a stand around the centre of the table. their second mistake was to withdraw their cavalry too far back so that it could not effectively support the infantry.

 French assaults are more coordinated, pinning the British down.

After a couple of delays (poor dice throws) the French bring their superior cavalry numbers to bare. Defeating the British cavalry and effectively leaving the infantry stranded.

 Casualties mount and it is unlikely that the British can effectively disengage.

Victory to the French.

Enjoyable game. You either like Black powder or you don't. One argument is whether a set of rules can cover a vast array of periods and theatres, even if there are some period specific modifiers, like steady line, advancing in column. You can also have unit specific characteristics like sharp shooter, marauders; some of which we forgot to apply.
 I like the large movement rates and the generally quick firing and combat resolution. We need to clarify whether two units can simultaneously assault a single unit. I also like rules that can accommodate single unit bases. 

Belated Christmas present

Period: ECW
Scale: 28mm
Subject: Horses, coach and 4 figures
Manufacturer: Redoubt Enterprises
Date: 6th May, 2013
Method: Black under coat, Foundry's 3 pot painting system, Coat D'Arms matt varnish

This was a belated Christmas present for my friend Gary. I purchased three of these sets from Redoubt at Warfare (2012) for a sale price of £20 each. I have already painted another one in similar colours for Noel's Christmas present and the third is for myself. As I am now bored with painting them, my one wont probably get finished and will join the bare metal army.
There was a little cleaning up of the carriage but otherwise construction was straight forward. Figures are nicely animated and easy to paint. I copied the light blue livery off Redoubts example.
Redoubt Enterprises great coach.

I used aluminium tomato paste tube cut 3mm wide for the suspension straps for the carriage. These are fastened to the four up right posts by the ball ornament acting as a pin through them. They are essential in holding the coach body steady. Being weighty gluing the body to chassis alone wont suffice.

I think I should have added reins and harness.