Raab Mapboard Completed!

Further progress on preparations for the Raab refight.

Here are a few pics of the completed mapboard. This is a result of quite a bit of work from my good gaming buddy Vincenzo and I.

The creek in the centre of the board is the Pándzsa bordered by marshy and steep banks, with the fortress farm of Kis-Megyer in the centre and the town of Szabadhegy in an 'L' shape. The Austrians defended the Pándzsa taking the high ground, Kis-Megyer and Szabadhegy Town as their positions, with cavalry covering their left flank and the ford where cavalry could cross.

Unfortunately, I forgot to put the 2 bridges (on crossings on the Austrian right), on the board for most of these photos.

View from the Franco-Italian side
(another 30cm of plain board will be added to that side to 
accommodate their deployment).

View up the Pándzsa from the
direction of Raab (off map)

Looking down the creek from the other direction

Szabadhegy Town

The ford used by French Cavalry
on the Austrian right flank

One of the bridges

Heights behind the farm and town ... complete with vineyard

View back from Austrian far left flank

Let me know what you think and if you have any questions about the construction just ask. Hope you enjoyed it! More Raab progress as it comes to hand.

More Raab Preparation ... rounding up the horses

Momentum is building on the preparations for our re-fight of Raab.

This time I am posting an update on progress with completion of the rest of the Insurrection Hussar Brigades that need painting. Well I've done the horseflesh - here they are. All 56 figures.

They are a bit shiny right now, having had a coat of gloss varnish to keep them protected - final matt coat will be applied when the bases and riders are completed and assembled.

Now onto the cavalrymen!

Ressurrecting Raab

Well, its been some huge break since my last post and just as long since any real progress has been made on preparations for refighting Raab.

I'm happy to report the board and scenery is nearly complete.

As a teaser, I will post a picture of the model for the Kigs-Meyer farm (see below) - it was the dominant (fortified) built up area on the battlefield. According to my research, it was fortified by the Austrians and a platform built around its perimeter so that the garrison could fire over the high walls that surrounded the farm buildings. Apparently the main building was akin to the famous granary of Essling, famous from the battle of Aspern-Essling.

More to come soon.

Finished Reading - Albuera 1811 (Guy Dempsey)

Having just completed Guy Dempsey's "Albuera 1811" I can thoroughly recommend it.

Aside from the description of the historical context, the battle itself and the aftermath, its has some great material which personalises the battle, by providing a plethora of first hand material written by veterans of the battle.

There are great maps, OOB, and uniform guide.

The other appendices have some interesting anecdotes about the battles veterans and their families and lots of other good stuff.

Recommend it!

... now for Vol III of Thunder on the Danube!

Getting ready for Raab ...

Our gaming group is getting ready for a refight of Raab. In preparation I am rounding out the Austrian OOB. In particular this means I need to paint the Hungarian Insurrection and Landwehr.

Below are a few pics of some of the work completed to date. These are AB15mm figures (my personal favourites) from Eureka (highly recommend Nic and his team's service and quality - fortunately I live in 20 minutes drive from his shop) and painted with Vallejo Acrylics. I use Windsor&Newton brushes, typcially just a size 1.

I should acknowledge my good gaming and painting buddy Vincenzo, a small group of dedicated but far away NapsBattles players in Adelaide (you know who you are!) and the general painting and gaming community (especially all those TMPers) who have opened my eyes and mind to the brave new world of miniatures painting (I might post some 'old' painting efforts to contrast).

Basing is for Napoleon's Battles ruleset. Basing technique after that Mark Case's excellent blog (see links).

Insurrection Hussars (Eisenberg Comitat)

- Close-up

- The whole 'brigade'













Hungarian Grenadiers

These were finished yesterday! (I had to paint something while waiting for the rest of my Hussar order from Eureka!)

- Close-up


















- The whole 'brigade'











Some of the Landwehr
These guys were painted late last year, and are a mix of Styrian 'townies' and 'levies' and Upper Austrian Landwehr, 'brigaded' together here.

- The 'brigade'










... oh, and they came first an CANCON this year!!

- First Prize!












Hope you enjoyed my first blog (ever). Please leave a comment. I will try to post some more progress as we move towards Raab later this (?) year!