As if the European war of 1813 were not traumatic enough for all involved some had to deal with a little more change than others. A case in point were the men of the 4th Mounted Chasseur Regiment of the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw who found themselves reconfigured as the 4th Lancer Regiment of the Army of Warsaw.
Lances were issued but their mounted chasseur uniforms remained unchanged until later in the year when lancer styled uniforms were issued. This change did not extend to the regiment’s shabraques however which remained as the green edged crimson mounted chasseur stye.
Fortunately for von Peter himself – and less fortunately for the regiment who will no doubt have multiple command indignities thrust upon them by the same von Peter himself over the years yet to come – the regiment appears in the 18th Light Cavalry Brigade commanded by General de brigade Krukowiecki which is subordinate to the independent 27th (Polish) Division of General de division Dombrowski. The very same Division that von Peter himself is replicating in his 1813 28mm Napoleonic forces.
Once a smattering of uniform details and been sourced – mostly from W. J. Rawkins The Army of the Duchy of Warsaw 1807–1814 – then the search for suitable figures was initiated. Obviously the uniform details informed the selection but also – because von Peter himself can be a little overly attentive to such things – the figure size. The regiment would be joining a brigade of Front Rank Figurines so a match with these was desired. Happily Front Rank Figurines themselves were able to provision the regiment via the French cavalry Line Lancer In Czapska figures FNC95 onwards – the ones with the plume, not the pompom versions. Dutch & Polish Guard Lancer figures.
Above: the regiment is a colourful addition to the 18th Light Cavalry Brigade … and will be even more so once it is issued with pennons! Click for a larger and clearer image.
Once the figures had been procured and lain around in the unpigmented figure pile for a suitably lengthy period of time 😭 they were cleaned up, had home made brass rod lances fabricated & attached and then forwarded along with the uniform details to Nigel Fun-nell for pigmentation. As can be see that pigmentation process has been completed in a most exemplary manner. Thank you Nigel. And von Peter himself has bestirred himself and managed to base the regiment. The regiment has even been issued a GMB Designs standard and is all but complete.
All but complete because there are as yet no lance pennons to provide that extra visual zing. Historically these were quartered crimson and white. Hardly the most complex of pennons but von Peter himself is an idle b*st*rd at the best of times and he is under the distinct impression that GMB Designs will create and provide these. So for now the issuing and raising of the pennons will have to wait. This is 1813 after all. Everything is in short supply!
Above: the regiment has swivelled slightly to flaunt their green mounted chasseur shabraques (and put the trumpeter slightly in the shade. D’oh!) Click for a larger and clearer image.
The 18th Light Cavalry Brigade is now complete and is available in its entirety for active duty. Well almost complete. Just a few pennons short! …
18th Light Cavalry Brigade: General de brigade Krukowiecki
2nd Polish Uhlan Regiment
4th Polish Uhlan Regiment
1st Polish Horse Battery
Perhaps a photo or two would be in order. Eventually.
Ungrateful wretch … The son & heir
Bastion No. 2 at Neu Schloss von Peter hosted a game over the Christmas – New Years holiday period. A Sharp Practice Napoleonic game set on the endless steppes of 1812 Russia.
The minions of that Corsican chap had captured a top hat wearing English chap who was being held in a humble steppe settlement under the watchful eyes of a Bavarian detachment. The Russians had got wind of this and being keen to keep British assistance flowing determined that a rescue was in order. Unfortunately for the top hat wearing English chap word of the impending rescue mission had leaked and a mostly Saxon force was rushed to ensure that no rescuing shenanigans were to occur. In other words we played Scenario Six: Rescue Mission on page 76 of the Sharp Practice rules.
The son & heir took the role of a French lackey which left von Peter himself as the fighter for truth justice etc etc etc. 😇
And how did the daring rescue mission unfold? Suffice to say that the top hat wearing English chap was never in any danger of being transferred from Bavarian to Russian custody. A highlight(?!) of the game was the astoundingly sub par dice rolling on both sides much to the relief of many of the little metal miniature men.
Above: A view of the game from behind the main Saxon & French relief force. The clear counters represent shock, the green counters casualties. The dear reader cannot see it but there are a greater number of these counters behind the two lead Russian units. The son & heir would soon get some charges in with fresh columns against these two Russian units who would prove that “they don’t like it up ’em” to quote Corporal Jones of Dad’s Army fame. Just over the top of the thatched building in the distance can be seen some figures even further in the distance. These are Russian Hussars who rightly or wrongly were meant to sweep around the settlement but instead became an example of poor horse management as they were pushed into a gallop to speed their progress and then rolled extremely high dice and went way way too far in their compulsory straight ahead progress. They did not figure in the game. D’oh! 🤬 Click for a larger and clearer view.
Battlechat Podcasts
At the time of typing Henry Hyde’s Battlechat Podcasts offers 107 episodes to consume albeit one of them is only available to Henry’s Patrons. Each episode has Henry chatting with a person of note from the Wargaming hobby and as such some may be of interest to The dear reader and some may not.
Whilst not always in agreement with Henry von Peter himself had happily listened to a select few interviews in the past but the Christmas – New Years holiday break occasioned many more being consumed. Just select the interviews that are off interest and ignore the others. A reminder heads-up for The dear reader.
There’s a new hobby shop in town
At least there is if you live on the Kapiti Coast, New Zealand. Mini-Kiwiland Shop is a generic hobby shop and is located upstairs at
1/2 Coastlands Parade
Paraparaumu 5032
New Zealand
The showroom is on the first floor above Calico Keep, a board games and trading cards shop . The entrance is on the side of the old main road (former SH1), right at the underpass to the railway station.
From the About Us page …
Our Goal
Our goal is to offer a wide range of models and miniatures at an affordable price and raise money for the Mini-Kiwiland Attraction.
The original idea was to have a hobby shop, cafe and souvenir shop with the international attraction. Wellington born Robert Verhoef started the hobby shop in 2016 after he couldn’t find the material and figures needed for the attraction in New Zealand Hobby Shops or for excessive prices.
Robert found out that the hobby world in New Zealand is no different from what happens with petrol stations and supermarkets: A few players take advantage of a powerful/monopoly position to charge high prices to New Zealanders.
He started to import model railway brands that had no distributor in New Zealand, such as Preiser, Faller, Noch, Busch and Vollmer/Kibri. This went so well, that Robert wanted to expand the Mini-Kiwiland Shop catalogue by approaching New Zealand distributors. Unfortunately, no one was interested in supplying the Mini-Kiwiland Shop.
As a result, the Mini-Kiwiland offers 100% own imported products for often at a much more affordable price.
Due to the pandemic in 2020, the Mini-Kiwiland Tourist attraction had to be put on hold. At this stage, the focus is on setting up a hobby shop first with a wide range of models and miniatures for an affordable price.
The Mini-Kiwiland Shop continues to look for more suppliers and brands overseas and ways to keep prices down as much as possible.
Watch out for their opening hours …
The opening hours of our showroom in Paraparaumu are as follows:
Tuesday 12pm – 4pm
Wednesday 12pm – 4pm
Thursday 12pm – 4pm
Friday 12pm – 4pm
Saturday 10am – 3pm
Pick up options for online orders:
Tuesday 12pm – 5pm
Wednesday 12pm – 5pm
Thursday 12pm – 5pm
Friday 12pm – 5pm
Saturday 10am – 5pm
Napoleon the movie
After great hopes Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” has been released in cinemas to a general panning regarding its adherence – for lack thereof – to history. von Peter himself is not sure why we would ever hold out hope for a historically accurate movie from Hollywood etc. Ridley Scott did himself no favours with his “were you there” statement when the history was queried. Hearing disturbing reports von Peter himself chose not to pay to see the movie in a cinema. Neu Schloss von Peter provides access to Apple TV+ and Napoleon will eventually be available – perhaps as an extended directors cut – there.
Why this is raised here is that von Peter himself was investigating L ‘Hotel de Hercé – note that the site is currently down for updating – and came across the related French Wargame Holidays at L’Hotel de Hercé facebook page. The following three humourous images have been shamelessly “borrowed” form there …
And a belated Happy New Year to all of The dear readers. May you and yours all enjoy a happy and prosperous 2024.
Enough.
Until we meet again …
Salute
von Peter himself
von Peter himself 