McPherson's Ridge Update

This is a **work in progress** update --- rather than doing a general update I figured I would focus on my preparations and final work for my play test of my McPherson's Ridge scenario on April 22nd.

UPDATE:  Battle report can be seen here.

First up is my Seminary College model.  This is from Sally 4th and is just one outstanding model (and I suppose the center piece for my terrain in this scenario).  I'm working to finish up the roofing tiles and waiting on a few missing parts for one of the end walls (loosely fitted in place until I get those parts).

Earlier in progress photo - still working on the
sides for the other half when I took this picture.  The
Union dismounted cavalry gives you an idea of the scale.

The end is in sight.  I was missing some parts
for the right side "end" wall - waiting for the missing
parts to show up - hopefully next week.  Until then
that end wall on the right side is just loose fitted into
the model.

Roofing is in progress but I couldn't help but
throw it out on the table for a picture or two.  The right
side end wall is still loose fitted in place until
I get my missing parts.

Another angle ... coming together.  Will need
to finish the base edges with tufts, flowers and static grass.

Two buildings I had completed for my Pickett's Charge
game and will reuse in this scenario.

Union cavalry on the table to be based.  Berdan's
Sharpeshooters are also there getting based for
the Little Round Top game.  In the back you can
see Buford and my Chamberlain model.

Union artillery crew and limber team (still need to finish
painting the limber and guns).  Two additional
Confederate infantry units also waiting to be based.

A few weeks ago - laying out the mat just after it had
arrived and getting and idea of how it will all
come together.

Here are some pictures of the setup --- about done the Seminary College as you've seen above - and I've started painting the house nearest the Seminary College model --- but it is still mostly primer black at the moment.

Finally, the last of my snake rail fencing.  I managed to pick up three more of the Lemax snake rail fence kits from Ebay.  I'm in the process of trimming down the tops of the cross beams and getting them primed brown before they get a drybrush of grey and some static grass.  These will allow me to fill out the fencing around the Seminary College grounds.

As I mentioned earlier - I have my play test of this scenario set for April 22nd - so just about two more weeks to finish everything up.  My Little Round Top scenario will be the next one to wrap up --- however that doesn't require any additional troops that will not already been done for this scenario (basing Berdan's Sharpshooters along with the other stuff for McPherson's Ridge).  The mat for the scenario is in progress and I've been collecting the rocks I need to scatter about the table and do Devil's Den.  So ... lot's going on.

Stay tuned for the play test in a couple of weeks.

Orc Blood Bowl Team

Getting there will Blood Bowl.  I know this is a departure from the historical stuff I do ... but Blood Bowl is a nice side game of whackiness that plays quick and involves little investment.  I had the super talented Mark Brooks paint these guys up for me while I've been busy getting ACW terrain and basing done (more on that very soon!).

Mark took these pictures below ... these guys are also sitting on my desk in the basing pile at the moment.

Painted By:  Mark Brooks

The whole team.

First 8 - Front

First 8 - Rear

Last 8 - Front

Last 8 - Rear

I also have a Chaos Dwarf team that is sitting in Mark's painting queue at the moment.

On the last little bit of my Seminary College model ... will be posting that up soon along with some other ACW terrain I've just about finished.

AAR: Battle at Roncevaux Pass – July 25th, 1813

Headed over to Roy Scaife's house today for a play test of the Battle at Roncevaux Pass.  You can see the scenario details posted here.  Roy did a great job putting this scenario and game together.

I took on the British left flank with a second line consisting of Spanish troops.  Given this is a later war battle Spanish had a good showing.  The British right flank was taken by Dan Kerrick and had a backing second line of Portuguese troops.  John Lantz ran the French left while Matt Hilzendrager took the French right.

I played a slow advance to maintain a solid defensive line while Dan elected to advanced faster to try to pin the advancing French forces into the gap.  As it was the French advanced quickly and managed to expand across the table faster than the British could.

My first line British units did well, but I ended up having to withdraw and bring the Spanish units forward sooner than I had expected.  This actually worked out well in the long run as I was able to rally the British units back to a decent level of fighting ability.

Both sides suffered a lot of casualties.  The British right flank (French left) fought into what was essentially a draw.  I managed to break several French units on the left flank.  All my units had taken about the limit of their casualties so things where very tough and go until the very last turn.  Despite my generally crappy dice rolling, the one thing I could do well was pass morale tests ... I can think of three that I should have outright failed but managed to pull off a miracle.

I took pictures - the first chunk below is from my phone while the second half are from my "real" (SLR) camera.  I pulled out the zoom lens to get some better exposure pictures.

Pictures from my "real" camera ...

And some more pictures from John Lantz's phone ...

Was great to get a game in ... next up will be a play test for McPherson's Ridge ... really looking forward to that one.