Coming Soon: Our Refight of Sawmill Village!!!

 

The initial 36 Minden Austrian dragoons, painted as three squadrons of the Batthyanyi Regiment.  The final nine, a troop of horse grenadiers and regimental staff, lurk in the background.  They will get their combination base-undercoats in just a few day's time.  Ideally, I'd like to wrap up the entire regiment before January 1st.  I know, I know.  The best laid plans, the road to Hell, good intentions, and all of that. . . 

 

A flurry of activity here in The Grand Duchy of Stollen today, Friday.  The day after (U.S.) Thanksgiving.  A busy but not unpleasant day ahead.

First, finish applying gloss to the final three Austrian dragoons and their horses, shown above.  These will have their tabletop inauguration tomorrow in the planned encounter with Young Master Paul.  

Second, set up the tabletop, buildings, and terrain for our version of Sawmill Village.  

Third print out latest version of home brewed rules and roster sheets, that owe more to inspired plagiarism -- of tried and true ideas/methods lifted from Featherstone, The Grants, Asquith, and Whitehorse -- than they do my own imagined genius.  I have given the latest version of the rules a new moniker since Call It Macaroni! has a decidedly AWI feel about it to my mind.  The new working title is Tabletop Trifles: Rules for Captivating Games of Glossy Toy Soldiers.  

Fourth, The Young Master has already helped my hang two fresh wreathes on either side of the front door and little white icicle lights from the front porch eaves, our sole concession to outdoor Christmas decor.  I also put him to work for about 10 minutes with an adult-sized leaf rake to clear the final leaves from the front walk and porch steps.   Well, he asked if he could help.

We finished the task in fairly short order, but as expected, it gave the 11-year old Paul plenty of new ammunition to fit into his already well-developed and ongoing narrative that he is mistreated and neglected by his mean parents.  And this from a boy who has just five very small domestic chores a week to complete plus feeding the cats and his fish each day.  I have no sympathy!  But then "Bad Dad" wouldn't, would he? 

Finally, I'll set out the armies late tonight that The Young Master and I will use in our game of toy soldiers tomorrow.  To say I can't wait is something of an understatement.  

But best of all Young Master Paul is also excited by the prospect of once again defeating ol' Dad across the table.  We haven't played a game since January 1st! 

I'm also thinking he might be old enough now for a bag of RSM95 Prussian musketeers and command as a stocking stuffer.  You know, a fairly small battalion of 24-30 or so that we could paint together in a fairly easy uniform, say a battalion of freicorps.  Or perhaps one of Frederick II's garrison units?  

Ok, enough musing and mulling for now.  I've got figures to gloss and a tabletop battlefield to set up!

-- Stokes