To Wilanov and back - Varsovaan ja takaisin

Well the annual Wilanov competition was again this time quite late in the year.
I was agonizing over faction choosing as always, but in the end I wanted to take my newly painted toys to use so I chose Poland, which had new cossack cavalry ready. With the Lubomirski list getting published at the same time I had the final push to finish the wannabehussars of that troop, Lubomorski himself and couple of reiters for the same outfit.

Lubomirski, 2 banners of pancerni, petyhorchy and reiters. Plus Hetman Karl with his Wife.

Wilanovin kisat tuli ja meni. Tällä kertaa matkasin puolalaisen armeijan kanssa, koska sain kasakkaratsuväkeä valmiiksi juuri kisojen alla. Perinteiseen tapaan pari viimeistä viikkoa tiivisti maalaustahtia.

Pelejä tuttuun tapaan viisi. Ensimmäisenä partio ruotsalaista armeijaa vastaan. Oma lista puolalais tataarilauma Varsovan taistelusta. Tuloksena tasapeli. Aavistuksen varovaisesti pelasin ja sivustaan hankkiutunut tataarilauma tuli ammutuksi kappaleiksi. Peli jäi tosin lyhyeksi ja kasakkani olivat silppuroimassa vastustajan reitereita vasemmalla, joten 6 kierroksen ajalla taktiikka olisi voinut olla toimivakin tai ainakin olisin saanut lisättyä tappioita.

First game against Swedish detachment. I used Polish-Tatar force from battle of Warsaw. Patrolscenario and a draw. I was a tad too cautious and when we finished at end of round 4 I had thrown my flanking tatars agains pretty solid fire of musketry and was only beginning to get his reiters demolished. Second game again aginst Swedish detachment with delay the enemy. I used my Normal Polish army list and basically got shot into pieces when taking the first hill. I killed both of his cannons, one of them twice but he managed to reman them again. Nice aggressive play from my opponent.  Result tactical defeat. Third game against Cossacks - I again used the same Polish list with mixture of pancerny, cossacks, dragoons and volunteers. New faction for me to meet but luckily also to my opponent to field. Patrol scenario, historical victory.

Päivän kolmas ja viimeinen peli. Vastassa uusi listatuttavuus kasakat. Minulle onneksi vastustajakaan ei ollut sen kanssa täysin sinut, vaan lähestyi suoraan kohti. Pelasin samaa peruspuolalaislistaa: pancernya, kasakoita, rakuunoita ja vapaaehtoisia. Alivoimaisena pääsin valitsemaan skenaarion ja otin partion, koska kasakka pääosin liikkuu vain jalan ja on siis ongelmissa edes ehtiä tiedusteltaviin kohteisiin. Kuvan tilanne oman ekan liikkeeni jälkeen. Talonpoikaisopas on mahdollistanut täysnopean liikkeen kukkulalle. Vastustaja on tulossa kohti kahden sotavaunukolonnan ja yksittäisen sotavaunun kanssa. Keskellä melko tehokasta jalkaväkeä, sivustoilla rakuunamaista ratsukasakkaa  ja tiedustelijoita. Koska vaunut eivät ammu kuin sivuille tämä marssimuoto on riski. Vastustajani ei myöskään odottanut minun pääsevän kukkulalle noin nopeasti, mutta olisin kyllä voittanut tuon kilpajuoksun ilmankin oppaan apuja. Kierroksella kaksi pääsin lyömään täysin hajalle pienemmän vaunurivistön. Kolmosen rynnäköt vasempaan vaunurivistöön ja keskustan jalkaväkeen sitten ammutiin ja lyötiin takaisin.Vastustaja yritti päästä keskustaan ratsurynnäköllä, mutta rakuunat ovat siinä erityisen huonoja. Peruutteelin sitten keskustassa kukkulan taakse suojaan muskettitulelta ja odottelin oman oikean siipeni koukkausta. Kohtuuvahva ratsuväkeni sai murrettua kasakoiden puolustuksen vaikka heittivätkin keihäät eturiviin. Takaa-ajon ja paon valuminen jäljellä olevan paremman jalkaväen ja vaunujen läpi ei kuitenkaan aiheuttanut kummempaa ahdistusta.

Sunnuntai aamuna pääsin pelaamaan liettualaista vastustajaa vastaan joten nostin kapinalipun ja valitsin listaksi Lubomirskin kapinallisjoukon. Outo kokoelma länsimaista ratsuväkeä, kasakoita, valakialaisia ja lippue husaareja joilla ei kuitenkaan vielä ole haarniskoita tai kopis peitsiä. Lubomirskin kuolema lopettaa pelin siihen. Vastustajalla kasakkaa, rakuunoita, pancernya ja tataareja.

Melko suoraviivainen rymistelymatsi jossa vastustaja rusikoi minua ratsurynnäköillä ja yritin vastata ampumisella ja reitereiden paremmalla kurilla. Skeanaario take and hold jossa otellaan keskustakukkulan ja kahden sivukohteen hallinnasta.  Taktinen voitto, mutta tässä pelissä kyllä kello pelasti.  Vastustajalla olisi ollut realistinen mahdollisuus haastaa keskustan omistus jos olisimme ehtineet pelata loppuun.

Confederation! The rebel army of Lubomirski against Lithuanian opponents. A pretty straigthforward slogging match. Bell at end of round 4 saved me with possession of central objective. My opponent would have had decent chance of reaching that in six rounds. Not automatically clear though. Tactical victory.

Last game against Turkish list of Hadzi Giray. Again delay the enemy. Equal points so number of cavalry made the Turks attackers. I used my basic Polish list. Got shown meaning of light cavalry and flanking again. Strategic defeat.

Viimeinen peli. Yritin viivyttää Hadzi Girayn turkkilaistaataarilaista laumaa perus Puola-listallani.  Turpiin tuli roimasti. Vastustaja operoi kevyttä ratsuväkeä millintarkasti, vältellen kasakoiden ja pancernyn rynnäköitä huolella, hakien sivustoja ja käyttäen tarvittaessa kevyitä yksiköitä uhrattavina kilpinä. Jälkiviisaasti voi todeta että vasen sivustani oli aavistuksen heikko ja keskelle keskitetty kasakoiden ja pancernyn voimaryhmä ei pystynyt tukemaan rakuunoiden sivustaa. Vapaaehtoisten neljän lohkon olisi ainakin voinut laittaa vasemmalle laidalle sen sijaan että siellä nyt operoi kahden vahvuinen pikkujoukko. Strateginen tappio.

More Poles - Lisää puolalaisia

Painting has stalled once again with other hobbies taking precedence.
We did manage to have a game of Blood and Plunder - first game of autumn season.

I did do some inventory of painted stuff and decided I needed more Polish cossack style cavalry to round up my choices if we get to play division game again - and also in case of doing skirmish games with Polish lists. So I got the box of Warsaw 1656 cavalry regiment. I already had in my stash a box of pancerni and a box of petyhorchy. I assembled the whole lot to be able to prime this outside before he outset of the winter.  I was positively surprised by the sculpts of the cavalry regiment cossacks. I was already bored with the cossacks in skirmishbox and cossack box, so finding all new sculpts here I was a happy camper. Mixing pancerni and cossacks I assembled the troops as 2 elite banners of pancerni, 2 elite banners of cossacks, banner of cossacks with spears and pancerni banner. (Elites have shields to mark them.) Petyhorchi got lances but no shields.

Petyhochy with lances, elite pancerny, elite cossacks, cossacks with spears and some more pancerny

Maalaus on ollut hiljaista. Listojen vilkuilu ja figujen  inventaario toteamaan, että puolalaisdivisioona oikeastaan kaipailee mahdollisuuden tehdä 2 ratsurykmenttiä ja kahakkalistoillakin lisäpancernylle ja kasakoille olisi tarvetta.  sai minut hankkimaan Varsova 1656 ratsurykmentin. Kokoilin sen ja varastosta löytyneet pancerny ja petyhorchylaatikot. Mukavaa kyllä rykmentin kasakat ovat uusia skulpteja.

Kasakkarykmentin ja petyhorchin jälkeen kokoilin QR miniaturesin husaarit. Inhottavat kaksiosaiset  peitset ja se,e ttei husaareille ole kahakkapelissä ole ollut juuri tarvetta on viivyttänyt näiden kaverieden kokoamista. Ovat varusteiltaan 1600 luvun alkua ja joukossa näyttäisi olevan varsinaisten husaarien lisäksi myös seuralaisia. 

Some hussars from QR miniatures. Equipment of early 17th century. Guys with capalinas, the brimmed iron hats,  might be companions  instead of true hussars. Inspiring sculpts and may get on the table with the 1656 cavalry as Lithuanian hussars even though they are fifty years early.

On other hand I should finish the guys below to have space on the table to start with this new batch.

Ennenkuin pääsen puolalaisten pariin, pöydältä pitäisi kuitenkin viimeistellä edelliset projektit. Sipaheja, renesanssireitereita, tataareja, puunilaisia ja ligurialaisia. 

Polish skirmish group ready

So I finally finished the contents of the By Fire and Sword box Polish skirmish group. Figures Wargamer, flags QRminiatures. A very nice feeling of accomplishment of getting the figures to state they are done with, to the detail.

Kahakkapartio 

These troops - banner of pancerny, Wallachians, and two understrength banners of cossacks led by a colonel  is playable as is. In game they can and probably should be strengthened by addition of dragoons, tatars, volunteers or more banners of the types present here. This group is worth 5 Force points different options can double the amount. Of course deploying troops worth more Force points lets the enemy choose the scenario and hamper You with various extra effects.

Polish skirmish group WIP Puolalaisia työn alla

After Wallachians I have been going on the colonel, pancerni and the cossacks of Polish skirmish force. Original idea was to finish just the pancerni, but it felt almost as easy to juggle eight bases as three due to economy of paint when painting such small details.

So waiting for the dip and varnish.

Eversti, pancernit keihäineen ja kasakat taustalla.

Pancerny I feel are a bit too uniform, but since they a crack formation that can perhaps be accepted as vanity of rotmistr and the colonel. Cossacks have more blue coats than originally intended. It is a proper and popular colour for them but I managed  to get more blue than required from the dried nozzle twice.

Samat joukot etuviistosta

  The troops look naked without their flags. Furry parts and mail will need close scrutiny, and perhaps drybrush after the dip, but overall I am pretty happy how these guys look so far.

PS Finally got one company of cossacks I had "almost ready" in last november  to shape where I felt I could just add varnish and finish the bases.

Aron veteraanit viimeinkin lakattuina ja baset ruohotettuna. Yllättävän paljon yksityiskohtia löytyi "melkein valmiista" taas täydennettäväksi.

These blue reined veterans have been waiting for the finishing touches for a long time. Now I think they are finally done.

PS 2 With the sun out some more pics of the skirmish group, sans wallachians and with an added troop of cossacks.

Kylän valtaus Taking of a Village

Starting the games on fall.
For the first time we tried the Fire and Sword skirmish scenario Village.
As the stronger player with my 10 FP Polish all cavalry force I had the joy of trying to  dislodge a Muscovite force of 5 FP from the Village.

We had trouble interpreting the scenario definition of village and ended up playing it with the village as one continual area of Build up area. Quick searc of forums afterwards showed we are not only ones who have misinterpreted the scenario in this respect. One is supposed to have area delineated by fence, that has rulesmechanical properties, couple of houses that actually work as separate houses in rules sensa AND the area left in between counts as build up area.

Fun was had by both players though, with valiant servant cossacks repelling Polish volunteers, pancerni, wallachians, tatars and cossacks in turn. In the end I managed to get foothold in the village, but with heavy losses victory went with closest of margins to my oppoment.

 Lessons learnt - cavalry charges inside villages are painful for the attacker if You are attacking defending cavalry. I felt like the bandits in seven samurai. All the advantages stacked to the defender do add up. Houses would have aggravated some of this, but then again they would have given cover to the attackers too. Besides their scouting ability the wallachians have the advanatage in actually carrying ammo to the battle so they can be used to soften up the enemy. And when light cavalry meets other light cavalry for a shooting match movin last is actually an advantage. In charging not so much.

Pelien alku syyspuolella.
Ensimmäistä kertaa kokeilussa kylän valtaus - skenaario.
Puolalainen lähinnä kevyestä ratsuväestä koostunut keskikokoinen lauma (10 voimapistettä) koitti heittää moskovalaisen palveluskasakoiden parven (5 voimapistettä) jonkhaan.

Harvinaisen epäselvästi käännetty skenaariokuvaus. Alun lause" koko kylä on rakennettua aluetta, rakennusten sijoittelulla ei ole merkitystä" sai meidät tulkitsemaan niin, että rakennuksilla ei ole pelimekaanista merkitystä. ( Rakennusten kohdalla maastosäännöissä kerrotaan, että niitä voidaan käsitellä rakennettuna alueena tai erillisinä rakennuksina.) Foorumkeskusteluiden pohjalta pelin tekijöiden tarkoitus on ollut, että kylä kokonaisuudessaan on tätä rakennettua aluetta, jonka sisällä on pelimekaanisia erillisrakennuksia ja jota ympäröi este, jolla on sääntöjen antama esteen ominaisuus.

Mukava pelikokemus vaikka väärin tulkittukin. Hakkasin sitekästi päätäni seinään ja sain pelin loppuun mennessä raskailla tappioilla tungettua oman kasakkaparven puolustusasemiin kylän laidalle.Voitto vastustajalle pienimmällä mahdollisella marginaalilla.

Nopat pyörivät kyllä todella hyvin moskovalaiselle päin, mutta tuli konkreettisesti todettua rakennetun alueen antavan loistavasti tasoitusta jalkaväelle.
Syö pois ratsuväen rynnäkköbonukset, haittaa osumista, antaa suojaa kohdalle sattuvilta osumiltakin ja vielä taistelun lopputulosta arvioidessakin antaa jalkaväelle 2 pistettä etua. Talot olisivat vielä blokanneet näköalaa, rajanneet liikkumista ja tarjonneet vielä suuremman suojan mahdollisia osumia vastaan.

Rakuunoita tai jalkaväkeä olisin kaivannut kipeästi. Lisäksi vastustaja onnistui pelaamaan taktisesti hyvää peliä ja välttämään taistelun siellä missä puolalainen olisi ollut vahva eli avomaastossa. Teki tämän vieläpä aseilla, joita olen puolalaisilla pelatessa tottunut pitämään ominani eli kevyen ratsuväen liikehtimisellä. Kevyen ratsuväen ammuskellessa toisiaan jälkimmäisenä liikkumisesta tulikin yllättäen etu - tosin rynnäköidessä se ei olisi ollut sitä.

Valakialaisella ja tataariratsuväellä on puolalaisiin kasakoihin verrattuna etuna kunnollin en ammusvarasto. Siinä missä kasakat ja pancernyt joutuvat säästämään laukauksia, jos haluavat käyttää pistoolejaan lähitaistelussa pelin loppuun asti kevyt ratsuväki voi ammuskella melko huoletta.

Painting - work continues.

WIP seems to be constant theme here.
I got my brave hussars to stage where they have their primary colors on. Tidying bases, inking and detail work remains. Roughly at midpoint from finished I figure, but hour or two from stage where I could get them on the table.

Hussar clothing should probably not be uniform. Variation here is very subtle though. Lances are painted separately except on the test figure on the right. Mixed in their is one Wargamer figure, rest are Legio Heroica. At this point I decide to base the guys since I have tendency to get green on figures when painting bases - corrections can be done at same stage as painting over inked figures.

Hussars have been the main project, but on the side Polish king Jan  with his retinue has been getting some treatment. 

Cossacks and Pancerni by QRminiatures are painted and inked. Some higlights and they are ready for varnish and grass. See the grass stained hooves...

New enemies

Since my opponent wanted to try his Muscovite skirmish force I had the joy of meeting a new enemy.
After looking at possible skirmish forces Muscovy can muster I decided to go with a strong Polish skirmish force again. I pondered on Gosievski foray which would have been historically correct, but decided to run with more numerous force using pancerni as main strike force.

My force contained 4 point colonel, with lieutenant-colonel, 2 banners of pancerni 3 strong, combined to a squadron at deployment, 3 banners of cossacks 3 bases strong, 2 banners of tatars and 6 bases of volunteers. My opponent fielded 2 strong formations of boyars son, formation of field dragoons having both spear and musket armed troops, 4 bases of servant cossacks, and a skirmish sotnia. He had a commander whose command he would find out at deployment and onepoint second in command.

As a weaker player my opponen got to choose the scenario from randomly chosen. He rolled patrol and twice the search of supplies. Cursing slightly he chose the  forage, where his task was to attack my force that was divided into two separate commands.

 On the left i had my colonel, 1 banner of tatars, pancerni as one large squadron, elite pancerni and a banner of cossacks. On the right I had volunteers, one banner of cossacks and lieutenant colonel.

Due to difference in our troop strength my opponent got to roll for special effects. My colonels command fell from 4 to 3 and banner of cossacks and tatars were delayed. As You can see I deployed a bit stupidly - sideways to my opponents deployment area and had thus my flank threatened already in the beginning.

 On the left at the side of the mill my troops saw hordes of Russian cavalry approaching.

At the half burned inn opponent was infantry, but the cossacks and volunteers were hampered by the walls. At least on the left it seemed crucial to get initiative. 

 On turn one I maneuvered a bit back from the enemy, to get room to turn towards him for possible countercharge. On this side he had not given charge except to skirmish sotnia that failed to make contact, but managed to keep the charge order by succesfully making a skill check.

 Field dragoons advancing in good order, cossacks forming a firing line and contemplating charge.

 To add injury to insult my troops pourerd bullets and arrows to advancing muscovites. Pancerni gave skirmish sotnia some hits. Tatars were the heroes of this operation though - puncturing enough boyars sons to kill a base and send the rest back in disorder. Way to go

 On the right cossacks harassed the spearmen with idea of disrupting them and then closing in for the kill. Volunteers just milled around.

 Round 2 Skirmish sotnia charge the pancerni, boyars sotnia charged the tatars who withdrew and were in turn charged by the elite pancerni. Muscovite infantry advanced steadily.

Rather disconcertingly pancerni despite their huge superiority of numbers failed to hurt the skirmish sotnia and were forced to withdraw.
Similarly the elite pancerni who attacked superior number of boyars sons lost and were forced to give ground. 

The lieutenant-colonel by the inn was surprised by the swift advance of the dragoonsand barely escaped with his life. Retalitory fire by volunteers and cossacks had no effect.

And neither did the carbine fire of cossacks in the center.

 Round 3 - round of knockout. The elite pancerni beat the boyars sons in the battle of the windmillhill and pursued them relentlesly. In the center cossacks took postition in the flank of skirmish sotnia - which was annihilated by the charge of the pancerni.

The better armor, pistols and elite status of the pancerni added with good to hit rolls by me and abysmal armor saves by the opponent made the day on this flank.

 On other flank cossacks fell back, leaving the contesting of objective to volunteers, who did suffer some injuries from
 musketry.



Round 4 saw elite pancerni driving rest of Muscovite cavalry, who had remained disorderd since being shot byt tatar arrows, off the battle field and ambush group of muscovite servant cossack emerging from a grove. 

  

On the right cossacks poured fire into the inn occupied by the field dragoons with no visible results. At this point we decided to call it a day. My opponent felt he had no tools to dislodge me from vicinity of objective and I had no interest in charging past the dragoons in the Inn.

Great victory to the commonwealth and quality of Polish pancerni. The lack of commandpoints by my opponent was sorely felt as was the fact that he lacked close support artillery he likes to use with his infantry. Similarly being used to disciplined Swedish Reiters he was not happy with the way the muscovite cavalry disintegrated when taking casualties. 

...and continuing. Reiters WIP

 Reiters have continued to get details, on the side I've added details to noble volunteers I started already before Christmas. The reiters  got sword frocks, hair and beard, manes of horses, stripes to saddleblankets and steel to their pistols and swords.
 In principle they are ready for inking. I might still add some detail like buckles or hooves, but basically the primary colors are done.

The volunteers had most riders already painted but lacked color on some horses and quite a lot of reins. Finally got all the horses painted as well as reins, some saddleblankets are still black.

Some of the greens dont really work, they are too dark and require some work. Horses manes are mostly unpainted and require work. And all the figures need to be checked for any missing details. Facial hair is missing so far and quite a lot of guys have black undercoat showing in their fur caps. Not a bad color, or effect, but very lazy solution.

On the side some of the Cossacks or Light cavalry by QR miniatures got excess color so that all their horses have the basic color. I kind of like the leather red - new bottle in my paint storage so it seems freash among grey and light brown mounts.







And since I don't seem to be able to get just a small drop of paint: 

the Pancerni from same batch got their mail coats and helmets painted now.

Alltogether a reasonably productive evening. Counts as family time since I set up my painting area on same table as wife was playing Civ and even had conversation while working on our respective pastimes. Cozy.

Cossacks and reiters WIP

With less harsh winter I finally did some undercoating outside.
Tatars are still waiting for inspiration, at the moment the horde looks even too dirty, but I am not sure what to do to amend that. Some careful highlighting may be in order.

I finally glued on some cossacks I have been painting separately.

By Fire and Sword cossacks.

Some highlighted details, grass to the bases, varnish and I think these guys may ride to skirmishfields. And a flagpole to the flagcarrier ofcourse.

Reiters from QRMiniatures

 With these I am experimenting on new process with painting troops before basing them. Handling horses and riders separate already seemed much more comfortable than painting three troopers and their mounts side by side. Interesting to see how this method works for me.These troopers are to get coloring suitable for German mercenary cavalry equally at home in Polish or Imperial troops. If required they might be easily drafted to Swedish or Danish service. I am tempted to get more of these guys, just to get more troopers with that wonky helmet, but so far I have resisted the temptation - no new miniature purchases until previous ones are painted and based, preferably finished.

Obviously not all of them, but amount comparable to intended purchases.  And even though I get kind of reluctant to do the finishing touches to units I need do just that to clear the queue I have made.
So in future I should work on:
- finishing Wargamer Cossacks, Volunteers and Polish Infantry.
- making a list of troops required for Polish division - that is minimum of two Polish cavalry regiments of which one may be light one, with at least one more regiment which may be volunteers, Dragoons or German mercenaries - and painting those units first
- finish the Reiters that I have already done to some level
- work on units of Italian wars and finish them one at the time
- playing with toysoldiers
- having fun in all parts of the process

QR miniatures - some 15 mm cavalry

Yesterday was assemby for Poles in here today I mounted them on cardboard for undercoating and possibly painting too.

Here are some pics and my feelings on the guys.

QR light cavalry with a member of nobility leading on.

Sold as light cavalry - these troopers have no visible armor. Could work as wallachians, volunteers or cossacks in my army. For Polish cossacks they might be slightly underarmoured. Nice mixture of bows and carbines.

Members of nobility

Nice gowns, seem to give good opportunity for opulent painting. No bows, quivers or carbines, but case of pistol holsters. Separate heads and weapons. I struggled with the weapons, but heads fitted easily.

QR Pancerni

 Commander with fur hat, leading a noble again. Carbines and quivers bows on those without. Separate weapons and right hands on some. Easy to glue on. My favorite is estoc carried by fourth from the left.

QR 30 Years War cuirassiers

Five wear closed helms, three have zishagge helmets, all in 3/4 armour. 3 with drawn swords rest with pistols. Will no doubt find a place in early 30 Years war army. Detail on zishagge is especially pleasing to me.

QR 30 years war Reiters

 Of the eight six seem to have breastplates. 2 of these have weird helmets of the type shown as Swedish early cavalry helm in Osprey, close to kapalina. The rest have hats. Pistols for all the armored troopers, drawn swords for the two guys in long buff? coats. Will nicely turn into a gruffy looking company of German Livonian or Curonian mercenaries I think. Could also work as early Swedish company.

Units that have already seen action

None of these units have gotten the varnish or flocking.
Some of them would require more than just that.

The pancerni are most advanced in painting - Legio Heroica production sans lances so far. Lacking some higlighting, maybe  and static grass or other basing texture. The hardest hitting unit in my skirmish force - so far deployed in squadron of 3+2 bases.

 Cossacks - the main troop of a Polish commander - Legio Heroica Polish light cavalry. Some touchup and work on bases required. The hitting power of their charge has been surprising. Elite cavalry rule, companion special rule and impact bonus from long charge really make these guys lethal.

Legio Heroica Gonullu. ie Ottoman cavalry from the Balkans. I have fielded them as Wallachians. Decent scouts - and have even won a melee fight with artillery battery. Without the lances that they would have as Ottoman troops.

The Polish commander - Legio Heroica General with a standard bearer. So far fielded as a colonel in skirmish battles.

Troop of Acies Edizioni Croats. I have fielded them as Polish cossack cavalry with no qualms. They may make an appearance as Croats at some point if I get an Imperial force onto the field. Standard bearer - at this point without his flag, from Legio Heroica gonullu range.

Last a company of Dragoons - From by Fire and Sword Swedish skirmish set, with colors of Polish Crown Dragoons - although in western costume, not the typically Polish.

Together these guys form a pretty strong skirmish force, but they apart from the dragoons and together with the other forces I have underway these guys help to flesh out regiments for the divisional level of play. Especially cossacks are required since Polish division needs to have minimum of two Polish cavalry regiments. There is some leeway whether they are basic, light or elite, Lithuanian or Polish, but cossack cavalry is required in all. They can have as support dragoons, infantry or western type cavalry regiments and divisional companies in relation to the amount of  regiments (max five).

Getting to the divisional level will probably take time, so there is strong temptation to just push on in gettin more units into recognizable colors at the same time and leave final basing and finishing to  one big final effort. However, since I will probably need to look at these fellows of skirmish play for longish period I try to get them into shape that does not hurt my eyes before the New Year.

 

Some more works in progress

I have been painting some polish cossacks and volunteers to complement existing troops.

The two cossack banners are almost done - just waiting for a shading of wash, lacquer and some grass and details on the base. Blue reins give the unit surprisingly blue overall look. For some reason I seem unable to focus on just compelting the guys once they are almost done. So...

I have at the same time dabbled with volunteers - their horses still need painting, as well as much of their clothing. These were supposed to be "the blue troops"  but may get more tan or yellow topcoats to lighten the overall impression.

And even more fuzzy ride the German type reiters. These guys are going to play role of German mercenary reiters, possibly Danish and Imperial troops as well. Red will be their main identification color - in sashes and feathers, with white, red and tan  dominating jackets and coatcolors. At the moment the most finished guys, in the front, are a tad too uniform for historical accuracy.
 I might give these guys mainly white and light grey horses in contrast to Poles riding grey and brown horses.

And  as an aside - I need to actually learn how to get decent pics - pic quality here is abysmal.