Sunday, 23 February 2025

54mm 'work in progress' for Volley & Bayonet - Rise of the 'Biggies'

Since last posting on Volley and Bayonet 54mm Napoleonics, I can now safely say that I have doubled the number of based units ...to 12.

At this rate, I will be able to fight the 1809 campaign, or indeed Quatre Bras, sometime around 2038. It is therefore necessary, I must regret to inform all readers, that 54mm painting production, is now on a war footing - with numbers having to at least treble (or under a Warsaw Pact style system at least increase by a rate which is impossible to achieve, but it's ok, we'll lie about it later).


'Vive le Biggies!'

The use of 'contrast paints' has (in similar vein to aforementioned WarPact systems) meant that a reduction in quality can still produce fine pieces - well, fine enough to hit the table and obey the 'one foot' rule.

Of course, back in the day (the 70s no less), Airfix produced 1/35 and 1/72 plastic (polyurethane) figures, known colloquially/locally as 'biggies' and 'midgies'. Midgies of course came from the term 'midget' , which we used to be allowed to say, but in this context referred to the smaller brethren.

Some Italeri and Timpo in there; not just Airfix.

In Volley and Bayonet - the base is key - and normally 3 inch by 3 inch - so it's how many figures you can fit on, not the scale of fig, that matters. A superb idea, if. like me, you love the larger figure ...in terms of old school plastic figures that is...ahem

'Ere mate! Don't forget us midgies..."

I'm sure 54mm V&B will hit the table in this life-time  --- honest...

Apparently it's still ok to call these 'midget gems'

Not a midget.

This post was certainly not an excuse to get a post in before month-end, because of a lack of actual gaming ...honest.



4 comments:

  1. Great stuff!
    It's how FC played it, so it must be right!
    Kudos on the use of Contrast paint as well - a boon for us speed challenged painters! ☺
    Neil

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    Replies
    1. Cheers Neil. Yep, I remember AWI 54mm on the internet back in the day, and of course on the cover of the original book. I think there are two brilliant sets for Horse & Musket rules - Field of Battle and Volley and Bayonet - I can do multiple periods, in very different ways. V & B however has a very different, almost traditional vibe to it, in terms of how the rules work, and yet, it is slick and elegant. I keep coming back to it, and it's a special set.
      Yes - contrast paints make it easy! I almost (almost!) enjoy painting now. :)

      Delete
  2. Nice figures and midget gems rock!

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  3. I spy an Action Packs Napoleon….

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