Where next with The Seven Years War ? (1) Eric's Lead Mountain

Eric Knowles' Prussians - setting a high bar

Having fought my first three battles with 'The Portable Seven Years War' and figures from the late Eric Knowles' collection, it's time for a pause and a gathering of thoughts. I think the short 'campaign' came to a natural conclusion, with General Dachs' Austrians throwing back Eric von Kleist's invading Prussians (and ending his military career in a drastic manner), but then being rebuffed in their turn as they pursued over the border. So, honours about even. Both games and blog have been tremendous fun, have got me back into wargaming after several decades, and also generated loads of friendly comments from other gamers - thanks everyone!

However, I think I need to expand the scope of the 'project' (if that's not too grand a word), a little, so as not to become samey. I may be guilty of very typical wargamer's megalomania, but do I think more troops are needed, The most immediately glaring hole in the battle order is that of Austrian regular infantry - it's a bit embarrasing for General Dachs to rely on dismounted Grenze Hussars, and Jagers - who are actually Prussian! They could do with some more conventional cavalry, too.

Fortunately, help is at hand. In addition to the painted figures you have seen from Eric Knowles collection, David Crook also let me have a fair number of unpainted troops. These came ready-organised and cataloged by Eric, in an eccentric variety of labelled vintage boxes, and even with notes for his planned painting schemes, which I feel rather duty bound to honour.

Actually the boxes are probably worth a picture!

Eric's boxes of delights

I remember the classy blue boxes of Hinchcliffe figures that I could see (but never afford) as a kid in 'Man and Boy' model shop in Sittingbourne, 40 or more years ago, and those small maroon ones are from Greenwood and Ball. A slightly eccentric choice of a 1960s-looking Monogram box for WW2 US army figures now contains French Dragoons, and finally there's a rather splendid rectangular display-style box printed with 'Battles of Yesteryear - Napoleonic Period' - now containing Austrian Cuirassiers.

Now this, I find from a little searching, will have once held some 'Alberken' figures - a firm started in 1964, and later morphed into Miniature Figurines. I know Eric was involved in the 1965 Waterloo refight at the Duke of York's Headquarters along with Don Featherstone, Tony Bath et al - I can't help wondering if this rather timeworn box originally held figures that graced that very table? Perhaps a little bit of wargaming history, in a funny sort of way.

What we have in total is roughly this:

    Austrian infantry Regiment 'Botta' , both line and Grenadiers
    Austrian Cuirassiers regiment 'Erzherhog Ferdinand'
    Austrian FreiKorps battalion 'Loudon' with Grenadiers
    Austrian Light Infantry 'Frontier Guards'
    Bavarian Grenadiers 'Rummel' ( which are confusingly labelled 'Marlburian' but are clearly
                                                          Minifigs 7YW figures )
    French Dragoon regiment 'Dauphin' - which may be seconded to fight alongside the Prussians.

In all, about 30-40 cavalry and over 100 foot. Despite the boxes, they are pretty much all 1970s/80s vintage Minifigs, as far as I know. Plenty to be going on with - David was very generous with what he called 'Brucie Bonuses'! The Frei Korps, Frontier Guards etc will fit in well with the existing Grenze troops and the Prussians von Kleist Frei Korps, with a leavening of more 'regular' troops on both sides. Not sure how the Bavarians will fit in!

Now, as stated before I am not a skilled painter, and this is all a bit daunting, but I am making a start. The Austrians desperately need line infantry, so first on the painting table are the Regiment 'Botta'. As you can see, Eric has left me instructions, which I feel I should honour:

That's me told - and happy to comply

With some trepidation I have given the Botta regiment's line figures a coat of white primer, and made a start on painting the first 16 of them, which will make two 'battalions' for The Portable Wargame. I'm going to take it slowly and carefully, in a simple old school style - they won't win any prizes, and Eric might not be impressed, but let's see how it goes.

Regiment Botta - primed and ready

Next time, perhaps a meditation on the wide choice rules for the period. In the meantime, I hope everyone is keeping well and looking out for others, of course,, wherever you are.