Borodino plus New Toys!

This weekend has been a great weekend for me in terms of wargaming and I would like to share it. After this post my wee painted men may appear a little bland in comparison!!!

I consider myself very lucky at the moment in regards to wargaming:
  1) I have my brother and nephew 30 minutes up the road who share the same hobby interests as myself, 2) I have my friend Cameron maybe 2 stone throws away who also loves wargaming and has just embraced 15mm Naps, 3) 30mins in the other direction my friend Robert is starting to host large 15mm Naps battles that I have the chance to join.
 

Robert text me earlier in the week to say that he and Billy would be playing a game of Naps, wasn't sure what at the time but probably late Russians against French. I asked if I could join them and Robert said no problem. I then managed to mess my shifts up at work meaning that the wife and I would miss each other until pretty much Saturday afternoon and seeing as this is our only weekend together in 3 it wasn't clever. I let Robert know I would be down for a few hours to watch but wouldn't be able to play and to be honest it was probably for the best as to my shame I only now have been getting stuck into the latest GdB rules (Yes this is probably punishable by death in some countries but I did have it out on loan to Cameron to give him a head start before he bought his own copy).
  

Anyway as you can see Robert put on a superb Borodino game (I believe it is 1 from the GdB scenario book?). The Table looked to be perfectly sized for movement and the troops on display were superb!
  

I apologise for the crappy pics but I just don't seem to have the knack at the moment with my wee camera. The Redoubt: the French objective for the day to take it and hold it.
  

Some of Billy's cracking AB French artillery, I really like the way the guns are done with a white undercoat and a light olive wash.
 

Billy's right marching off to try and outflank the Russian left. AB French Legere
  

Robert deployed the Russian 12lb battery to the left of the redoubt and the light battery inside. Pretty interesting tactic.
   

The Russian cavlry brigades coming on later in the game.
  

Billy's right pincher.
  

it was pretty balanced here until the Russian cavalry started to appear.
   

Some AB French eye candy.
  

What can I say about the day? Robert and Billy were great and as usual put up with my many questions on the new rules and were also very encouraging for myself about joining them for a game. The game itself, well as you would expect has totally inspired me. When I walked out to my car all I could think about was getting more Russians and French painted and what I would need to finish to be able to play this scenario with my own troops (I was surprised not that much to be honest, The Davids have covered the French already!). The next time I get the chance and I'm not on shift I will be joining in!!!
  

And here is another great bit of news, I purchased a large amount of AB's for myself from Darren down in England (really nice bloke). He gave up 15mm Naps a few years back for 28's and sold them figures at a good price for us both. So I now have plenty of Prussians to paint!!
 

I won't be counting them, all I can say is it took me 4 hours to sort them out into units along with my other troops, so much for chipping away at the lead mountain. The great thing is I still love painting my 15mm Naps and I am sure with time myself and the Davids will get through them all!!!

Happy figure painting and wargaming to everyone!