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I have not yet. I presently have 3 contenders: 1. Black Powder 2. Principles of War 3. A modded ACW game currently in development by a friend of mine. How about you?

I have decided to use black powder since that’s what I have used now for most of my hyphenated war armies. I have taken some of the fire and fury and war points in the booklet and applied that to the black powder rules which I think look possible and interesting. I think using Civil War rules might be difficult just due to the cavalry and the mindset and how European armies fought versus American armies entirely different philosophy. But I think that if that could work. I’ve decided to start on my Russian armies first just because I think everybody starts with the Brit so I’m going the opposite direction.. It seems that there’s so much conflict in what Russians look like gray brown pickle hem or field cap. There’s lots of different varieties out there which I suppose opens things up for a modeling. But thank you very much for writing me. I’m watching your project with intensity.

Sounds like a plan getting the Russians done. I started 8 of them the other day and have opted for Khakis and Stone Grey for the initial batch. Forage caps dark green. In terms of rules, I should clarify. My friend's in-development ACW rules have a following in Italy. That playtesting group has modded the rules for the Risorgamento and the Franco-Prussian War, in different ways. So when I say I will use those rules, I mean mod them for the Crimea, and use the base engine, which I like.

That sounds very interesting as I really like the era. I have many sets of rules, kinda like Ralph but not to the extent and some focusing on the era. Franco Prussian for example but somehow they always want you to rebase and frankly I don’t wanna 🥴 I’ll be interested in your video upcoming reflecting your progress. I started re-imagining and bringing these figures back to life. I’m. A glutton for punishment. I love I guess to restore things and make them better.

I look forward to seeing your armies on parade. I too am fascinated by the post-Napoleonic 19th Century. So much change, technologically, and also a lack of change in terms of doctrine. The political situation in Europe is volatile too, which makes for an interesting setting.

I just deleted and reloaded the video. Took several hours on my slow connection. I enjoyed the holiday snaps by the way. Also, have you painted all the Mughal stuff that you have now, or is that still ongoing? And who is the opponent for the Mughals?

Hello, thanks for watching my video and commenting thoughtfully. It's been a while since this video,. I don't have a tonne of time to do a blow-by-blow on the Midwinter Minis video, but I think I had two issues with their video: 1. Calling the German Army "Nazis" throughout is not productive or clever. The Wehrmacht was not an extension of the NSDAP like the SS was, and the motivations of average Wehrmacht soldier are likely to be as varied as those who fought on the Allied side. 2. At th-cam.com/video/apOe1XFzcRc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=K2AlsCEbPMbNZfJN&t=271 they cut to the core problem I see here: People are okay being space fascists when they are killing space monsters, and that is okay. Far-right people might want to play as the Germans, and that is not okay. This is a weird straw man that has been around for a while. Show me these historical players who are playing the Germans as a sort of weird fantasy. The thing is, we know those people exist in the Warhammer 40k community, festooned as it is with Nazi or Nazi-adjacent rhetoric and symbols, but I am yet to see these fascists playing Chain of Command.

One final thought, and one that likely needs more thorough discussion and thought is the risk of the younger generation having little context for the war, and perhaps a nascent sanitization and glorification of the German war machine becoming the fashion. Especially in this day of "alternative facts". I think that on the whole the historical wargaming community has done a good job of thoughtfully engaging with the subject matter and retaining the sense of history, thus far. How that develops in the future remains to be seen.

A conundrum and source of agony for me. I utterly detest having to rebase figures, so this is one of those "must get it right first time" moments.

@@ZenMiniPainting I do like the asymmetry of four bases, but three does allow for that command in the centre. It really is a nuisance and frustrating, as you know, sometime down the line rebasing will be needed.

Regarding those brass plates: It appears that they only really belong on the Guards. I am struggling to find a picture of the regular line with it present. Nonetheless, it is a minor detail and easily ignored in the larger view of the battalion. On the topic of basing, the agonizing I am currently engaged in (or perhaps self-flagellation is a better word) is informed by that battalion symmetry I described, but also the footprint of the battalion. As an example, I need the footprint to be narrow enough for a Russian "Company" or base to man a redoubt, or the British to occupy the narrow strip of land between the Alma river and the rising embankment (where they were able to take cover from the Russian guns). This creates and issue if the bases are too large of the those features being stretched to fit the figures. I'm perhaps not being very clear. Anyway, I am toying with the idea of doing variable base widths to accommodate. So perhaps Command base = 60/80mm wide, and then remaining troops 40mm wide. The 40mm depth might then work well in the context of the features I described above. Not quite sure what I will do. I do agree that 40x40 makes more sense that 60x60 particularly since it allows the unit to "articulate" better to terrain. Truly first world problems. Since I mentioned redoubts, do you know of a good looking model in 28mm by chance?

@@ZenMiniPainting You might be right about the plates but I have found a single image that might counter - if you google 'Major Thomas Egerton and a sentry 77th (The East Middlesex) Regiment' you will see an example but this is variously described as undated or 1850 and by David Cunliffe or Daniel Cunliffe so not confidence inspiring. In 28mm I can't think of a redoubt but it would be fun to model one from individual gabions. Otherwise I would resort to 3D printing. I have a nice STL for the Grand Redoubt at Borodino for example.

I thought of 3D printing largely because of you adventures in it. I have some friends just across in Canada who might be able to oblige. But I certainly will make some, very iconic for the conflict. Re: the painting you referenced, the National Army Museum has it as painted in 1849. So I suppose it can break either way really. Honestly, I only really noticed it when looking at my Osprey plates, and when I was looking at the figures from Great War and Wargames Foundry. Thanks for the note though, as you have demonstrated many times before, before Osprey!

I don't think anyone can really remove John Gielgud or Trevor Howard from their conception of the Crimean War after seeing "The Charge of the Light Brigade", performances that really underscore my image of both Lord Raglan and the Earl of Cardigan. For good or ill. And of course, in the late Roman Republic, the "Great Man" theory of history is very much writ large. Hope you have been keeping well and that the summer is finally there. Heard it was a tad nippy recently.

@@ZenMiniPainting I totally agree, those actors always will be the faces of Raglan and Cardigan. I am keeping very well David, shooting off to the coast every chance I get. The summer really hasn’t got going this year, hopefully that will change this month.

Can’t wait to see the fruits of your labours. I am rather taken with the story of the war and enjoying my reading in parallel to my modeling.

Yeah, I’ve read about five books now with a little bit of conflicting information but quite fascinating how the politics of things actually thrust England into the silly war. And the politics behind Russian expansion a lot of things have never changed.

Hopefully the Crimean supplement will see some new releases in terms of figures. There really isn't a single range that really covers the Crimean War well. I recent rewatched your Age of Valor video, and I noted the decent maps and OOBs that were included. I have been cobbling together mine for the Alma. And whilst the British OOB is very well fleshed out, the Russian, French, and Turkish leave much to be desired. In any event, it has been great fun diving into a conflict I knew very little about before your video series, and the reading I am currently doing is very enriching. I based up the initial run of Crimean figures and got another order last weekend. I've also put in a modest order with Ebor Miniatures who seem to do good value regimental sized packs, once they turn up, I will see how they look.

I did have a question that you might be able to help with re the Crimea. British Fusilier and Light Infantry regiments seemingly all wore the "wings" or "swallow's nest" on their shoulder. Do you know of a list of Light Infantry/Fusilier regiments? Or are they identified as such in the regimental name? "Durham Light Infantry" "Scots Fusiliers", etc.

@@ZenMiniPainting I confess to being a little rusty on the subject but think you are correct - you can only tell by the full regimental title. I have the same issue with earlier periods, especially during the eighteenth century when regiments often were renamed.

Thank you for watching.

Indeed, nice to finally get them done and dusted. Singapore has been a blast, such a remarkable place, and I'll be sad to leave tomorrow, but also glad to be heading home to cooler climes.

Thanks Phil. Really enjoyed your last videos. Fantastic as always. Hopefully I can showcase my miniatures in action soon.

Thank you, I look forward to your next video, always a treat.

Thanks for watching. Hopefully more to come soon.

I have no doubt that others will have the same question, let's hope they find this video in the future.

I was shocked myself, they only recently came onto the scene (recently being very elastic here). At any rate, I will be putting in some purchases myself, just need to solidify that shopping list, and scrape the pennies together. I was very pleased to see your last video, the one with the Khazars. I am of the same mind, I don't mind buying stuff in advance, but I don't do so due to marketing compulsion. Back when I played GW games, you sort of had to do that, because stuff would come out in very limited quantities and then be either unavailable forever, or be released later in a less value-for-money deal. So there was this ongoing spend of around 100 quid every month for the latest, just in case I might need it one day. All powered by FOMO, fear-of-missing-out. This is why I avoid Warlord these days, they are very good at drumming up that faddish tide, as you mention, only for it to peter out shortly after. As I have grown older, I couldn't keep pace with GW, and their constant changing of editions, etc. So I have jacked all that in. I am sitting on some rare stuff as a result, which will be going to eBay. I have no use for that anymore, perhaps someone else can benefit from my "foresight".

Hi Ralph and David, I would like to use this opportunity to thank you both for your contributions to the community. Love your videos - they are my favorite thing to listen to while doing hobby, working etc. I really like your calm and measured demeanor and the topics you bring up never fail to be interesting. Best of luck in your future endeavors gentlemen!

Thank you VK. I am enjoying your Italian Wars videos very much.

I am always pleased to see a video from you Ian. I'm not too precious about comments, but the insulting ones get cut, don't have to tolerate abuse. Club and I have been doing some planning around Marian Romans, hence the interest in North Africa and Spain. I have been thinking a Jugurthine scenario might be interesting, but we shall see.

I can check for you. Standby.

Made a quick and dirty video on my phone and uploaded it for you.

Thank you for the wishes. I abhor rebasing, so I think I will just settle with these 60x60mm bases and leave it at that. "Never again!" Hope life on the farm is grand, and you are keeping well.

Thank you for this comment. I really appreciate the rules recommendation.

That might be it! Thank you Ian, still a very odd looking pose.

Thanks Kevin, I'll take a look at the Little Wars TV rules for AWI.

I liked them. I also enjoy black powder. The two rules are two different perspectives. Both enjoyable.

By the way, the book of wargaming that you started your video off with from Neal is a very good book. I have it in my virtual library. I just reread it again this morning with my cup of coffee. Yes, I read quickly if you study his rules, it is if black powder was written with his rules in mind with a few minor adjustments. Black powder being more tool kit for Wargamer is uniquely positioned to accept his suggestions for 19 century warfare. I could see making a few minor tweaks to black powder for my Franco Prussian or American Civil War games even the Crimean. Using black powder with a few of his suggestions, which makes sense. By the way, a good author with a level head.

Well, I actually went back and looked through my old Black Powder rule book, and found that there are rules for mixed formation units (formed with skirmisher screen), which I had totally missed in the past. I think Thomas's ideas dovetail neatly with the Black Powder idea. So I can see myself getting some decent mileage out of both books in the end.

Remember, black powder rules to me just gives me a toolbox. I am going to be currently running a war of the Spanish succession campaign with my mates with a hopefully a large battle at the end I have adapted the black powder rules to emulate and reflect warfare during the Marlburian period. I have modified the rules using another person‘s ideas with a supplement called Blenheim. And tweaking different units and attributes and how they fought. I’m actually able to re-create with this beautiful toolbox a little bit of what I think the period flavor could be. Because it certainly wasn’t Napoleonic warfare and it certainly isn’t Franco Prussian wars either. I like the flexibility of these rules and I’m able to adapt them freely. I even have taken from live free or die and implemented some of those ideas into my black powder game.

Indeed, travelling into London is such a hassle, and just the cost of the train is prohibitive, never mind the cost of accommodation, vittles, entrance fee, and of course toys. Must be especially hard on those on a fixed income. And coupled with foot pain, one must ask if the juice is truly worth the squeeze. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the show in Canada, the emphasis is heavily on participation, which I wasn't quite prepared for, so I think next show here in North America, I shall make sure I get stuck in. That said, this time around, I had so much graft waiting for me back at home, I couldn't really just enjoy myself. Regarding those Warlord figures, I actually took another look this morning, and of the 24 figures, 4 do have the swallows' nests, so I suppose those are meant to represent the flank companies. The rest have the worsted crescent. So I shall have to clarify that in a later video. N.B. Enjoyed your last two videos. I don't know if I missed you talking about it, but have you tried "Cold Waters" it is a nuclear submarine simulator, set in a "Cold War gone hot" scenario. The game is made by Killerfish Games, who also made "Atlantic Fleet" which you have featured previously. I sunk several hours into that, along with the Silent Hunter series, which is a diesel submarine simulator game. P.S. My wife is mega impressed by your Jacobites. She asked me why I am not painting tartan, and I replied that I am not a mad man like you! Hope the foot pain buggers off so you can get up and about again. Best wishes from Point Roberts, Washington.

Thank you for watching. I enjoy your cinematic videos immensely.

Hi Howard, Yes! Take those gaps wherever you can. Katherine has had me occupied in the garden, so that has limited my hobby time, but I think, when the chores are all done, I might find a moment extra here and there. Would love to see your work. What scale is that Byzantine army in? Been toying with getting a smallish force myself.

The Byzantines are 15mm from Museum Miniatures. Horse are pretty good but some of the foot sculpts are a little lacking in animation. They are Nikephorian I think. Can’t t remember what rule set I bought them for but they are being based for Impetus/Milites Muncie from Gripping Beast. Both use 80mm frontage and I don’t think it’s that important if the depths vary by 5 or 10 mm.

Thanks Ian. Tough when there is so much work to be done for the Memsahib. But we find our gaps where we may.

Thank you. Just wanted to say, I came across your painting guide for Russian Crimean infantry, excellent video.

@@ZenMiniPainting Many thanks

Thank you for the encouragement!

Oh yes, Sydney is great. Just ultra expensive. I was there last in late 2014, and the city seems to be throwing up new buildings all the time.

Thanks for watching Howard. Hoping to find more opportunities to create videos soon.

I'm an Alaska Airlines man myself :)

You do know that anytime you would ever get over to Atlanta. You just possibly have to look me up. I think we would have a great time together and you would certainly make a lifetime friend. It might take you a while to get through looking at all the 300,000 figures but I do have really good tea and cookies here.😂😂

@@thekrausecollection15mmmin53 Kevin, I would love to pop down to Atlanta some time. I go to Nashville quite often, and might see if I can make that drive down through Chattanooga some time.

I would be tickled immensely. We would love to host you. I have brilliant tea and coffee, good food and lots of toys 😂😂

Great to hear from you Ian. I walked the peninsular in Point Roberts the other day, specifically to inspect some of the erosion patterns, and I thought of you and your fantastic videos. With the weather getting finer, I am hoping to make a video about the erosion here, it is remarkable to see boulder clay stripped away by the waves, but also general rainfall causing collapses.

@@ZenMiniPainting I intend to do some more on the erosion this year, to see what the winter has done, the usual places for comparison. Mappleton and Skipsea, I am sure a lot more land will have been lost, the clay of the East Yorkshire Coast is no match for the North Sea.

Funny you say that, I cut a 10 minute rant from that last video that ended up being largely incoherent. But totally agree, I see certain channels chasing the "algorithm", and one of the telltale signs is thumbnail art. The inane "surprised" face, with a finger pointing at something. I'll be honest, if I see that, I do not watch.

Yes, I am.

@@ZenMiniPainting aah cool , where abouts ? Im originally from Cape Town, but now call England my home !

@@battleknights9636 I was born in the Cape but grew up mostly in the Free State and Natal. Most of my family have left SA, scattered to the four winds. Which part of the UK did you end up in?

@@ZenMiniPainting Bedfordshire, a little county just north/ west of London!

@@battleknights9636 that's cool, I used to live in Oxfodshire, used to travel through Befordshire on my way to Cambridge, unless my memory fails me.

Thank you for the kind words. Trip has been great, but glad to be on the way home now.

I am always astonished by my ability to stash things away and forget about them. It borders on the supernatural.

Just catching up on comments now, Happy New Year!

Thank you. I think with practice I should improve.

Thank you, Kevin, Merry Christmas to you.

And a very merry Christmas to you as well my new friend

You are welcome. I noticed the same thing re: search engines. Gutenberg isn't perfect, but if you know what you are looking for it can be rather helpful.

Merry Christmas to you too Ian. Would much rather be home by the sea than away, but needs must. I hope you have a lovely time at the coast.

Double-stacked shelves, Lol. 😏 Was warned about this by a friend who has that problem. He can never find anything. When installing my own bookshelves some years back I made sure they were so narrow that it’s hard to stack anything but the smallest paperbacks more than two deep. :-)

I had forgotten about the Osprey subscription thing. I signed up for that many, many years ago, but didn't really use it enough to justify the cost. And I totally get that the library option isn't for everyone. I think my major issue is that I feel that there isn't much value in me buying a book for a photograph or plate, and honestly, some Osprey books feel like that. I think in a world where both space and money are becoming more scarce, for some, we have to make tougher choices. I think, though, that as wargamers we have this tendency to accumulate stuff. I suppose I choose to accumulate toy soldiers rather than wargaming books where possible. In a rather reductive sense, a battalion of troops represents a better purchase investment that a book that I only need for a bit of research and then never revisit again.

@@ZenMiniPainting - I’m more worried about my miniature purchases getting out of hand than my book-buying. Books you can put away on the shelf and come back to a decade or more later and still get full value from. I was a Napoleonics fiend in my teens and perhaps half my book collection was Waterloo-related. Then my interests switched and the books sat unread in a closed cupboard for three decades: I nearly sold them. Currently it’s my number one interest again and those books are getting a lot of use. As for minis, I bought a huge amount of them online during the pandemic, mainly obsolete stuff that’s normally hard to find. To be honest I got into a bit of funk when I realised how big my pile of shame had grown. I’ve now put a blanket ban on any new projects and that seems to have helped save my sanity. As it is, I have only two active periods of interest (Napoleonic and early WW2/Spanish Civil War) and all in one scale 20mm/25mm. The single scale is key as I can use the same terrain, and also play both massed battles and skirmishes.

I look forward to it. As I said, I don't think the library method is for everyone, but it is a resource that is oft neglected.