Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - 1st Texas Infantry Regiment

 

 Over the past several weeks, I've been working on another Confederate infantry regiment. This time it's the 1st Texas, part of the Texas Brigade, which I have already finshed the regiments of the 5th Texas and 3rd Arkansas. 

The 1st Texas Infantry Regiment 

 I do enjoy working on regiments but when I embark on one, I know I'm in for at least six weeks of hard slog. Plus there's a lot of careful figure selection from the wonderful Dixon range to go through first. 

 Assembled in Richmond, VA in August 1861, the 1st Texas consisted of 10 companies with 2 added subsequently. As part of the Texas Brigade, it fought under the Army of Northern Virginia from Seven Pines to Cold Harbor before latterly, the Siege of Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign. 

 The regiment was known for its high casualty rate (82.3%) at the battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg); the highest suffered by any regiment, North or South, on a single day during the entire war.

 At Gettysburg, they achieved much for fighting with lesser numbers than the enemy, successfully taking the major objectives they were assigned to. Under heavy fire from their position at Seminary Ridge, the order to take the heights was finally issued with Lieutenant Colonel Work yelling "Follow the Lone Star Flag to the top of the mountain!" The 1st Texas subsequently played a significant part in causing the Union troops to withdraw from their position on Devil's Den. 

  Mrs. Louis T. Wigfall, wife of the 1st Texas Regiment’s Colonel, gave her wedding dress to be made into a Lone Star Flag for the Regiment.

–The flag of the Texas camp, at Camp Wigfall, near Dumfries, Va., is made of the bridal dress of Mrs. Wigfall. Says the correspondent of the Austin Gazette:

It bears the emblem of the “Lone Star,” and this is of pure white silk, set in blue ground; the fold are purple and white. The hearts of all are riveted to it. It never will be given up. An old war-worn warrior approached it, and as his eyes gazed steadily upon the banner, he said: “That star was made of the bridal dress of the lady of our gallant colonel. She worked it with her fair hands, and gave it to us to carry through the battles of our country. How could we fall to protect. How could we fall to protect it with our lives? No, Sir! I never failed to meet the enemy when that star was our watchword, and now when our whole South is in danger, I feel that my poor life can be given up easily upon that flag as my shroud.” The old fellow with his grey heirs, still stands before my memory. Such is the feeling of every Texan.

 There will be more Dixon ACW to come soon; I'm currently working on an artillery piece plus a few Confederate cavalry. 

 

Collaboration Project - Citadel/Warhammer/AD&D Adventuring party complete!

 Well I was intending to post each time a party member was finished but I just didn't get around to it. So here is the adventuring party in its entirety. 

 

In the style of the excellent and wonderfully informative Otherworld AD&D site, I'll describe each member of the party in detail. 

■ The party leader is the female magic user from the AD&D range (high level). She wears a leather headband and is adorned in various jewellery. She is clad in a fur lined cloak and lace trimmed long tunic. She carries a bronze staff and short sword plus an array of scrolls.

■ The fighter model is Gladius from the Heroic Fighters of the Known World set. He wears a large plumed Greek style helm and dressed in a mixture of fur, leather armour and chainmail. He carries a broadsword and an ornate bronze shield plus a large comb to keep his impressive plume looking pristine.

■ The Complete Adventurer fom the classic Citadel limited edition range. So he is carrying.....(here we go)

Lantern, torch, camera (!), satchel, staff, sword, short sword, bucket, bow and arrows, tomes x2, dagger, axe, scrolls, frying pan, wooden spoon, coil of rope, dinner plate, ball and chain, mug, teapot, one or two unidentifiable objects....oh and the proverbial....

■ Dwarf hero. Another classic from the AD&D character range (high level). He is wearing a horned bronze helm with brass trimming and armed with a rune carved axe, a bronze shield and short sword. He also carries a crossbow and pouch of bolts. He is clad in ornate leather armour trimmed with bronze.

■ Elven ranger. Dressed in a fine cloth tunic with studded sleeves and striped three quarter length pants, he is armed with a broadsword and bow. His quiver of arrows is fitted with an elegant strap featuring an ornate brooch-like clasp.

■ Ogre mercenary. I went for a slightly understated model as I thought one of the more individual looking Jes Goodwin ogres would dominate the group too much so opted for the trooper in the Golfag's ogre mercenaries set from the Regiments of Renown range. Dressed in furs, chainmail and leather, this brutish looking fellow is armed with a large spiked mace, a plain weathered bronze shield and a bone handled cleaver.

 So the project is at and end....or is it? The plan was to also include a warband of villains. For that I have selected (most likely), a chaos sorcerer, an evil fighter, a gnoll, an orc, a goblin and a skeleton. The sorcerer is underway and should have him wrapped up this coming week.

Collaboration Project - Adventuring Party, ADD11 Female Magic User

 

 I can't believe this is actually the first model I've completed since early December. I've painted most days since then but just couldn't get anything finished. I must have about twenty half painted models cluttering up the desk from during that period. I've never known a time like it to be honest; making a promising start then running put of interest. 

 The other week I suggested to my good buddy Rochie over at Buried Under Lead, a collaboration project to help remedy my frustration. He was more than keen so we got the ball rolling.

 The plan is to paint one figure a week to make up a five model adventuring party. So here is my first effort:

 She is a female magic user from the classic Citadel AD&D range; the high level model from the packs of three miniatures that represented a character at different stages of experience. 

 This is a model I've been interested in acquiring for a while now so this was the ideal opportunity to grab one. It's always nice to have a figure turn up that I've never had in hand before and was impressed with all the little details on this one. 

 Part of the fun in this kind of project is deciding on figure selection. It didn't take me long to work out who was going to feature in this party. I'll reveal each week who's in as I finish them. The next one is underway and should be completed by the end of the week.

 I painted Gladius from the Heroic Fighters of the Known World set a while back (over a year ago actually - time flies!) and although he's not strictly part of this project, I'll probably include him seeing as he was intended for a small adventuring party such as this one anyway.

 

 

2022 - Review Time!

 

 Well it's been a bit of a quiet year really in comparison with others. I've not actually blogged since September, although I did paint the odd model since then but but hadn't got around to adding them on here. 

 So back in early January, I produced the highlight of my year, personally: the Dwarf Juggernaut from the Citadel Arcane Monstrosities range.

 Some notable alterations were made, such as a different crew and the imperial flame cannon on the main deck.

 The plan was to carry on with the large scale machine theme with a repaint of the Chaos Battering Ram from the same range but I think it was too much to take on after weeks of working on a equally sizeable project so I went for a single model instead, Hrothyogg from the classic Jes Goodwin ogre range.

 I did make a start on a French unit for The Silver Bayonet, the Napoleonic gothic horror game, using Flintloque elves. Didn't get the whole unit wrapped up as I was getting drawn into the next project but I'll return to them for sure.

 I then took on another fairly small project, a tactical squad of Rogue Trader Space Marines, incidentally the first 40k models I had painted in five years. The plan is to add other squads in the same colours over time.

 I was really keen to start on another Tilean mercenary regiment but only got as far as two of the command models before running out of steam. There's plenty of great characterful figures that will feature in the unit though when I'm good and ready.

 It was only a matter of time before I revisited my long ongoing Dixon Miniatures American Civil War project, this time with another Confederate regiment, the 5th Texas Infantry. This was followed by some dismounted Confederate cavalry. 

 The last couple of months of 2022 were a bit hit and miss with several ideas floating around but just not finding the momentum to undergo any of them. Frustrating to say the least. Although, I did repaint my Asgard Half Troll which will represent my beastlord for my beastman/broo regiment. Plus I'd been looking for a suitable armour technique to use on my chaos warriors when the time comes and my test model was a success!

So, sadly no grand effort at the close of the year. I have been working on a couple of projects over the Christmas holidays that should both see completion in January though. I'm still holding out for my diorama that I was aiming for during 2022 but then again, that was planned for 2021 as well. Third year lucky hopefully!

 

 

Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - 5th Texas Infantry

 

 It's been a long time since my last post. The plan had been to undergo a classic beastman/broo regiment but after making a start on a couple, I felt I wasn't feeling it. So for now that project will have to wait until the time is right. 

 So for now I've decided to revisit my long running Dixon Miniatures American Civil War project and have spent the last month or so on another Confederate regiment, the 5th Texas Infantry. 

 The 5th Texas was part of the Texas Brigade which I'm planning on painting every regiment that featured. I already have the 3rd Arkansas and a command base featuring Texas Brigade commander John Bell Hood sorted and intend to include the 1st and 4th Texas regiments plus original members, the 18th Georgia and Hampton's Legion.

 Created in October 1861, the 5th Texas were assigned to the Texas Brigade. As part of the brigade, the 5th performed well at the Battle of Eltham's Landing, lightly involved at the Battle of Seven Pines as well as playing an important roll in the Battle of Gaines' Mill with a charge that split the Union lines.

Regiment commander Jerome B. Robertson can be seen on the far left.

 After featuring at Antietam and Fredericksburg, the 5th were heavily engaged at Gettysburg where they suffered over 50% casualties following the assault on Little Round Top. There was another heavy engagement later on in 1863 at Chickamauga after the brigade had shifted to the Western theatre, suffering significant casualties once more. 

 They continued to feature in prominent battles such as The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg before the surrender at Appomattox with 12 officers and 149 rank and file which was the largest unit in the Texas Brigade.

Texans Always Move Them

"Attention Texas Brigade" was rung upon the morning air by Gen. Gregg, the eyes of General Lee are upon you, forward march." Scarce had we moved a step, when Gen. Lee, in front of the whole command, raised himself in his stirrups, uncovered his grey hair and with an earnest, yet anxious voice, exclaimed above the din and confusion of the hour. "Texans always move them." ....never before in my lifetime or since did I ever witness such a scene as was enacted when Lee pronounced these words with the appealing look that he gave. A yell rent the air that must have been heard for miles around and but few eyes in that old brigade of veterans and heroes of many a bloody field was undimmed by honest heartfelt tears. Leonard Gee, a courier to Gen. Gregg and riding by my side with tears coursing down his cheeks and yells issuing from his throat exclaimed "I would charge hell itself for that old man!"

Private Robert Campbell, 5th Texas Infantry 

 

So the plan is to get another regiment of the Brigade underway at some point soon but meanwhile I've started work on some dismounted Confederate cavalry as I find painting regiments like a bit of a marathon. 

 

Rogue Trader Space Marines - Tactical Squad complete.

 

 So with the last pair of rogue trader space marines finished this week, I've rounded off my five man tactical squad. 

 I've gone for Brother Leanman and my favourite heavy weapon marine miniature for the final two in what has been a very economical project as all five models were spares from when I finished painting my space marine army several years ago. 

 I've been delighted with the amount of positive response on various social media platforms regarding the colour scheme that I've opted for. I spend a lot of time working out colour schemes on all of my projects (more than the actual painting sometimes) so it means an awful lot!

 There is always the chance of adding to this chapter at some point but a tactical squad was all I'd set out to achieve for now but it's been an enjoyable little project so it's pretty likely you'll be seeing more of these guys down the line.

 As these guys are part of an Inquisition aligned chapter, the plan is to include an Inquisitor in terminator armour so I'll be working on that in the near future but also I'll be making a start on the next project which is a Chaos Renegade warband which is something I've wanted to take on for a long time but never quite found it to be the time.

 

 

Rogue Trader Space Marines - two new additions to the Tactical Squad

  So I've added a pair of classic Rogue Trader marines to my planned five man tactical squad. Accompanying the sergeant is one of my favourites of the RT space marine range, Brother Slater (with scanner) and Brother Quiff.

 Slater, another Mark Copplestone model is an all round belter. The helmet has a really nice shape to it. Quiff, sculpted by Aly Morrison, has a face only his mother could love, which has also doubled up as both the faces of Inquisitor Augustus and the Traitor General from the Rogue Trooper range.

 Brother Quiff, like his sergeant, is sporting a hairstyle befitting the time period in which he was sculpted. 

 Next up with be the final pair to complete the squad, including a heavy bolter marine before tackling the main man, the inquisitor in terminator  armour.