Massive Re-Base!

My 19th Century Austrians have been languishing unused for some time: like years! This is partly to do with being occupied with other periods, but also because they are based in a slightly weird fashion.

Let me explain. In my twenties I wrote a set of home-brewed rules that combined Johnny Reb and Trevor Halsall’s set, Rules for Wargames: Sebastopol, Sadowa & Sedan. They were never intended for publication: just for home use. The basing system involved company-sized bases in line, with the correct number of figures at 1:20 ratio. As Austrians, at that time, had 140-man companies (paper strength), this meant I had battalions of six 7-man, strip bases. Looked good on the table, but very inflexible when it came to using other rule sets.

Now, many years on, I have decided to re-base the European armies from my 19th century collection to give me the flexibility I need to play the rules that my set of wargaming friends are playing. It’s a big job, but actually quite satisfying as the armies were based quite crudely: certainly more crudely than I can manage now.

My chosen basing is to mount each infantry or cavalry unit on the equivalent of four 40mm x 30mm bases. The infantry will be mounted on six bases: two 40x30 and four 20x30, with eight and four figures respectively. The cavalry will be mounted on four 40x30 bases, with three figures per base. Infantry skirmishers will go two figures on a 40x30 base, and guns/limbers and officers mounted individually.

First up, as mentioned above, are the Austrians: 172 infantry, 40 horsemen and 13 guns/limbers.

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Bases were all from Warbases: excellent service as usual.

I even managed to squeeze an extra infantry unit out of my collection: judicious re-painting of cuffs and collars on spares and extra skirmishers, and adding a flagpole and flag to one infantryman figure.

Next up: the Prussians!