Dreimal Blau und dreimal des Teufels !

Triple blue, and three times damned to the devil ! That is what contemporaries said about the Frei-Infanterie regiments. "Triple blue" refers to the typical Frei-Infanterie uniform, dark blue coat, light blue facings, light blue waistcoat, as for the one shown here, Le Noble (click picture to enlarge):

On this picture they defend a small farm or village against a bunch of Croats (click picture to enlarge):

The image looks good in my oppinion. The interesting thing here is, the buildings are from the 15mm Flames of War range.
I shamelessly stole this idea from Keith Flint, author of the newly publishd "Honours of War" ruleset. See for example his blogpost "Villages and Towns in the SYW".

His ruleset is played with infantry bataillions of 20 figures and a 20 cm felt square can represent one village, as shown in the picture above.

I still have to paint a few more figures before being able to play a small scenario and able to show a complete table layout with troops. Watch this space.

Freikorps WIP - Dixon Miniatures Size Comparison

I'm currently working on my Prussian Freikorps Le Noble again. The Dixon Miniatures figures I include in what will basicly be a skirmishing party, later to be upgraded to a Bataillon, are worth a look, I think. (Please click on the pictures to enlarge them).

Freikorps Le Noble WIP (Dixon P6, P21; Foundry SYWP25, SYWP22)

The figures on the picture above are, from left to right:

Dixon Miniatures P6 Infantry kneeling firing
Dixon Miniatures P21 Charging - fixed bayonet
Foundry Miniatures SYWP25 Freikorps Musketeers Advancing
Foundry Miniatures SYWP25 Freikorps Musketeers Firing - Lapels

Comparison of Firing Pose (Dixon P6, Front Rank SYP29, Foundry SYWP22)

As can be seen (I hope) on the photos above, the Dixon Miniatures figures for the SYW range are obviously slimmer and a bit shorter than Front Rank or Foundry figures. In my oppinion, they mix well, especially if seen from further away. They definetly add variety to a skirmish force.

The one-page flyer from Dixon Miniatures, shown below, presents only a part of the available figures of their SYW range, the British and French among them.

A part of Dixon Miniatures Prussian SYW range

The King's Birthday

Today, the 24th of january, is the 48th birthday of King Friedrich II.. In his honour, IR 41 Graf Wied zu Neuwied performes a birthday parade (click the pictures to enlarge):

The outer perimeter is guarded by the Feldjäger-Korps zu Fuß:

Look into their watchful eyes !


IR 41 arriving on the parade ground in march column:


Turning to form line:


Line formed !


Inspection of the troops by the Inhaber, Franz Carl Ludwig Graf von Wied zu Neuwied:


Gun Salute ! Performed by a 12-pdr. "Brummer", manufactured 1720:


"Ein dreifach Hoch auf den König !" (Three cheers to the King!):


"Achtung!" Austrian spies!



Freikorps Musketeers are vigilant:


"Halt! You are under arrest!"


"Run, Herr General-Feldwachtmeister, run!"


"Who have we here?! .. Well done, soldiers!"


"Well done, Oberst von Schlappstein. An excellent parade and a captured austrian officer. I will mention you to the King."



Do the Graf von Neuwied and Oberst Schlappstein know, that there are Croat Grenzers in the area? The Austrian General-Feldwachtmeister will surely order a rescue operation!

Thanks to Jim Purky (Der Alte Fritz) and Bill Protz for inspiring me to use my miniatures for more then just gaming! Thanks to Chris for the photos of his beautiful Feldjäger miniatures.

Skirmish Project

Freicorps Le Noble. One of four Freicorps units available to the King at the start of the SYW. Freijäger in the foreground, Freimusketiere in the background.


We decided to build these skirmish parties:

Chris: Prussian Feldjäger-Korps zu Fuß and Prussian Hussars
Tom: Austrian Grenzer and Hussars
Jan: Württemberger
Olaf: Prussian Freicorps Le Noble

Each party will probably consist of 8 to 10 miniatures. The first game is planned for April; more than three months time to paint the troops.