2mm ACW ... progress!

The curse of the blogger is your proclamations of new projects are there for the world to see. Looking back, I see I started this 2mm ACW project in June 2014! Curiously, this first post on 2mm has become on the the most visited pages on this blog with 1473 views to date! Must have been something I said! it's ^%$#&*-well time I finished it and actually posted some AARs!

Nevertheless, every project gets its moment in the sun, and 2mm ACW seems to be having just that. Besides, I want to start a Thirty Years War project in 2mm so it was time to get a wriggle on.

So, after a flurry this weekend painting is nearly complete and I am now working on basing (40x20mm). For me, one of the challenges with 2mm basing is to ensure they help show the direction the blocks are facing (very helpful with my dodgy eyesight).

When I based the Confederate force I was thinking I would need a label the rear corner for unit identification - I've since decided against that as I feel it detracts from the overall look on the table. Instead, I have decided to paint muddy ground behind the base to reflect the tramping of brogans through the pasture. I think this gives a good sense of movement for the units too.

I am working on some subtle 'landscaping' on each base with gravel, static grass and minute pieces of clump foliage. At this scale even the finest gravel looks like I'm recreating the Devil's Den! So some subtlety is required (in short supply here).

I can feel the project nearing the point where I can game with them (if I could only settle on a set of rules*!). In the meantime, I couldn't resist a quick layout for some pictures. I think the pictures show that 2mm - even with fairly rudimentary basing and paintwork can give a really good drones-eye view of civil war engagements!

*which will, of course, need to be sympathetic with my rather arbitrary decisions around basing!

 The next challenge is to flock all the bare spots I left for labels on the CSA bases! Doh!

2mm ACW is back on the table!

Just a quick post to signal a return to the most challenging of scales - 2mm. I've had a pile of Irregular Miniatures 2mm ACW blocks painted (except the cavalry) for some time. Each time I get them out I go into a nose dive over basing and rules and away they go again.

I've grasped the nettle and based them on a 40mm x 20mm (1 1/2" x 7/16") with two infantry blocks on each. I've been experimenting with adding a little detail to the base - in this case, the muddy path across the field left by the companies as they advance.

I'll look at adding some bushes and hopefully a fence or two (pebbles for stone or flywire for post and rail).

The 2mm project lives!

2mm ACW – rebasing

Well, after a flying start on the Confederates, I spent a few days mulling over the issue of using the scale of 1 base = brigade. While this was the scale for the rules I were planning on using – Polemos Crisis of Allegiance (CoA) – I felt like that method of basing had some issues particularly with historical scenarios.

I was struggling with the need to amalgamate smaller brigades / demi bridges / reserves into roughy equal strength groups in CoA. I would find myself having to amalgamate smaller formations that were not deployed anywhere hear each other.

So, I have rebased to 40mmx 20mm which fits two regiments on it nicely allowing 2–3 base brigades. and is a fairly adaptable format in terms of use with a variety of rulesets. CoA is being set aside for this project and I'm going to trial Polemos On They Come and DBACW (which I've played before and quite like).

With a flurry of activity over the past day, the Union have the best part of a Corps nearly ready for the field as well and the CSA are rebased as well. One of the great joys of 2mm is the relative speed in which you can paint them.

Here's the days effort:

Re-based Confederates

The Federalists finally make an appearance!

All together with a few command and artillery stands in half size.

2mm ACW and terrain

Needing a break from the Great War project this weekend, I returned to my 2mm ACW figures that have been gathering dust for some months. My intention is to put together a brigade per base scenario of First Manassas (July 21, 1861) using Polemos Crisis of Allegiance (CoA) rules.

I found some motivation afetr picking up some of Irregular Miniatures (IM) 2mm scenics at Eureka Miniatures on Friday which I've had a hankering to have a go at for some time now.

Here's the best pictures I can put together with an iPhone from the weekend's efforts.

P. G. T. Beauregard's Army of the Potomac (represented by 7 brigades in CoA):

 Irregular Miniatures 2mm scenics:

2mm IM Small Mannor House (BG106)

2mm IM Bridge with Riverbanks (BG108)

2mm IM Village and River Crossing (BG115)

With a broad sweep of the eye - 2mm wargaming

A casual review of my blog posts over the past few years will easily identify me as a wargamer who starts many projects, but finish few. I've learned over the years to accept who I am, rather than fight it! So, without apology, I introduce my new wargaming fascination - 2mm!

I recall years ago standing in Eureka Miniatures and being handed a Irregular Miniatures 2mm Tercio. At the time I was a dedicated 15mm gamer and thought, 'no... Never!' Too small, too blocky, no details ... never say 'never'!

RBG 10 Tercio, painted by James Chester from http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/

Now, after reading many TMP threads (3mm or rice, painting 2mm, who makes them etc.) on small scales miniatures in the past few weeks, lets get some stuff out of the way:

• Yes, they are really small but you can paint them without an electron microscope;
• Yes, I agree that 2mm is a way to field armies for large engagements without having paint for months (possibly years at my pace!);
• No, I don't want to play with counters (although defend the right of those who wish to!);
• No, I may not as well be painting grains of rice ... yadda, yadda.

What has drawn me to this scale is threefold:

1.  I'm attracted to the idea of recreating the look of those classic, grand scale battle scenes we see in contemporary accounts - I think the first case of this was seeing the image below of the Battle of Naseby.

Preparation for the Battle of Naseby, fought on the 14th June 1645
published in The History and Antiquities of Naseby by John Mastin, 1792

2.  I want to experiment with making terrain for this scale – it brings together elements of cartography (which I enjoy) with my interest in modelling terrain for wargaming. I'm inspired by people' using the 'terrain cloth' style and think this is the way to go for 2mm.

From https://www.flickr.com/photos/36331979@N00/ - obviously not for 2mm, but you get the idea.

There are some great resources and eye candy on the web (not always for 2mm, but relevant) at locations such as (to name but a few):

• The excellent SteelonSand Blog which I just keep going back to for a number of projects - in this case the 2mm web resources and a series of 2mm projects including Colonial and ECW;
• Depot de la Guerre - handcrafted terrain for miniature wargames;
• Tiny Tin Troops - including a great resource for Irregular's 2mm terrain;
• Nik's wargame wiki - 2mm terrain and his Franco-Prussian War 2mm
• Fighting Fantasist - some nice Thirty Years War 2mm; and
• (2018 update) a great article on painting 2mm by Sydney Roundwood.

3.  They are relatively cheap – great for those times where your wargaming budget is a bit light on!

So, as you can see, many have gone before me, and much air has been expended on debating the merits of this extremity of small scale wargaming.

Now for my own humble offering. Well, it's early days ...

My first 2mm project will focus on a brigade level scenario for the First Battle of Bull Run.

I am currently working on the Confederate forces - the Irregular Miniatures Confederate Army Pack provide for 15 brigades of infantry, so that should come close to providing what I need.

Some links for OOB's online (and I'm sure there are many more):

• First Bull Run: 
• National Parks Service: Union OOB and Confederate OOB;
• Civil War: Union OOB and Confederate OOB;
• Then there's Wikipedia: Union OOB and Confederate OOB.

The plan is to, where possible, customise each stand to reflect the individual brigades and hopefully add some 'colour' by representing some of the state militia uniforms present. There will be some poetic license taken, for instance I'll have all of the 1st Louisiana Battalion in the Tiger Rifles uniform - I can't resist!

Learning to paint 2mm is a new and interesting challenge. I have based my initial attempts on the method used by SteelonSand. Once I get a method sorted I'll post it here.

For now, my ham-fisted first steps - I can see this scale will take a while to get used to:

Here's the Irregular Army pack mounted, with undercoat and dry brushing of
basic uniform colour underway

Confederates (from the rear) in a light grey with some different hats/pants picked out. 

Tiger Rifles with main colours blocked in

My initial experience suggests the importance of using some crisp, vibrant colours rather than the muted tones we are often seek on larger scale figures. The importance of painting the face is not lost on me - that really gives the blocks some charter. I've read elsewhere that most of the Irregular horse and musket infantry are holding their guns at the port - initially I was thinking this was a bed roll across their chest - an opportunity for a bit of detail there.

As for those hard core types talking about painting the lace on the Zouave's jackets and the drums, I'm not there yet! Maybe a I need a stronger magnifying glass!

'What rules will I use?', I hear you ask. The jury is still out. I'm considering Polemos OTC/COE but I already have a 6mm ACW project on the back burner for that ruleset (yes, another long term project).  Although, I have been considering using Polemos with a reduced base size. I've been looking at some of the free rules discussed, but nothing jumps out at me yet. I have also been considering DBACW - but I need a rest from DBx. Yep, no idea yet. Any suggestions welcome!