Compagnies Franches de la Marine

Hello again.

The great thing about certain conflicts, such as the majority of the French & Indian Wars, and skirmish wargaming in particular is the speed with which one can throw together a force to use, often with a lot of inherent variety. This, for me at least, is the main attraction of the aforementioned French & Indian Wars, but also games such as Sharp Practice, Muskets & Tomahawks, the various SAGA incarnations, etc.

So here, hot on the heels of the Highlanders I posted about earlier this month, are the "French light infantry" contingent for my own FIW forces, in the form of some Compagnies Franches de la Marine.

The figures I got as part of the North Start "French Wilderness Force" for Muskets & tomahawks. The other components are Indians and Coureurs de Bois. What I specifically like about these particular figures, and the make up of this box, is that you get several figures that are identifiably Compagnies FDLM and some that are a mix and, therefore, useable not just as Compagnies FDLM but also as militia or Coureurs de Bois, to boost  their numbers.

Two for the price of one you might say, but I view it more as options to vary the force a bit more.

To finish on a slightly our note, I must confess to having painted nothing in the last month or so. Work, work, work is the lot of many of us, but a boost in role coupled with a change in hours to perform said role has left little or no time to crack on with the brushwork. I have managed to finish a number of units' bases (such as the Compaginies, Highlanders and others I will show soon enough), but have barely touched a paint job throughout the tail end of March and all of April. This also means that the lead and plastic mountains are getting no smaller and the roof joists will continue to wilt under the weight...

Actually, to sweeten the sourness of that final note a little, as this is the first year in several when I have not had a defined project on the go, with concomitant deadlines, it s not too much of a disaster after all. Silver linings and all that! The solidity of the house will just have to soldier on for a little while yet.

G

The whole 11 figures I can use as Compagnies FDLM

Sous-Lieutenant du Plicity

A couple of the "Either/Or" figures referred to above. The centre one clearly has a Compagnies hat, but the other two could be militia or Coureurs de Bois.

A few of les garcons in close up