Base Designs for Horse, Foot and Guns
Using 2mm figure blocks
The designs on the following pages are shown full size.
I have retained the standard base sizes though it may have been possible to
reduce the depths in most cases.
For those elements that PB has given a suggested layout I have placed this on the
left with my versions to the right. The fist is my preferred option with any
alternatives shown further to the right. In general my versions use more blocks.
Some alternatives are period specific, others are not. I have no doubt that other
alternatives are possible but I have tried to make sure that all base designs for a
particular element are similar in layout and still distinguishable from other
element types.
Not all element types are included, I am still working on the more esoteric types.
I have included explanatory notes where I thought it was appropriate or
necessary ans also some descriptions of variants within the same design.
Having already produced two ACW armies (to somewhat different designs) I
know that 2mm is an excellent choice for these rules. I am in the process of
completing a set of armies for the War of the Spanish Succession and will post
pictures to the group when they are available (probably about the end of March).
I would welcome any comments or suggestions on these designs and will use
them to modify and extend this document with the eventual intent of sending a
copy to PB. As it is clear that PB takes 2mm seriously (unlike most other rules
writers) they may have some positive effect on the popularity of the scale.
Tony Hughes 8th February 2003
Notes for the Diagrams
Each bock is shown as the correct size and with the correct number of
figures.
The number on the block is Irregulars code number for the block.
Those with no letter are from the BG range (Horse & Musket)
Those with an R from the RBG range (Renaissance)
Those with an A are from the ABG range (Ancient).
Some blocks (mostly the open order Foot and Horse) can be cut into
single figures or smaller groups (with care). Irregular units can be
made more realistic by doing this.
The BG3 (H&M skirmisher) is not a particularly good block and you
may prefer to replace it with the RBG11 (Renaissance dismounted
dragoon) which is much superior and can be quite easily separated
into individuals.
If you decide to modify any of the designs (or to suggest modifications to
me) then please try to keep the basic layout similar and do not make
changes that would make the element similar in layout to another.
It is often possible to replace one block with a similar one (e.g. in the
artillery) and this can be a simple way of making smaller
distinctions, such as for quality (e.g. Superior has a different sized
block to Inferior or larger guns etc.)
 Phils
Description
A Galloper Gun can be added
33 Still 4d but spaced to indicate 33 as an option to indicate

R32
1 greater space between ranks attached regimental artillery
Flk 1 40(4d) 33 and also wider to model 33
continuous front presented

Same basic idea but this

represents the continuous 1 1 Could use 4 smaller 2 rank blocks
Mus 32 48(3d) 34 for earlier Mu to indicate greater depth
linear frontage of these 1 1
armies better I think and to distinguish from Fl

Might as well indicate a solid

block of foot properly
48(6d) 31 31 31 Still not sure that this is the
StF 31 best way to show Stoic Foot
but then Im still not convinced
by the element type either
Regimental artillery can also be
3 5Sk 3 3 A wider block is better 3 3

R26
added to Bay (or to most other
++ here I think. Later period Bay
By(L) (e.g. ACW should have a
elements).
26(2d)
14 34 2-rank block BG33 34

3 3 10Sk 3 3 3 This is OK but I would

3 3 3 3 3
++ add a 3rd skirmish block
By(C) 17 2x16(4d) 17 to give a full screen 31 31 31
17 17
Alternatives making use of the 6-ranks deep BG32

14 14 Use 2xtwo rank blocks

Min 1 1 40-48(2d) to make it easier to tell
Min from Mu

3 3 10Sk 3 3 3
Again, Id use a full
LI ++ screen of skirmishers
20(2d) 2
1

Again, Id use a full 3 The front 3 blocks could be

3 3 cut up and spread around and
Mm 3 3 10Sk 3 3 3 screen of skirmishers
the rear two could be the
R11 R11 standing dismounted dragoons
 23 23 23 23 Phil says these are not in 23 23
20
20L line or column so I think that
++ this is a better representation
BL
2x16(4d)
17 23 23
17 Alternate versions
with Mitrailluese
as Gatling or
23 23 23 23 other Machine Gun 23 23
20L 20
Rf ++
26(2d) This is OK

14 14 14
Probably any Ancient blocks
Irish rebel pikemen or
A18 A18 would do here. I have chosen
Sp R5 R5 Russian Opolchenie militia ?
a solid line of spearmen
A6 A6 backed by a looser mass of
Using Ren Pike & Shot blocks.
warriors. 4 blocks of ABG6
may be better.

Art(F) Art(Ho) Art(Hvy)

Done according to Phils notes

with Foot guns deployed and

R29
R29
6 6 6 Horse guns limbered. Heavy
guns have only 2 gun models
and have 6 horse limbers plus
28

28

28

27
27 a caisson.

22
Artillery type will need to be
6

marked in some way or just

declared in play.

Has both a foot and a

24 R22 mounted defence force,
CP messengers and
commanders
13 17
 Some of the 5/6 man Cavalry
blocks can be cut up quite easily
and stuck randomly over the
Lh base. Cossacks & Renaissance
10Rs Dragoons are both good but
Ancient horse bows would
do for Tartars
This version represents the
alternative description of this
element - a small body of
4 European horse, detachment
or similar unit.

A swarm of separate
skirmishing horse backed by
Si a solid mass of horse. R21 R21
Could use Cossacks, Dragoons
or Demilance (for Turks)
18

I like the feeling of depth that R23 Best I can think of for your idea of
the 3-rank cavalry blocks give
8R so I would use those.
caracolling horse. It is possible to cut
5 8R R21 R21 the 2rk block into ranks so it might
Pi The 2-rank blocks would do R23 R21 be better to use that. Another poss.
5 just as well though.
may be single riders in a file going
down the side (see above)

I see Cuirassiers as a one-shot

12-16R weapon so I have only given
5 them a single rank. 5 5
++ 5 5 I still think a single rank is better
0-6R 5 5 but a 2 rank option should not
Cu 5
clash with any other base design

5 5 Standard Heavies tended to

12-16R attack in waves so I have
5 ++ given them 2 full ranks,
HC 0-6R well spaced
5
5 5
 11 11 11 11 Similar idea to the Heavies
12-16R
but using 3 of the 6 man blocks
LC ++
0-6R

11 11

17 3 3 Phils design is OK for earlier

periods but I would represent 1 1 33
16(2d)
12 +
the dismounted dragoons by
13 13 skirmishers for later periods 13 13 13 13
2R I would also place a
Dr ++ mounted reserve on the flanks
16H
Alternative with formed
troops as the dismounted
8 8 8 8 earlier dragoons. I think 2rk 8 8 8 8
is more appropriate than 3 rk

3 3 3 As with the Infantry, Id put Not sure that this is a good idea,
5Sk more skirmishers in, otherwise it is too similar to the RfC with
++ the same as Phils the same blocks.
Rep 6R
11 6H 11 11
BG3 does have kneeling figures
8 8 8 I may try the Modern Infantry painted
in brighter colours and see if it works

3 3 3 Adding the 3rd skirmisher block

10Sk 3 makes it more distinguishable
3 from Repeaters. Could replace R11
MRf ++
BG3 skirmishers with RBG11,
12H
dismounted Dragoons or possibly
the prone modern infantry.
8 8 8 8 8 8

3 3 3
4 5Sk May not represent a true
6R 4 formation but needs to be
RfC 4
++ easily distinguished
6H from Repeaters

8 8 8
 This would be a fully modeled
4 This would be a fully modeled base with the components shown
1 base with the components shown 1
placed around the base.
placed around the base. Each one would differ to some

R24
HQ Each one would differ to some extent from others.
SB

21
extent from others.
A simpler and cheaper
A simpler and cheaper alternative could be simply

133

133
alternative could be simply textured and have only one set
130 textured and not have the of tents, 2 wagons and a base

9
wagons or tents. of defending foot.

134

21
R11

22
21

This would be a textured

21 (not enough roon for full 128 Redoubt (Infantry)
modeling) base with the Modeled base
components shown placed R12
around the base.
Lag R11
Each one would differ to some
extent from others.
9
9

Rather a crowded and costly Redoubt (Artillery)

129 Modeled base with
R22

element
17

components shown
17

(or similar) distributed

R29

R29
around rear of base.
21
21

9
R11
R11
9