A LIFE IN PLASTIC

This month’s Community Corner has been contributed by Falco Verna, a retired Naval Officer who got into the hobby aged 12, beginning – as so many do – with

Airfix, before his aspirations were boosted by films such as Waterloo, and Barry Lyndon. As a result, his first love was Napoleonic figures, and later the Italian Wars of Independence, which he describes as “very interesting both for military professional subjects, and for uniforms: that means wargames and figures.”

“I decided to play skirmishes in 1/72,” Verna tells us, continuing: “using ACWs for Garibaldi’s volunteers and HAT Peninsular British Light Infantry and

Strelets Crimean War British Infantry in winter dress (coat) for Bourbon’s Royal troops. Then I added a range of Papal Zouaves (ACW) and Line Infantry (Italeri Foreign Legion). As rules, I started with an ACW set of rules Brothers against

Brothers, and then I developed my own rules which I named La bella Gigogin (The Pretty Louise the title of the march song of the Volunteers)”.

As experience grew, he explains “landing in the 28mm field. As early measure, I adapted Victrix and Perry, because they were cheaper, but the Victrix required a lot of work to modify shakos and hand cuffs, cutting away the wings on the shoulder straps, and some other minor modifications. Then I bought Shako64 and Mirliton figures. Nowadays I can muster two companies both for Boubons’ and Garibaldi’s forces.”.

On occasions where a larger clash is called for, Falco tells us he uses 15mm with Fire & Fury rules, modified by some house rules: “it is very good for larger battles as Magenta, San Martino and Solferino, Castelfidardo, Custoza. For minor battles – say Calatafimi (1000 Volunteers vs. 2000 Bourbons), I had to adapt La bella Gigogin in a way that six infantry stands represent a Company.”

Thanks for sharing

Falco!