"Wars of Italian Unification 1848-1866 " Topic

The Italian Wars of Unification have so much to offer the wargamer, especially the First where the diverse nature of the volunteer units provide much colour to the table whether it be skirmish or large scale engagements. If this theatre is of interest shout out your enthusiasm. Companies such as Gringos40 offer large scale 28mm for The Second War, Steve Barber is developing a 28mm sponsored range for The First War, The Second War is well covered in 6, 10 and 15mm by the likes of Baccus, Pendraken , Strelets, Waterloo 1815, Freikorps15. 28mm from Cibos Little Dudes.
Resources are plentiful if you are interested !

link

gringo40s.com

ciboslittledudes.com

Aude Historica used to have a fairly complete 15/18mm range for the first war, but stopped making figs. That kinda killed it for me. There is Honved who are making Austrians for 1848, and they look great, but I have no idea if they are going to ever do Italians (the range is really for the Hungarian Revolt).

What is this Waterloo 1815 range? I can't seem to find them online.

They are a 1/72 scale range. They make Austrian Cav, infantry and artillery along with a pack of Italian LI for 1859. I own most of the packs for the Austrians. They are probably displayed at Plastic Soldier Review.

Add Mirliton into the mix too with figures in both 15mm and 25mm.

25mm: link

15mm: link

Gringo 40 offers very nice pieces, Cibo's also do a wide 28 mm range.

15 and 28mm from Irregular Miniatures

Don't forget that Irregular also does a very nice range of 1859-66 in 6mm! we just uploaded some pictures on our blog here: link

and I think I'm going to use them also for a small project for the siege of Rome by the French in 1849. I think their austrians can be easily used as Roman republican line infantry. The bersaglieri are available, as are the garibaldini, so the Roman army is there. Maybe use some napoleonic austrian jagers for troops like the university battallion or other volunteer corps. I'm going to use the 1859 French – I know, not accurate but I already have them so…

Here's a shout out from me! I've had lots of fun with Montebello, Magenta, Solferino and Custozza. Scenarios for these are in "Bloody Big European Battles!", apart from Montebello which is in the BBB Yahoo group files, and which is a terrific little game. Yet to do any Italian 1848 action, but I'm interested enough to have bought Mike Embree's "Radetzky's Marches" (twice – I left the first one on a plane).

These big battles look great in 6mm, though if I were to start again I might go with 10mm.

Viva Verdi!
Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
link
bloodybigbattles.blogspot.co.uk

Can you recommend one book that gives an easy summary of the period? It's a blank spot for me.

This is the one I'd suggest for 1848-1849:
link

Chris

As Chris says for the 48-49 campaign Embrees book is the best, currently for 59 there is a new book by an Italian historian in the offing which Helion Books hopes to publish

link

A 1848 project currently under construction

Thanks!

Dont forget 48-49 includes The Siege of Venice and The Siege of Rome

I use Irregular 6mm for the various wars in Italy.

Nice figures which look a bit rough but paint up very well.

All:

I know the discussion is more about 25mm and under but the recent 28mm Perry mid-nineteenth lines like "British Intervention Forces" and Carlist War" deserve a look.

Lots of "materiel" there (for those of us with older eyes especially) for conversion to this topic. Several other of their ranges (ACW, etc) might offer possibilities as well to the converter. I believe there is an article by Alan at their website about converting.

Not denigrating small ranges (6mm, etc) at all.

link

Chenton, my own interest is in 28mm however conversion is not for me so I sm gradually commissioning some from Steve Barber