History That Wasn't: Great War Confederates from Wargames Atlantic [How I Paint Things]

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Remember to keep comments civil - no pun intended. Wargaming regularly requires that someone take on the role of the instigator, the aggressor, or simply 'the bad guys.' Discussion about the difference in wargaming the American Civil War on different sides of the Atlantic goes as far back as the publications of Donald Featherstone and Charles Grant. Understandably, it's a topic which carries far more weight in America, but this isn't intended to lionize or support the Confederacy any more than painting Imperial Romans, Napoleonic French, or Waffen SS would mean I support their actions. It's not something I'd ever have imagined I would need to clarify, and yet. I've had a chance to tour Richmond, VA myself and visit several of the museums there - as ever, I suggest having a chance to 'know the history' can ground some of your choices on the tabletop.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

@@sweatilaa5325 This is so far the only video I've actually taken down before deciding to re-upload because people couldn't act right in the comments previously. If the 'weird disclaimer' - which isn't even in the video - is concerning, consider why people might make it necessary. Or I'll add it to every video description, it's really no skin off my nose either way.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

@@sweatilaa5325 You see how I can't win either way, though? I either endure comments from people going off the deep end assuming I'm propagating the Lost Cause myth, backing the SS, or calling for a return to the Soviet Union, and on the other hand when I briefly mention "Hey, nah," instead, I get told off for expressing that brief sentiment in a comment, or virtue signalling, or some other thing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If that's what makes you decide to spend your time elsewhere, I don't begrudge you in the least; we've only got so many hours in the day, so better to spend them where you're comfortable with the sentiments expressed.

[@dwadland]

​@@sweatilaa5325or you could just sod off now?

[@sweatilaa5325]

​@@SonicSledgehammerStudio edit: the comments are now deleted, as I said they would be after you had a chance to read them. have a good one, friend, and best of luck in life.

[@gorkamorka999]

"It's not something I'd ever have imagined I would need to clarify" You really don't. The internet just has a way to give the dumbest people the loudest voice and most attention.

[@MandaloretheSavage]

Harry Turtledove's Southern Victory series!! Loved that series!! Although from what I remember the Tredegar rifle was closer to a Lebel. The Confederates did use Butternut brown as it's field dress color and resevered the classic Gray for dress in ww1 and general staff officers. Also it looked amazing....makes me want to make a squad of them now...dang you!!

[@JoeCapurso]

Glad this is back up! Great painting advice, plain and simple. 🎉

[@swaaahtome]

These videos always make me want to paint! Great job as always.

[@ShaunTame-re5us]

Great video again, really helpful in terms of painting techniques. Thank you.

[@nickdavis5420]

Glad this is back it’s a cool idea.

[@IanGerritsen]

These came out great, I love alternate history. Whatifalthist channel did a lot of great videos on these thought experiments too, analyzing plausibility and likely changes in a logical manner.

[@peterjones7673]

Great video as always, good to see the varnishing with a brush rather than a rattle can, I think I might try brushing my models when it comes to varnishing, thanks again

[@davidknight2220]

Excellent. I like this kind of What If project...

[@modelermark172]

This is excellent work. Though others may disagree with your choices, you obviously put a lot of thought into the backstory and attention to detail before making and painting your miniature. I've considered building a 1/76th Alternate History diorama based on a similar idea using the Airfix Mk.1 Tank and British WW1 figures for the Confederate States Army, with WW1 US figures being supported from above by Albatross DV's for the Union Army. What keeps the project from getting started is trying to come up with convincing markings and flags - especially for the Confederate States. In my scenario, I imagine that the South seceded relatively peacefully, and could reach a consensus for a National Flag at a more leisurely, less ad-hoc pace. The flags associated with The South in our timeline were never used. But I still wanted the Confederate markings to "look Confederate" at a glance. Maybe someday I'll figure it out. If you make more figures like this, maybe you could also adapt a Warhammer Leman Russ to be a A/U Confederate Land Ironclad to go with them . . . . 301st like.

[@MichaelCorryFilms]

Look at the South Carolina Succession flag. The Saint George cross was a typical reference point for a lot of early confederate flags before they settled on the adopted one.

[@modelermark172]

@@MichaelCorryFilms Thanks for the suggestion. I had considered a variant of what you suggested that used a Saltire Cross, with the Palmetto and Crescent (Gorget?) heraldry. But nothing I came up with at the time made me think, "this is it!" I think this is a case of, I didn't really 'know' what I was looking for, but I knew what didn't look 'right.' I may revise this project at one point, and if I do, I'll use what you suggested as a starting off point. Again, thanks!

[@Grafsburg]

I actually had an idea very similar to this but the other way around, kitbashing WW2 infantry to having single-shot muskets and fighting rank-and-file. Very cool to see you have the opposite idea 😂

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I've never heard of someone approaching the idea from that angle before. Neat!

[@paulofreire7520]

Very cool 👍🏻

[@Zzrik]

There should be an miniature game with an alternate setting like this, just imagen if the confederay joins rhe centerral powers and the union joins rhe allies now that would be an interesting ww1 mini game along with some other what if ideas involved lol.

[@iangabor6822]

In a world where the CSA still existed by the time WWI rolled around i dont think any of the european powers would have been concerned about the USA entering the war on either side. Turtledove's logic for the USA allying with Germany makes sense because in his world of the support the Brits and the French gave the CSA so i think it would be more sensical for them to have some French equipment or liscensed built copies/derivatives. I like how you didmt make the whole uniform butternut as well since several armies of the era still had colored uniforms and i dont see why they would be different.

[@goforitpainting]

Looks cool. 👍

[@KilgoreVoid]

Ah you hit on a favorite series. Always good to see more love for Southern Victory.

[@desmcgeough4313]

Let's do some old IRA vs the Black & Tans from Footsore miniatures.

[@thepiratepenguin4465]

I use the partisan rules to play IRA models in Bolt Action ( IRL Ireland was neutral in WW2). Baslicy WW1 German bodies with slouch hats & a mix of donated German & captured British equipment.

[@wolfehoffmann2697]

Not a bad idea. Irish army of the 1930s in particular were known to have surplus German 1918 pattern helmets, which they traded in for British helmets as a sign of distancing from the Axis. At least, that's the excuse they gave. I imagine after 20+ years, the liners in those helmets were getting pretty ragged.

[@maplecote]

I dig it

[@samellowery]

Huzzah I'm glad to see this back I missed it the first time it ticks me off when people get their panties in a bunch about toy soldiers.

[@IanGerritsen]

When people get their echochamber subreddits like "Sigmarxism" yeah, they're gonna feel comfortable spreading their insanity around. Horrible when they coordinate it to harass people too. "is only game, why you have to be mad" is something more people should take to heart yeah -_-

[@torros1839]

Has this vid been up before?....Maybe going mad

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

It was, then it wasn't, and now it is again!

[@alessiodecarolis]

Effectively german influence in the Americas was very strong btw the end of 19th century and WWI, not only in S. America and Mexico (The Wild Bunch and 100 Rifles), if you think that also the US Army adopted some german items in their uniforms, such as the pickelhaube. The idea of a southern Union fighting with the germans is a little too stretched, as I said Germany had strong ties with Mexico, and surely there would be tension btw them and the South, for all the territories Lost with the war of 1845.

[@ARIES5342]

Didn't the Brits support the south?

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

A few blockade runners got supplies through to the CSU, but I'm not sure they constitute 'British support' in the sense of the entire nation being behind them. Unless you mean in the fiction, in which case I have to admit I'm not all that sure; I've not read the Southern Victory series. Edit: Whoops! Turns out there was a lot more British ships crossing the blockade than I'd realized. The pay appears to have been a pretty wicked incentive; roughly comparable to a million dollars a trip or more by today's standards. But still, today I learned!

[@JeffDavies-i8q]

As a Brit my undertsanding is that support was split along class lines- the aristocracy and landowners were supportive of the Confederate States of America (perhaps more in spirit than any practical way) and the working classes tended to support the Northern States . Certainly the "Trent" incident did have the potential to bring Britain in on the side of the CSA but was defused by some slick diplomacy.

[@Jim-yk9if]

I missed a row and didn't even realize it! Since I didn't hear you quote Jefferson Davis as "gospel truth", whistle "Dixie", or have CSA battle flags prominently displayed, I assumed you where just painting a "What If?" historical figure. 🙂(And I'm as pro-Union, anti-secessionist, and anti-racist as they come.)

[@skazkatzroy3444]

Always wondered what a Confederate line would look like exposed to Maxim and BAR fire. . .