Islamic Infantry - Black Guard

After the cavalry these were a breeze, the fact that the undercoat did most of the hard yards was a bonus. I followed the colour palate of a good friend of mine who had completed a bunch for last years Cotswold game, so using the same occasional mix of greens and purples for head and waist bands will allow us to use them together on larger games. 

Two units of Heavy Infantry under Lion Rampant will give a few more options to the Arab forces the bulk of which are light infantry.

The flag is from Pete Barfield and the Baron's war Facebook group, a really valuable asset whilst I wait for Little Bigman Studio to re-open for some additional flags and shield transfers.

Gripping Beast - Arab Cavalry

Well here we are again...

The Cotswolds day seems a long time ago, but following the mantra of getting stuff done back to the remainder of the Gripping Beast Cavalry. They were prepped and under coated in bulk but have been staring at me across the room for 4 months... other projects kept pushing ahead of them. Time to bite the bullet.

Yet another light cavalry archer unit, get skirmish troops to pester the Christian column on their trek to the Holy City.

Next up a heavy cavalry unit with shield transfers from Little Big Man Studio. 

The shield transfers really bring the figures to life and are well worth the money. 

Finally the last of the Gripping Beast plastics are complete, they do go together really well, nice sculpts enough detail to standout, but not to much to slow down the painting.

Another couple of mounted units to go in metal, but next up some Black Guard types, I am hoping they can be turned around rather quickly, given the limited colours.

Special Ops - Force on Force.

History has a habit of repeating its self, just as we dust off Force on Force for a game of special forces vs a drug baron in a scenario similar to that in Clear and Present Danger. President Trump signs an Exec Order marking certain cartels terrorist organisations.

We picked from the Classified Scenario Book - US Special Ops operating in the Columbian highlands destroying the drug operations and drug manufacturing plants. The Columbians had hired a company of mercenaries to neutralise the Americans. With no more than a dozen Americans rolling back to their exfiltration point they had dug in and were tasked with aggressively defending at the same time.

Limited photo's I am afraid...

The mercenaries were advancing on the main front but also a flanking force which was quickly put under fire by the CO and his radio operator.

The mercenaries were taking a lot of casualties from the very effective American fire power. It turns out poorly trained troops in the open get chewed pretty quickly.

Like all good action movies, things were going fine into the yanks needed to head to the X fill, getting out of the fox holes exposed the fire teams to a number of rounds of concentrated fire which injured a number of the war fighters.

Whilst they were able to escape they left two KIA behind for the mercenaries to take back to there Columbian masters. That could be a problem.

The mercenaries must have taken 30 dead and seriously wounded out of their 40 man force, which found about right given the task they were given.

It was nice to give Force on Force a roll out, the books are a little hard to come by these days and you do pay quite a price for them, but the rules play well and force you to adopt the right tactics if you are to win.

Right back to the brushes.

Dispatches from the front XXXV - Getting stuff done.

February already...

Whilst real life can often get in the way in the final quarter of the financial year, thank heavens for a hobby that keeps me occupied outside of work.

Sticking with the theme of getting stuff done it looks like February is shaping up to be another Crusade month, after the Cotswold day I still have a pile of Arab and Christian forces to get done. But first up a Sarissa Radio Station, a gift from a friend from his to do pile.

The Sarissa kits go together really well and a swift paint job and a bunch of posters to make it suitable for a number of games for Modern Africa and the Visitor mash up in Zikanga.

The Arabs are prepped and based over Christmas so time to get them on the paint table.

Meanwhile another year older a whole pile of inspiration for the year ahead.

So many plans so little time.

The Swamp Fox - Scenario 1

Time to get the freshly painted figures on the table.

I picked up The Swamp Fox from the Too Fat Lardies a few years ago but never had the opportunity or figures to use it. It tells the story of Francis Marion and contains 12 scenario's for the AWI war in the south. It should not take to much of a tweak to convert from Sharp Practice to Rebels and Patriots.

The Swamp Fox | TOOFATLardies

Scenario 1.

With the capture of so many Continental troops after the battle of Camden, Lord Cornwallis is having them moved to Charleston under guard. This is being done in manageable groups to try to stop the spread of disease. Marion has learnt that Captain Jonathan Roberts and a contingent of the of the 63rd Line are using the plantation house and have the prisoners encamped in a field. He is resolved to free his comrades. 

This game is won by the force which can break their opponent’s Force Morale. 

The Rebel's advance using the wood to shield their approach the POW comes into sight. The US is made up of two commands.

Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Horry - A Ruthless Commander driven by personal glory.  

Colonel Francis Marion, - Ball room dancer - Marion once per game can push his unit to move an extra 3" per game.

Instead of Big Men within Sharp Practice we rolled for officer traits using Rebels & Patriots and with 4 chits for the officers pulled these randomly at the beginning of each turn to decide the order of commands activating.

The Rebel's advance using the wood to shield their advance. They spot the Light Infantry acting as pickets, Not knowing that the British can not activate until the alarm is raised they fire on the pickets as soon as they spot them.

The Light section activate and sound the alarm and the regulars and Loyalist spill out from their barracks. Two commands. 

Captain Jonathan Roberts of the 63rd Regiment of Foot. - A Brutal Officer who can rally once per game if they lose a figure from the unit.

Captain Rampton Rigsdale & Provincial Regulars of the Prince of Wales American Regiment - An Officer in poor health who won't take his unit in rough terrain as he can't keep up with his men.

Despite the mass of fire being poured into the Light section they stand their ground allowing a British Reinforcements to move up the road and plug the gap on right.

The stubborn light company refused to budge. Lieutenant Colonel Horry advances his unit and screened by skirmishers finally drives the light company back at the point of the bayonet.

The militia and regulars line out as the British Regulars come into range. The training was beginning to pay off, they go into close order and save their first fire until the very last moment. With Red Coats falling they fall back to regroup.

On the Crown left the Provincials had reached the main road and Captain Rampton Rigsdale and the Prince of Wales American Regiment marched his unit in across the field. Colonel Marion was quick and had reached the fence line firing a blistering volley sending the Loyalists reeling.

With the right flank open and Americans amongst the tents, the British fell back abandoning the POW camp.

First game to the rebels and Colonel Marion.

Learns for both sides, militia need to get to close order to give them a better chance of following orders and for the Brits just because you wear a red cost it does not make you regular.

The conversion from Sharp Practice to Rebels & Patriots was relatively simple, each group of men in SP was a unit in R&P - I gave both sides between 4-6 support points to give some variety on the table top.

Uniforms of the American Revolution - Massachusetts Regiments -10mm Pendraken

This has probably been on the bookshelf for the best part of 25 years!!!

Finally a chance to turn inspiration into table top figures with the last of the current Pendraken Miniatures for the current phase of the AWI Project. 

Working on the early phase of the war I figured I would paint up a number of the Massachusetts Regiments using these plates as inspiration. 

I am really pleased with how they turned out and in this scale a couple of packs from Pendraken gives me at least 5 regiments for Rebels and Patriots. A strain on the eyes to paint to many at this scale, not that any of my gaming group can see them on the table top.... :-)

In the more common blue coats, two battalions under Colonel Patterson

Members of the 12th Continental Regiment in Dark Brown Tunics.

Members of the 14th Continental Regiment in Cream

Members of the 18th Continental Regiment in Cream Jackets, unbleached linin breaches.

Flags by Maverick Models, who have a great range in a range of scales including a number of unknown regimental colours to give units plenty of variety on the table top.

This gives the Americans some valuable reinforcements with some trained units to help stem the British advance, I need some wagons for the proposed Lexington & Concorde game and some additional buildings but this project is really coming together.

I quite fancy some German Grenadiers and what would be an AWI game without Tarleton's cavalry.

Spectre Miniatures - Special Operators.

When does everyone find time to paint their mini's?

Over recent weeks I have got into the habit of an hour before bed with a podcast or youtube channel for background noise. This one caught my eye of late 'Getting stuff done' - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3WA4igXEA1A

I suspect I am not alone in having a cupboard full of spare metal waiting to hit the table, so what can be achieved with some focus. The recent Africa game lead me to seek out a number of this left over projects.

These Spectre Miniature Models that had been hanging around for years.... I mean 10 years..... wow.

http://dusttears.blogspot.com/2014/12/spectre-miniatures-christmas-comes-early.html?m=0

These are great castings they really capture the feel of modern fighters the poses are very dynamic and the small arms to scale, I am thinking Private Military Contractors or Special Forces and the like. All it needed was a nudge to get them up the painting queue.

Its's good to be able to finally fill the last of the box with these, just need an excuse to get them on the table now.

Also the last of the African militia. - A General type perhaps looking back to his days at Sandhurst?

A pink haired fella - OK I was bored and he was the very last figure in the box. Who is going to be wandering around the African bush in a suit?

Next up more 10mm AWI and the last of the bare metal before the next purchase.