Friday, June 25, 2010

Primed Pathans!


A couple of photos of primed Pathans, figures by Old Glory


More Primed Pathans, Old Glory and some Askari miniatures


Close up of a couple of the Old Glory figures


Old Glory Sikhs

Another shot of the Sikhs, with the English Officer on a different base, which marks him as a "Leader" figure for purposes of shooting.

2 figures from "Mega" miniatures Arab figures, one is a "imam" (Religious leader) and a "bodyguard" with a 2 handed sword. I have another figure I may or may not use as the Tribal Chieftain, as I am not sure if it is too ornately dressed for the part. I may either use the "bodyguard" figure as the Tribal Leader or find another, I am not sure just yet. Coming along nicely tho.


2 Pathans from when I was getting samples of figures along time ago, they are from Castaway Arts in Australia and are quite nice, I believe. I am going to use them as "Leader" figures. I also plan to make them "mixed" clans (10 rifle/10 swords men) as opposed to pure all sword or all rifle/jezzil armed clans, as per "The Sword and the Flame" organization for Pathans. If the players want to make some or all of the clans one weapon type they can do that during the game.
Also a big choice to make is how to "ID" the clans. For my Mahdists, I have marked the back of the bases so players know who belongs where if units get mixed together during melee or some such. This is due to what they are wearing, it was the easiest thing to do. However, I have more of a choice as most Pathans are in a white turban/blouse/trousers. So I believe I will go with what I have seen in other Pathan armies painted on-line, is that a article of clothing - slash, turban or blouse is a color (red/blue/green/etc.) and the rest of the clothing white. Thus one clan is the "red" clan, "blue" clan, etc. This should make figuring things out much easier, even if it isn't very historically accurate. After all, I am going to have 6 clans (2 tribes/120 figures) of Pathans on the table!!
The Sikhs should be done quickly as it's just like 10 figures or so to have the 2 platoons I need, as I done one platoon some time ago. As far as the "Leader" types, I have enough British Officers (3) to paint as the "Sergeants" for the scenario. As this scenario is based on the movie "Gunga Din" (the trip to the village of Tantrapur to fix the telegraph lines) the heroes of that movie were 3 British Sergeants, oddly enough armed with sabres & pistols (much like a officer?) Maybe it was because they were engineers and rode horses in the movies? So I need to get them bases and painted. I have some "Gunga Din" figures by Regiment Games but they are not very good compared to the other figures I have......so I'll paint them as per the movie, sergeant strips and all and fix then if I need to later.
I need to paint up a Sikh gun crew for the Gatling gun (as well as do up the Gatling as well) so I guess I should get those figures out and base them. One of the optional things the "Hill Tribes" (Pathans) can have is a old, slow firing cannon. I liked that idea so I got what I needed from The War Store, Wargames Foundry, from their Darkest Africa line, DA-4/4 Zanzibaris with Cannon. They look fine to work with the Old Glory/Askari Pathans size wise and I just added a 4th figure from my OG Pathan Command set as the artillery commander as the set just has 3 figures.
More to follow as I get things done..
TTFN

Friday, June 11, 2010

The Con...and beyond!




3 photos for the fantastic "Boxer Rebellion" game at Gamex 2010. I'll put the rest of the photos on my Photobucket account soon: http://s207.photobucket.com/home/juggernought57/index The Con was May 28th to 31st and I had a good time, only to be so tried and beat that I had a massive sinus attack Tuesday and was suffering from Tuesday to Saturday, just feeling well enough to run my game at HMGS day at Aero Hobbies...but I get ahead of myself...
I was to help Harold with his FOW game on Saturday and run my "Sword & the Flame" game on Sunday. Harold's health failed him and he was unable to attend, so the FOW game was cancelled as he felt it was too much in his head for anyone else to run. I took his loaner armies and other stuff for the Warhammer Ancients Tourney he was going to run on Sunday.
Friday evening I played a WWII naval game by the "Special Projects Team" which was fun. Saturday I played in the "55 Days in Peking"-Siege of the Foreign Legations China 1900 game. Great board and figures, terrain, a overall "WOW" game. This is how I want to do mine. I played Adam's American War of Independence Game "The Battle of Brandywine" Saturday evening. This was a hard fought and close game, being a draw to the end (But as playing the British, I believe the Americans got a "bit more of a drubbing" than we did!) The close fought ones are most fun!
Sunday I was to run my game, but they were running the "55 Days in Peking" all day and there was no available tables much less players! I figured I would wait and set it up later when they finished. I did but it was REALLY quiet (Boo-Hoo) so after an hour or so of no takers (But Art of War, whom I get most of my terrain from, came by & took pictures) I took it down. I wasn't upset or anything, as the WAB tourney went well, with 6 players and as this what was Harold was hoping for, it was good to get it done well for him, even tho he couldn't make it. I went home early (Sunday evening), as I wasn't sleeping well and wanted my own bed. And started feeling crappy Monday and by Tuesday, was a poisoned pup....such is life.
I recovered enough to run my game the following weekend on Sunday, "The Oasis at Yasra Village" at Aero Hobbies. I got 5 players and a good game. I still have a little problem with the scenario balance but it works overall. I need to tighten the board (terrain, etc.) up a little maybe....
So now that Gamex 2010 is over, it's time to get ready for Gateway 2010 in September. I have started on the Sikhs I need to make another squad of 20 and they should be done very soon. However, all the Pathans are going to be a pain, but as they say "no pain, no gain". I have about 30 figures ready to base, but I need to trim, file & base 120 figures. Then prime them white....
Good news is the last little bit of figures I need have been shipped from "The War Store" today so I will have all the fires I need soon. I need to order some Pathan flags from "The Flag Dude" and more 25mm round magnetic bases from Litko, as the Pathans, being irregular troops are going to bases on 25mm rounds and I am basing the regular (non-key/leader figures) on 1" fender washers and the Key/Leader figs on 25mm GW rounds. Regular troops, such as the Sikhs are going to be on 25mm squares and Key/Leader on 25mm GW square bases. I will also have to start re-basing the Mahdist forces on rounds.... :(
Have to post photos of the painting.....
TTFN