Zulu's (finished for now)

Well as promised on the AHPC here is all the Zulus painted all in one go. By that I mean all in one photo. NOT all painted in one sitting! That would take more endurance than I have.

All the figures are 10mm or 1/200th scale. And while the majority are New Line Design (I bought a £30 army pack!) there are also Penrdraken miniatures scattered among them.

 From left to right. 3 figures on a base or 6 on a double base except rifle bases and then just 2 figures on a base.

Black shields and headdress 24 bases

Black and white shields and headdress 24 bases.

These 2 units will be married veterans so they will be in essence the elite of the army. Feel free to disagree as I have no real strong ideas.

 White shield. 24 bases. These will be the unmarried un bloodied warriors.

I bay need to add a further 8 bases to each of the above units to fit in with the rules, but I will probably just ignore the first 8 hits BEFORE removing bases.

The larges single unit is of course the unmarried but blooded warriors with brown and white shields and there are 61 bases of those. So a further 3 bases would totally finish them

Again I may need to add 7 more bases to fit in with the rules.

And Lastly all down the front 12 bases of rifle armed Zulus. Strictly speaking in the rules I should add a further 4 bases, but I am not sure I will. These have brown shields with white markings.

If I was being totally accurate I would mix and match shields as they did tend to mean different things in different tribes of the Zulus but realistically for game purposes It is easier to keep this simple method for identification purposes.

 In an ideal world where time money space and nagging did not matter I would finish these off with the extra figures as detailed above. But in real life I suspect I will draw a close on this army about here. I still have about 30 figures left unpainted so I have the choice either a small unit of tribal warriors allied to the British (with red headbands) or to bring one other unit up to full strength. So maybe it makes sense to do a further 9 figures (3 bases) of Brown and white shields)

I am not sure which is the best option but I do know I want a break from painting Zulus!


Hope to see you all again on Tuesday, so until then take care have fun and paint if the mood takes you.

Logilistics Sci fi 6mm

As it is now approaching 7am It is too early to take any photos. So The Zulus will have to wait a few days s I can do a group shot of them all. So Zulu Sunday. I should imagine.

So Instead here are some 6mm (1/300th scale ) Sci fi goodies for my Frozen planet setting.

With all of these I have used the camo I am using for the Chinese Democratic Socialist Union (CDSU). Which amounts to blue and grey rectangles over a white base colour and a dark blue was to pick out the detains.

First up we have 4 armoured cars By Ground Zero Games. I may have the turrets on back to front, or I may not, I just do not know. These will have a duel role. 1 convoy protection. 2 Scout transportation. In my head I can justify the 2 scout stands being carried in 2 armoured cars. So that would work for me and give any foot scouts a bit more punch on the table top.

And 2 scout stands each of 2 figures. (Scouts should not be clustered!) These are spare infantry figures from Brigade Models. Both are carrying suitably man sized weapons but their main purpose is to find the enemy.

Finally 6 trucks. 4 have flat beds and are used to carry a variety of goods. Everything from bullets to bull dozers. And probably a load more than that as well. Just assume nearly everything you would need to survive and thrive on a frozen planet.

The other 2 trucks (All trucks are Brigade Models) are an office body. You are more than happy to make up what the office does. It may be an ambulance or it could be a forward command post or it may just be a warm place for all the drivers to grab a hot beverage. I don't know and I am sure it will change as scenarios evolve!

The last truck is a liquid transporter.  As to what the liquid is I am more  than happy to also leave that to your imagination. Maybe fuel, maybe drinking water or maybe even gold fish I don't know and it will probably also vary with time and scenarios. I will assume the ground crews either keep it to a single cargo or have a very good way of cleaning it between loads.

That is it for today. I do have some more 1/300th Sci Fi already painted for next week. But I want to show all the Zulus on Sunday.

With that I will sign off wish you all a very good and productive couple of days ALL the very best from Clint

East Bonus Round.

On Sunday the "East" Bonus round was carried out. Originally I was going to do some "East Africa" WW1 figures. But as we all know they did not arrive in time (my fault I should have ordered them earlier). So I had a rummage and painted a "Ferdinand" .

For those few who do not know the Fedinand was the version of the "Elephant" used at the battle of Kursk. It did have a few drawbacks and those that survived the battle were fitted with an mg 34, Zimmermit paste and improved vision as well as a copla with another mg for the commander to use as well as upgraded armour.

2 were captured during the war, One by the Russians at the battle of Kursk and one (an Elephant) by the Americans at Anzio. Both are now restored and on display. Only 98 were ever made so this beast will almost never see action on the table top. It is just too rare to make many appearances and still count as credible. While MOST were only used in the East some were used in Italy.

As the Zvezda model kit only cost me £2.75 though having this as a 15mm option is still acceptable to me. Needless to say if I was to pay more the result would be I would need to justify it more and put it on the table for games more.

The camouflage is simple 3 colour camouflage and should (I hope) break up the contours of the machine when on the table. But only time will tell. Clearly I have not slavishly copied the camo from the video but the colours should at least be close even if the pattern is not!

The Video just shows the American Elephant arriving at Bovington. (on Loan). There are plenty of other videos so feel free to either watch or skip this as you see fit.

Thanks for looking and more again in a few days time. Until then take care have fun and do some painting if you can.

Post Xmas Shinies!!!

One of he joys of a decent wargames club is that if someone has something they are not gonna use they pass it on to another player. I did this before Christmas and Yesterday I got something back that I do Intend to use. Kind of like a wargames swap shop.

 
 
I passed to Tim (before Xmas) 3 Langton ships and a pack of 10mm ACW buildings as I know he is working on 10mm ACW project (About the only ACW project he is not working on seems to be a 6mm ACW project) and I know he got the "Fighting Sail" rules for Christmas. He asked me what I wanted in return. As Tim Owns (And runs) Both IT Miniatures and Frontline Wargasming. I asked for a few items from those ranges.

Firstly let me say I am VERY happy with the swap as it is things I was going to do but project I have given up on swapped for things I intend to do and have not (as yet) given up on!

Although the pics are unclear here are 2 WW2 Italian armoured fighting vehicles. As I want to do Chain of command in 20mm western Desert The Autoblinda Armoured Car and the CV33 Tankette should I hope pump up the Italian forces. The Tankette is a 2 man Tiny vehicle on the right and the armoured car is on the left,

I also received a WW2 Japanese Machinegun nest also in 20mm. This will not be for WW2 nor the Japanese. (That is a wargames project I have yet to even think about! But It is intended for my Vietnam collection. While not exactly right for that It will still be usable and will get used. I will of course make it harder to see and be seen in not just with paint but also with foliage and it can function as both Viet Mhin and US positions. Not tha I have a plan for a Vietnam base being over run but one can at least day dream.



Finally for a project "Started" a few  years ago that sadly stalled very quickly 2 lots as Askari 20mm WW1 East African Troops. These two packs will I hope give me enough for a starting force or two small skirmishing forces in east Africa.

For me WW1 East Africa has a lot of potential the battles were more skirmish based and the battlefields are a very different. While there were Trenches at places they were not on a similar magnitude to the Western front and tha battles did tend to be skirmishes and not mass infantry battles with tanks and Planes and Gas and the like. From what I have read a much more enjoyable affair. And yes Cavalry were used in limited numbers but not for long as the horses tended to die of fever!

But Imagine a game of Skirmishers versus Skirmishers with Germans, British, Indian, Portuguese, Belgium and Native Tribal warriors (The Massai) and it becomes far from a typical WW1 game at all.

Best get something proiductive done so I will sign off for now and let you be about your business.

All the best Clint

chasseurs à pied

These are 28mm Renegade Miniatures (and 2 Scarab Miniatures) WW1 French Light Cavalry. When I say cavalry I mean they went to war on Bicycles and not horses but the French army classed them as Cavalry. As you can see from the picture this is the whole unit together. I could find little real useful information on the unit, I am sure there is LOADS  but I am equally sure I am a dullard and that my webfu is not very good.  So do me a favour and do not point out the best source
 
for information on this unit. Even if yuou do I will not look at it as they are done now and I doubt I will ever paint them again.

The next 2 pictures show the Scarab miniatures or the right to contrast with the Renegade miniatures on the left. I have shown these in close up so you can see the cat and the pigeon as well as to notice the differences and similarities between the two companies.

I want to say how much fun these were to paint Unfortunately that would be a lie. Not that the figures are bad or miss cast or poorly sculpted but rather that painting dark blue when ill in the middle of winter is not so much fun. (This was carried out last week and I am all better now!) needless to say getting the right blue for shading and highlighting was a right kerfuffle! Yeah I know I am labouring the point.

The last 2 pics show French Re enactors (I believe in Belgium) who are dressed in the uniform of the Chasseurs à pied which should show where I took all the colours from. The models did not have any markings on their trousers or kepis so that has all been done free hand but I for one think it works. By the way only the guys on the bikes are in the right uniform so no one ask why they do not have red trousers like the ones in the back. I am sure someone will and that someone will and it is not at all funny!

That is it for today a wave of apathy has struck and I was unable to post last weeks battle on the blog. But I shall attempt to in the coming days.

Until then take car have fun and paint if you can.

best Wishes Clint

Sci Fi infantry Company for Frozen planet.

YES I have started my Frozen planet force. These are 6mm (!/300th scale) Brigade Models (UK) CDSU (Chinese Democratic Socialist Union) Infantry company.

Personally I judge them more a platoon than a company. I only put 4 figures to a base (2 figures for a command base) and have 1 infantry base in a vehicle. For game purposes this should work AND it does give me some left for specialist heavy weapons stands and scout stands and generally just more infantry. Which makes me happy with my frugality!

The MICVs are hoverfraft (type) vehicles so of course I Ignored technology I gave them black skirts. I could so easily have gone for camo all over but theskirts in black just looked right and when on the cloth will look Ok and no one will really question why they are not camouflaged. Queue a flood of inquiries  from my players as to why they are not camouflaged.

Personally I like the figures and as I want this to be both a cheap project AND an easy to transport project I am more than happy with the results.

I suspect I will purchase more of these troops before the weekend. I still need an opposing force and am sure I want more Brigade models so It just comes down to which I like best on the day as I should be buying them locally.

There should be more from me very soon. So until then take care have fun and enjoy the weather no matter how bad it gets where you are. Or at least try to.

best Wishes Clint

Flo

Well the Bonus round has finished and it is safe to now show you FLO!

This Bonus round was called "Armour". That was the only clue that was given and it was up to everyone to interpret it in what ever way seemed the most fitting.

As I want to do bore Chain of Command this year and as I like the early period of the Western Desert. What could be better (I thought) than an Armoured Car. And if I was going to do an Armoured car for the Western Desert well I thought a  Rolls Royce Armoured car would be the best one to do!

As It turns out I was not the only person doing a Rolls Royce armoured car.  But at least they were in different scales. My one is a Frontline 20mm resin cast vehicle.

As you can see I did select the British desert camouflage pattern that does incorporate the light blue and the Aircraft recognition roundel. Which is placed slap bang (like a Target) across the top of the turret. The Black and white image does show one actually in the desert and painted in this manner. Lacking the roundel for aerial recognition but clearly showing the angular pattern and the different tones. For the actual colours I looked at the Matilda2 at Bovington Tank museum and with any luck my combination of the two will be just about right. Or at least good enough for a game or two.

While a long way from being perfect it is good enough for my amusement and painting skills.

So just before I go why "Flo"? Well I wanted a name that was easy to paint and was a female name of the period. with Flo being short for Florence. It did help that the name also has a connotation of movement and as a scouting armoured car the name just seemed to fit.

I appologise.

Several things all happened at once which meant I have been unable to blog as frequently as I would like.

Well the AHPC is still continuing but I have sufficient back log so start showing stuff on the blog more frequently!

Secondly My sister is back from Texas, having told me it would be 2 weeks and her leaving on BOXING DAY! SO the Dogs and the horses no longer my responsibility!

Thirdly the bug seems to have passed. I am still a little weak and coughing and spluttering and with a headache but seriously so much better then yesterday when I had to go back to bed! I cannot remember the last time I needed to go back to bed.

BUT the good news is I was given 2 gifts.

Long tem member of the blog may recall me starting and stopping a WW1 East Africa Project. Well another club member wants to do some of this and these are the rules he wants to use and this was a spare copy of the rules he gave me. I shall enjoy reading them but whether I will use them or not I just do not know.

The other is a small book on the Battle of the Alamo. Now my sister has no interest in war, battles, wargamin, very little interest in history (I am sure she would say otherwise but in 50 years I have not known her to buy 1 history book for herself!) however she did do to San Antonio and see the site of the battle and the museum. Probably I suspect because my nephew and brother in law wanted to go. Still anyway a book on a battle I have not read and that will be difficult to acquire in the UK so I am not complaining!

I will tryto do another post tomorrow. Until then here are me and the 2 dogs at about 3 am having just been woken up to let them out for a wee! Kindly forgive my dishevelled appearance! And the fact that the dogs are not allowed on the sofa at their own home!

A zulu painters work is never done!

Everything painted so far.

With a show coming up in March and Zulus as the theme I have over the last few years been (Slowly) trying to paint some Zulus. Let me just say it has not been very fulfilling.

The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge and the shortening deadline has helped a lot. Since the start of the challenge on 20th December I have painted 223 10mm Zulus. What is more I am continuing to paint Zulus. And will attempt to get 30 more done each week Until I finish the lot!


At the outset I started to paint "tribally" But Have since come to realise that from a wargames point of view it is better to paint as units. While not historically accurate this way does allow players to know what they command and what they can expect with regard to Morale and ferocity and toughness. Which as a game mechanic does make more sense.

Let me STRESS none of these units are finished.
Each and everyone will be added to in the next couple of months. Usually in 1 or two bases at a time just to round out the amount of figures I have in each unit. Each unit WILL NOT have equal numbers. To do so would requite more troops than I would care to paint or care to buy!

So the units are:

• Unmarried and un blooded warrior's. Carrying WHITE shields. Although white shields they do have black straps attaching the shield to the shield pole.
• White shields with black markings. (For now this unit is complete!
• Black shields. Married and bloodied. with white shield straps. This unit is not finished although very clse to being finished.
• Main Troops Unmarried but Bloodied. Brown and white splodged shields. This is by far the biggest unit and in games I expect to field it as several smaller units. It was also the first unit I started painting so the bases are a lighter colour!
• Brown shield with white straps. This unit is interesting for 2 reasons. Firstly there are only 2 figures to each base, secondly one figure on each base has a rifle.

 As a horde of figures I am mostly done with these as I am now able to have a game or two with sufficient numbers to make it interesting and with luck the British will not have an easy game and will clearly be outnumbered!

Thanks for looking today. I am now getting back to the painting challenge.

The Actual tribal markings of Zululand Circe 1884

All the best Clint

Sheep.

yes I did think of a funny title but after so many sheep puns I just could not do it! So here are a few Mouflon sheep models painted up and now put away.

The figures are by warbaes and will be used in En Garde games as objectives and things to steal and or maybe rescue from other bands. As such there are 2 adults (the ewe's also have horns btw) and 4 lambs. Yes one lamb is a different colour that was intentional.











Right at the end is a picture of this rare breed so you can see the actual colours, hopefully they are not too different! At least that is my intention.

I should do another post in a few days to show you the Zulus I have painted so far.

Until then take care have fun and try not to shiver too much!!

200th scale Trucks.

 These went on the AHPC last week. here we have 8 trucks for my Spanish civil war armies. 6 of them are German Opel Blitz trucks while the other 2 I am not sure of, They were bought cheap from eBay and already undercoated so I just had to apply some colour. I suspect they are all Pendraken, but really do not know. For me they will just be generic trucks. After all in most wargames (all that I can think of a truck is a truck no matter which country of origin it hails from.
As a consequence these will work for any of the forces involved. be that Nationalist or Republican, Poum Militia or Moroccan regulars.

Xmas Swag! (And now back to normal)

It has been a funny day today. I did receive a couple of Wargames Xmas gifts, not many but I am happy with them all. The Reason for the funny day is my sister brother-in-law and nephew are all flying to Dallas Texas tomorrow morning.  Just for a couple of weeks and not for good or anything like that. Which meant I put on a buffet lunch for them and not a Roast dinner. So yes technically I had Pizza for Christmas dinner! (Among many other things and will be eating left over buffet food for a few more days. )

But as wargamers you all want to know what loot I received.  In No particular order.

• Hyena Road DVD. If you have not already seen it and are interested in modern warfare it is worth a look.
• Fury DVD A film I have not seen yet so got to be worth a look. (Despite the big main star it still could be good! I do not have a downer on the star but on Hollywood always casting big names!)
• A brigade Games 6mm Sci Fi Chinese Infantry Company (this was unexpected but is a complete joy!)
• 6  packs of peter Pig Dark age Vikings. these were from my Secret Santa Thank you very Much Santa 5 of the 6 packs would have been my choice as well. The other pack, not my fist choice but probably a better choice than I would have made. So once again Thank you Santa I am very impressed with your good taste.
• last but not least THANK you Paul. ( I do not know for sure who you are, but I do have a clue!)  12 Painted 15mm sci fi figures. 8 Men and 4 Robots. I will redo the bases just to match in with the rest of my forces. but that is the only changes I will make. I recognise every film the robots are "inspired" by yes even Hughie and Louie (or is that Hughy and Louy!) And I will get these in a game in the new year, That I promise!

Well that is the haul, small but potent. I did get other things as well, like gloves and socks... but as wargamers you do not care about them.

For my Nephew I got a box of Japanese sweets! About the size of a shoe box filled with sweets and snacks he had never tried before.... And he likes trying new foods.  I did order a "Walking Dead" novel as well so he could read it in the plane, but it is lost in the post. But It may still turn up.

While for my sister I got a 50" Girth. yes she is my BIG sister but that is for her horse and not for her! You cheeky sod! I also got her a book to read on the plane all about how a horse trains its human. yes my sister is horse mad and will be riding when in Texas!

Anyway I hope you all have received things you like  and are as happy as me. Not a massive haul but a joyous one. And once again thanks to Santa Clause and Secret Santa.

I will post again soon. All the best Clint