More Afghans

As the painting mojo continues to struggle to return, I finally completed a few more Afghans. They were the last 12 figures from a box of the plastic warriors from Perry miniatures.

The flag is from the ones supplied in the boxed set. Not my best work by any means, just glad to get something completed. I kept to a limited palette to try and speed up the painting time, but they still took over 2 weeks.

Some Afghans

Progress continues to be slow. Not helped by picking up a cold bug. It has taken me over a week to get these 8 figures done.

They are 8 Afghan irregulars from Artizan miniatures armed with rifles. The idea being to mix them in among my existing musket and jezzail armed figures. That way I can use them for Back of Beyond gaming. Ive now got another 12 plastic figures from Perry's to start.

Lost mojo

Well after some high painting outputs at the start of the year, I haven't picked up a paintbrush in over 2 weeks. I just have no fancy for it. Got plenty of figures in to paint, even prepped, just don't fancy. Going to try a do a little work this afternoon on a Hydra for Dragon Rampant game on Thursday.

But wargaming related, I did get a colonial game in the other week, forgot to write it up and a bit sketchy on the details. All I remember is the Beja won and the Brits best form close order or can be quickly swept away.

Wish me luck on picking up a paint brush.

Battle of El Walli, part 2

To say this was a game of two halves is an understatement. Last week the British suffered badly, reluctant to move, couldn't hit a barn door when firing. This week that was all to change. Firstly there was the timely arrival of an extra unit of volunteer horse.

The Mahdists/Zulus close in

Volunteer horse arrive

he game re started with the British D Company finally moving into position. Last week they did nothing this week was there moment of glory. Elsewhere B company poured a volley into the advancing enemy, putting 7 of them down. Newcastles' rifles left the protection of the village and poured a devastating volley into one of Thoms Zulu regiments, killing 6.

Give them a volley

The garrison sally out

After this initial setback, the Mahdists and Zulus renewed their attack. The irregulars returned fire into B company and to the shock of everyone killed 7, needing to roll sixes. A second unit then crashed into the remnants of B company, quickly putting them to the sword. Thom's Zulu force then decided to swing their attention to the village, a fateful moment it was to prove to be. As they engaged the enemy they came under fire taking casualties. This is where Thom's notorious dice rolls came into play, failing every morale check to first be pinned, then when trying to rally the units ran away.

The death of B company

Where have the Zulus gone

Very quickly where there were once 6 Zulu regiments, only 2 remained. Meanwhile the Afghans were suffering much the same fate. Under fire from D company and the volunteers, the casualties began to mount up and they began to melt away. The Mahdists to were coming under fire from the mounted volunteers, they quickly tried to reform their lines but most of the units were now well under strength.

Afghans under fire

Mahdists reforming

Volunteers clearing the way

Mounted volunteers crest the hill

Last charge of the Zulus

The Zulus made one last charge into Newcastle's Rifles, inflicting and recieving heavy casualties. It was a last desperate effort but the game was up. After an hours play the whole gamehad swung back to the British. However we all agreed that the Natives, though failint in achieving their objectives could be happy with their work. They had destroyed 3 companies of British regulars and a unit of Lancers. What was leftof the British relief column was going to need to be relieved themselves.

Volunteer Horse

After a brief interlude into 10mm, it's back to the Colonials. This time some volunteer Horse. I already have 3 mounted Boers painted up and these 5 round up the unit. 

First are a command group from Perry miniatures. Went for the later khaki uniform look.

The last 2 figures are from Northstars Africa range. They are for a slightly later period but feel they fit in with the irregular look I am after.

So all 5 together. They mix well together. When I get to the club on Thursday I can add the other 3.

Probably back to the 10mm while I await an order from Perry miniatures for some Eygptians.

Battle of El Walli , part 1

So Thursday night at the club saw most of us pull together our colonial forces for a large but hopefully quick game. It did mean that the natives were made up of Beja, Zulus and Afghans to give us enough numbers.

The British forces were split into 2 commands with Neil G leading 3 companies of the 24th Foot an a detatchment of the 17th Lancers. Andy commanded another company of the 24th and some European volunteers as part of the relief force. He also commanded a company of Marines and volunteers within the village of El Walli.

There mission was to march to the aid of the garrison of El Walli, after their paddle steamer had run aground, their commanders thought it would be a dashing idea to march overland.

The natives were split into 3 commands. Robbo commanded a unit of irregulars and 2 units of Tribal warriors. Neil B commanded a unit of irregular and 5 units of Tribal infantry. Thom command 1 unit of irregulars and 4 units of Tribal infantry. They significantly outnumbered their European adversaries.

The relief force

To start the game the Europeans chose to advance straight up the table. They were very worried about  large areas of scrub on each of their flanks. Pretty sure it would be from these areas that their enemy would emerge. First couple of turns it was all quiet as the natives remained hidden. Andy's regulars though seemed to be reading a different map to the others and would spend much of the game looking rather lost.

Let the Lancers go first

As they slowly advanced the garrison waiting patiently for their arrival. Eventually the cry went up, enemy to the flanks as the natives sprang their ambush. The Lancers had veered to close to the scrub and were surprised by some tribal warriors. However they quickly fought off their foes, but with heavy casualties, losing half of their number.

The garrison stand to

What's that coming over the hill?

Enemy to the right

Right lads, Charge!!!

With their dander up the Lancers decided to charge headlong into the enemy, buying valuable time for the regulars to form up. Lowering lances they hit hard into the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties on the first unit, but the blood lust got the better of them as they followed up into a second unit and met their demise.

With the cavalry gone, Neil G and his 3 companies were assaulted, despite repeated volleys the enemy still came on. The 3 companies were taking a losses they could ill afford. On the left, Andy's volunteers engaged with more of the enemy, managing to keep most of them pinned, If only the regulars would move up in support instead of squabbling about directions.

Fix bayonets

Keep firing

So next week will see the conclusion of the game. The British have taken a hammering on the right flank. Even the garrison of El Walli is moving out to try and support them, but Thom's un-engaged tribal units are moving to intercept them. Things look better on the left with Robbo's natives pinned down.

Now it is a race, can the Brits hold off until the rest of the relief column arrive or will the natives cut them down where they stand....

Afghan Warriors

Following my last post, these are the additional Afghan Tribal warriors I needed to complete a unit. They are all plastic figures from Perry miniatures,  kindly donated by Dave.

They mix quite well with metal figures I had already refurbished. Here they are all together, ready to do battle tomorrow night.

I'll combine these with the 12 riflemen Dave provided already painted. There are enough figures left to put together another unit of rifle arm irregulars.

Refurbished figures

As I've arranged a large multi player game for Thursday, I realised we do not have enough Mahdists for the game, so a few proxies are required. Neil has 4 units of Zulus, Andy another which helps. I have 1 unit of Afghan tribesman, Thom has agreed to paint up another unit while I do the same. Luckily I had these figures left over from my last Colonial project from many years ago. They needed basing and some of the paintwork touched up.

They are all from Foundry miniatures Afghan or Darkest Africa range. Some not for the purists, but they fit and just leaves me 7 figures to complete.

Hopefully we can split the natives into 3 forces 

Zulus, 5 units of Tribal warriors

Madists, 5 units of Tribal warriors and 1 unit of Irregulars

Afghans, 1 unit of Tribal warrios and 2 units of Irregulars.

I also took the opportunity to complete 2 more bases of scrub  adding a few rocks  borrowed from the garden.

So best get back to painting the last of the figures I need.