Final Painting of 2012

Yesterday I completed a small batch of disparate figures that had been sitting around my painting desk for far too long.

First some Miniature Figurines American Revolutionary War figures:

An American general, using the MiniFig General Washington figure, painted from scratch.





And a Hessian general, using the same figure.  This was a repaint of a previously painted figure that I purchased.



New figures for Bland's Dragoons (American).  I previously had inherited a unit of nine of these from my friend Doc Ord.  With the acquisition of three more, they are now part of a six stand regiment.  The newly painted figures are the officer on the front stand and two of the four figures on the back stands plus three of those four horses.  I think I did a fairly decent job of matching Doc's paint job.

And the whole regiment together.  They will be used to help oppose my British cavalry - 17th Light Dragoons, Queen's Rangers, and the Loyalist York Dragoons (an "made-up" designation).

An Old Glory Darkest Africa figure:

This is the leader from the Old Glory bearers set.  I needed a senior leader for my Zanzabari units and he seemed to fit the bill perfectly.  He is a slightly taller figure than the rest of my Zanzabari so he'll stand out as their leader.



My Chinese Back of Beyond forces needed some additional leaders so I added the Pulp Figures PYG-14 Chun King warlord command pack.

The warlord in the center and the standard bearer will lead the entire Chinese force.  The two figures on each end will join one of his warlord infantry units to replace some leader figures who are getting promoted.  The bald-headed guy in khaki will lead my German uniformed Chinese forces.  He's armed with a submachinegun and looks rather nasty so he'll be a good guy to keep them in check.  The basing details correspond to the units that are already done to which these guys will be added.

And my early 20th Century "Pulp" forces got some additional stalwarts to increase the strength of the "Knights of the Cresent Moon."



Three Tommy Gun toting "Knights" from the Brigade Games line of figures.  They'll join the ones I already have painted.



To make a fairly heavily armed band to help protect the treasures of the Near East from those ravenous "tomb raiders" who plague that part of the world.



And finally, Bob Murch's Pulp Figures of "The Sergeants Three and Gunga Din."

Those three brave and rogueish sergeants plus the bugle tooting Gunga Din.  The bases aren't completed yet but they are ready for adventures.



Baluchi Mercenaries

Just before the end of July, I completed the unit of 17 Baluchi mercenaries that I acquired from Ken H. at Bayou Wars.  They were the last of my Bayou Wars purchased figures to be painted.  I think that this is the first time that I have completely painted all of a convention's figures within such a short period of time (about seven weeks!).  But let's get on with introducing them.  As I stated in my last post on July 5 (Was it really that long ago?!), they are armed with matchlock muskets but also have swords and shields.  They should have an advantage in melees, but they'll have to drop those muskets in order to fully utilize their close combat weapons.  EDIT:  These figures are 28mm from Foundry's Darkest Africa line.

They are organized for Larry Brom's  The Sword in Africa rules (a small unit variant of The Sword and the Flame rules).  Each unit is 8 figures, including a leader and every two to three "native" units has a senior leader.

First, their leader, the Sheikh, is a grizzled veteran of many an action in south Asia, the Arabian coast, and the east African littoral.  He has a huge two-handed sword which he plies with great zeal as he smites the foes of Allah.

The first part of the command has varied shades of indigo dyed clothing.  Their leader wears a red fez (left center).

The other part of the unit wears white clothing.  Their leader is an old retainer of the Sheikh and is wearing a red sash and belt (right center).

With the exception of a new armed leader for my main Zanzabari unit, these Baluchis will complete my "Zanzabari" command for The Sword in Africa forces that I have been raising.  Although they are not as well armed as the rest of the Zanzabari command, they will, I'm sure, acquit themselves well.  My Zanzabari command now has two 8-man units of heavily-armed Zanzabaris, one 8-man unit of musket armed Zanzabaris, two 8-man units of Ruga-Ruga (mercenary "bandits"), these two units of Baluchi mercenaries, and an old muzzle loading cannon with a 4-man crew.

More African Natives

My last group of figures that I painted in June have finally had their portraits made.  All of these figures were purchased from Ken H. at Bayou Wars.  They are all Foundry figures from their Darkest Africa line.

The first up is a single formerly Baluchi mercenary who is joining my gang of Ruga-Ruga toughs.  He will free up an more conventionally dressed askari to be a gun bearer for my white hunters.

The last are a group of not-so-heavily-armed Zanazabari slavers.  These seven chaps are armed with muskets instead of the Martinis and Remingtons with which their comrades are armed.  These figures will probably end up being used as guards while the more heavily armed Zanzabaris go out after more captives.

Already primed are the last batch of figures I purchased from Ken -- a 17-figure unit of Baluchi mercenaries armed with matchlock muskets, swords, and shields.  While not having a lot of firepower, these fighters should be awesome in a melee.

Hunters and a Mighty Gorilla

I have painted up some recent purchases.  They will eventually be used in a safari game later this year.

First we have some white hunters with their faithful gun bearer.  These figures are from Brigade Games and were developed to complement Howard Whitehouse's The Lion Eats Tonight rules.

The mighty hunter draws a bead on an unsuspecting target while his female companion watches intently for her own trophy.

Supported by his gun bearer, another hunter advances at the ready.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Purchased from my friend Ken H. at Bayou Wars earlier this month, these two "famous" characters will join my Darkest Africa forces.  They are both Foundry figures from packs DA1 (Explorers) and DA14 (European Ladies).  Also pictured is one of Foundry's "special" animals from pack GPR024.

The Lord of the Jungle and his mate, Jane, survey their domain.

"Red Eye" the Silverback peers cautiously from the jungle as he watches the two-legged intruders.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally, another "Knight of the Crescent Moon" joins the Justice Union League.  Detective Inspector Achmed was also purchased from Ken H.  He is another Foundry figure, from pack DA234 (Belgian Officers and NCOs).

The newest addition to the Justice Union League joins the "Knights of the Crescent Moon."

Final Prep for Colonial Barracks

Last night I completed the last of the figures for my The Sword in Africa game at the Brom's Colonial Barracks All-TSATF convention in New Orleans this weekend.  I'll be running my "The Lion and the Gazelle" game on Saturday morning at 9:00 am.  The play-test battle report is at the Jackson Gamers blog.  I just had a few figures left to do.  And here they are:

A last-minute addition to Alan Haggard's hunting party:

The great white huntress Ruby Maye Loveless (named by my wife)

And a few additional animals to inhabit the jungle and offering targets for the hunters and possible opponents for everyone:

"Croc Dundee" lunging for some unsuspecting prey

"Harry the Hippo" just a little angry at being disturbed during his afternoon siesta

A small herd of gemsbok antelope

A small herd of wildebeest antelope

A last, but not least, the game master's figure:

A "Sergeant Brom" look-alike

So my wife and I will depart Friday morning for the convention.  I'll post pictures and commentary next week after we return.

Colonial Barracks Convention Game Play Test

I have finally posted the report of the play test of the game I will run at the Brom's Colonial Barracks TSATF Convention.

The Lion and the Gazelle

Matthew Morgan, the British tax man, is coming!

The convention will run from November 4 through November 6 in New Orleans.  My game will be presented on Saturday, November 5 at 9:00 am.  Convention link  Game schedule link

Jim