Classical Mauryan Indian Archers and Spearmen & Workbench Catch Up

I was hoping to get this Classical/Mauryan Indian army ready for an event but delays in being able to order the miniatures I needed to add and delays in painting have left me with the army just about half painted! Still, I am able to borrow one for the event so all is well. also, I have committed to putting on a display game at Battleground Wargames Show in November which really makes the painting of these Indians unpractical if I am to be able to put my energy into the upcoming display game.

I thought I'd post up the pictures anyway as a means to document the army so far and hopefully to spur myself on when I get the time to finish up the army.

Two Indian Heavy Chariots in need of basing and then they are ready for action. The crew, minus the Essex Miniatures "driver" are from The Miniature Company and are sold by Eureka Miniatures UK. The chariots are Essex Miniatures. I was somewhat forced into going down the route of using Essex Chariots and The Miniature Company/Eureka crew as my army consists of 99% The Miniature Company/Eureka miniatures which are literally heads and shoulders above Essex in height. more importantly, the The Miniature Company/Eureka are massive and are just too big to look right in any way in my book.

As for the display game we're putting on in November at Battleground there are perhaps a few clues contained within the image below. Answers on a postcard!

"When Crécy battle fatally was struck"

When Crécy battle fatally was struck", William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act 2, Scene 4.

"When Cressy battle fatally was struck

 And all our princes captived by the hand

 Of that black name, Edward, Black Prince of Wales"

The actual historical Battle of Crécy, of course, took place on August 26, 1346

The Battle of Crécy, from a 15th-century illuminated manuscript of Jean Froissart's Chronicles

Sassanid Javelinmen

These Wargames Foundry Sassanid Javelinmen have been sitting on a shelf waiting for the grass tufts to arrive before being photographed. There's something about the way in which Wargames Foundry sculpts pop out of the moulds that is very pleasing when it comes to painting them up. They are almost always a pleasure to colour in.

I went for slightly muted but colourful tunicstrousers but decided to leave kulāf (or kolāh) an off white colour to bring some unity to the unit.

I'm committed to a display game of The Battle of Dyrrachium 1081 for the Battleground Wargames Show in November this year so I don't know when I'm going to get around to, it but I have to paint up 3 units of 32 mixed spear and bow, 3 x 16 Skirmishing Archers, 2 x 16 Skirmishing Slingers and another 2 x 16 Skirmishing Javelinmen! Ouch! 

All the photo's are "clickable" (Right click, "Open in new Tab", Enlarge)

Cheers for now.

More Fabulous AD Miniatures Third Century Roman Sculpts to Come From Footsore Miniatures!

Hi, with permission from the sculptor Adam Smith I'm now at liberty to show more of the soon to be moulded Third Century Romans from AD Miniatures released by Footsore Miniatures.

The sculpts have been updated from the range Adam put together with A&A Miniatures many a moon back. I think these sculpts stand up to even the Aventine Early Byzantine range, which for those familiar with this blog will know I really love. 

Here  you go!

Cheers for now.

Over 2 Million Hits

Over 2 Million Hits! Never in my wildest dreams did I think this blog would develop this much interest over the many years of it's existence. 

Thanks to all who have put in the effort, in their busy lives to take a peek, read an article or generally just browse.

Apologies for the AI image. I simply couldn't think of anything to post!

AD Miniatures, 3rd Century Romans now Available from Footsore Miniatures

Hi, just a quick note to let folk know that Adam Smith's AD Miniatures collaboration with Footsore Miniatures has now seen the first pre releases of the Third Century Romans range.

They can be seen and are available from HERE!

There are currently seven packs in the range and i know that there is much more to come by way of Legionaries/Auxiliaries and Cavalry etc.

Cheers for now.

Clubbing it! Cruel Seas- Channel Dash

Last Thursday at the club saw me, with my usual coterie of friends, playing another game of Cruel Seas by Warlord Games. This is actually my third game so one would think I would have digested the rules by now, but not so! The game was another learning experience and I was largely playing follow my leader with fellow Kriegsmarine kameraden Matt. I do really enjoy this game, which came as a the first time I played as, having played a veritable prethora of Naval wargames in the past at SESWC organised by Naval historian Angus Konstam; despite the elite company at the time they were not games that really hit home with me. 

So, the scenario..... the Germans were to get their tankers across the playing area and to safety whilst the Royal Navy would be doing all they could to stop them from doing so!

The Tankers Set Out

Immediately the British Vospers spring an ambush and start to swarm the Germans.

The German Tankers lumber forward protected by the S100's in the centre and the S38's  to their left.

Another view of the German S100 Protecting the Tankers.

The RN Vopsers swarm, moving into position to spring their ambush and set their torpedoes away.

A view of the game from above

Torpedoes away! The British Boats release their load. The British had clearly learned from pervious encounters with the more heavily armed German S38's and S100's. By releasing their torpedoes as soon as they were within effective range and settling on a tactic of letting the Germans try to manoeuvre out of their deadly predicament.

British torpedo bombers screams in and drops their payload. Luckily, neither of the tankers take a hit as the torpedoes fail to go off. 

Normally I don't go in for lazers in wargaming (reminds me too much of DBA PTSD) but Neil's toy came in very handy when trying to trace the movement of the torpedoes! They seemed to move every time we looked at the table top!

The Brits Vospers fill The Channel with torpedoes!

All we can do is manoeuvre the Tankers, hoping for the best and plenty of dud torpedoes whilst blasting away with out superior firepower. As for blasting away? We did minimal damage due to some quite crappy dice rolls. This enabled all the British vessels to release at least two torpedoes a piece!

By the time it came to hit the pub; turn three I think(?); I think it had to be called a marginal win for the Brits as the game still leaned heavily on the German Tankers being able to avoid being hit. It would have been interesting to play another turn or two and to have reached a conclusion. I expect we will next week. 

Other Club Games....

Another Naval Game- WWII

Bloody Big Battles

Chain of Command; Cold War

Gaslands

Lion Rampant; Crusades

Cheers for now