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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

The Russians Are Coming!

In a departure from the steady stream of 18mm SYW/WAS and 25mm Biblical figures emerging from the painting desk, today sees something different.  Something very different from a project not seen in a very long time.
What is the project?  My interpretation of the 19th Century period known as the Great Game where Britain and Russia vied for control and influence in Central Asia, mainly in Afghanistan.  Now, my recollection is that the armies have only been out on the table for exactly one game.  With a little luck, perhaps, mustering the latest Russians will prompt thoughts of returning these armies to the gaming table.
Off the painting desk are 24 Wargames Foundry Crimean War Russian infantry.  They march out as the Moscow Regiment.  Next, I think a handful of Afghan irregulars will be pushed into the painting queue.  First, more Biblicals and SYW/WAS units are seeing their way clear of the workbench.

On the gaming front, the Battle of Fornovo saw action on Tuesday in a five-player contest.  Two players were new to both Basic Impetvs and my remote games.  Quite a different battle from the previous fight.  Great fun but quite different.
French Gendarmes push across the Taro River.
For today, back to the painting desk for what I hope is a meaningful painting session.  We will see if that comes to pass.

67 comments:

  1. Troops look great Jon, that is a different period to play?
    The French crossing the River at Fornovo, how dare they!

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    1. Thanks, Ray! How dare the French cross the Taro? Exactly the words out of the Italians' mouths!

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  2. Nice looking Roosians there Jonathan. Had same returned in the Prodigal Foundry Collection but passed them on. Interesting idea to game the C19th Great Game, calls for Flashman though.

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    1. Thanks, David! The Foundry Crimean War range is still quite a nice one.

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  3. Look forward to hearing more about Tuesday's game - on Saturday perhaps?
    Neil

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    1. Neil, I am sure you will hear more about Tuesday's game. There were four VWCers in attendance. Maybe I can get a battle report together by Saturday. We will see.

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  4. A lovely period to game Jon, interested to see how you run it ? Hexes I wonder.

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    1. Thanks, Matt! I could go either way here (hexes or open table) since units are multi-stand and not single element.

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  5. Nice unit if Russkis there Jonathan. Interested to hear if how things transpired in Tuesday's Fornovocation.

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    1. Thank you, Phil! There will be accounts of more Fornovocation as reports come in.

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  6. An interesting period. The Crimean War has always been an interest, both naval and land conflicts.

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    1. Crimean War is an interesting period, although I went off in a different direction so that I could field Afghan and Indian units.

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  7. An interestingly different choice of Russian regiment, there.

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  8. That does look interesting. Have you read Alexander Morrison's 'The Russian Conquest of Central Asia' ? Fascinating stuff.

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    1. I have not but I have read and enjoyed Hopkirk's The Great Game.

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    2. That, too, is excellent but there has been over 30 years of further research since it was published.

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    3. I will look into picking up Morrison. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  9. The Russians are very nice indeed, they look quite striking in the coloured head gear, Interesting concept to, the "Great Game" is full of great what ifs and is a good chance to field a wide range of units. Certainly looking forward to seeing where it takes you.

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    1. Thank you! There are many possibilities with gaming The Great Game. Not exactly sure where this will lead.

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  10. Splases of red (hats) against khaki drab (uniform) makes for very compelling units. Nice.

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  11. Very nice, and unusual, looking Russian troops Jon! Hopefully painting them inspires a return to The Great Game later thus year....

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    1. Glad you approve, Keith! I need a bit of inspiration and time to return to this project. So many games; so little time.

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  12. Nice! Wherever the Tsar glances you can be sure that Flashman’s nemesis, Count Nikolai Pavlovich Ignatieff, is not far away!
    Chris/Nundanket

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  13. Very nice Jon. A bit of back of beyond type action would be very interesting.

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    1. That would be interesting if I knew anything about BoB. Having units/collections serving double duty is always a welcome treat.

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  14. Beautiful job on these Jonathan, and they look very striking.

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    1. Thanks, Lawrence! Easy to paint too!

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    2. Yes, figures wearing greatcoats are a wargamer's dream, but it still takes a lot of skill to lift them above the crowd.

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  15. The Great Game sounds like lots of fun Jonathan. All sorts of units and situations.
    Whenever one side or the other looks like getting ahead the Afghans can even things up again. For the right price of course. 😁

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    1. Thanks, Ben! Yes, much choice for creating interesting scenario background.

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  16. A lovely colourful Russian unit Jonathan.
    One I should get round to doing myself.

    All the best. Aly

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    1. You should add one of these units to your collection!

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  17. A splendid picture of me luring the French across the river by rolling consistently worse than my noble opponent :)
    The Russians look fine too in their striking head gear.
    I shall follow with interest where your muse leads you next.
    All the best
    Stephen

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    1. In theory, that could have been a clever tactic, Stephen.

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  18. Excellent looking Russians, all ready to menace central asia! The picture from the latest Fornova game looks intriguing!
    Best Iain caveadsum1471

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    1. Thanks, Iain! There a good story underpinning that Fornovo photo.

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  19. Very nice indeed, them Russians πŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌ. Great work, Jonathan. Nice to see more ‘off the beaten track’ figures in show πŸ‘πŸΌ✔️

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  20. A fine looking regiment Jonathan!

    Christopher

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  21. You will definitely have a fair number of interesting scenarios in your Great Game excursion. If you're interested in Pathans, there are some downstairs, I am sure.

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  22. So the hope is the the time known as ‘the great game’ will provide for some great games? With you at the helm, it’s sure to be so. πŸ˜€
    Good job on the miniatures.

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    1. Yes. A Great Hope for The Great Game. However, it seems very much on a dimly lit backburner.

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  23. Those Russians look good and at some point, my 'spare' 19thC figures will go to form a sort of Russian ImagiNations force, with the Great Game likely to feature in some shape or form.

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    1. Thanks, Steve! I am surprised that you do not already have a 19thC Russian army.

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    2. I bought some figures years ago with the plan of doing some 'Great Game' stuff, both British and Russian, but as is the wont of things, I moved onto other projects. Luckily my ImagiNations approach has allowed me to mix a wide range of troops, some of which I had simply forgotten about!

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  24. Excellent looking Russians!
    An exciting game it was , just as well you haven’t any photos of my dice throwing as one of the Italian commanders! It would have put them off for life.
    Alan Tradgardland

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    1. Thanks, Alan!
      The game was very exciting. You and Doug caught on to a new ruleset quickly. Next game will proceed even more smoothly for you. No photos of dice throwing, fortunately. Unfortunately, I do have photos of the results of those dice throws.

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  25. Splendid looking Russians Jonathan.

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  26. Very cool looking Russians, Jonathan. Didn't expect to see them in red shakos.

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    1. The Russians had at least such red shakoed units in the Crimea.

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  27. Your 19th Century Great Game project sound interesting and Russian unit looks very nice.

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    1. Thank you, Peter. I find that even in retirement I may have too many projects and not enough time.

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  28. Those Russians look great, and rather unusual! I look forward to seeing some 'Great Game' action in due course. Also to seeing the AAR of that Fornovo game - it must have been quite different, if the French were crossing the river!

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    1. Thank you, David! One day, the Russians may make it to the table. For now, the Fornovo battle report is up!

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