Another Mixed Bag!

While I await inspiration to recount my tale of the last fight at Zallaqah, I offer up a second mixed bag of activities.  No, not a bag from Santa yet!  Zallaqah game photos have been resized and curated so at least some progress was made.  Battle report maybe next time?  Until then, a game teaser from the early battle action.

Zallaqah

At the painting desk, multiple units are seeing work, and a steady flow of figures is migrating upstairs to the photo box in the office.  On the painting productivity front, December will likely see the best month of 2025.  That is good news.  Looks like I will fall just short of painting 900 figures for the year.  Very good news!

Anyway, next off the painting desk is a fifteen-figure unit of Gurkhas for the Great Game project.  These figures are from Wargame Foundry's Indian Mutiny range.  Nice figures but, perhaps, a little smaller than some of the other figures in the range.  Based in open order, they will complement the British Army in dealing with more irregular tasks.

I mentioned in other posts, Nancy has been experimenting with 3D printing at the local library.  Before each tutorial visit, she asks if I have any small(ish) stl files she could take to try.  On the latest outing, I sent the culvert file offered as a free gift from Sabotag3D for completing the 2025 WSS Great Wargaming Survey.

I asked for the culvert to be printed in two scales for both 15mm and 28mm.  They turned out quite nice, I think.  Next up, both need a slap of paint.

Speaking of the WSS GWS and free gifts, I used the 5-pound voucher to order a digital back issue of WSS magazine.  With thoughts turning back toward WotR, I ordered issue 98.  The voucher easily covered the cost of the digital edition.

If you completed the survey and have yet to use your voucher, do so before the voucher expires at year-end.

As always, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, good gaming, and hopefully, something wargamery in your stocking.

Foundry Matchlockmen

With a steady diet of battle reports of late, time to slip in a short painting update to break up some of the detailed battle accounts.  There remains one more Adobe Wells game to chronicle but I am still sorting photos and putting the pieces of frantic action into place.  As a teaser, consider what the narrative is behind the scene below:

Back to today's figures...

Mustering out today are 24 matchlock men from Wargames Foundry's Sikh Wars range.  These warriors will be absorbed into the Native contingents for my 25mm Great Game project that continues to simmer away very slowly on one of the back burners.

Nice figures and a pleasure to paint.  Lots more figures to parade through the photo booth.

Pass the Pathans

With overnight guests and a steady parade of grandkid birthday parties (three), one recital, and very little quiet, not much was accomplished over the weekend just past.  There was some time during the early morning hours to work at the painting desk before the house sprung to life with a three-year tearing through the house.  We did have to explain the difference between grandpa's toys and the three-year old's toys.  Luckily, the little one was not too interested in my toys.  

I did manage to finish a 15-figure band of Pathans to add into the 19th Century Great Game project.  Figures are Wargames Foundry.  These three stands are based as irregulars more suitable for harassment than stand up fights.

This week looks relatively quiet on the gaming front until Friday when I host a refight of the Bassignana battle with four players.  With quiet returning to the house and rain coming down in a steady pour today, perhaps I can spend some quality time at the painting desk?  Lots in work with a decidedly WAS/SYW flavor but with a few surprise project additions as well.  

There is still a Bassignana report from last week to write too.  Until that time, below is another teaser from the battle showing d'Aix' Piedmontese holding the high ground as the French contemplate an assault.

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.

Another Project Finished?

Having finished off the Feudal Japan/Samurai Battles and the Federal ACW brigade projects in July, August kicks off with another project sliding over to the completed side of the ledger.  That project?  My Russian/Afghan/Indian force to be mustered as a primary protagonist against a British/Native Army for the Great Game.    

With several Afghan units coming off the painting desk in June, today sees two Russian regular artillery guns.  Fielding these two guns and crew exhausts the stockpile of figures in The Lead Pile for this project.  While these figures may potentially signify the completion of the project, nothing stops me from adding more units over time if Kevin decides to launch an arms race.  

Still plenty of action at the painting desk.  Next off the painting desk will likely be three stands of Cretan bowmen for the Punic Wars.  With a bit of luck, I can squeeze in a second game of Fields of Honor: AWI this week.

Afghans/Pathans for the Great Game

Off the desk today sees a return to yet another dormant project.  This time, three Afghan units for the 25mm Great Game project.  On offer from the painting desk are 2 x 15 man Afghan warbands (three stands each) and one gun and crew.  Figures are all from Wargames Foundry.

The Great Game project has been slowly percolating on a back burner for about five years.  The initial motivation for the collection was to field an army to oppose a gaming buddy's 1840-1850s British and Indian colonial armies.  With that goal, I began fielding a mid-19th Century Russian army augmented by Natives to use in The Great Game.  My Russians may have actually taken to the field in an action against his troops a few years ago but I find no artifacts of the event.  Only slight, fuzzy memories exist.  It may have been a dream.

Stepping forward to late last fall during pre-COVID days, Kevin hosted several Commands & Colors battles on a LARGE, tiled table with his 25mm troops.  The battles were set in the 1840s and pitted the British against Native protagonists (see Battle Report EIC 1840).  The plan was to continue these battles on a semi-regular basis with a goal of pitting my Russians against his British.  Both sides would likely be drawing upon Native contingents as well.  Before any of that fun could be arranged, I broke my leg and then COVID struck.

With the addition of these three Afghan units mustering to the colors, the Russians will be even more prepared to face their English adversaries when hostilities resume.  Oh, two more Russian guns are in the painting queue too.  Kevin, one day we can return to the field of battle...      

Odds and Sods Off the Painting Desk

A small, eclectic mix of stuff off the painting desk today.

First up, is a two-figure stand of mounted Saracen cavalry from Black Tree Design.  My plan for this stand is to use it as a native warlord command stand for the Great Game project.  With some of the highly ornamented noble cavalry from Foundry's Sikh Wars' range, I figured these guys would fit right in. 

Next off the painting desk are six, Spanish infantry in campaign gear for the Spanish-American War project.  These half-dozen figures will be used (obviously) as prone markers.  Still a handful of prone figures to hit the painting desk including both Americans and Spanish.  Figures are Old Glory.

Mid-19th Century Russians

The first test of battle for my mid-19th Century Great Game project is on the docket in a little over one week.  Given that boost of motivation, I wanted to muster one more Russian infantry battalion before the game, if possible.

Today's posting shows that fielding one more battalion was possible.  Off the painting desk is a 23 figure battalion of Russian line infantry in greatcoat.  Figures are from Empress Great War Miniatures and this is the first time Great War figures have crossed the painting desk.  The mounted officer is a Wargames Foundry figure.

Figures are well sculpted and robustly cast in a soft metal.  An issue with Foundry's Russian infantry in march attack is that a few figures almost always arrive sans bayonets.  No broken bayonets with these lads.  Some bayonets were bent and twisted but the soft metal allowed me to put them back into their proper attitude.  Really nice figures.  Marching in rolled greatcoat is a nice touch.

In The Lead Pile, only a few odds and ends remain from my Great Game project.  Nothing in sufficient numbers to field another unit whether it be foot, horse, or gun.

For now, I guess I will call the project "game ready" with nothing pressing to field.  Of course, a game on the schedule is often enough incentive to order a few more figures and strike while the motivational iron is hot.

Russian Infantry in the Crimea

Activity at the painting desk returns briefly to push out a 23-figure battalion of Russian infantry for the 25mm Great Game project.  While the project is yet to see action in anger, Russian and vassal forces will be in good position when called up.

Figures are Wargames Foundry from the excellent 25mm Crimean War range.  As mentioned many times before, these Foundry Russians are terrific sculpts and the greatcoats make painting and readying for battle a snap.  The battalion seen here is the last of the Foundry Russian lead in The Lead Pile and march out in a mix of helmet and forage cap.  Four such battalions can now be mustered for action. 

Enough figures for only one more unit remain to complete before plans of project expansion.  In The Lead Pile are 23 figures to field one more Russian infantry battalion.  The figures this time are a test batch from Great War Miniatures.  At first glance, the Great War look a bit more chunky than Foundry but should look fine on the gaming table.

Parade Review - Great Game Project

After having recently completed the last of the Russian Cossacks in The Lead Pile and with the number of storage boxes piling up for the 28mm Great Game project, this morning figures were pulled from their boxes and set up for a parade review.  As figures are painting and quickly stored away, it is easy to lose focus on the status of a project.  

This was not the only motivator for the parade.  Over dinner, we began discussing the next game to tackle.  While the debut of my Russians and Natives was planned but aborted in November, Kevin suggested we try again for a December start.  Sounds good to me!  

Kevin will be hosting the game and rumors abound of a great terrain building project going on in Kevin's workshop.  He makes handsome and intricate terrain pieces so I look forward to seeing what he developed for us to fight over.  My hope is that the Russians are not obligated to attack a strong fortress until they have been tested in open combat first.

To help Kevin plan the engagement, below are what the Russians are capable of fielding:

• 3 x Russian Infantry Battalions
• 1 x Russian Hussar Regiment
• 2 x Russian Cossack Regiments
• 1 x Russian Lancer Regiment
• 2 x Russian Cossack guns
• 1 x Sikh Cavalry Regiment
• 1 x Afghan Irregular Cavalry Regiment
• 3 x Native guns
• 4 x Sikh Infantry Battalions

That is quite a sizable force!  Of course, not all must see battle but the OB is laid out for consideration.  Perhaps by December one more Russian Infantry battalion can be mustered?  Maybe a Native Emir can be found to provide a local liaison?  Figures are all Wargames Foundry.

Russian Cossacks for the Great Game

In anticipation of an upcoming game in which my Great Game project will see its first workout on the gaming table, off the painting desk are a dozen Russian Cossacks.

Figures are Wargames Foundry from their excellent Crimean War range.  The problem faced with these Cossacks is that the tails on the Cossack ponies are very fragile.  I lost a few in transit and one during painting.  Epoxy was applied to stick the tails back onto the horses' rump.  How long they will remain affixed during the rigors of battle is unknown.

The project's gaming debut was planned for NOV 5 but that has been delayed.  In the meantime, one more battalion of Russian infantry is in the painting queue.  Perhaps it can be fielded before the game is rescheduled?

Regardless, pulling the collection as it currently musters from storage boxes for a parade review seems a good idea.  Will a martial display of force cause the English to reconsider confronting such a force?  We shall see.