Gallery - WW2 American Infantry

WW2 American Infantry

My U.S. infantry is from a variety of figure manufacturers, ESCI's U.S. Soldiers Big Red One set, IMEX's Korean War U.S. Army set and Caesar miniatures U.S. Army set I.

70 U.S. Riflemen

26 U.S. sub machine gunners

U.S Support weapons 4 bazookas, 2 loaders for bazookas, 1 HMG, 1 LMG, 12 B.A.R. gunners,and  1 60mm mortar team

   I like the Caesar figures, but am slightly annoyed that almost half of the figures are usually armed with SMGs, I would have preferred more riflemen. The IMEX Korean war figures fit nicely though if you look really closely you can see their uniform trousers have a huge thigh pocket, but almost invisible at arms length.

Gallery - Zulu War British

Zulu War British

The infantry are all ESCI's Zulu war British infantry, few figures modified.

2 platoons of the 24th regiment foot

3 platoons of the 81st regiment of foot

Artillery and commanders

When I painted these there were no mounted troops available so I had to convert I started with an ESCI set of Scots Greys and trimmed away alot of detail  and head swaps with some useless pose from the Zulu war British infantry. the result still looks OK.

Gallery - Generic Colonial Natives

When I was last into colonial wargaming there wasn't a lot of selection in my preferred scale (1/72), I had to make do with what I could get my hands on.

It was easy for the Europeans as ESCI Zulu wars British infantry would work for most Europeans armies. I used them as Italians in my Ethiopian games, the gunners are from a Napoleonic artillery set with head swaps, the artillery is from a Crimean War set, the Machine gun is from a Revell WWI German infantry set with a head swap.

These were all painted years ago and  if (when) I repaint them they will hopefullly look a whole lot better. Considering how I stored (Ziplock baggies scrunched into a big plastic bag) them they look to mostly be in still good shape.

ESCI's Zulu War Brish Infantry

The askari required a bit more work they all started off as ESCI French Napoleonic Infantry. Some Knife work to reshape the shako into Fez like hats and cutting away the turn backs on their tunics.

Were originally going to stand in for Egyptians

My attempt at Sudanese askari

These are HAT ACW Zouves standing in for some Native bigshots Household troops

The natives were harder and easier to deal with, mainly they would require spears, swords or rifle, so quick search on PSR revealed some useful sets, HAT miniatures: Alexander's Light Infantry,  Hannibal's Carthaginians - African Infantry and ESCI's Arab warriors.

HAT minatures, with a bit more work these would have looked much better.

ESCI arab warriors

ESCI's Arab warriors

ESCI arab warriors

ESCI's Arab warriors, this pose not too useful as a generic native though.

 Native armies usuallyhave mounted elements so I had to find some, I made due with more from HAT, Napoleonic Mameluks and Numidian Cavalry.

Numidian Cavalry

Mameluks

AAR - Adowa the Center Brigades

   As noted in previous postings its been a few (7+) years since I GMed or even played a colonial game, I decided to re familiarize myself with "The Sword and the Flame" in preparation of running a few games.

  I suck at scenario design (I can create and eventually balance one, after a few  playtests, but off the cuff they are usually quite unbalanced), but fortunately I have some of Mark Fastoso's Colonial Campaigns books, so I decided to play one from the Ethiopian book, "Adowa the Center Brigades".

For those unfamiliar with the scenario the Italo-Eritrean force have to accrue more Victory points than the Abyssinian. Victory points are earned at the end of each turn by solely occupying the 3 of the 4 hills.

Eritrean askari set up

Abyssinian slowly advance towards the Eritreans.

The Abyssinians were plagued by low movement dice, it took them four turns to reach the first 2 victory hills, by then the Italians had accumulated 7 VPs.

Abyssinian Snyder-yaji (riflemen) driving askari from the first Victory point hill.

Cavalry rush forward to prevent the Italians from garnering more VP from this hill.

At this point it looked like it as going well for the Abyssinian, they should be able to clear the hills in 1 or 2 turns and start gathering VPs, but more low movement rolls, abysmal shooting and cowardice meant the Askari held on for another 5 turns and while they held the Italians to only 1 VP a turn, after 8 turns the count was 10 to 0.

Turn nine, Askari tenaciously still cling to one of the victory hills...

and threatening another victory hill, if they get first move back up they'll go.

At this point I called the game, even if the Abyssinians cleared and held both hills, they would not be able to accrue enough points to overcome the Italian's lead, and they were nowhere near the third hill.

Italians holding the third hill, they were engaged in fire fight with some Neftenya (rifle musket armed) Abyssinian warriors, but reduced them to two figures which failed their Critical Morale check.

The rest of the Italian force behind the second victory hill supporting the askari.

 There are additional pictures located at my Picassa Album .

   For those that are curious about the figures used.
The Abysinianss are all from HAT miniatures Alexander's Light Infantry,  Hannibal's Carthaginians - African Infantry, the cavalry are Napoleonic French Mamelukes. 

The Italians are ESCI's Zulu wars British infantry, the Machine gunner is from a Revell WWI German infantry set with a head swap, the Eritrean askari are ESCI's Napoleonic French infantry modified (shakos carved into fez and turn backs carved away).

Last picture of Italian General Albertoni (mounted, back to camera, left side).