20mm M113 ACAV for Vietnam

For a bit of a change from darkest Africa, I finished off a Britannia M113 ACAV model that I bought from Paul at the old Defenders Club several years ago.

Not too many bubbles, all went together well.  Ready for the upcoming Nam 68 rules from Plastic Soldier Company.

Thanks for looking.

Update: following Will's suggestion, I picked up a set of Skytrex decals.  They are quite large, but sum up the period nicely.  The M113 ACAV got the Eve of Destruction decals and I dig out the M577 and added The Boss decals.  Sadly no decals to add Fortunate Son or Paint it Black!

Zulu War Column

Not much posted recently as I've had to have a bowel resection after a nasty blockage.  Very painful and a long convalescence. Feeling better now, but not over it yet.

We managed to play a Zulu War game today with the British pushing a column deep into Zululand.  6 supply wagons drawn by oxen were escorted by 8 British infantry companies, a unit of Natal Native Contingent, together with units of Frontier Light Horse, Natal Natives and Natal Police, all on horseback.  Si G drew the left flank with three units of infantry, a Gardiner gun and the mounted police.  I drew the right flank with three infantry units, an artillery piece and the mounted Natal Natives.  Mark was overall commander with two infantry and an NNC unit, plus a unit of Frontier Light Horse.

We got off to a quiet start making good progress.  On the approach to a drift, a small unit of Zulu warriors and rifles appeared on the left flank.  Si dealt with them, but two units of infantry were charged by Zulus with some loss of personnel.

The wagons took an age to cross the drift, but did so safely and the British were within sight of their goal at the far end of the table when Zulus appeared to their front left.  Over the next handful of turns, Zulu warriors appeared to the British front, then right flank and finally at the rear of the right flank.  My infantry and artillery formed a rough line while Mark's leading units and Si's left flank wheeled around the wagons to face the oncoming Zulus.  It was clear we had encountered an impi with the right horn to our front and the head and loin piling into our right and rear.

Good British shooting and artillery fire dwindled the Zulu numbers, bit not before the Zulus managed to charge home against Mark's infantry and then against mine.  Bayonets, with some guts behind them, pushed the charging Zulus back, but not before one of my infantry companies was very badly mauled.

Eventually, all the carts exited the board and the British forces formed a line which gradually fell back towards the target table edge.  Despite significant losses, British pluck had won through!

Thanks for looking.

Battle of Montgisard 1177 Lance and Longbow Game Vapnartak 2024

 It was Will McNally's turn to organize the Lance and Longbow Society participation game at Vapnartak 2024.  As usual for Will, he opted for 20mm/1/72nd scale plastic figures.  With the smaller scale, the table could accommodate more troops, which helped give the table an "epic" appearance.

Will had chosen Montgisard 1177 as his battle, one I'd heard little about before, but turns out to have been a major Crusader victory, thwarting Saladin's plans for the next decade.  A small Crusader force managed to surprise the Muslim army, with the result that they had to stream out of camp without the usual preparation of donning armor and forming up in the usual way.

Rules used were Lion Rampant, with some adjustments usual for the L&L participation game, with the main difference being that Crusader spearmen could opt to kneel, allowing the crossbowmen behind to fire over their heads - very nasty.

Saladin's right flank and part of the centre, with tented encampment behind.

Turcopole skirmishers on the Crusader's right flank.

And again for some reason.

Part of the Crusader centre, spearmen backed by crossbowmen.

Bedouin skirmishers on Saladin's left flank.

Turcopoles and Bedouins skirmishing.

Bedouins.

Crusader mounted sergeants and knights.

Askaris from the Islamic army.

Crusader infantry pushing forwards.

Turcopoles, the closest unit being close to exhaustion.

More Crusader infantry.

Islamic infantry following up behind their mounted troops.

Knights about to charge Islamic Askari.  The Askari have beaten up the mounted sergeants which have been pushed back behind the knights, so they are no move this turn.

During the course of the day I played in one full game, and a half game where we just played one wing and I was assisted by a lovely young lady of 7 or 8 with some deadly dice rolling.  I also watched another game when I was able to take these pictures.  Will's forces looked great and there were lots of nice comments from players and passers by.  Lots of nice comments about his scratch built tented encampment.

Link to Will's Blog

https://willwarweb.blogspot.com/2024/02/vapnartak-2024.html

I was relatively restrained, a box of Deus Vult Mongol horse archers to be used as Steppe/Nomad light horse allies for my Late Romans, some Monks and Pagan priests for my Late Romans and sub-Roman Brits, a handful of Cataphracti to finish off a unit for WAB and some mounted horn blowers for my Late Roman cavalry, plus a box of dice.  A great day out in good company. 

20mm WW1 Turks in green

 Will offered to share the excess WW1 Ottoman Turks from his ebay win, so I took up his offer.  These are Hat figures painted up in green, using a recipe from Mark Hargreaves book.

I am quite pleased with the faded look and will probably have at least enough to do another 3 or 4 similar groups, although I'm tempted to try some of the other recipes in the book.

Nearly finished the 28mm DAK infantry and then on to their vehicles and some support weapons.

Thanks for looking.

Some 20mm WW1 and RCW progress

Trying to sort out some of the projects that have stalled and make some progress, I dug out various bits and pieces to complete.

First up, a bargain bits box miscast from Early War Miniatures at one of the shows.  It's a Mk 9 troop carrier - plenty of space on top to add some stowage at some point.

Also from EWM, this mounted Hotchkiss LMG team with crew in Solar helmets for the Middle East.

And the dismounted LMG team.

And finally, some Strelets dismounted Australian cavalry ready to do service as dismounted Camel Corps troopers.

I've got a couple of bags of assorted Turkish WW1 infantry in kolpaks and arab headress, an ebay win split with Will, with some Turks in green uniforms next off the table.

Thanks for looking.