General "Blinky" Scott or "Mind that Tooth Pick"

Photo of General "Blinky" Scott avoiding a rather large tooth pick.

Players on the day
Scott other wise known as General "Blinky"
Russ alias "Wait for me"
and Me, Robert "Where's me cuppa tea"

Rules commenced with "Din of Battle" finished with "Command Piquet".

Out come: A draw.

I had a very enjoyable day and I,m looking forward to the next Colonial game at Scotts in Febuary. Then onto creating a Colonial Campaign using "Command Piquet".

Before I sign off, on the Easter Weekend "Casterway Arts" holds a Wargames Convention at the Lenna Hotel, here in Brisbane. So, if you are interested in the hobby, participate in a game, purchase figures or Terrain or just want to come and look around, then why not come along.

Colonial Setting of a small village in the Sudan

Photograph of a deserted Sudanese Village, ready to be occuppied by British Troops, who have orders to hold it against an expected Mahdi attack.
The Buildings were scratched build. Palm Trees were supplied by Scott and I must say they lent an authentic look to the table. Thanks Scott.




Second view of the same village, showing the river crossing.


British troops, under the command of General "Blinky" Scott, are set up in the village. Note the Camels in the village centre. These were painted and supplied by Scott who purchursed them from Casterway Arts. Who by the way does an extensive range of Colonial miniatures.
Have you spot the weakness in the British defence, yes you've guessed it, bottom right hand corner. The Mahdis did take advantage of this but the British did eventualy move a company across to fill the gap. The Cavalry in the top of the photo did move out of position in order to stop an attack coming in on the left flank.



insert caption here All is ready, as troops seddle down to a long wait in scorching Sudanese Sun.The Machine gun covering the track is supported by a company of navel troops from "HMS Lost in the Dessert" If anyone finds it, plaese let these unfortunate sailors know Ha!

The Attack Commences

Rear view of Mahdi command stand. These were painted by Scott who has a very fine collection of colonial figures and if I'm not mistaken, Scott would have painted the flag by hand. The Commander of this flank was "Wait for me fellows" Russ.


This bunch commanded by yours truly, Robert otherwise known as "Where's me cuppa Tea" Oh! thats me bottom right hand corner, running after the bunch who has run off with the Kettle!


British Cavalry about to contact group of Mahdi. The cotton represents the unit as fired by the way they missed.


Mahdi on the British left flank, Note, the small dice representing the number of hits. This group actually came into contact with a British company pushing them back, causing them to take refuge in one houses in the village.

Defence of the Village or "Where's Me Kettle".

British left flank, covered by an artillery piece and two companies of infantry. After putting up an Heroic stand in combat with two units of Mahdi, the Company outside the building, end up taking cover in the building.


View of the "Lost Navel Company" covering the track, they have just fired on My bunch, you know the ones who ran off with the Kettle.


Russ' command ready to go into action. These figures were painted by Me.


The same bunch who took on the Cavalry. No they are not Lancers, in the early part of the Sudan Campaign, I believe, the British Cavalry used spears taken from the Mahdi.


The bunch who ran off with the Kettle. knocking on the door for water. I dont think the British were about to oblige but sent them "packing" instead. Serves them right. How do they expect their commander to go into battle without a "Cuppa".

Baden Command Stand with Removable Flag.

The top photo shows the flag on a command stand. The bottom photo is the completed standard glued onto the fine tube. I used P.V.A glue as I find when dry, it does not show through the paper.
The flag itself is the flag of Baden a region of Germany that borders France. Baden were allies of the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870>1871. As you can see on the bottom photo I have not painted the highlights on the flag. This you can see on the finished flag held by the standard bearer. Yes I know the flag is oversize, but I like to see flags stand out on the table.
The miniatures are from Eureka, they fit in very well with the Helion miniatures in my Franco-Prussian War collection.

Assembling Removable Flags

Have you ever wished that you could change flags without ever having to pull hard at the flag pole to remove it from the hands of that small miniature without damaging the it, well here is the solution. The idea came from James Roach who is auther of a very good Blog sight, by the Title of "Pike and Plunder". This sight covers the English Civil War and many other encounters from Italian Wars through to the Thirty Year Wars. I highly recommend that you visit it some time. I always find that, what makes this hobby interesting, apart from gaming and the Historical aspects of course, is the willingness for Gamers to share their ideas.
Now the assembly. The top photo is how the flag looks on the metal tube.
The second and third show the size of the tube and thickness of the wire. The fourth shows the wire. The final photo is the flag before it is glued around the tube.
The tube and the wire I obtained from the local hobby shop.
So you can now keep replacing your flags should you wish to have your troops change "sides".

British "Colonial" Cavalry, Painted by Mark Temple

Colonial "Mayhem"

Why the Title? Well I have always wondered how the "Brits" held on to their Empire for so long, especially when the army only numbered around 120,000, could it have been that they confused every one with "Red Tape" Why you ask is this "Wargamer" publishing these images" Well let me explain, yesterday, Sunday, I put in an order for "Din Of Battle" Piquet Rule Set covering the Colonial Period, I have always wanted to purchase these rules because in the future I want to set up a campaign with my follow gamers using the Mapless Campaign System featured in "Command Piquet". I am hoping by instigating this it will get us motivated to game more often. When the word Campaign is mentioned players think of conquering the "World" No! not with this system, for it uses a "Campaign Event Timeline". More about this in the future. All I have to do now is to contact players and fix a date when we can get together and make a decision on what Colonial Period or Periods we can all agree upon to play and what rules to use. Of all the periods I know, this period seems to be well covered when it comes to rules, I came across another set "John Company". I don't know how they game, may be Scott knows? While I am still writing on the subject I intend in the future to collect figures for gaming the Russian-Japanese conflict in 1905. If any one is interested then let me recommend "Rising Sun And Tumbling Bear, Russia's war with Japan" by Richard Connaughton. I have almost finished reading it and I have found it very informative both in the historical aspect and the battles. So if anyone likes gaming the Early period of World War 1 than this period is some what similar. I have found that I can use miniatures from the "Boxer Rebellion" as the uniforms for both parties did not change. I believe "Old Glory" do a good range.
On the same day, I was looking through my library, when I pulled out Ian Knight's book "Rorke's Drift 1879" published by Osprey, having given it a quick read through I decided to take some photos of my "Colonial" figures, so here they are. The images are from the Zulu War and Sudan periods. The majority of the Sudan British were painted by a follow gamer Mark Temple, who is, in my opinion an Excellent painter, the British Lancers, he painted are exceptional. I was responsible for painting the Zulus and the "Red Coated" British. The Buildings by the way, were hand build by the son of a very good friend of mine, Bill Baxter.
The first image is a photo looking through the main street of a Sudanese village, the second is an aerial view of No 1. The fourth photo shows a British unit just about to be hit in the flank.
That's it for now, I hope you are enjoying reading my ramblings as much as I enjoy writing them.

Additional "Colonial" Photos

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Battle "Mill springs", Played Sunday 4th Jan 2009

Before I commence, I wish to applogise to kevin , I spelt his surname incorrectly, it should read Jowett and not Jewet, sorry Kevin.
Today Russ and I played the battle of "Mill Springs". We did not finish the game because Russ had car problems. However, like a good opponant, he still arrived. As I said, we did not finish but we still made enough moves to work out the finer details of the rules "Command Piquet" by Brent Oman. The more I play "Piquet" the more a like them. As I have said before, one plays the oppornant and not the Rules. Yes realise they will not be everone's "cup of tea".
One thing Russ and I have learned and that is "Don't get caught on roads", with these rules, as these rules don't give you extra road movement. That's if Russ and I played this movement correctly. If any one can enlighten us on this plaese let me know.
I have but together a slide show on the battle. The slide shows the Confederates marching down the road, Union forces moving into battle and slide 20 an actual melee, showing a Union regiment firing on and forcing back a Confederate regiment. Side no one shows a Union gun limber jumbing a "snake" fence, please allow for this as somehow the fence did not move or maybe the Union army forgot to wake up their Sappers. Slide 21 shows what I use for makers (Lone Figue on single base) to signify that a Unit as suffered the loss of Integrity Points. Before I close, somehow that shack had to get into the frame (14th slide).
Thanks Russ, I know we did not finish the game but as always I enjoyed the day, especial working out the finer details, thanks.

Completed Tarrain for Battle Mill Springs. An A.C.W. Senario

I have done very little gaming over the last 4 months but I have been busy preparing the terrain for the up and coming A.C.W. Game. Now all I have to do is fix the date and time with my co-gamers to play the scenario. The Rules on the day will be "Command Piquet" by Brent Oman. The army lists have been drawn up now all that remains is for the players to roll up there army characteristics.

Now that all the work is completed I thought it would be a good idea to explain a little about the terrain. The first two photos features one of the Farm houses, well a "shack" really, that I'm using as a building, the trees are hand made (By the way, the buildings featured are from Battleline Scenics, the Queensland Rep. is Kevin Jewit. You can access his sight on the Internet). The second is a shot of the second Farmhouse. Then comes the Stream that represents "Mill Springs". It is this stream ,that the Confederates crossed on the day of the Battle. The final photo is the overall view of the battle field (The Table is 12'x6'). The bottom right hand corner of the table are fields the the Union troops marh across. I hope you enjoy viewing the Photographs as much as I have enjoyed preparing the Terrain. I shall post more photos of the battle along with more scenery in the future. Happy and Safe New Year to you all.

Brief Intro of Interests

My areas of interests are-Medival, Franco-Prussian War, World-War 1 (1914-1915), A.C.W and any games related to the Ottoman Empire. While these are my main focus, Iam willing to game other periods.
The Rules I have used are WAB, On To Richmond, Mr Lincoln's War, Wargame Rule sets Beyond the Golden Gate, English Civil War, Age Of Chivalry, Chariots Of War, El Cid (A favourite of mine) and a Very Good Rule Set that a follow Gamer (Scott) developed for the Deluge period. At the present time Iam focusing on the Piquet Rule system. These rules seem to offer me a sense of challenge (which I look for in rules) in that you play against your opponant and not the rules. I particularly like the way how one uses playing cards in the Rule Set, "Band of Brothers" to dertermine the make up of one's army. These Rules were introduced to me by Russ, so you can put the blame on him Ha!
Above is a photo of part of my 25mm A.C.W. Union collection. I also have 25mm Confederates.