From LeeH: More Russian Line Infantry and two officers (58 Points)

More Russian infantry have marched across my paint desk this week leaving me clear to get started on more ‘interesting’ units such as artillery and cavalry. I’m still slowly cleaning and priming the figures I got for Christmas and at some point this week I’ll place an order for the ‘last’ units for my army (who am I kidding!). 

This is my second unit of Line Infantry/Musketeers for the Retreat from Moscow. These are from North Star’s Muskets and Tomahawks Range (all the stuff I have painted so far has been from North Star). To slightly differentiate them from the almost identical unit I painted a couple of weeks ago, I have changed the colour of the waterproof Shako covers. In every other respect, these are painted like the first unit. 

I have also been trying to get a few more officers painted and will try to do at least one each week if I can. First, we have this mounted officer from Wargames Foundry. He looks suitably animated, bellowing orders to the infantry. I also painted a foot infantry officer in greatcoat, again from Wargames Foundry. 

Then we have some scenic elements, starting with the dying horse. Like Ray I raided Tiger Miniatures stand at Warfare in November for a few of their horses, specifically to use as dead animals. I had to do a lot of cutting and filing to get this thing to lay flat on its base but I’m pleased with the finished model, as the horse lifts its head one last time before giving in to cold and exhaustion. 

Last is a set of filler bases for my movement trays…but these aren’t worth any points because I painted them before the Challenge started. When we realised that terrain wasn’t included this year I decided to get these out of the way in the last week or two before the competition started. I was eager to get started on something from this project, so these were a fun little side project while I waited for the Challenge to get underway. I love movement trays but I hate vacant holes when models are removed, so these can be swapped in to keep the tray looking the part. 

(Scoring: 9x28mm Foot = 45 Points,  1x28mm Mounted Officer = 10 Points and 1 Prone 28mm horse = 5 3 Points for a total of 60 58 points)

Another fine contribution to your project! The infantry look absolutely great, and I like the martial look of the officer. The subtle highlights on his coat work very well. I also very much like your idea of fillers for movement trays, they look very nice and varied! 

Once again, I am to be a little stern. The horse is a prone figure, so at half value. In recognition of the work involved in getting it to lie down and because I hate half points, I'll score it at 3 points. So 58 points for you!

Martijn

From MartinC Ottoman Artillery (100pts)

 Happy new year one and all. Hope nobody had a party, everyone stayed in and was sensible.

The Turkish forces in WW1 had no tanks or armoured cars, which creates a problem when fighting as the British did. So I need artillery to give me AT capability. The Turks used 75mm Krupp guns as light artillery. However they were few as the Turks never really recoved from having their arse handed to them in the Balkans before WW1 and losing a lot of kit. Even worse the artillery shortage during the Caucasian campaign was critical. 

So all that being said I have painted up 3 75mm guns

Gripping Beast guns come with a crew of 6 which is excessive for gaming so I bought an extra gun from Tiger Miniatures and had 3 guns with 4 crew

These have come out well and I'm pleased with them

Photos of Ottoman artillery often show a single man in white uniform, usually the sergeant. Wearing white must have been dangerous in battle, even if you are the artillery.

Despite all i said about lack of artillery I have added a forward observer

This is a really nice model with field telephone and range finder viewer. For Caucus this will be a spotter but for bigger WW1 battles it will be forward observer. in Bolt Action they get 1 potentially devastating shot at a heavy barrage. Good for softening up the enemy

Scores on the Doors

3 crew served weapons with 4 crew = 90pts

Forward observers = 10 pts

Total = 100

Have a good day for tis work on Monday.

DaveD - Sudan - Royal Engineers (120 points)

Engineers are always a good source of scenario fodder I think . Build a bridge, fort, be escorted to some place or other, so I have taken the opportunity to utilise and convert some spare figures. These were Perry gunners left over from the last gun battery. I have added a range of tools into hands (tools from Thormarillion in Germany) having removed the rammers. I also completed two waggons & 4 lots of non scoring stores (bits by Ainsty) sections . The mules for the waggon are by Tiger Miniatures , again left overs from the battery limber teams - all good recycling. The two waggons and loads are by Warbases. I have left them without drivers etc for now as they will do service in other conflicts I think - likewise I will probably revisit the missing traces etc at some point this year.

The Officer of Engineers is an old Connoisseur figure who has gone native , having taken a shine to his tarboosh!

So 10 foot, 8 mules and 2 vehicles = 120 points

This I think is likely to be my last entry , unless I can squeeze something under the bar at the very  end. The man cave is now out of production due to building works on going (hence the less than posed photos) . I have painted everything I set out to - and a bit more... so good luck and bon chance to those chasing me - I fully expect to be caught and passed by a number of you.

Oh and if you are in the UK  next week I am running a decent sized game at the Hammerhead show in Newark. Pop by and chuck some dice.

I will be watching til the end!

cheers
Dave...

MilesR: Another cracking colonial submission from Dave never ending supply of Sudan Campaign material.  The wagons and teams are just superb and will make great objectives for a scenario or two. Good luck at the Hammerhead show and please takes lots of pictures.  What you've put together with your Sudan collection over the years in nothing short of awe inspiring.  Best of luck with the house move also.

From DaveD - Sudan - New South Wales Contingent Artillery Battery & RIF (327 points )

One of the things that I found really interesting about building forces for fighting in the Sudan was the variety of troops the British Empire pulled in to fight in it. The New South Wales government offered its support (LINK) to the imperial cause and an infantry battalion and artillery battery were mobilised. This was to become the first overseas deployment for Australian forces. They did not end up doing much fighting and had only very small losses as the British government abandoned any attempt to overthrow the Mahdi who had taken Khartoum after Gordons death.

Never the less they will still be represented - along with the infantry in due course and I am sure they will participate in some "what might have happened" scenarios. Of course they will also do service in some other colonial campaigns too. On checking through the actual service records of the deployment  - I find a certain Private Mills!

 

Battery Mascot George taking things easy by the limber

So here I have 3 deployed 9lb guns , 3 open and deployed limbers with 12 crew. The guns are the Perry 9lb set from their new Victoria's little wars sets. - I have replaced the cast metal firing lanyard with thinner twisty rope and soldered this into position so it nicely strong and rigid. Plus there is battery mascot "George" ,  complete with ceremonial coat. (See what I did there Paul O? - play the cute dog card in miniature form!). This is a limited edition figure produced by Jon at Ainsty for those who donated to his Combat Stress appeal


Well to move your guns you also need limber teams - of which there are 3 teams with 18 horses, 3 limbers , 3x 9lb guns - and 4 riders - there will be 9 riders eventually but due to a lead pile deficiency (hangs head in shame)  I thought - and still think I had some. So anyway I am awaiting on a mail from a manufacturer re sourcing some as part of pack so will just add these as and when I get some figures.  The riders I do have  are a mix of various mounted figures I had lying around.

The gun teams have had a lot of work with all the various traces. The rope is made from garden twisty wire - twisted together in a drill - I needed to made 6 feet of the darn stuff to make the 4 traces per teams these were then soldered into place and the wire is coated in solder which makes it rigid.  The riders have had milliput saddles made too. The limbers and horse teams are all by Tiger miniatures . The guns and crew are the Perry 9lb set from their new Victoria's little wars sets. I could have got a ready made limber set from Wargames Foundry , but I have seen it and it looked too small to me - I wanted this to be big! - I know.... I blame the sun....

The limbered teams may only spend a small amount of time on the table as that - and most definitely are an indulgence (a mite expensive one at that) - but they look the part so well when you do see them out. We recently had the limbered naval brigade teams on the table - and it just looked so much better than having deployed guns turned around the wrong etc!

I have also been working through a few bits fixing holes in the TO&E of units previously painted - one unit needing a few bit was  Royal Irish Fusiliers. I have completed two open order skirmish stands (6 figures) for them as they did not have any. Plus an additional 6 figure close order to flesh them out to 48 figures strong.

There is also another separate foot figure that was lying around undercoated so I gave it tickle with the brushes.

The 2nd battalion R.I.F. - now all up to to strength!

25 foot , 4 riders. = 145 points
18 horses + dog =  82 points
6 limbers , 6 guns - could be 120 points as they are separate items - , but I think more like 15 points per gun and limber set. = 90
plus any extras for OTT modelling work!

And for your further delectation I have completed a short video review of all the Imperial forces so far.

I think i have also managed to eak out another  week or so of production before the man cave shuts down for a while so i will see what i can squeeze in this next week..

MilesR: Good Lord my head is spinning - so many finely painted figures, so many different nationalities, so many brushes used up....   Yet another astonishing entry from you Dave.  My tally comes to 327!

From DaveD - Manic Miners... (10 points)

Ev turned to his companion Millsy and said, "Millsy look, just the place. A mining supplies shop and we need new tools, we can get all we need from there. "

The pair had traveled to the new world looking to make their fortunes by finding the precious golden nugget . They had landed up in Serenity Flatts , the latest gold-rush town. They had heard rumours of the town which once had a Mountie capture the Wests biggest coward Budgie Ray in a dramatic shoot out (truth be told it was more that Ray ran away)

(Ran away. Ran away?! I have very fond memories of Ray being flung from the balcony of the town's saloon, missing the watertrough by a few yards (ahem), and then being dragged unconscious to the train while a gun battle raged all around him. - ed)

Millsy scratching his head and looking somewhat bemused took his trusty shovel in hand, turned to Ev and said - "My shovel is just the same as the day I was presented it by Major Docherty at my de-mob. I am not buying a new one." 

He continued " This one has only had 17 new blades and 14 new handles in its time"

Ev shaking his head said ...."Millsy ... how the hell can it be the same blooming shovel!!"

Will Millsy find the golden nugget? Will he be able to claim he has "Gold In My Pocket"

I think the miniatures are by Tiger Miniatures if I remember correctly. They will be part of my upcoming creation of the Serenity gold mine...

Right I am off to find a tin hat!

Dave you're a complete loon, but I love it. At least this one doesn't have any 'up the Khyber' allusions to it, but what is this 'Golden Nugget' you're going on about? Ah well, I'm sure all will be revealed in its good time. :)

Well done Mr. Docherty, this was another great Saturday run for you, and you've kept the steam up for the group as we head into the penultimate week of the Challenge.