From LeeH - The Alter of the Snowlord - 17th Lancers in Zululand

With my recent shenanigans with the Royal Mail, I wasn't sure I was even going to finish the Chambers of Challenge, let alone have time to work on the Snowlords final challenge. But a change of plan and a sudden burst of productivity (that surprised even me) meant I completed the chambers a couple of days ago and I was able to get started on my final Challenge. Curts instructions were as follows: 

"For the SnowLord’s Altar let’s look into your collection of unpainted minis (Notice how I just assume that you, like me, have a pile of shame sitting in the wings!) and see if there is anything that you’ve been neglecting or avoiding to do. Maybe it’s because it’s intimidating, or you’ve lost steam on the project, but let’s see if we can use the Altar to create a challenge for you."

In previous challenges, I have painted a lot of 6mm stuff ranging from Alexanders invasion of India, the Pyrrhic and Punic wars and the Anglo Zulu War. This year I haven't painted any 6mm miniatures (apart from some buildings) so I thought it was time I revisited one of my older projects. So I hereby present the 17th Lancers as they were in the latter half of the Anglo Zulu War. Their white plastron tunic front has been turned around to show the darker blue reverse side although they couldn't do the same for the white cuffs on the sleeves. Their helmets have been dyed tan like the infantry to make them less conspicuous. The trousers were dark blue with a double white stripe down the outside and while I didn't do a double line my hand was steady enough to paint in a single stripe... they are 6mm after all! At this scale, the OR's uniform looks very similar to the officers except for the white belts and pouches. On the officers, I have used gold to highlight the pouch belt which crosses the chest and is distinctive from the OR's pouch belt which would have been white.

These were originally primed and mounted on sticks for Challenge VIII when I did the bulk of my AZW stuff, and have been on each Challenge to-do list every year since. So its probably time I got round to them!!

I've been avoiding them because they are tricky to paint at 6mm. The dark uniform and crisp white kit doesn't leave a lot of room for mistakes. To make these look good I would need my steadiest hand and smallest brushes. Now that they are done I'm pretty happy with how they have turned out. I have arranged these in groups of four with a dice holder on the back of the base. I've been playing a lot of solo AZW lately and I'm in the process of altering my older bases to include these dice holders. I have been using TMWWBKs but being flexible with how many figures are in a unit (the rules suggest 8). So these bases could represent three companies of lancers, or I could change the unit sizes to 16 or 24 figures that can take eight casualties before breaking. It depends on the size of the engagement I want to play. I've used TMWWBK's like this for big battles and small skirmishes alike with a lot of success. 

So that's it, my passage through the Chambers of Challenge is complete, and this will also be my last entry for Challenge XI. Its been huge fun as always and well done to all the Challengers that have taken part this year, its an honour to be included in such hallowed company. Congratulations and thanks must of course also go to Curt for running this madness every year and well done also to the minions who help keep this brilliant enterprise going. 

(Scoring: 27x6mm Mounted + Snowlords Bonus = 47 points)

AndrewB - Zulus! Dozens(barely) of them!

 As some of you may remember, I recently completed some AZW figures for a large game of Fistful of Lead focused around the Hospital at Rorke’s Drift.  Alongside the Brits, I was painting Zulus, although their painting took slightly longer due to the higher number of figures and addition of shields.  These figures are Old Glory, and they match the Perry figures for scale delightfully!  The bases are done in one fell swoop using the fast drying basing glue and Arid Grasslands base ready mix. I finished the shields up this week, and am happy to present you the finished results!

These unmarried Zulus are painted(mainly their shields distinguishing) as the iNdluyengwe impi, who traditionally were marked by a white mark on the bottom half of their shields.  For ease of recognition on the field during games of Fistful of Lead, I have gone with three distinct groups, with a mark on the low left, low right, or both.   Each group has a leader with a club, as well as the large gentleman on the left side to replace one of the grunt groups from his player’s force.  In any case, keep checking for more updates on progress on the hospital and I their parts of the engagement. 

I believe these 28 figures contribute an additional 140 posts to my total!  Now all I need to do is figure out what that darn snow lord needs from me.  

Happy Painting!

AndrewB- The Snow Lord’s Treasury

 For the treasure in the Snow Lord’s Treasury, I yet again found myself perplexed as to what to utilized for treasure or valued goods.   What I found, however, was a little project I’d primed many Januaries past, and a couple of the figures are certainly distributing some items more treasured than gold in the context!   These are a collection of Perry figures I ordered a few years ago to play a large Fistful of Lead game centered around the defense of the hospital located at Rorke’s Drift, January 22nd, 1879.  Surgeon Reynolds is posed with his case of medical supplies, and Chaplain Smith is distributing packages of  .577/450 ammunition for the defenders, undoubtedly extorting them to keep up the fire and not swear.  

These seven figures, with our treasure boys in the first row, include lots of VC recipients. The varied uniforms reflect the motley collection of some of the defenders aside from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot, which makes the engagement rather more interesting.  

These next figures are more from the 24th Foot, left to defend the hospital and supply dump at the Drift.  The contrast between the troop’s jackets/shirts and their white equipment really looked godawful before the wash, but thank jeebus for super diluted black pigment.  

These figures are from I believe Perry’s Sudan line, but I’m using them to represent the ‘walking wounded’ recovering in the hospital who were pressed into service defending room-by-room. The uniforms probably aren’t perfect, but the plain uniform blouses seemed appropriate to me for their situation, and work to distinguish between the groups. 

Lastly, a pair of group photos with all 18 figures(counting the double base as two). The basing material is the Arid Grasslands base-ready mix from Geek Gaming, available in North America from Footsore North America.  God knows where the tufts came from, but they seem to approximate South Africa fairly well, but perhaps a bit verdant for the hot January season.  

The total for this post, 90pts for the miniatures and 20 for the chamber, is probably the largest sum I’ve gotten as of yet! 

Happy Painting!

From NoelW - Rocket Man : Benito’s Brook: (35 points)

As we’re winding our way through the forest surrounding Benito's Brook, a wild phoenix of light and fire crashes overhead, scattering our little column. There’s an explosion somewhere in the rear. Pardon me – it’s the stress. Behind us trees are aflame.

I take a quick roll-call. Only the sergeant missing – although his still-smoking boots are all present and correct. Apparently he saw a pretty sparkly missile rushing overhead so reached up to catch it. Typical – and that’s him all over. (*)

Strangely, no-one wants to fill his shoes, even after we’ve put out all the flames.

“Duck!” comes an unexpected cry from within the undergrowth.

A little hoisin-oriented brunch would actually be quite welcome just about now, so we keep a sharp eye out for the apparent mallard – when an erratic, fizzing snake of flame shoots overhead and immolates a clump of innocent coconuts.

That’s a shame. It will definitely have scared the duck away.

“Get down!” comes the cry again. “Lieutenant Benito’s having target practice and he’s lost his glasses."

Two men emerge from the trees, dragging a box of what I hope is pancakes and shredded onion. 

But it’s not. It’s filled with rockets.

“We’ve pinched his ammo,” they say, keeping their heads low. “He’ll run out in a few minutes. Just keep low till the trees stop exploding and with luck most of us will be fine.”

A banana palm shatters about us and roast bananas descend around us in a rain of scorched green and yellow.

Ah well, if you can’t get duck, make the best of passing bananas, as I’m sure some old saying has it. Blowing on my fingers, I carefully peel a singed fruit.

(* See The Wizard of Oz, 1939)

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So I decided this time to stick with the Zulu War for “insurmountable odds”, as with my previous visit here, because I’d two vignettes awaiting work: a rocket troop and a pair of beleaguered soldiers making their rounds behind the lines, despite their wounds, heroically doling out ammunition. The rocket troop is a Warlord model,

and I think the two soldiers are Redoubt – I’ve certainly had them for many years, deep within the lead pile, awaiting both a brush with the Zulus and a brush with paint on it.

Points: 5 x 28mm foot = 25, 1 artillery piece =10: TOTAL 35 pts

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By Paul:
Well thats a snazzy whoosh-bang and no mistake! I dont blame young Lieutenant Benito for his enthusiasm - its what subalterns are for after all, they certainly aren't there for their sensibilities and experience!

The Hales Rocket is, for me, a must have for the Zulu War. Not very effective usually, but it was quite the innovation for the time. Then again, so was the Gatling gun and that was quite the success in the hand of the Naval landing parties - cant have one without the other!  And who can forget their appearance in Zulu Dawn? 

So well done that man - 65 points in total. Here are some matches for young Mr Benito to play with...

Edited by TamsinP - the location bonus points were added by mistake (this is Noel's 2nd visit to the location) and have now been removed. 

From NoelW: Butting out at Bromley’s Butte (35 points)

As we cross the grassy plain in the early morning light, Bromley’s Butte rises before us as firm and roundly butte-like as if it had been designed for a Kardashian. 

Getting closer, we see a dot of light glinting on the peakest point of its peak, like the sun reflecting off a bald man’s forehead, or the twinkle in his eye he’s no longer got the capacity to act on. Shiny!

Then it vanishes.

Then it’s back again.

Gone again. Back again.

Gone. Back. Gone. Back.

Wait a minute! This might not be a natural phenomenon. Could someone somewhere be signalling with something?

My deep intellectual rumination are suddenly interrupted by a rustling in the bushes nearby. Grabbing the latest of my sergeants (I seem to be running out of them) we dive courageously into the long grass, holding our weapons and our breath.

Zulus! Tall, muscular men clad only in loincloths and sweat, edging the way cautiously towards the mountain outcrop. At their head their leader reins in, to confer with a scout who points out the flashing signal on the hilltop.

More Zulus appear. You can guess how many. They fan out to left and right in classic oxhorn formation, the central chest following the track as nonchalantchally as zulus can, directly towards the mountain, whilst the hidden horns on both sides slide through the grasses with hidden menace, closing in surreptitiously on the flanks of the lone mountain.

If Admiral Ackbar was here, he’d know what to call it. Those men on the mountain have no idea of their peril. In a few moments they’ll be surrounded and their position enveloped. If only there was someone here who could signal them. Or someone around who could distract the Zulus. Or perhaps attack them in the rear, bluff them into thinking they were under attack from a much larger force.

I look around but there’s no-one. Just us.

Dot dot dot.

Which direction is Piper’s Peak?

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Sander mentioned that I'd neglected to include an (updated) map, so here's the start of the return journey, beginning at Snowlord's Peak and aiming to get to Douglas’ Shallows.

Continuing with my return journey, at Bromley’s Butte I’m required to provide a reconnaissant model. So here’s two for the price of one: one for each side in the Zulu Wars. I’ve still managed to stick with my aim of small vignettes for each theme (though there are some future encounters that might be a bit of a headache…)

Here's a spotter for Chelmsford's column, equipped with heliograph to signal any sightings.

And here's a zulu command stand, an nduna interrogating his scout.

All the figures are Perrys. The zulu scout and the three soldiers with the heliograph are plastic; the zulu commander and the guard for the heliograph are metal models.

Scoring: 5 x 28mm foot and 1 x 28mm rider: 35 points

Another Noel anecdote and some lovely looking Colonial figures.  I do love the Brits in there scarlet tunics and blue pants and nice basing on the ZULU commander.  But who can resist the Heliograph, it brings back memories of a mischievous childhood using a "borrowed" mirror to blind one's friends or start fires.
PeterD

From NoelW: Benito’s Brook: Zulu wars (70 points)

Travelling west we come to an impassable brook. If we could get across we could turn south, where there might be a path taking us closer to the SnowLord’s Peak. But if we can’t cross the brook, we’ll have to carry on our way west, travelling even further from the Peak.

On the opposite bank is a man with a (very) small boat. He doesn’t look happy. Next to his boat are a fox, a duck and a bag of grain.

“I’d come and fetch you,” he shouts, “but my fox wants to eat my duck, and my duck wants to eat my grain, so I can’t leave them unsupervised. If I could bring them over to you, you could look after them for me, and I’d ferry you back here one by one, but I’ve only room in the boat for one item or passenger at a time. If you could figure out a safe way to help me, I’d be happy to ferry you.”

No problem. The solution seems obvious. We could simply – no, that wouldn’t work. How about if he leaves the – no, that wouldn’t work, either. Shaking our heads, we realise the problem is insoluble, at least for our militarily acute brains, so we have to accept it’s impossible, and head once more the wrong way, towards the western coast.

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The submission is rather obvious for the “impossible odds” requirement: Isandlwana. I’ve had a Rorke’s Drift setup for some while, and last year decided I’d enough Zulus to extend the project to the disaster which preceded it. Conveniently, the Perrys have been producing suitable figures in their Victoria’s Little Wars range, so I’ve been building up the collection, and they’re getting their paint a few figures at a time.

This submission consists of Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony William Durnford, who commanded No 2 column, and a small unit of dismounted Natal Carbineers, of whom there were 28 in No 1 column. All died.

Here’s Durnford:

and the Carbineers:

The blue here is rather brighter than in real life, due to the use of flash. They still look pretty good, I think.

Points: 1 mounted 28mm =10, 6 foot = 30, Benito’s Brook =30: TOTAL 70 pts