Stubborn as a mule?

Very quiet in Rhanzlistan of late, very quiet; but at last some news! At Wargamer last December I bought these two pack mules from Tiger Miniatures with a view to adding more baggage to the game in the shape of transport for the machine gun sections. The rear mule sports the MMG while the front mule carries the ammunition I suppose.

I deliberately didn't add any figure to the base as I cunningly thought it might pass muster for our 1943 Burma Campaign games, where my Chindits can always do with more pack mules! Purists may have a fit, but it works for me! I can thoroughly recommend the mules sold by Tiger Miniatures, in all about six different types I've found so far and very cheap at £1.50 each. There is even one with no pack, allowing the more talented chaps than I to convert to their heart's content.

The Residency at Byklabad

As I said on my main blog, I've been up to South Queensferry for a long weekend break coinciding with the Claymore wargames show in Edinburgh. The break enabled me to meet friends and family and to take in the show along the way. Before we went up 'd started work on a building complex to represent a superior location, hoping it would double as the Governor's Residency, the Headman's compound or even a Missionary church! I finished it off this morning so I thought that you might enjoy a peek ~

The Residency

The building, or more correctly buildings, are from the Mutineer Miniatures resin range for the Indian Mutiny. The walls are from the Ainsty Graveyard Walls set. I've yet to sort out what I'll do for a gate, the etched brass one provided might serve, but I may make a wooden gate using coffee stirrers in due course. Warbases kindly cut the 3mm MDF bases to my specification. I painted the Residency and the walls of its compound to match the other buildings you have seen in photos here before, with the exception of the roof tiles and stairs which I painted a shade of blue to represent more expensive tiling. The dome I painted in Bronze, just for a change and to mark out the building on the table. Enough waffle: a few pictures with figures to get a better idea of the building in a game ~

The Byklabad Horse depart for the front with RA support.

The Governor takes the air after Tiffin perhaps?

The Governor receives Prince Kasim and his entourage.

 

Well, I hope that the pictures give some sense of how the building will come alive in a game. When that will be I can't exactly say right now, as real life seems to have dealt a bit of a blow to my gaming chums of late. Later in the month perhaps if things in that direction improve?

 









Gordons and Gunners

I'm a bit of a 'Billy No Mates' at present as far as games are concerned, with both Phil and Jon being mired in more pressing real life issues. As a result I've had a little more time to paint than I might have otherwise enjoyed. The product of this unexpected extra time has shown itself in part as welcome additions to the Rhanzlistan Field Force in the form of an 18lb field gun and crew and the first of the Gordon Highlanders.
The 18lb gun is made by Great War Miniatures and sold by Gripping Beast under their Woodbine Designs label. The six gunners come with a choice of different heads sporting all sorts of appropriate head gear. Mine have Wolseley Helmets of course ~

The Gordon Highlanders are my default choice when it comes to kilted chappies in any of my armies, a kind of 28mm homage to my chum Kevin who served with the regiment earlier in his life. The figures are by Pulp Figures, although you will search in vain for these in the web site's catalogue, as Bob only makes them in tin helmets {for some reason I really don't grasp, given all the other Brits are in Wolseleys!} But, his range, his choice I have to say. I might of course have chosen the new Empress Jazz Age highlanders but I felt, nice figures though they are, the slightly bulky look of Pulp Figures better fitted in with the rest of the RFF, being mainly Pulp Figures, Copplestone Castings and Brigade Games figures. I removed the heads carefully, using a jeweller's saw I picked up once on a visit to the Birmingham Jewellery quarter, and drilled out the neck of the tunic to take the neck stem of the Woodbine Design heads I had purchased at the same time as the 18lb gun. I think they look quite acceptable, with perhaps one minor exception which I'll get to in a minute. The most difficult decapitation was the piper, where the pipes were partly moulded on the head, but I don't think it turned out too badly myself even so ~

The enlarged photo following shows the figure I am least satisfied with {on the right}, as well as my poor kilt painting skills which I thought I ought to confess to now before folk pick me up on it. The head just does n't ring true for the portly look of the torso does it? Green stuff double chins are beyond my paltry modelling skills and I used up all my credit with Phil on the radio mule set conversions of the previous post. Perhaps its just that I know what the original looked like and the casual observer would not notice? I don't know, but you can perhaps judge for yourself.

I have the other nine figures in various stages of production so I hope they will all be posted to Rhanzlistan before Dan pops over from Wargames Illustrated to take the photos which will accompany my most recent offering when its published in a future issue. So, back to the painting table go I...

The Very Latest Technology

I've been trying to finish this piece for a while, but my putty pushing skills are far from the necessary standard, so eventually Phil found time to do the honours for me! The result is a vignette for the RFF, based on a photo I saw on the net when trawling for ideas one day. The very latest in modern technology, the mobile field radio makes it to Rhanzlistan at last ~

The mules are from Tiger Miniatures; the two figures from Copplestone Castings; the base from Warbases and the tufts from Mutineer Miniatures for those who crave to know such things. The radio set and battery pack, as I said, were made by Phil. I hope you approve!
I'm currently working on an 18lb gun and crew from Woodbine, via Gripping Beast. The gun of course comes from Great War Miniatures, which I've painted before for my 1914 game, but the crew by Woodbine are a first for me and I'm pleasantly surprised by them, as I'd always thought the style a bit awkward in adverts. Just shows how wrong you can be, does n't it? If I have time later in the month I have a few Pulp Figures Gordon Highlanders to paint ~ I swapped the steel helmeted heads for Woodbine heads with Wolsley helmets to suit the rest of the RFF. Pop back later to see how they turned out!

The Life and Times of Herbert Hardly-Standing VC, No1

Inspired by a thread on the Loose Association of Wargamers forum, a scene of daring do from the NW Frontier: Herbert Hardly-Standing saves the brigadier's life, again, from the unwelcome attentions of three swarthy Bhurpa warriors ~

The Bhurpas are from Britannia/Grubby Tanks, Herbert Hardly-Standing is a Copplestone figure and the Brigadier is from Pulp Figures. On a different note I've added something to the baggage and backstory theme of our games, a unit of RAMC on the move ~

The mules are from Askari, a firm from the USA who I've not seen before, while the casualty is from Redoubt's Zulu War range and the two Medics are from Pulp Figures. I thought the mules were poor sculpts but as they were a gift I'm not complaining! They are from the French Foreign Legion set I believe. The Redoubt casualty figure is obviously too large for the stretcher I've put him on, but I can live with that. I'm working on a mule born radio team now though,so hope that will appear here in due course.

Brigadier 'Tubby' Bykleigh & Pte Robinson PJ

Three shots of the new foot figures for Brigadier 'Tubby' Bykleigh and his batman, Private Robinson PJ. They are Pulp Miniatures figures from the set of British Officers & NCOs in Wolsey helmets ~

For the Pte Robinson figure the colour scheme for the uniform and equipment matches that of the South Staffs figures, which are Copplestone Castings, to distinguish the figure from one who already exists in the colour scheme for the Royal Surreys, which are Pulp Miniatures. Its actually less complicated than it sounds, honest!

For the Brigadier 'Tubby' Bykleigh figure again I needed a colour scheme to readily differentiate him from the same figure found in the Royal Surreys' command base. As he's undoubtedly the 'Hero' of our story I chose an off white over light grey scheme. He's a good guy after all!

I'm quite pleased with how they turned out, especially the Brigadier's face which I feel has captured the spirit of the figure. Now we need a scenario for his rescue, as the Reds captured him in the last game...

The Bhyklabad Horse II

I've painted the remainder of the figures from the Brigade Games Indian Cavalry, from their WWI ranges, which I have deployed into the Rhanzlistan Field Force. They are known locally as  "Aston's Scouts", but more properly as 'The Bhyklabad Horse'. Here is the full strength unit, commanded by their newly promoted Major, John Roberts ~

A close up of some of the figures, always a risky choice given my standard of painting, but there you go ~

In addition to the 13 figures of the Scouts, I painted an extra two up to represent Brigadier 'Tubby' Bykleigh and his personal escort ~

Of course, its compulsory for our hero to be mounted on a white horse! I'll probably replace the lance pennon with a Union flag, when I can find out where I put the sheet for safe keeping! I hope that they'll soon be in action to help expel the S.P.I.F.F. from Rhanzlistan, or at least give those darned cossacks a run for their money!

The Bhyklabad Horse {Aston's Scouts}

In most games we've played so far in our 'Tales From Rhanzlistan' campaign I've found myself seriously outnumbered in respect to the cavalry arm of the Rhanzlistan Field Force. Phil's Bolsheviks have always been able to use their cavalry superiority to cause me real problems. The sole unit of cavalry, the Shropshire Yeomanry, were made up of Brigade Games figures from their WWI ranges, some of which I got as a gift from friends in the USA and some I picked up off Colonel Bill 's webshop. I had thought to add some mounted Bhurpas from the excellent Empress Miniatures Jazz Age Hill Tribes, but browsing the net one morning I lighted on the Brigade Games Indian Cavalry from the same WWI range to supplement those Dave Paddock had sent me recently and on the same Colonel Bill 's webshop of course. I now have 14 of these stout fellows to paint, so I made a start this week after a week's holiday in Cornwall. Here are the first of the Bhyklabad Horse, known locally as Aston's Scouts, under the command of Major John Roberts ~

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I was inspired to attempt the coloured turbans, even though they would not have been worn on campaign against either the Bhurpas or the Soviets of the S.P.I.F.F, by seeing a wonderfully painted Indian cricket team on the VBCW game at Partizan in the Tent! Sadly, my efforts are very second rate by comparison...

The yellow central stripe does n't show up too well in either picture I've found, but I hope you get the idea at least from one or other of the pictures. I suppose its the limitations of my iphone camera, but I have tried to edit the pictures without being able to bring up the yellow any more clearly. Whatever, I have another trooper well underway to add to the unit, leaving just ten more to work through, hopefully by the end of the next week. In the meantime though, I'm off to a matinee performance of The Pirates of Penzance, very apt really after last week's sojourn!

American Adventurers sighted...

...in Rhanzlistan. I went to the Great Barr Table Top Sale last month with Jon ~ he anted to buy some prepainted 20mm WWII Russian troops and vehicles ~ not really thinking I'd buy anything. I was surprised to see one chap selling heaps of based and undercoated Pulp figures from any number of manufacturers. I bought five, very disciplined I thought, and the two shown below have gone right into he Rhanzlistan back story.
I see them as two American Adventurers, seeking the lost kingdom of Bhladi Bhla, where they might find fame and fortune, although getting it back home might be a problem, you really can't trust those Bhurpas any further than you can spit into a gale! For no other reason than I like to name figures in these Pulp style games after my friends, I decided to call them Joe Paddock and Davy Moore. Any resemblance to living chaps is of course accidental as they say. Here they are ~

Joe Paddock & Davy Moore

They are Copplestone figures of course, although which sets they are from I can't say off hand. They will be setting out on an adventure later in the month I hope.

Flashman at the Pass

Meanwhile, deep in The Pass, we find Flashman Jr about his cunning business, and possibly accidentally aiding the Crown!

The figure is the Empress Miniatures Charity Figure, "Flashman's Grandson"sculpted by Paul Hicks. He costs £3.00 and I got mine at Salute last Saturday. I see him in many scrapes and adventures in Rhanzlistan in the coming months. Of course he will need a ruthless and merciless adversary! And here he is, the Rajah of Rhanzlistan ~

He's a figure from the Mutineer Miniatures Mutineer Command pack. I was taken by the one Phil painted for my Indian Mutiny collection {See Tales from GHQ blog} and have been looking through Mutineer's single figure boxes at shows here and there for one without any success. At Salute on Saturday I drew a blank again, but then the 'Jolly Jocks' kindly opened a pack and sold me him for £1! Wonderful service chaps and, I hope you'll agree, a super addition to Tales from Rhanzlistan!

Bhurpas Add New Firepower

A recent game here in GHQ underlined the Bhurpas' lack of firepower, relying as they did on an ancient muzzle loading monster, The Great Gun Of Bhyklabad. In part it was due to Empress having sold out of the Jazz Age mortar set at Vapnartak! The situation was happily rectified at WMMS last week and here is the proof ~

I use a very limited palette when painting up my figures for the Bhurpa tribesmen: mainly the Foundry range of White, Black, Conker Brown, Madder Red and Russian Green for the clothing. This helps to give the figures a unified yet varied look on the table I find.
The pack also includes a 'bomber' wielding a Molotov Cocktail ~

I find painting things like bottles has its own issues. I generally paint the bottle grey, highlighted with Boneyard Light. For the liquid in this instance I used a careful wash of the old Games Workshop Brown Ink. Its a shame the picture is a bit washed out, you'll just need to trust me on this occasion, it looks fine here in front of me. Look out for both to make their debut in a game in the near future.

The Loyal Tandooris...

...have been posted to Rhanzlistan for the 2014 Campaigning Season. Having made their name in countless actions against Chief Bykelezi in Darkest Africa and the 'Barmy Bykli' in the Sudan, the Loyal Tandooris have now been posted to support the Rhanzlistan Field Force under the command of Brigadier 'Tubby' Bykleigh.
The commanding Officer of the regiment. Lt Col Whyte, and his aide, Major Thomas ~

'A' company , commanded by Captain, the Hon, William Watkiss ~

'B' Company, commanded by Lt Norris, a short officer with a giant heart ~

With the exception of Lt Norris, commanding 'B' Company {who is a Pulp Miniatures figure from the British Officers set} the figures are all from Copplestone Miniatures' fine, if small range for WWI/the Back of Beyond. The range of Indian troops is partially incomplete, lacking Lewis gunners and a command for the Punjabi machine gun team. Sadly I doubt there is much prospect of any new figures in the range, it seems to me that he has at least partly retired!
The RFF project has almost run its course now. I plan to add some Brigade Games Indian cavalry, Aston's Scouts in the new year and perhaps either a second mountain gun or perhaps a battery of 13lb quick fire guns. I have a WWI limber set from Foundry which I could convert with some Gripping Beast/ Woodbine heads if I choose the latter option.
Whatever the outcome, I look forward to more gripping adventures and resounding triumpha for the RFF in 2014!

Lord 'Lippy' Rawnsley...

...moves from the Canadian frozen wilderness to the hot lands of Rhanzlistan. In other words, Pulp Miniatures' "Movember" charity figure sculpted by the talented Bob Murch. Super service as ever from Bob and a lovely addition to the back story of the Rhanzlistan Field Force ~

I hope he'll star in many stirring adventures in 2014 in the Back of Beyond that is Rhanzlistan.

Gals with Guns; Goats; Yetis...and Jats

Phil and I are hoping to get in another Back of Beyond game set in our imaginary world of the Rhanzlistan Field Force before the end of the month, and so I've been adding a few bits and bobs to my collection to enhance the look of the game a little. I've also been working on a few single items to use in the Pulp Adventures related games next year. First up, a more active representation of Dorothy Godalming and Edith Marsden. They are from the Copplestone Castings 'Female Archeologists' set ~

From Empress Miniatures some goats, and a donkey. Yes, I know I need more goats for a flock, but we have to buy what we can as Christmas approaches. I hope to get another pack at Warfare on Sunday! I painted them by the simple expedient of an ink wash and a light dry brush and I think "they'll do"!

From Pulp Miniatures two Yetis, to be 'discovered' by the RGS Expedition to Rhanzlistan perhaps next year? Matt painted one and I painted the other. Can you guess which is which? I've rebased them on MDF to fit in with the rest of my collection.

Finally, from Copplestone Castings again, I've added another Indian Infantry regiment, the Muslim troops set who will do service in Rhanzlistan as the 'Jalfreezi Rifles', a fictional Jat regiment. Not the most interesting figures I've ever painted to be honest. {I have a similar set waiting of Punjabi troops, the famed 'Loyal Tandooris'! I've put those back to next month, I can't face the same figures, with a different head, straight away!!!}

I used the same colour scheme as in the earlier Mountain Battery post as I liked the end result, but added a second highlight on the turban and haversack just to bring up the figures a bit. They should be in action towards the end of the month, so pop back from time to time to look for the 'Breakout from Jimbai'!

A Camel Caravan

I've just varnished some figures this afternoon, as the sun is shinning and I want to use this piece in a game next Monday with Phil.

The camels and the 'Bhurpa' I got from Tiger Miniatures at the Derby Worlds show. The camels look as if they might be the Ebob ones to me, with all the baggage and paraphernalia added on of course. Having sprayed them white, after minimal cleaning up, I gave them a wash of Burnt Umber artists' ink and then dry brushed them with Foundry Rawhide shade. I quite like the overall look it gave them! The figure was not quite to my taste, but passes the 3' rule so it will do! I think it will see service both for the Rhanzlistan Field Force and any 'loyal' Bhurpas who need to move goods and possessions about. Look out for it first in next week's game ~ The Taxing of Ghi Mikha...