Tuesday 13 December 2011

10mm German East African Army

 
German officers and C in C
Von lettow vorbeck himself (on the larger base) with his staff car he acquired from the British landing forces at Tanga. He ran the car until 1917 when the car ran out of parts. I also have 3 other Commanders Captain Looff of the german light cruiser Koenigsberg, and 2 other sub commanders.
 
German East African Schutztruppe
Schutztruppe Company, made up of 6 Platoons with 2 HMG, and Captain. German infantry numbered very few in Africa but numbers were boosted by local German settlers in the colonies as well as volunteers and merchant marine crew who found themselves stranded in Africa. Ofcourse they were also boosted by the crew of the Koenigsberg.
 
Schutztruppe Askari
Schutztruppe Askari made up the same as the German infantry. German Askari were very well trained along the same lines of regular German infantry, unlike their British counterparts, and also received new rifles, (captured from the British at Tanga). They are in early uniform, with cap rather than hat.
 
Field Guns
The Germans only had limited guns at the outbreak of war, at Tanga they only had 2 which arrived late in the battle, however the British nicely left all their artillery on the beach when they evacuated Tanga, also the Germans captured Belgian and other British guns as the war went on. Also a German transport ship took several field guns with them to supply German east Africa, so to keep it simple I got some 77mm guns from Pendraken Miniatures and asked Dave to swap the German crew for Askari, I also kept the gun shield as I thought it looked cool!
 
Mountain Gun
The Germans captured mountain guns from the Indians at Tanga and in later battles, these were given to Askari crews who manned then for the war.
 
Rugga Rugga
Rugga Rugga, a lose descriptive term for German African tribesmen who volunteered to fight for Von lettow vorbeck. Given that the other colonial powers of Belgium, England and Portugal were not all that popular many tribesmen took up arms with the Germans, They were led by their own officers and armed where possible with modern rifles, but only when enough could be taken from the Entente Powers.
 
Koenigsberg Crew
The 188 surviving members of the Konigsberg formed a land based force called the Königsberg-Abteilung, They also manned guns and riverine/Lake ships, here I have based a company on a regualr german company, with sailors manning HMG's.


The Koenigsberg Guns
I was going to use another model for these but decided to go for German 150's, I know its not the correct barrel but the overall heavy feel is better than the alternatives. I didn't put the shield on and gave them Askari crew with German marine officers. The Koenigsberg guns proved their worth, been the heaviest artillery in east africa, most survived the war and a few are still around if you search the net for them.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

6mm Napoleonic French

A regiment of Baccus french, ready to march to battle, and probably win.  

15mm Medieval Scots

 Just like the English army the Scots are a 100 peice army, and I love these even more.  The great thing about the scots is the mass of rabble spearmen, flanked by french knights they can really stop an english army in their tracks while the knights hit the english flanks.
 They are also a couple of stands of heavy infantry too, I still havent worked out the best way to place them.
As mentioned the french knights are a tough bunch.

15mm Medieval English

 These quite nice figures are from Lancashire games, I got them as a 100 peice army and they are quite well balanced. 
 The Bowmen are quite nice and the men at arms well posed giving a nice battle line, and unlike some they dont need any assembly.

wargames factory spanish succession

 Here are 2 regiments pained up from the Wargames factory spanish succession range.  They are quite good figures, if time consuming to build.  I made up 2 regiments 1 british 1 french.
 I would reccomend them for a quich way to get your 28mm armies larger and as they also have cavalry out soon then you should look into them.  You can make all sorts out of the figues with heads for the Gloriouse revolution to other periods too.  with options for grenadiers (with grenades)  and officers.

Friday 19 August 2011

17th century building

 I have built many buildings for the period but all have been either in 16mm or 28mm without interior.
 The house is scaled towards the 28mm to suit all ranges, this house has 2 doors, front and side.
 With the reason for this range been the open interior I went for no internal stairs due to losing figures etc..   but can fit 16 figures, or 2 Bases of troops based in 4's or 1 in 6's so wil work for many basing systems.
Here is a full view of the Interior with infantry, note the windows can be fired out of, I have tried them with my ACW Dixon figures as well as my WSS Foundry an the shooters fit both standing and kneeling guys!  I am thinking they will also look good as Mordheim too.

Friday 12 August 2011

British 28mm Infantry

 These guys are plastic Perry Miniatures british, Quite easy to put together too, There are 40 odd figures in the box.


28mm Scale Fields

 A nice corn field to hide your troops in
 a fresh planted field
unplanted field

Warhammer 40k Bunker

 a nice bunker for any imperial guard unit
I plan on making a new one of this with a removable roof

28mm Scale buildings

 17th century coaching inn
 same design but in white
 17th century windmill
 17th century town house
another town house

Wednesday 10 August 2011

15mm Napoleonic British

 A nice spread of all the troops, infantry, highlanders, dragoons, cannon, rifles and general
 infantry
 Riflemen & Generals
 Cannon
 Dragoons
 In profile

Monday 8 August 2011

WWI East Africa

I have always been a WWI fan and used to do alot of 6mm, but recently have enjoyed the joy of Pendraken 10mm Scale WWI figures.  These troops are all from my east african army.

 British 18lb field guns, with horse drawn limbers, the limbers are scratch convesions of the ECW limbered horses.  Based in a battery of 3.
 British Imperial infantry, with vickers HMG and Officers.
 Indian troops with HMG and command.  The Indian forces played an important part in the fighting in east africa and despite a rather terrible start they proved good troops as the campaigns progressed, but I use them as cannon fodder in games as we mostly play 1914-1915, and they were no match for Shutztruppe.
 3 Armoured cars from my middle eastern collection, not that much use but they look good as armoured cavalry.
 British K.A.R. in early uniform with red Fez, sadly pendraken does only the later war Kings African Rifles in hat, so I am using german Shutztruppe Askari as K.A.R. Askari.
 Allied natives, Pendrakens native troops from the WWI range, ideal if poor allies for the british.
 Indian Mountain guns, gives my Indian infantry some well needed support.
Most important of all an idiot to command my army, not any exact idiot but as all british commanders were well meaning but stupid people I oftern think not including a command would help my british win better!  Anyway, here is a staff car with general and a forward sub command or Forward obsereves with bike.