WW1 in East Africa - Indian Army Unit

Here is the second unit of Old Glory Indians painted and based for action in East Africa 1914-1918.

Four bases per unit - the units are either Platoons, Companies or Battalions, depending on the scale of the engagement - but we expect most of the actions to be smaller scale so generally these four elements will represent a platoon.

Info on regimental distinctions is a bit on the short side for this period so I have taken some poetic license and assumed a rifle unit might have green involved - so these guys are officially Kashmir Rifles!

The full four element unit of 12 figures

Closer view of two elements including the British officer

The other two elements including a native officer

The first two elements from different angle

And the second two again from a different angle

No painting tomorrow as I will be at a mates house for the first game since our week long gaming fest at Lake Tarawera - 15mm Pacific War so my Japanese Command Decision collection will be getting an outing - will take some pics and post a match report here in a day or two........

HARD PLASTIC FROSTGRAVE FIGURES - COMPLETED

The last week or so has been spent painting the 20 hard plastic Frostgrave figures, complete with female heads.

To be honest, I found them quite hard to do - believe it or not, there was just TOO MUCH detail on some of them, too many different pieces of clothing etc and I struggled to come up with believable colour schemes for them.

I had started off thinking I would keep them quite drab - all browns and greys, subdued, Medieval type colours - but having got half way through painting the first ten I thought they looked awful, so I a change of heart!

Anyway, here they are - I am not as pleased with them as some others, but as any wargamer will know, the standard of painting has NO effect on how the figures perform on the table top!

I have created two bands of ten figures each - with two "similar" figures in each band - here is the leader (with torch) and two other figures from the first band

Band one swordswoman, double handed weapon and club/mace

Crossbow and archer

The last three members of the first war band

Leader (with lantern) and first two members of the second war band

Axewonan, double handed weapon and club/mace

The archer and crossbow

Last three figures - the one on the left is a duplicate so I obviously made some mistake in taking the pics! And now I review it - the right hand is a double up too....

Random close up of the pole armed warrior

Leader of war band one

Leader of war band two

The two figures armed with both sword and dagger

Not only did I have trouble painting these, now I have had a challenge in producing adequate images of them - I have taken about 30+pictures of these ladies but deleted two thirds of them...AARRGGHH!

I think I will try WW1 in East Africa after this!

WW1 in East Africa Update

I dragged out the British figures I currently have available for this period. The NW Frontier/Boer War Old Glory Brits can' be used because they have the wrong type of sun helmet but as stated previously,  I think the Indians are ok. Unfortunately we will be using a different basing convention, so my Colonial collection on 40mm x 40mm bases and comprising 5 elements per unit wont be any use.....SIGH!

I have about 12 or 14 elements of Kings African Rifles like these - figures by Brigade Games

The command element

Three KAR Askaris

The other three Askaris - really nice figures and great to paint as all the detail really stands out

A WW1 vintage armoured car - resin and metal kit from Old Glory

Mounted S African cavalry  (Boer War mounted infantry by Old Glory)

Indian infantry with British officer by Old Glory

Our WW1 in East Africa Project

This was first mooted a couple of years back but in the coming 12 months there has been a full commitment to make this happen for the next Tarawera trip - two of the group are doing a scenario and we have already been issued with OrBats etc.

I already have a few figures for this period, both Brigade Games and Old Glory, and also purchased the Osprey book on this period about 18 months ago (see below)

The cover of the book

German Sailors

German Askaris

British and native allies

British, Indian and African troops

S African uniforms

Indians and Askaris

Belgian European and Askari troops

Portuguese soldiers in Mozambique

Below are a few reprints of my existing figures for this era - I also have about 40 Kings African Rifles (KAR) by Brigade Games

German officer with Askari NCO and rifleman

Two more German Schutztruppe officers

A third German command element - have no actual troops for them to lead yet though!

A British HMG team

German Askari HMG team

British Sikh HMG team - all the preceding figures are by Brigade Games

Command element of dismounted Indian cavalry - Old Glory figures

Dismounted S African cavalry - Old Glory figures

The full unit of dismounted Indian cavalry

Old Glory Sikhs - I think they should be useable as the uniforms and equipment don't look like they changed much since the 1890's

Wont use the semaphore but the Indian mountain guns should also be fine

Bengal Lancers

Mounted version of the dismounted Indian cavalry a few pics above - all the latter figures are by Old Glory

So now I have to get a few more Brits, some German askaris and possibly some Belgians too - juts as well I have 1-12 months to get through this! In the meantime, I have a couple of units of Indian OG figures I can paint and base for this period - again, they are actually NW Frontier but I don't think anything had changed dramatically in the intervening 20 odd years. I also have a little side project to work on as below............................................................................

I bought this pack of twenty hard plastic multipart figures from Annie, the Dice Bag Lady, for £20, and combined it with 20 x 28mm female heads by Statuesque - giving me enough figures for 2 x 10 all female war bands - now I just have to try and do justice to the excellent figures with my average painting skills!

The first ten figures undercoated in white and with a brown wash over them - not my usual method so hope it works out.....

Two close up shots of some of the "troops"