Almost... There...

 

Up the Chamla with Willie

 

A WIP of the latest project. 

After spending the last couple of weeks on the HLI, I thought that it was time to pull out the screw gun team that has been patiently waiting on it's turn to be made ready for active duty. The castings were in fair condition, but did take a couple of hours to clean up - one of the joys of using figures that were designed more than 45 years ago. A small problem is that the gun's carriage was short shot and not fully formed in the mould, so I'll be scrounging some plastic card to make good.  

What you see here is the weekends' work. I have another three mules to finish along with a pair of gunners before I can tuck this one safely away. 

The basing is sand on PVA painted with one of the GW "crackle" paints. That's then dry-brushed with a bone shade and topped with three or four different types of grass tuft.

The Order of Battle is now:

The Infantry

The Buffs

The Highland Light infantry

The Seaforths

The Guides Infantry

The Cavalry

The 21st Lancers

The Navy

The Naval Brigade Gatling Guns

I am staking a claim to a Mountain and a Field Battery, some Guides Cavalry, perhaps some Lancers from Bengal and another couple of infantry units.

Then it's Pathans in a big way. Then perhaps a few Mahdists. An Ross, just to tease you a little, some Boers.

More Sailors

Forgive the picture quality. Was done in the shed under artificial light very early in the morning!

Still, that's all the Gatlings done and 8 of the 12 Gunners.

So, where are we?

Right here.

I have the bit between my teeth, I've had a week off and have been painting steadily.

So, today I threw down a water-carrier. In my mind he's Gunga Din, but who knows? Certainly he was easy to paint; he only took about 20 minutes this afternoon.

I added a new member to the Medical Staff. Dr Watson, Barbara and fanny have been joined by Private Shifty. Wounded men are not the only thing he snags off the battlefield. Need a second hand watch? A pocket book? A cigarette case? He's your man.

Och, the Highlanders. Rather pleased with the tartan. I have a method that seems to work and gives a fair result for the effort going in.

 Finally, The Buffs. Were with Brindon Blood's Third Brigade. Fine fellows all.

And that's nearly it. Apart from a few more Highlanders, a few speciality figures and a couple of Sowars that's about all the unpainted lead I have for now. I have a gun crew and a unit of British cavalry that need repainting, then I will need to toddle off and put in an order with Tradition. More Highlanders and some more Regulars to fill out my first couple of units then some Indian Infantry will be next, I should say.

The Medical Staff Redux

Introducing Dr Watson and nurses Fanny and Barbara.

The Medical Arm 2 - Stretcher Bearers!

Made the stretcher out of a straw from a broom with a slice of making tape.

The Medical Arm

Nurse Fanny Golightly, white-aproned angel, ministers to the wounded...

Another fine Suren figure who just cries out for an accompanying Medical Officer, some stretcher-bearers and perhaps a couple of tents.

 Before I get too carried away, I had better get on with the Highlanders whose kilts are now DONE.

The Highland Light Infantry

Not much more to be said. I'm engaged in painting what Willie colonials I have in the uniforms of units that were with the Malakand Field Force. A pleasing miscellany. Figures are Willies from Tradition as usual.

The heat, the dust.

I am giving myself a bit of a holiday from cranking out Napoleonic troops and taking a trip to the North Western Frontier. The year is about 1895.

Just finished this chap this morning; he was still on his painting stand as the varnish dried when I took the photo. A splendidly useless figure in war gaming terms, but what the heck.

Another pair of Willies, the first of the English infantry.

The rules will probably be TSaTF*, maybe 5-6 units of infantry, a battery and three units of cavalry. Then there are the Pathans...

*Or perhaps I'll cook up a Funny Little Derivative thereof.