French/Indian Wars-Battle of Lake Biscuit.

At last I have played this game through to an exciting conclusion,and enjoyed every minute of it!
I decided to approach the game a bit differently to the way I would normally play,ie. I played both flanks out to a complete conclusion,before I tackled the main assault on the Fort.

These two photo's show the "brisk" action on the lake-the rangers were in position first,so got in a great volley against the Indians-killing their "chief" with the first dice throw!!

Top photo shows the Indians paddling back across the lake,having been forced to retire(it's good being retired!-but a lot of you will be seeing what it's like due to "lock down!!)
Bottom photo shows what is left of the rangers,about to disembark to support the eventual attack against the fort by the British.

Meanwhile,on the other flank,the raiding party is attacking the village,and making "mincemeat" of the defending Indians-but will the Indians and Courier du Bois in the Fort village be coming to help??
Well,I threw a dice for each,and they both decided to come and assist-this could prove tricky for the Raiding party-and it did!!!!

Top photo shows the "help" on its way,bottom shows the Plight of the defenders! but the rangers are taking up positions to attack the "helpers" when they arrive!!

Top shows the rangers and couriers engaging in a most one-sided fire-fight-the couriers were using the latest laser guided Kentucky rifles,and shot the rangers to bits!!!-the Indians then fought the raiding party Indians and sent them "packing"-oh dear!!!!-this was to prove quite a problem for the advancing British and their supporting rangers.

Top shows the British marching into position,whilst the supporting rangers(from the woods) move to take on the couriers moving through the woods to attack the British flank-they were completely successful,and secured the flank after a hard fight!!-The rangers(depleted) from the lake fight,have been sent forward to skirmish with the fort defenders,and paid a heavy price for being so bold-ie. they were slaughtered!!!!

The British artillery open up,inflicting "telling" casualties!

The assault begins-first volley from the troops attacking the fort threw the requisite dice and killed the fort commander!!!-this is not looking good for the French!

After a brief melee,the fort is taken,and outside the French defenders are fleeing,with the Scots chasing them,no couriers or Indians are left to help out,so an emphatic win for the British!
This was probably the most satisfying and exciting solo game that I've played-possibly because I took my time,and spread the action over two days.

Reminiscences

Not much needs saying..some old pics of the team

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French/Indian Wars.

Having painted up some Rangers and Courier du Bois recently,I though I might come up with an interesting scenario to use them in.

Scenario.-Major Rogers(of rangers fame!) receives a report that there seems to be a build up of Indians around Lake Biscuit.
Rogers sends out a patrol,who confirm that there is indeed a build up of warbands but,more alarmingly, a French force has actually built a small fort on the shore of the lake!
The British are alerted who immediately march to drive the French away and destroy the fort,meanwhile Rogers orders a raiding party,of rangers and friendly Indians to attack the Indian village farthest away from the fort,hoping to draw some Indians and Courier du Bois, to the village,leaving only the French to face the British.
Rogers also orders a ranger unit to paddle across the lake to assist in the attack on the fort-HOWEVER,an Indian warband is also paddling across the lake to reinforce the fort troops!!
This could turn out to be quite a "brisk" fight.

The Rangers, on the right, and Indians paddling across the lake,and no doubt,into conflict!

The raiding party,Indians and Rangers,moving to attack the far village(I know that the Indians in this neck of the woods didn't live in teepees,but I've got them and might as well use them!!)

The British are coming,the British are coming!!

A unit of Rangers wait in the woods to help with the attack on the fort.

The Fort c/w french troops,with an Indian village-hopefully these Indians will reinforce the far village,leaving the French to fight the British(who just happen to have an artillery piece with them!)
I will fight this game later on this week.

Painting update

Day 6 of isolation

Here are a few snippets of the armour that I'm painting as
well as some other activities usually reserved for rainy days!

These are the lost three Italian M13/40's that I had forgotten Dave had given me to paint.

They make up the seven resin tanks that I'd started painting .

A base coat of black over painted by desert yellow

Meanwhile all tanks need some decals and ID markings don't they?

Italians had a great and simple way to ID their armour

Each colour was the company, Red=1st Blue=2nd etc.

Line bars for the platoon so one bar =1st platoon, two bars =2nd platoon

I've yet to paint the tank numbers under the colour block..

And why not just buy the decals?
Well they're in West Herrington and I'm not ha ha.

Here are my carrier section getting near completion complete with baggage and weapons

  
and crew of course

One of the consequences of isolation is that you notice things
that were't so obvious under "normal conditions" 

So I decided to arrange the books back into their

correct order, period and campaigns... yes sad!

OCD satiated and even a visit by the 

dust fairy who magically cleaned the shelves and revealed tops..

Finally I've long been wanting to have my late 

Uncle Matthew's medals on display.

Matthew Mason 

Pioneer Corps

Like many of our relatives he saw no personal merit in these 

and in fact never opened the box they were delivered in.

His post war years weren't very good for him and I'm certain 

he's be classed as a PTSD victim today

Very proud of this man who has my son named after him. 

x

North Africa Star, The Italy Star and France and Germany Star

as well as the 1939-1945 Star and War Medal 1939-1945

Thank you for the kind inquiries about Janet, who has recovered 

from feeling unwell and can even smell things again!

Take care everyone and catch up soon

"Bits and Bobs".

First of all many thanks to everyone who has called me for a chat,or to find out if I need anything from the shops etc.-you're all very kind!
Brian has been busy,finishing off both his Covenanter army and his "Spartacus" army,and is starting a Viking army!!-slow down man,you'll give yourself a hernia!!!
Graham is painting Napoleonic figures like they're going out of fashion,Dave is painting loads of different figures from a variety of periods,eg. Wellington in India,Napoleonic and WW2!
Paul(who is now in "isolation" due to his wife having"Symptoms" of the dreaded virus-get well soon Janet!) is painting WW2 desert tanks and infantry-phew.
I am playing and painting all sorts...........................

"Question"-why would anyone,in their right mind,choose to paint British Napoleonic infantry
with their white cross belts and "fiddly bits"????-I finished them,but will not be painting any more for a long,long while!

Another question-which period is this figure from(ancients I guess,but what army?)
I have been "rumbling" again(no not the Brian type of "rumbling") and have picked an eclectic mix to paint next............................

Top photo is the "mix" consisting of Ancients(Phalanx types) Napoleonic Russians and Prussians(oh no,not more white cross belts and fiddly bits!!!!) and this little "gem of a German WW2 dog handler in 20mm scale!!

Under-coated and ready to go next week!
It's breaking my heart not seeing my little grand-daughter,however,being a positive type of person,her wooden building blocks gave me an idea..........................

KREIG SPEIL!!!!!!unfortunately not enough blocks of the same colour for a large game,but it's a thought(I think the isolation has finally got to me!)
Another idea came to me,actually not my idea,but one from a long time ago........................

A "table -Top Teaser"-how would you play this game out?-I have set it in ECW period,but any period can be substituted.

My solution to the "teaser"-a very lively game,and thought-provoking too!

I have been playing in a new location,ie the back bedroom,however I have had to abandon this location as the height of the bed was "breaking my back!!"-a pity really but the weather is improving,so it's back to the garage!
My latest game in a series of games in and around the village of "Brockwell" was absolutely great,and exhausting.....................

Top photo is scenario,bottom is terrain lay-out(river is cardboard,painted blue!)

The Royalists are in position as the Parliamentarians march onto the board.

Early action all along the board,a stout defence of the positions was eventually eroded away,giving the New Model Army a wonderful and well deserved victory!

Victory!!!
My face has now healed up,but for those of a nervous disposition,look away now................

I know,I know,I look better covered up!!
Keep safe.

New buys and painting progress

As we're all busy heading for cabin fever land I add my latest on line purchase.

These foam holders are for my WW2 North African Tommie's
Cheap and very good value

Meanwhile .. the decorators are cracking on with lightening my anyscale fuel dumps and another coat onto Dave's Italian tanks. 

More to come over the next few weeks