"What If" Isandlwana.

What if Lord Chelmsford's last orders to Lt. Col. Pulleine were "Defend the camp,as per General Orders"?-Pulleine would have laagered the wagons and built defences around the perimeter,brought all troops inside the newly defended camp,and awaited any attacks!! 

Well,I decided to do just that,to see what would have happened,using my universally praised "red pom-pom rules",and what a game it turned out to be!

Two shots of the newly defended camp(using what defences I have at hand!)

The Zulus have arrived!-The artillery looks very vulnerable,but we'll see.

Top photo shows the Zulu left horn being shot to pieces,the bottom photo shows the Zulu centre and right horn also being shot to pieces(but there's lots of them!!)

The guns look in real danger-their "escort" has legged it,and so should they-maybe just one last cannister shot!!

The two companies,posted to the left of the infamous hill,have spotted some Zulu regiments making their way behind the hill to out-flank the camp-not so fast,surely a couple of volleys will deter them(?)

Top photo shows the Zulus getting a bit too close for comfort-bottom photo shows how close!!-the artillery have retired (it's good being retired!)-in the distance you can see that contact has been made!!!

Contact!-although huge gaps in the Zulu line are evident,but the centre regiments are approaching at a rate of knots!!

This photo shows the Zulu out-flanking regiments sneaking behind the hill,but being shot at by the two defending companies.

Top photo shows the centre regiments about to get involved,bottom shows a general view,and the shattered left horn-the right horn has disappeared!!!-shot to bits and then fought off bravely!

This shows the out-flanking regiments chasing(surely not!) the two defending companies who have now been joined by a supporting company-a couple of artillery shots and a close volley stopped them in their tracks!!

Last two shots showing the state of play-the Zulus were completely destroyed by well aimed volleys and well protected infantry-if only that had happened in history!!

I really enjoyed playing this game,showing what could be achieved if "general orders"  had been followed by Pulleine and Chelmsford.

Botched-Ica!

We were discussing,last Sunday,what kind of game we were going to put on at Carronade,in May 2023(as you do!)-many suggestions were thrown into the ring-Napoleonics,WW2,ACW,Zulus etc. etc. and my suggestion of an Ancients game based on Boudica's revolt in 61AD.So,just in case my suggestion is upheld by the group,I "fished" around for a suitable Boudica figure in my Rumble box.Now a few weeks ago Paul gave me a figure which he got at Partizan-I think it was supposed to be Queen Matilda, and it looked ideal once a few alterations were made.The figure was holding a book(Bible?) and was wearing a crown-they both had to go!-the crown was filed off and the book was Clipped off,to be replaced by a Celtic shield.

What about a chariot,I hear you say-well,a wagon chasis,two solid wheels(for effect!) and two suitable horses all from the aforesaid rumble box were all brought together,and the idea of Boudica in her chariot(description form Featherstone's Wargames through the Ages) was quickly constructed,painted and is now ready to lead her British Warbands to Victory over the hated Romans!!!..........................

Boudica,in all her glory-my painting skills are not great,but I managed to get eyes on her!!!

See!-Cor,what a smasher!!

The Chariot c/w white horses-the solid wheels are obviously not historically correct(is any of this project?) but lend a certain something to the model(I think!!)

Boudica mounted(steady!) in the chariot,and ready for the off-only needs to be flocked.

All aboard the Watling Street Express!-no matter which period we decide to represent at Carronade,Boudica will be on the table!!!-Because it's Christmas,maybe she should give a lift to a couple of "hitch-hikers".................

Oh dear-sanity will come back in the new year(maybe!)

Last Stand,Stand!

I had some figures left over from my mammoth painting of Zulus and British,so decided to create a "Last Stand" base(or stand!).................

 Poor souls-I hope they don't get attacked!!

Oh,oh, spoke too soon!!

I also painted some "Extras" as Natal Carbineers..................

Here they are,c/w officer!!

Avery merry Christmas,and a Great New Year to you all-thanks for reading the blog and giving comments.

Zulus-thousands of 'em!!

Over the past few weeks I've been "feverishly" painting hundreds of  15mm British and Zulu figures supplied by Lancashire Games .The figures are very nice,if a bit "wobbly" at the ankles,with good animation and as much detail as you would want-The company is run by Alan Lumley,and a more pleasant chap you couldn't wish to meet.-check them out!

Both sides at an early painting stage-I was knocking them out in batches of 30 figures,plus any guns/gunners and NNC that happened to pass my way!!

Nearly finished-based,and awaiting flock.

Finished units put on my "solo" board-the terrain pieces are from Robbie Roddis,which I bought from him at Stockton-he,of course, charged me way over the top for them,but I'm always willing to help out a fellow wargamer who has fallen on hard times-a food parcel is on its way as we type!!

The aforesaid terrain pieces-Robbie claims to have made them himself,but they look too good for him to have done so!!

I just had to have a game using my "world famous" red pom-pom rules(which worked exceedingly well!)

Top-command group,bottom-pressure!!!

Looks like Chard ,or Bromhead, is in a spot of bother-spit boy spit!!!

The last move of a vey exciting game-the Zulus were actually beaten-now there's a surprise!! I can see many more games with these figures,featuring forts,barricades etc. etc.

 Finishing off the year

Completing Brian's Africa Corps Flak 37 & LeFh10.5cm 

The room may be have been cleared and re arranged but I have found more unfinished jobs. I had already assembled the bulk of the guns with only small touches to get them ready for basing.

Three of these were the lovely models from Bolt Action which were donated ? by Brian.

I think he wanted to give his fingers a rest from the glue!

The gun was essentially completed and just needed some details added to the crew and clutter. 

(The bases were kindly supplied by Dave).

 A good team of generous lads. Even I donated the highly expensive milk tops, no expense spared !

The gun crew are metal and really nicely animated.

Some additional desert shrub to give some texture.

and some stony grounds of course, these deserts weren't really entirely sandy

The guy on the right is actually a Perry dismounted German tank crew figure.

A little arm bending and addition of a shell and we have another helper.

 

These guys are just waiting for a British tank squadron to charge them now ... gulp.

Next will be two Bolt Action German LeFh 10.5cm guns

They're in greatcoats so painted 

for either of the northern European theatres in late '44

The crews are quite chunky but nicely detailed. 

 The two guns are in amongst other another project, a British 6lb Anti tank gun, lots to do still.