Ottoman Cavalry - Sipahis

Right the first batch of Ottoman Cavalry has been finished. As mentioned in a previous post these are the Zvezda Turkish Cavalry XVII century. As these are formed troops I have given them consistent uniforms by unit, luckily helped by some comments by George Gush that they may have been uniformed.

If I say so myself they are splendid and will cause a lot of problems for their opponents

I am always wary of putting too much effort into lances as they tend to bend and the paint flakes, but I couldn't resist at least doing it for the charging figures

Now for the commanders and some light cavalry.

Will

Some progress ? ! ?

I had started on my corner "towers" before the Zvezda Turkish Cavalry figures arrived, so here is the progress to date, I plan to add a couple of different gatehouses/gateways to complete the set. I had originally intended the ramp to be within the tower, but the angle was to steep. Just as well I'm not planning to have bases.

Played the Rapid Fire Sid Bou Zid RF scenario by Mark Piper today, typically, I failed to take any photos of the action, just the basic American deployment

It was a total disaster, The American were devastated in the first move with 4 tanks KO'd or heavily damaged and then the morale check for the lead two companies was rout. This left me with 4 tanks plus support to cope with two complete panzer battalions attacking from each flank - great!

Yes, it was a total wipe out with the exception of the American infantry who dug in at the centre of the table, the armour, SPGs half tracks and guns were all destroyed. The old bright point was that the German Panzer Grenadiers left their positions too late to past their target line and achieve a total victory.

The game was played in 20mm game scale using vehicles and figures in 15mm from my mate Marcus (the Germans) and this was the first outing for his new US forces, sorry.

Will

Another big game? - Napoleonic

So on the Sunday after Phalanx it was over to Steve's in Manchester for a traditional big game. This year a recreation of Borodino with nearly 4,000 15mm figures on the table, unfortunately there was insufficient time to fight it to a conclusion using Shako rules within the time of individuals needed to travel back down south.

The main point of French attack the fleches defended by Bagration.
A view of the entire battlefield with the Ravesky redoubt on the left hand hill

Of course as Russians, I was Kutusov, our objective was fulfilled, fighting the French to a standstill.

Here's another view taken by Phil of me "in action" with the Russians used on the SOA Blog Ancients on the move

Will

Phalanx 2008

Another year has passed and phalanx (our biggest local show) has arrived again. As usual I was involved in a game supporting the Lance & Longbow Society, this time the Battle of Marignano 1515. An interesting scenario on the cusp on the medieval/renaissance period. We usually play a fast play DBx game with period related variations, but this time the rules meant that the Swiss never got into contact with the main French position as the mounted crossbow were too powerful when they attack the flanks of the Swiss pike blocks.

The early deployment (below) the write up on the real battle will be in the next journal of the L&L society

The first game that stuck me was the nearby North Hull game, set in Russia, early in the 1941 invasion involving a river crossing

The lighting was very poor and hence the yellow cats to the images

Of real interest to me was the Glasgow Wargamers theme for this year of Napoleon in Egypt, the figures are great, but the terrain just didn't quite set it off to its best advantage.

I would have enjoyed time to talk, but somehow the day slipped away from me

Any purchases, etc?

Well I succumbed to the new Hat British and Egyptian Camel Corps and Celtic Command. The Under the Bed had the excellent Frontline RR armoured cars, and after the big game I had to get these. Finally I pickup some bits like the WAB rulebook, Warfare in the french Revolution by Paddy Griffith and the Ottonfeld Picture book all cheap.

Will

Zvezda Turkish Cavalry XVII Century

OK, I found the Turkish Cavalry yesterday why checking the online retailers and found them at Netmerchants, and they arrived this morning and they are excellent, so my painting priorities are now clear.

They scale out well against the Zvezda Janissaries and the HaT Mamelukes that are other components of my Ottoman forces. The five figures to the left are from one sprue (three of these in the box) and the three to the left are on the command sprue.



The shield on the charging Sipahi is excellent having the classic winged shape.

The Aga comes in three parts with a slung coat and separate right arm.

Now to work

Will

On the Workbench - June 08

Well, I'm in a bit of a lull, I cleared the decks to get everything ready for the big game and now there is nothing in progress. I'm very tempted by the announced Zvezda Turkish Cavalry XVII century and they look like just what I need for my Turkish forces for the Renaissance through to the French in Egypt. I want to get on with them as soon as they are available so I don't want to start any other major project before then.

Therefore I've started on some more generic terrain for the Mediterranean/Middle East and particularly something I can use for the fortifications of Alexandria, Jaffa, etc.

It's standard foam core construction, the basic wall units will take a single two base unit, The corner towers will have a gate and ramp so that they can be used as artillery positions. This will also be my entry for The Guilds latest group build "Terrain Feature" I haven't decided whether or not to base the modules, probably not as it will limit the number of possible combinations possible.

This Saturday I'm off to Phalanx and that will probably fire up my enthusiasm again. Following this on Sunday is the Gentlemen Pensioners annual big game (but only 10 people compared to last weekend 25 plus) and I'll be playing Kutusov at Borodino

Will

Big game - other Battleaxe pictures

Some photos covering the action on other fronts, not a lot as my focus was on Tobruk.

Bardia before the battle

Fort Capuzzo foreground, 7th Armoured deploying background

Fort Capuzzo foreground Sollum background

15 Panzer entering the table

Halfaya pass

Sollum

The British assault on Fort Capuzzo

Looking across the kessel from the north (Sollum to Capuzzo)

And the reverse sometime later

Ariete and Trento passing Bardia on the way to Tobruk

British artillery deployed near Halfaya pass

Lots more pictures on the SoGG picture gallery of the event.

Will