An Afternoon's Painting and Basing

A peaceful weekend afternoon has been gainfully employed in basing my Neapolitians (painted for me by Mr Baker - very nice thank you sir), adding dice frames to the officers bases, (to track unit hits for the Neil Thomas 19thC rules I'll be using), adding a flag I've made up to a Garibaldini standard bearer, (0.7mm rod, brass tube 1.5OD, 0.8ID Hidden in flag) and painting up the "Come and Take It" gun from Boot Hill Miniatures to use as an improvised Redshirt peice. 

Whew!

Painting flocking and tufting to be completed then the Garibaldini to do next, hopefully tomorrow!

Garibaldini & Neapolitan

Some closer pics of my figs from Gringo40.

I had planned to get the bases done and take some better shots, but the weathers been great so I took my other hobby out for a spin on sat and forgot to charge the camera battery on Sunday....

Still here we go...

A horde of rebel insurgents.....or glorious freedom fighters....

A few of the "Thousand"

Neapolitan light infantry fix bayonets and prepare to advance....

Prepare to fire.....

Some more shots of last week's game.

Need to find some vineyards and poplars - I've just won some of the latter on Evilbay, but not sure how best to model the former. Flames of war do the but in 15mm so probably too small. Not sure if a simple "hedge" would do in which case I'll talk to Last Valley and get some 6" long strips made.

Another order placed with Ged at Gringo40 for some more figs. This will round off my infantry for the minigame version of Neil Thomas's 19thC rules, then I need to be patient and wait for Ged to finish the Artillery and Cavalry for the Neapolitans. However whilst I'm waiting my painter can finish off the last figures for me and I will base them all in one go. I've bought some dry tufts and some fine gravel so the earth will look nice and parched.

Risorgimento - Garibaldini vs Neapolitians

A couple of touched up shots from tonight's Neapolitan vs Garibaldini game using NT's 19thC rules. I'm using the lovely Gringo 40 range with buildings by Italeri. 

Game 1 - The redshirt columns reach the town...

Game 2 - Charging through an orchard

In technicolor !

No real scenario here, just a quick blast of the rules to check them out, but it was a hoot. The bold red shirts seemed unstoppable in the first game and in the second were only stopped when a bad morale check dropped two stands and forced the end of the game.

More on India

Introduction

In the latter part of the 18^th Century, the Archbishop of Hoegaarden became keep to expand trade beyond the narrow limits of Europe and reduce the reliance of the country on local trade which was increasing effected by war.

As Hoegaarden’s main export was of course Bier this limited the resources to trade with somewhat, but the Archbishop was a man of singular vision and insight. Having heard of the trade in Pale Ale to India and Russia, it was decided that Hoegaarden would enter the trade, supplying an export version of its famous brew which would be perfectly suited to refreshing European throats in the subcontinent.

The Hoegaarden Staat Bedrijf Corporatie (Hoegaarden State Business Corporation) was subsequently founded.

Within months barrels of witte bier were on their way to thirsty colonies in the Caribbean, Americas and Indies.  Due to the popular it of the product it became necessary to protect the precious cargo until such time as it was fully delivered to its end location and the HSBC were granted the right to form small forces of marines to serve aboard ships carrying their wares. Indeed it soon found that when served in its traditional style with a slice of lemon, that cases of scurvy began to reduce on long voyages.

HSBC Maritime Forces.

Each of the ships commissioned to carry HSBC products was given a contingent of 60 Marines to protect it and its valuable cargo. Further companies were formed to guard the barges and warehouses of the Corporatie around the globe.  At its peak the HSBC had several thousand European soldiers and twice that number of native soldiers serving under its colours.

 Hoegarden Staat Bedrif Corporatie Flag

Maan’s Blaus.

The Marines were given uniforms in State colours of Blue and Yellow rather than the white of the infantry because it was felt the Blue was more appropriate for a naval force.  The first Colonel of the HSBC Marines was Jacob Maan and the troops were affectionately known as Maan’s Blaus. Maan, would become famous for after his retirement from service when he opened a brewery in the the American colonies which took the name of his men.

Native Troops

It quickly became clear that European Troops served best at sea and that Native soldiers would be best deployed to guard warehouses in country where their natural immunity to disease and ability to reside in the tropical climate made them better suited to their post.  In the Americas the native men were known as Peons, borrowing form the Spanish, whilst in the East they were known as Sepoys. Native troops not only guarded the depots but occasionally travelled with deliveries of Bier to inland locations and in India where distances were longer some men were given mounts. On the subcontinent bandits were a concern. Over time these groups became more numerous and better organised prompting some concern that another hand was directing them, a local prince or disaffected ruler seeking to stir up the population against the foreigner.

 

 

First Native Foot

Hot off the table, base still damp....

All Indus miniatures. A few units of those, plus some horse and guns will be a little diversion I think. Oh, then I'll need some bad guys.....