October 16, 2023
And the first outing of this collection is in the books this past Friday - was too exhausted to take in-game photos but did get some pre-game snaps on my phone, see below. In the two weeks before the game I finished painting and texturing the bases for around 500 figures including 125 finished in the the last 24 hours before the game. Maybe not 'great' paint jobs but serviceable and good enough to be pushed around the table. Well, a small number of those didn't make it into the game since they were not essential and time was very tight - so tight that for the first time in my 30+ plus years of running convention games, I was late arriving, actually arriving after the scheduled game time start. Still, ended up have a full 8 players, 6 of whom had never tried the rules before. It all seemed to work and everyone enjoyed the game. Here are some photos, a little late but wife and I and her niece spent the weekend in Yosemite National Park, and my wife the 'famous bear spotter' spotted a bear grazing in a bear patch as we drove in on Sunday morning from our hotel just outside of the park, a nice moment.:
And a last shot of encampment. Tents were painted after a couple of folks work on the Colonial Page of Lead Adventure Forum. A lot easier to paint this way that trying to paint those accursed striped tents so often seen.
While much more to finish painting for both sides, I am impressed that I got as much done as I did in such a short time at the end. But disappointed I didn't have the whole collection finished which was the goal - but getting the wife ready to be out of country five weeks to visit her family and sending off over 400 pounds of supplies she want to take to share really cut into my painting time.
September 28, 2023
Don't need to paint too much to have enough forces for my planned game but probably won't get all of the French side forces done - but still pushing on.
On the terrain, probably play with it (mostly, maybe some minor work on the well stand and the tents if possible) as is unless I grow extra arms. Not ideal but might be necessary.
September 20, 2023
Still to do: glue sand to all of the pieces, dry brush the trunks of the trees to improve the look, add in the water in the two basins. In a pinch, could play with these as is.
The above image provides some idea of the color variation of the fronds. I sprayed a pale yellow followed by a lightish brown and a light tan and lastly with a varied green from the molded green plastic. The trunks were done similarly but I hope to do some additional brush painting on them at a later date. All this required doing the fronds and the trunks twice, once for each side, since they are not yet based. There are five stands of painted figures - bases not textured yet - to show overall scale of the oasis. My plan is to have the two water points on their own bases and then five separate tree bases, three at three (or 6 total trunks) trees and two at five (or 10 total trunks) trees. I will include a well with a ladder and maybe a few other details, maybe on its own base.
This shot shows the relative size of the water basins to my 15 mm figures. Since they are identical I will probably do something to vary them in the finished model - either saw off a piece or more likely add a rock formation at one end of one of the basins.
Just found my oasis - two sets from Stone Mountain Miniatures plus a bunch of palm trees (probably meant to be coconut rather than date palms but oh well). This shows them with my tents, civilians with some pack camels, and dhow/felucca.
Here are the civilians, 24 men, and six pack camels - I believe all are from Essex Miniatures.
A tighter look (sort of) at the oases. I will build bases for these - and maybe incorporate some sand dunes but at least make more than 'flat'.
Eight groups of tents for an encampment. I can use my "Zanzibari" civilians to add populations, especially since that adds in women and kids.
And now the whole collection is primed and ready to paint, 6 24 figure units of Touareg ready to. paint. Notice the four stands at the bottom, additional casualty stands to be able to treble the fighting strength through reconstituting units - with an edit to yesterdays totals for the casualties to reflect the four new stands and eight new figures.
Gathered all of the camels for the French Foreign Legion collection - plus a dozen doing double duty for wild 'naked' camels in the desert and also in my Neolithic collection, six got a start on being painted a long time ago, these are off to the right. Above the wild camels are two camel mounted injured from Peter Pig. Very top left is the Emir on a camel flanked by two riders on horses. Stretched behind him is the Emir's camel train leader on his camel with a foot figure and 12 pack camels - with six handlers. On the left side are six 12 figure units of camels, two for the Emir, and two each for the Berber sheik and the Touareg sheik, 6 camels and 5 riders already painted (and one train handler). Bottom right are 8 stands of 2 pack camels and a French handler - might not be historically correct but I have the pack camels so they are getting used. Handlers will be painted in all white uniforms so not too obviously Legion figures if desired to use for something else.
August 22, 2023
Some progress on the oasis with 'quick and dirty' phone camera shots. Using spray paint, I painted both the trunks and the fronds of my oasis palm trees and the two water basins. The latter are a kit from Stone Mountain Miniatures - I bought two. The rest of the palm trees I bought at a very good price at a swap meet.
The tents shown below are now all primed and ready for painting, probably create 8 separate bases with some added bits of detail.
In a little bit I will go out and finish prepping the last pack camels and the civilians to glue to their prepared bases before priming.
Might get some work done on the boats - but working on some other modeling stuff so maybe not today.
edit: got the camels and the civilians done so the 6 more camels and 24 civilians including the three camel handlers are primed and ready to paint - so the only things left to prepare are the boats which really aren't needed for this game and were intended for Sudan theater anyway.
August 20, 2023
I have eight of these dhow/felluca style boats - the five crew for each boat are mostly, not all, from Museum Miniatures standing casualties.
And this last image shows that all of the camels have landed on the painting table as of this evening! Well, the civilian pack camels do need to get primed so add six camels and three handlers to what you see here.
August 18, 2023
And now the whole collection is primed and ready to paint, 6 24 figure units of Touareg ready to. paint. Notice the four stands at the bottom, additional casualty stands to be able to treble the fighting strength through reconstituting units - with an edit to yesterdays totals for the casualties to reflect the four new stands and eight new figures.
August 17, 2023
Bit under the weather today but did do some tallying for the native forces:
French Foreign Legion Collection
Emir’s Force
Mounted Emir 3/3 (1 camel mounted, 2 horse mounted)
Guard 6/6 (horse mounted)
Scout 6/6 (horse mounted)
Train 8/13 (1/1+12 camels)
Artillery 18 (1/1+17, 4 guns)
Marksmen - prone 9
Infantry 24 (1 unit)
Cavalry 15/15 (2 15 figure units)
Camelry 24/24 (2 12 figure units)
113 men, 30 horses, 38 camels, 4 guns
Berber Force
Sheik 3/3 (horse mounted)
Guard - scout 6/6 (horse mounted)
Foot Command 9
Infantry 144 (6 24 figure units)
Cavalry 60/60 (4 15 figure units)
Camelry 24 (2 12 figure units)
246 men, 69 horses, 24 camels
Touareg Force
Sheik 3/3 (horse mounted)
Guard - scout 6/6 (horse mounted)
Foot Command 9
Infantry 144 (6 24 figure units)
Cavalry 60/60 (4 15 figure units)
Camelry 24/24 (2 12 figure units)
246 men, 69 horse, 24 camels
605 men, 168 horses, 76 camels, 4 guns = 853 pieces
597 figure fighting strength + 519 reconstitutable strength = 1,116
Casualty Figures
Emir 1 figure (standard figure, larger base)
Solo ‘sprawled’ 7 + 7 (`14 figures)
Solo ‘just dead’ 17 + 17 (38 figures)
Two per base ‘dead’ 4 + 4 (16 figures)
Two per base 16 + 16 (64 figures)
133 ‘dead’ on 89 stands to be used to ‘reconstitute’ units when larger numbers are needed in a game (still sorting out but should be more than enough figures for the 28 ‘fighting units’ plus the command and other ‘units’ like marksmen, artillery, and train - might only need 61 total stands to do what I’m considering - maybe use the other 24 stands to allow additional reconstituting of units (???)) - added 4 stands and 8 figures and adjusted totals to be able to treble the fighting strength if needed/desired for a game.
Only infantry, cavalry, and camelry units may reconstitute using casualty figures
Infantry = 13 units, cavalry = 9 units, camelry = 6 units
26. 18. 12. With reconstituted units.
Still need to tally for the French forces.
August 16, 2023
Another blistering hot day working in the garage. Not so hot tomorrow but still hot.
If I've counted correct, that is 116 total camels, 93 people, and 2 horses.
Except for the naked camels, all the above was ready by yesterday.
The Berbers are now fully ready for painting - with a portion already painted (123)
The Touareg got a start - though only 4 already painted. But ALL of the camels for all of the forces are primed and ready for painting - probably the first thing I bring to the painting table to get ready for the October game.
Today's efforts were focused on getting the Touareg cavalry primed - all four 15 figure units now ready. Just the 144 foot figures to go.
August 15, 2023
Only need to prep the cavalry and the foot for this force to have it all ready for painting.
The full Emir force is ready for painting, he gets all of the artillery but it isn't very well manned or maintained artillery.
August 8, 2023
Modest add today, two 15 figure cavalry units of the four for the Berbers.
August 7, 2023
Another day and more progress. The Berber sheik, his bodyguard, the three stands of foot leaders, and both units of camelry all got prepped and primed today. Now just need to do the same for the four units of cavalry. Then it is only the Touareg sheik force to prepare for painting. With that force done, the entirety of the French Foreign Legion collection can move forward on the painting table. Off to the swimming pool since I was working in a one hundred degree plus garage!
This is the actual Legion force with an attachment of mule mounted legionnaires, a command stand, a foot command stand, an artillery piece, and an automatic weapon.
This box has figures that will be painted in the slightly different Penal Battalions uniform with an attachment of Chasseur d'Afrique, and the command and heavy weapons.
This box, rather out of sequence, shows the 6 units of Berber mostly painted - 25 more figures to paint to complete these.
The only 'out of box' photo for now, the horse drawn wheeled part of the train.
This is the naval force with one fully painted straw hat sailer group, a mixed straw hat and cap group partially painted, and the still to paint cap group. Again, Chasseur d'Afrique and heavy weapons and command.
And this box has the one Marine group painted and then two units to be painted as Tiralleurs, this time only one piece of artillery and Goums with dismounts and the foot and mounted command.
This is the Zoauves, only need finish painting two figures for the foot, Spahi attached with dismounts, automatic weapon, and foot and mounted command.
This is the command set - 9 foot, 3 mounted (a sheik?), and a mounted escort plus four mounted units of 15 cavalry and two mounted units of 12 camelry. These go with the painted infantry seen out of sequence above. These are Berbers.
The forces for the other sheik, a mirror image of the other force of Berbers but these are Touareg.
August 6, 2023
And, voila, one day later and all of the native casualty figures are based and primed ready for paint. Same status for the Emir force that also contracted and expanded. The 12 unpainted foot unit has gone away and been replaced by a 24 figure unit with 21 of the figures already painted. And I added a 15 figure cavalry unit with 12 of the figures already painted. This means the Emir now has a more respectable force for the 'fifth force'. The other four forces essentially divide in half the Berber and the Touareg figures.
Progress made.
August 5, 2023
As sometimes happens, I'm back pushing hard on the French Foreign Legion - with another reorganize so that all of the French foot are now in units of 18 figures and the mounted units at 12 figures. Five full forces plus some higher command - and lots of casualty figures and good train, both wheeled and beast of burden. Here are some general photos of stuff, mostly, in their project boxes, about 450 already painted and more than that still to paint - a lot of work on the French opponent side needed to be ready for a convention game in October, enough French already but hope to have more of them ready, too. I did not paint any of the currently painted figures, acquired painted, I did add the unpainted figures - which I've winnowed down to a more reasonable amount of figures to paint.
This is the French train box, wagons, limber and caissons, a truck and an armored car, 8 stands of pack camels, and three stands of pack mules. And a train command on foot.
This box contains the CinC, 2inC, heliograph team, a command escort group, and all of the French side casualties.
This is the Emir force box with his escort and scout force, some prone marksmen (by far the best shooters for the natives), one unit of 12 foot as a bodyguard, two units of 12 camelry, and a pack camel train (and a couple of mounted camel casualty figures).
And, last, the box of native casualty figures that I will use to effectively double the number of native figures through unit regeneration in games where that is needed.
Everything is washed and ready to glue to bases for priming. Then painting, painting, painting.
August 11, 2022
Spent some time today sorting through the French side of things in an effort to reduce the total number of figures in this collection, an excellent step for me.
I sorted it down, in broad strokes, to one battalion of legion with six 12 man companies. Also have two companies of mule mounted legionnaires with some foot figures to go along. There are three other 'units' made up as follows: one, two penal light infantry and two of each of two varied paint jobs of zouaves; two, two penal light infantry and four tiralleur companies; three, two each two naval units, two in straw hats and two in beret/beanie hats, and two units of Marines. That gives four total 'units' of six groups of 12 figures, or four stylized battalions if you like.
Additional mounted troops are two units of Chasseur d'Afrique, two of Spahi, and two of Goums. Also have four artillery with crew and four machine gun sets (less one machine gun which I may have to extemporize somehow). In addition, plenty of higher level command figures and more than enough casualty figures plus a train of two wagons and two limbers with caissons and the odd bit of a band and guard and a couple of heliograph teams.
I'd guess I reduced the number of figures by several hundred - especially by opting out of including dismounts for the mounted troops other than the legion mule companies. And the good part is a considerable chunk is already painted, acquired that way through a friend some years ago. One or two good months of painting can get the French table ready.
Next up will be assessing the Touareg and Berber Arabs as opponents and whether or not I can part with a third group of 'enemy' for the legion - very, very likely to let it go but do need to check first. Part of the assessment will relate to how to 'recycle' figures to minimize how many figures really need to be painted to the give the legion an adequate force of opposition. Take a bit longer to get all of the opposition painted and ready - but maybe get one or the other, Touareg or Berber, ready in half the time - so two or three months maybe.
The excess of French figures will be offered to local gamers at some sort of absurd price.
The Big Goal is to reduce number of figures to paint and get another period onto the gaming table for increased variety and diversity of options.
April 7, 2013
Time to get some sort of list here for this group. Like the Anglo-Egyptians, most foot units are 24 foot and a mounted figure based with a foot figure. The horse mounted are 18 figures with matching dismounts. Differences noted below.
...or will be, tired and time to head for bed soon...
September 23, 2013
Time for a little bit of updating before trundling my tired self off to bed. I'm going to post some of the details for this period this time around. And I'm going to start with the native forces first for a change. As in all else, everything is based in three figure stands, mounted of course being the three riders and the three animals. Also, every single stand has a casualty figure - this effectively doubles the total size of the force.
Let's begin with the Algerian Emir's force:
The emir is 2 horse mounted and one camel mounted figure
His bodyguard is 6 horse mounted figures
There is scout group of 6 horse mounted figures
An artillery force with one horse mounted man and foot companion and two pieces of artillery and four crewmen, two per base (?) (this violates the 3 figure per base rule but still evenly divisible by 3 - it's an idiosyncratic thing with me) Want to leave abandoned guns on table, valued prizes for opponents
Pack train of camel mounted man and foot companion four sets of two camels and one driver on foot
-- and one casualty figure for every stand --
Then there are the three Sheik forces, each constituted exactly the same - the tuareg, the bedouin, and the western arab forces:
Sheik is three horse mounted men
Scout group of 6 horse mounted men
Prone 'marksmen' of 3 men
Pack camel stand of two camels and one driver on foot
Leader group of 3 men on foot
Scout group of 6 men on foot
Six cavalry units of 15 men each mounted on horses
Two camelry units of 12 men each mounted on camels
Six units of foot of 24 men each half the units rifled, half with sword or spears.
-- one casualty figure for every stand --
It bears repeating, there are 3 such forces for the various sheiks assigned to the French Foreign Legion. And, yes, I own all of the figures for this. As you contemplate the size of this force, keep in mind that the casualty figures in there intended use effectively doubles the size of the force - one stand lost, replace with one casualty figure; entire unit lost, it regenerates back onto the table. But it only does this one time! Casualties stay on the table. Can make for a very bloodied battlefield.
Now for the French forces as I have them conceived - all sorted and waiting to get painted. Someday.
CinC is one mounted and one foot figure.
He is accompanied by a mounted unit of 18 figures (with dismounts? I forget but think so, pretty sure)
2inC is one mounted and one foot figure
He is accompanied by a mounted unit of 18 figures - horse mounted as above unit is.
First command:
Leader horse mounted with one foot figure
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - classic blue over white
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - classic blue over white
Chasseur unit - 18 mounted
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - classic blue over white, varied kepi
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - classic blue over white, varied kepi
Chasseur unit - 18 mounted
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
"machine gun" and six crew
pack train - 3 mules and drivers
1/2 guard unit of 9 figures
horse drawn wagon and driver
special half company of 9 figures and horse mounted and foot figure
Second command:
April 13, 2017
One might think, it being three and a half years since I posted on this page, that I'd abandoned this period. No. Just one of so many that it's been neglected. I've returned to it in the ongoing effort to reduce towards reasonableness. For the French side of things I've recently done a resort which has reduced the total by something around 500 figures. Except for the cavalry, what I've kept means a substantial majority is already painted, the cavalry has a pretty good start, too, but not as good as the foot - artillery and train need very little painting. I have reduced infantry to 18 figures per unit and cavalry to 12 figures per unit but kept the dismounts (which mostly all need painting - not quite all of this dismounts but most).
I have also decided that I will be selling the balance, once I get through the native side of things, for a ridiculously low price. I've got what I need - and then some - and have so little I need that I'd rather the figures are put to good use in someone else's collection.
Even with the reduction, the French still have a nice diverse force that will allow up to three players per side to have enough figures to stay well engaged in a game.
April 7, 2013
Time to get some sort of list here for this group. Like the Anglo-Egyptians, most foot units are 24 foot and a mounted figure based with a foot figure. The horse mounted are 18 figures with matching dismounts. Differences noted below.
...or will be, tired and time to head for bed soon...
September 23, 2013
Time for a little bit of updating before trundling my tired self off to bed. I'm going to post some of the details for this period this time around. And I'm going to start with the native forces first for a change. As in all else, everything is based in three figure stands, mounted of course being the three riders and the three animals. Also, every single stand has a casualty figure - this effectively doubles the total size of the force.
Let's begin with the Algerian Emir's force:
The emir is 2 horse mounted and one camel mounted figure
His bodyguard is 6 horse mounted figures
There is scout group of 6 horse mounted figures
An artillery force with one horse mounted man and foot companion and two pieces of artillery and four crewmen, two per base (?) (this violates the 3 figure per base rule but still evenly divisible by 3 - it's an idiosyncratic thing with me) Want to leave abandoned guns on table, valued prizes for opponents
Pack train of camel mounted man and foot companion four sets of two camels and one driver on foot
-- and one casualty figure for every stand --
Then there are the three Sheik forces, each constituted exactly the same - the tuareg, the bedouin, and the western arab forces:
Sheik is three horse mounted men
Scout group of 6 horse mounted men
Prone 'marksmen' of 3 men
Pack camel stand of two camels and one driver on foot
Leader group of 3 men on foot
Scout group of 6 men on foot
Six cavalry units of 15 men each mounted on horses
Two camelry units of 12 men each mounted on camels
Six units of foot of 24 men each half the units rifled, half with sword or spears.
-- one casualty figure for every stand --
It bears repeating, there are 3 such forces for the various sheiks assigned to the French Foreign Legion. And, yes, I own all of the figures for this. As you contemplate the size of this force, keep in mind that the casualty figures in there intended use effectively doubles the size of the force - one stand lost, replace with one casualty figure; entire unit lost, it regenerates back onto the table. But it only does this one time! Casualties stay on the table. Can make for a very bloodied battlefield.
Now for the French forces as I have them conceived - all sorted and waiting to get painted. Someday.
CinC is one mounted and one foot figure.
He is accompanied by a mounted unit of 18 figures (with dismounts? I forget but think so, pretty sure)
2inC is one mounted and one foot figure
He is accompanied by a mounted unit of 18 figures - horse mounted as above unit is.
First command:
Leader horse mounted with one foot figure
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - classic blue over white
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - classic blue over white
Chasseur unit - 18 mounted
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - classic blue over white, varied kepi
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - classic blue over white, varied kepi
Chasseur unit - 18 mounted
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
"machine gun" and six crew
pack train - 3 mules and drivers
1/2 guard unit of 9 figures
horse drawn wagon and driver
special half company of 9 figures and horse mounted and foot figure
Second command:
Leader horse mounted with one foot figure
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - madder trousers
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - madder trousers
Mule company - 18 mounted
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - light infantry/penal battalion
Legion unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure - light infantry/penal battalion
Mule company - 18 mounted
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
"machine gun" and six crew
pack train - 3 mules and drivers
1/2 guard unit of 9 figures
horse drawn wagon and driver
special half company of 9 figures
Third command
Leader horse mounted with one foot figure
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
Marine light infantry unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure
Marine light infantry unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure
Spahi company - 18 mounted
Leader horse mounted with one foot figure
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
Zouave unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure
Zouave unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure
Spahi company - 18 mounted
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
"machine gun" and six crew
pack train - 3 mules and drivers
Band of 9 figures
Limber
special half company of 9 figures and horse mounted and foot figure
Fourth command
Leader horse mounted with one foot figure
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
Naval unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure
Naval unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure
Goumier unit - 18 mounted (12?)
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figure
Tiralleur unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure
Tiralleur unit of 24 foot plus mounted leader with foot figure
Goumier unit - 18 mounted (12?)
Sub unit command - horse mounted and foot figre
"machine gun" and six crew
pack trail - 3 camels and drivers
Heliograph team of 9 figures
Limber
special half company of 9 figures and horse mounted and foot figure
Give that collection a bit of thought and you'll see it breaks down nicely into four Legion commands - or two at need - and either four or seven Algerian forces. That would be the Emir and each of the three Sheiks with the possibility of dividing the sheik forces into a mounted and a foot contingent each under its own player's control.
If it came down to it, I'd probably keep this over the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan collection. I think.
Volunteer painters who make themselves down at my doorstep will be given a coveted place at the gaming table on a regular basis - as long as the volunteer painting is regular and voluminous!
One last note: this mirror almost exactly (though not quiet) the AES collection. And for the natives there is also a Sultan collection to give the European player a real headache if I want to by combing all six sheiks and the two emir forces into one gigantic opposition force.
What do you think of all that?
April 13, 2017
One might think, it being three and a half years since I posted on this page, that I'd abandoned this period. No. Just one of so many that it's been neglected. I've returned to it in the ongoing effort to reduce towards reasonableness. For the French side of things I've recently done a resort which has reduced the total by something around 500 figures. Except for the cavalry, what I've kept means a substantial majority is already painted, the cavalry has a pretty good start, too, but not as good as the foot - artillery and train need very little painting. I have reduced infantry to 18 figures per unit and cavalry to 12 figures per unit but kept the dismounts (which mostly all need painting - not quite all of this dismounts but most).
I have also decided that I will be selling the balance, once I get through the native side of things, for a ridiculously low price. I've got what I need - and then some - and have so little I need that I'd rather the figures are put to good use in someone else's collection.
Even with the reduction, the French still have a nice diverse force that will allow up to three players per side to have enough figures to stay well engaged in a game.
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