The very first game (or wargame) we played with dice was METAURUS (Great Battles of the World series).
It was a hit.
We never looked back after that boardgame with 54mm plastic minis… of course more than fifty years later the plastic minis are gone and forgotten… years ago I bought metal minis to use the map with them… actually after several tries with Baccus 6mm correct figures (meaning Gauls, Carthaginian, Elephants, and Republican Romans).
The private edition by my brother is not available commercially if I understood correctly!… will post actualizations once I got my complimentary copy! (After all it was me who introduced my little brother to wargames at a very early age… that he later will transform that passion into a business still puzzles me!).
Enjoy!
First sketches from a private reedition (100 copies) for the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of DEVIR (a boardgames multinational company which has as CEO my brother!… LOL) fantastic expectations…My sixties old boardgame still in good shape!The Baccus 6mm I use with it nowadays…For a time I used Greek miniatures from Wargames Foundry in 28mm (that way both players had elephants!… but it was too symmetrical I guess…
It has the influence of Ian Knight brilliant output, Mike Snook’s (Lt. Col.) HOW CAN MAN DIE BETTER and the ZULU DAWN film.
The minis are mainly Baccus 6MM range (Colonial) with some conversions and minis from the spare box (heavily converted as Rapier Confederates prove)… and the standardbearers mounted do not exist too in the range…
An enjoyable afternoon.
Hope you like!
Mr. Vereker Sikali ptrol reveals or discover the main Zulu Impi.Some skirmishing shots to warn the camp!Col. Durnford rides with the Cavalry (read mounted infantry) to the right flank of the British Camp.Colonel Pulleine deploys his Co`s too far from the Ammunition Wagons (IMHO)View from the Zulu “Chest”Col. Durnford retires by Units under pressure from the Zulu Impi left horn.This retrograde movement by the book will eventually uncover the right flank of the Imperial Infantry Line.When the low ammunition makes the firing line slack in firepower the chest of the Impi goes forward and some rallying Company Squares are tried… to no avail.Captain Younghusband last charge! (Extreme left flank of the British Line)Melville and Coghill ride to save the Colour!Last moments at the camp… some dismounted Natal Mounted Police & Carbineers, with Durnford, and the remains of the Imperial Infantry. Fade to Black.
A six months “War” full of pathos because Isandlwana… a British Empire act of rascality (well that’s what Empires do anyway…) got a bloody nose and was “put right” even before a “new” commander in chief could arrive (read Wolseley). Have some pics.
Well, maybe the summing up is too brief and harsh… after all there are so many books (good) about it… and splendid movies… ZULU DAWN and ZULU (The second was released ages before the first… but it is better to watch in the proper order)… and than you have Eshowe and other actions… have always been a fan since I saw ZULU at the movie theater… then there was no VHS no DVD no BluRay… LOL… spectacular…
Normally I use painting services Robert “GREG” Jackson) for my 6MM (mainly BACCUS), but here I indulged myself a bit and did some brush detail… the models are LEVEN painted by REVEILLE.
Enjoy!
Rorke’s Drift (Leven model painted by Daniel Hodgson) Baccus figures painted by Robert Jackson.Ulundi “square” lateral view. (I did the 17th lancers myself and the mounted standard-bearers…)Ulundi seen from the Zulu side…(Zulu capital).
Sellers and postage etc went without a hitch… tip top all the way! (I clarify this because I forgot to mention). Kudos to them.
You see I was (very) busy at the beginning of the 90’s and did not notice at all when William Britains (the new owners I guess) did those soldiers in 54MM… Busy working on my real life and not much time for the hobby in that “fighting stances scale”… after a deep crisis with wargaming in 25/28MM (which caused the collection to be sold) I was going into 6MM wargaming (still are and satisfied of my decision) but indulging in Playmobils Hard Plastic 75MM… I still collected in 54MM but quite display and ceremonial sets (still have them no fear).
The acquisition of the book A GENTLEMAN’S WAR provoked an interest on wargaming in 54MM a la Wells (very old classic stuff) and I decided to reshuffle my collection. The French (mainly French Foreign Legion were transported to Andorra la Vella and left Pal forever… so did the Second Afghan War Replica Collection… and then I completed those sets (still at it mind) to play my FASHODA went wrong scenario… pitching one against the other… a part of playing them solo in colonial semi-historical more correctly. Later on even the white helmet British sets were transferred to Andorra la Vella and only ceremonial sets remain in PAL.
Then one day Andrew Stevenson published a pic of his units in full SIMKIN uniforms splendid array… and I was hooked… so I am now building a purely DORKING scenario British Army. BUT no Prussians at all… the French will do the trick again! (being the “enemy” I mean). Nearly there…
The tribulations of a loony collector should I have titled this post!
And of course 30 years later you need to search for them on ebay!
Guards should be on the right of the line but I was in a hurry!Yes those are the Guards but I finally added the white frontal stripe.Those are the ebay.co.uk buys… read the text for more detail.The “oversized drummer will go out” to another cabinet… a miss…In the process of exchanging “colours”…no way I am going to field two Union Jacks…Third and last unit (have to paint new facings) at least the drummer is the right proportion.See the difference?… even the base is too “tall” on the big drummer… part of a Band set I guess….The changing of the arm was easy and swift the second time… the first one still shows the stress of the first conversion.
There you have it… a collection of pics is better than a long text… this is what I did in 2023… from bottom to top chronologically I am afraid!
I enjoyed the lot of projects. Some come out of nowhere… some were convoluted… some straightforward…
How the mind wanders in a year… seriously considering selling my Playmobil Collection on Ebay nowadays… lack of interest by my grandchildren… and need of space… that happens…
Hope you enjoy my recollections!
Finally varnished, dry, and ready to play!Command Group detail!lanyard corrected!A nice little collection in Khaki…
I do not remember if I did that on 2023… but probably!My only 42MM soldier!The SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON project!Union Cavalry in 6mm (Baccus)6MM Nile Gunboat (Daniel Hodgson REVEILLE production)Rorke’s Drift in 6MM (Baccus Minis and Leven Buildings)My avatar in 75mm.The Charge of the Heavy Brigade (Crimea 1854) 6mm Baccus Proxies!Repainted central Toy Soldier (substitution in the collection)The finished Brigade of Guards Crimea 1854 (Baccus Proxies and a lot of work involved!)The “NEW” additions (Lt. Chard and Lt. Bromhead) in their proper place. DORSET SOLDIERS.Display of finished units!Staff Car and Motorcycles escort!Chard and BromheadXIXth Corps d’Afrique (French) in 54MM… now complete.Confederates in 6MM (Baccus)The whole Heavy Brigade (Crimea) 6MM Baccus proxies.My ANTIETAM/SHARPSBURG Wargame 6MM Baccus (At the end of the game)Another view.Playmobils 75MM… seriously considering selling my collection of them in 2024!Saganne in 54mm Dorset Soldiers casting painted by me…Nathan Brittles last patrol in 6MM Baccus Proxies (Pony Wars and a scratchbuild Olivia Dandridge aka Joanne Dru).I did this “conversion” for a W.S.Churchill at OMDURMAN…. Dorset Soldiers cast!French Foreign Legion by Dorset Soldiers waiting Varnish (Gloss of course!)PLAYMOBIL customized by me NWMP.Last but not least!… this is what I remember… (fondly).
On the Baccus Forum we had a lively discussion or debate about the basing of ACW Cavalry.
After reading books about Brandy Station, Trevilian Station and others… I concluded that I needed more variety than the standard 60x30MM base (one brigade) of many stablished popular rules.
Here are the results.
Of course I will do my own thing as usual!
Enjoy!
Main UnitsDismounted Cavalry and Artillery etcLast addittionsWays to combine new additionsAnother viewAnother possibilityThe more Ortodox wayCaptured CSA guidonOther specials
Some of you have been patient enough to follow this reenactment/wargame until the end. I will add some pics (final… you must be tired!) and then will give you my “conclusions”.
A.P.Hill’s Division arrives after a forced march from Harpers Ferry… to save the collapse of the Confederates right flank. Yes he is wearing his red shirt there in the background.Confederates are retreating everywhere… finally Burnside is advancing with a meaning…General view of the situation when A.P.Hill arrives…Confederates retreating into Sharpsburg facing off!
I was surprised that with minor variations the action or battle went so smoothly well (and not The Bolshoi Ballet syndrome at all). It was my first try of home rules ACW which I will not bother to explain in detail (and if I ever do… they will be downloadable for free as my book). The fact of introducing limits at what Brigade and Divisions could do before getting tired/spent/out of ammo and for how long was a success, the idea of throwing a dice per brigade stand to see if they engaged the enemy when close to it (there when the thing matters) was also a box of surprises but went quite well too. Minor things were the survival of Mansfield, the performance of the Irish Brigade (Union), the fast crossing of Burnside’s bridge… but overall quite “historical”.
I have had doubts before it, but now they are clear to me… I have more fun with the real characters of the ACW than with imaginary generals. For a solo wargame it went well and to my taste (HOW NOT?).
That one can have pleasure reenacting America’s bloodiest day is only a matter of perspective… no one died… my toy soldiers will live to fight another day… Brandy Station, Gettysburg and Trevilian Station are projects on the near future. Cavalry did nothing but to find a ford in the present one… and Stuart was an spectator. And after all I have all those Cavalry Brigade stands…
The ACW is for me the last of the “old wars” and even “romantic” to a point… morals were different back then… some protagonists were deeply religious… and some had been too much exposed to Walter Scott’s novels. I try to keep it that way a serious affair but with a bit of taste thrown in.
Yesterday was the climax of the battle… Mansfield stabilized the right flank (Union)… Sumner was involved in a great firefight against the Confederates in the sunken road… Burnside did cross the bridge and went to the other side…
I expect to continue for a few more moves and see if DH HIll Division comes from Harper’s Ferry on time as in the real battle. I tend to allow that possibilitiy a high average of success because it did happen.
For those interested in the real thing instead of my ramblings read A LANDSCAPE TURNED RED by Sears… or even the Osprey would do.
For me it was like seeing a movie and understanding a lot of things… I would probably bore you till the end of it…
Enjoy (if you do).
Climax!The sunken road fight!Things are really hot but would petter out. Both sides been tired.Burnside attacking on the left flank (Union)
Today was a fantastic series of historical moves and actions!
Not only Hooker was wounded (and replaced by Meade as in real life!), Burnside troops crossed the bridge of his name in their first try!… part of the troops were heading for the ford anyway… Sumner is going to pitch against the sunken road… the last division of Hooker’s Corps is entangled with Hood’s Texans…
I am enjoying myself immensely… and glad to say so… it was worthwhile collecting allthose minis and stands.
Enjoy!
Hood’s Texans engaged with Hooker’s.Part of Burnside’s troops goes to a ford found by a cavalry scouting patrol.The bridge assault!ZoomSumner’s second corps advances against the sunken roadThe struggle goes on!Aerial view!
Well, an update was needed… Hooker’s first and second Divisions are tired/spent and Mansfield is coming up. Six Union Brigades depleted are going to the rear area and would not intervene in te battle again.
Same on the other side, Jackson’s Eight Brigades are gone to the rear spent/tired/out of ammo (whatever in my rules)… and concentrate around Sharpsburg… Funnily enough (say dice are wise) The Louisiana Tigers did put a fierce show until forced to retire.
We are in for Sumner’s attack and Burnside’s crossing the bridge of his name…
I may be accused of making the rules as things develop which is not true… by luck they do function but will adjust once this particular reenactment is finished.
Enjoy! (If you are interested in this series)
General view.
Burnside’s on the move… to the bridge…
Sumner’s advance (II Corps)
Confederates and Union troops from the first clash on the Right Flank retire spent/tired and are replaced by other units.
Hood’s Texans advance
Confederates behind rail fence at the Sunken Road.
