The Wind And The Lion - Painting Notes- German Asia Korps Gun Crews

The Wind And The Lion - Painting Notes- German Asia Korps Gun Crews

In this post I have uploaded the notes I made for painting the German Asia Korps gun crews for my The Wind And The Lion TSATF game that I ran with my buddy Nick Zizo. We took this game on the convention circuit and ran is many times at cons like the first ever Colonial Barracks con run by the Broms in NO to the two HMGS-South cons in S. Fl. We built custom terrain, converted existing figs, and painted available figs to portray the troops in this classic movie. Most of the troops and weapons are accurate for the nations and time period of Morocco in early 1900.

                         Painting notes for the German Asia Korp gun crews.
I've painted (2) gun crews to represent some of the troops that are present in the last climatic battle scene. One crew was made up of converted 25mm Old Glory German Sea Battalion figures from their Boxer Rebellion line. The rifles were removed, arms altered, and artillery shells were glued into their hands that were made with thick brass rod that was filed and formed into breach loaded artillery shells. Based on my research at the time in 2010 I found that the HE or Canister rounds had a black warhead with a red band painted around it denoting the type of round. Unfortunately I cannot find that source, so until I do find it or until someone more knowledgeable than I corrects me I will leave the shells as is.

I used Delta Ceramacoat's Cloudberry Tan for the uniforms and sun helmets painted on figs that were primed in flat black spray paint. The bread bag was painted Polly Scale acrylic Linen. The boots and webbing are Polly Scale Flat Black.Once the entire figure is dry I brush on my sealer and weathering mix, Polly Shades MinWax "Tudor Stain". This both weathers and protects the figs. I let this dry for 24 hours and then spray it with Testors "Lusterless Flat" to remove the shine and further protect the figs.

The second Asia Korps gun crew was made using the now OOP Lead Boiler Suite Company German WWI / Colonial troops slightly converted by adding artillery shells or ammo boxes in their hands. The paint jobs are the same. The bases are simple 3/4" or 1" round steel washers that are coated with a gel product mixed with sand and small ballast rocks.

The Hun The Frog & The Lion - 4

                                     The Hun The Frog & The Lion - 4
                         Meet the Hun, The Frog, & The Lion, prior to the battle.


The next installment in this series is the introduction of the command elements for this scenario The Hun The Frog And The Lion. As a reminder for this scenario, Germany and France team up in 1903 (yes not likely, I know) to rescue the captured German Envoy Graf Manfred von Kriegslieber from the nefarious Moroccan brigand The Emir Ali-ben-Fulin-Arown based in the arm pit of the world, Mogadir!

The Hun Command:

                            Korvetten-Kapitän Erich von Rudelsberg, Mission Leader (Whites)
                                                             Wargames Foundry

Oberleutnant Erwin Manstein, CO Imperial Marine Detachment

Copplestone Castings

Feldwebel Karl Räder: Color Bearer: Old Glory Miniatures

                                        
                                                The Frog Command:


                          Capitaine Joseph de Lory, Mission Leader (#1) (With sword)

                Lieutenant Charles Dupin (#2), CO Marine Detachment (With the tri color)
                                                            Askari Miniatures.

Serjeant Paul Descartes (#3), Caporal  Jean Valjean (#4), 1st Section with 10 Marines plus Hotchkiss MG)

French Hotchkiss HMG: Woodbine Design, Pack # FRN05 with Legion heads and painted as French Marines.

                                   French Sailors supporting the lading.
French Sailors Skirmish with Command: Pack #CBP-06 by Old Glory Miniatures

                                             The Lion Command:
                                       The Emir Ali-ben-Fulin-Arown

            The Shore Batteries, commanded by that infamous renegade, Moshe Lipschitz Pasha, one of the Lion's commanders.

                                             The Bashaw's Forces

                       The Tribal Levy Troops, Old Glory Arab Cavalry figs.

 The Bashawa's European trained troops, Old Glory Egyptian Camel Troops from the Sudan range.

 The Bashaw's Black Guard Cavalry an be seen in the background, fig mfgr unknown.












Manufacturers of the terrain and figs, as best as I can remember.
                          CO Imperial Marine Detachment: Oberleutnant Erwin Manstein:
Copplestone Castings, http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/prod.php?prod=100
         
German Mission Leader: Korvetten-Kapitän Erich von Rudelsberg, Mission Leader (Whites)
http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/our-ranges/darkest-africa/explorers  
Pack: Traders and Travelers - DA017

Feldwebel Karl Räder: Color Bearer: Old Glory Miniatures, German Sea Battalion Pack, bugler with the bugle removed and a hole drilled in his hand.
http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/proddetail.asp?prod=CBP-03&cat=228

Force Commander: Capitaine Joseph de Lory (with sword):

2IC: Lieutenant Charles Dupin, Marines (with Tricolor):
http://askari-minis.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=21
Both from Askari Miniatures French Colonial Command Group: Code FR-17


French Hotchkiss HMG: Woodbine Design, Pack # FRN05 with Legion heads.
https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/FRN05_French_HMG_and_3_Crew--product--4039.html
French Sailors Skirmish with Command: Pack #CBP-06 by Old Glory Miniatures
http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/proddetail.asp?prod=CBP-06&cat=228





The Lion: Foundry, a Baluchi from the Darkest Africa Range. May be out of production.
http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/our-ranges/darkest-africa/baluchis/


Moshe Lipschitz: Unknown
Native gun crews are a mixed bag of Wargames Foundry Darkest Africa gun crew, Afghan Pathan gun crew, and Old Glory Arab Machine Gun crew from the Sons of the Desert - French Foreign Legion range, http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/proddetail.asp?prod=SOD-18




Gun emplacements: Bill's Gamers Garage: email bill for custom terrain: wdaniel994@comcast.net


Adobe dwellings: The Colonial Steamboat Company: http://www.colonialsteamboat.co.uk/


Docks: 1) The Miniature Building Authority: http://miniaturebuildingauthority.com/
            2) and A now defunct internet co.

The Hun The Frog & The Lion - 3

                          The Hun The Frog & The Lion - 3: The Boats

The Series continues about this scenario I ran at Recon and will be running again at Hurricon with the naval portion of this battle. The scenario specs called for a civilian transport with a low draft to be converted into an armed steamer to bring the western troops to Mogadir. The French chose the civilian ship the Cite De La Meers. For this boat I used an awesome model made by my friend Last Stand Dan. He calls this boat the "R" Class Steamer and fits the bill perfectly. Dan hides magnets under the decks and glues matching magnets to the underside of the desired armament to keep them in place during games.


                                 French Gunboat: Cite De La Meers

The crew is French but the gunners are all German, as negotiated by their respective nations prior to the raid.

Native Dhows

The scenario calls for the possible arrival of (2) armed dhows fully crewed by veteran sailors and troops returning to Mogadir from pillaging the coast and any targets of opportunity.

Once again I turned to my buddy "Last Stand Dan" for a boat. The one pictured above with grey trim is a two masted dhow that he had made for me. It's another excellent model. All of Dan's boats are exceptional. He builds and sells many varieties of boats to choose from. He makes boats in 25mm as well as 15mm scales.

The Xebec with the green trim was made by the well known ship builder Richard Huston. I bought this boat well over ten year ago from my friend Patrick Wilson of TVAG. He sells Richard's boats as well as all sorts of other cool wargaming stuff.

Landing Craft

The troops need a conveyance to get them to their destination. I've used landing boats purchased at flea markets, ebay, and most recently from a new company based in Miami, Fl. Firelock Games who produce a pirate game supported by figs, ships, rules, etc. Their "row" boat is the perfect size and scale for my colonial games and works perfectly fitting 10-12, 25mm figs on small 3/4 x3/4 magnetized bases. I get all my magnetized bases from my buddy ACW Bill of Good Ground Miniatures, maker of the best 10mm ACW figs around. He sells all sizes of magnetized bases.

The rowboat to the left is the one from Firelock Games.

Next up: Post -4: Meet The Hun The Frog & The Lion.

Here's a list of the boat vendors of toys used in this post.

Last Stand Dan: http://laststanddan.blogspot.com/

TVAG - The Virtual Armchair General: http://thevirtualarmchairgeneral.com/

Firelock Games: http://www.firelockgames.com/

Figure bases, Good Ground Miniatures: http://crackerlineminis.com/

http://www.hmgs-south.com/

Market Stalls

Market Stalls

I was recently asked about the awnings on my market stalls. The wood supports are bamboo skewers glued with super glue and tied together with hobby nautical rope. Sometimes I use coffee stir sticks as the counter tops. For the awnings I use off cuts and pants legs from my worn out BDU's (Battle Dress Uniform). The desired shapes are cut and then glued in place. Once I'm satisfied with the shape and placement I then paint the entire structure, awnings included with an Elmers wood glue and water mixture. Left to dry for 24 hours.

Once dry the whole thing gets spray painted black. It's left to dry for at least 24 hours then I paint the wood using the Foundry 3 tone system using the color "Spear Shaft" using a dry brush technique. The awnings are painted various colors as desired and once dry are weathered with a then black wash until I get the right look and feel. The bases are then textured and once everything is fully dried and cured I spray them with a flat clear coat sealer for protection.

Military BDU offcuts from my old worn out uniforms are used for awning covers, tarps, and flags. Cut to shape and size, glue in place, then cover in a water and glue mixture. Once dry prime and paint.

                                                     

                                                   


                                                   
                                                       

The Hun The Frog & The Lion - 2

                                     The Hun The Frog & The Lion - 2



I’ve been building, painting, and sourcing when needed because of time constraints due to real life intrusions, family, work, friends, beer rec hockey league, hockey tourney, another cool project, etc…

So here is the next installment of the preparation for my convention game coming up at Recon-17 in Florida. Check the HMGS-South website for con details.
http://www.hmgs-south.com/

The allied troops will be transported to a point just over the horizon from Mogadir aboard the armed transport Cité de la Meers. From there the German and French Marines will board landing boats to make shore before being spotted.

For the part of the French armed transport which will bring the allied Marines and long boats I shall use this awesome boat. It's my favorite piece of this entire project. The awesome gunboat is designed and made by my buddy Dan at Last Stand Dan’s Boatyard. It’s a wooden handmade R Class Gunboat which will play the part of the armed French transport, the Cité de la Meers!   Check out Dan's blog for details, AAR's, WIP, etc...        http://laststanddan.blogspot.com/

The “Ocean” will be Aspen Grey 18x18” floor tiles from Lowes.

My excellent gun pits and rough ground pieces were made by Bill’s Gamers Garage (wdaniel994@comcast.net).

The market place will be made up of market stalls that I’ve made myself using bamboo skewers and coffee stir sticks.

If I can’t make more in time I may supplement with some of the small Miniature Building Authority market stalls.

(http://www.miniaturebuildingauthority.com/proddetail.asp?prod=10147)

The beach and land will be my ancient arid / desert drop cloth which has seen the blood of many a lead soldier….

Stay tuned for part III. Meet The Hun, The Frog, & The Lion.

Cheers,
JB

The Hun, The Frog, & The Lion!

                                       The Hun, The Frog, & The Lion!




A Fictional Scenario For The Sword And The Flame.

Bearing Only The Slightest Resemblance To A Certain Well Known Film. By Patrick R. Wilson & Richard Houston, and recently adapted by the nefarious Sgt. Guinness to suite his own misguided imagination. In addition Patrick Wilson of TVAG has been working with me to update the game maps as well as undertaking additional support and assistance with this project that he had originally completed many years ago.......

Check out Patrick's website of great hobby wares. http://www.thevirtualarmchairgeneral.com/

BY JINGO - Colonial Wargames 

The Situation

It is dawn, March 22, 1903.

Out of indigo shadows on the Mediterranean, a small force of elite Marines in long boats silently rows into the port of Mogadir, pirate capitol of the Moroccan coast.  A sun baked hell hole by day, Mogadir is the lair of the infamous brigand Emir Ali-ben-Fulin-Arown who fancies himself the next Bashaw of Morocco.  Besides banditry inland and all along the coast, he has lately begun stopping foreign shipping and helping himself to such cargoes as serve his schemes for power.  Not incidentally, this has put the legitimate government in danger of being deposed by any of several European powers looking for an excuse to intervene and "civilize" the last independent Muslim state west of Constantinople.

The pot boiled over five days ago when the newly appointed German envoy, Graf Manfred von Kriegslieber, Kaiser Wilhelm’s favorite delivery boy, was kidnapped off the packet boat from Marseilles en route to Tangier.  Seizing the opportunity to be a player in North Africa, Berlin made the impossible demand that the Moroccan Government find and free the envoy in just three days or stand aside while the Kriegsmarine resolved the problem.  The Bashaw in Tangier promised to send a rapid desert strike force towards Mogadir but with a strong statement that Morocco would defend its sovereignty if need be. Berlin was not impressed--and neither was Paris.  

Telegram to the German Foreign Ministry:
"The Bashaw expresses his deepest regrets over this incident and solemnly promises to rescue the Kaiser’s envoy.  However, the Bashaw, The Great and Powerful Defender Of The Faithful, also pointedly reminds His Majesty’s Government that any foreign intervention in Morocco's internal affairs or violation of her sovereignty will be met with the wrath of Allah".


Kaiser Wilhelm II to a London Times reporter, March 18, 1903.
"Bei der Herr Gott, vee’ll civilize zese savages if vee haf to machine gun und bayonet every vun of zem!

French Prime Minister, to a Le Figaro reporter, March 19, 1903.
"It is the sacred duty of France to bring these misguided children of the desert the blessings of French Culture, Shrapnel, & Quick Firing Cannon.

Madame La Republique, already deeply invested in North Africa, was not willing to share their Empire of sand and scorpions with anyone, least of all the Germans, and France has long had eyes on Morocco itself.  However, as they have no legal right to forbid unilateral action, Paris has insisted on a joint operation, sweetening the deal by offering a force of marines, sailors and transport better suited to Mogadir’s shallow waters.  Berlin’s blustering aside, only a small force of the 1st Seebattaillon is in the Med on a cruiser whose deep draft makes it impossible to cooperate.  Thus an uneasy alliance has been cobbled together by telephone (French telephone at that!) and the operation has already begun.

Here is the game map for this scenario, which we, SMG, The Southern Miniatures Gamers, will be running at HMGS-South's Recon-2017 convention in Orlando Fl. this coming May 2017.  Check out the link for the con and club details.    www.hmgs-south.com


Stay tuned for more updates and WIP reports on the pieces made for this scenario and prep for this massive game........
Cheers,
JB