THE VICTORIAN EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Recommendations: 3145
About the Project
I have decided to revisit all my colonial miniatures and give them a bit of love after being stored away in the Garage for so long. I have four armies that need a tidy up and revisit some 19th century theaters of war and why the hell were we there? "Because we're here lad,no body else, just us"
Related Genre: Historical
This Project is Active
The wrong movement trays
For some time my zulu wars minis have been ranked up on square movement trays which is a bit rank and file for a zulu rush in my opinion.
I've been wondering what to do with the last bits of filament on my printer and new movement trays are a good use for those last bits.
It's only a small part of my collection done so far but I'll gradually swap them out everytime I get a spare bit of filament after a big print. No rush 
Rorkes Drift dust off
For no real reason I got out my rorkes Drift table for some nice photos and a video
Afghan cavalry completes my force
I picked up the cavalry box set from wargames Atlantic while at salute and was eger to get it done. This is for the 1879 conflict but could be used for the earlier war if I leave out the regular uniformed infantry 
Indian cavalry
Some Indian cavalry for the British in Afghanistan. I'm not sure if I've got the turban colours right but I think they are close enough. 
Some men who would be King's
Picked these chaps up from North stars sale. I also have some cavalry for the afghan war to paint up. Obviously these guys got priority 
Maoris based up
Now I'm home I've based them up. I need an artillery piece and some scenery but the printer has created the bulk of my force
New year New Zealand wars
Pop that chap somebody. It's that time of year when I have to go to my inlaws in Ireland but luckily zulu was on the TV. Also every year I take a pile of minis to paint up. This year I took a collection of Maori warriors that I'd 3d printed from wargames Atlantic. Usually I do forces for men who would be King's but I'm I big fan of muskets and tomahawks and I found a great article in wargames illustrated for doing Maori wars which will keep me going until they finally do a colonial war supplement. Now I've finished them I took them out into the garden for a photoshoot. I'll need the brits for them to fight and I'll flick them when I get home.
Maoris working with the settlers
1st Bombay infantry
Maiwand 1880. Now I've got all the infantry I need to get some cavalry both sides although they didn't do too much during the battle. Its food to get some Indian units on the field and the 1st bombay were a grenadier unit that suffered terrible casualties Jacobs rifles
One of the Indian units fighting for the Britain in Afghanistan. At maiwand they were one of the first units to break and got annihilated during the British collapse. I enjoyed the variety in painting this unit with its flah of colour amongst the kahki
Afghan regular infantry
The afghan regular army did exist in the 1880s and fought alongside the more commonly known tribals. I find it interesting to have them in red while the British are now in khaki. Some had a type of kilt on and had Highland units. The beehive hats make a nice change to turbans 
At the battle of Maiwand the British were completely out gunned by afghan artillery dispelling some colonial war myths. The artillery units have a very European look and did a lot of damage to British units that had to stand for a few hours at Maiwand in the firing line
Future colonial expansion
I've dropped into the 2nd afghan war in the past but never pi ked up enough for games. This was my perry box set. While at partizan I got some Indian troops and the afghan regular infantry in uniform to go with my tribesmen. I'm looking at doing part of the battle of maiwand.
I've also been 3D printing wargames Atlantic Maoris so lots to be getting on with.Battle Report two.
Seeking to retreave stolen ammunition the British launch a surprise attack on a Zulu village. In response the induna spearheads a counter attack 
The irregular horse under the direction of a major who had them race in far ahead of the army to grab the ammunition. They come u fer Zulu fire as they begin to pull back mission half complete. 
The bulk of the Zulu impi strikes on their right horn chasing the fleeing horse and facing the naval brigade. On the British right a gatling gun rattles into life but only causing one casualty 
Impetuous unmarried zulus crash into the British line and the major seeks cover as a second Zulu unit hits the line while its preoccupied with the first. Without being able to deliver any closing fire the British position falters 
Someiw initiative slows the Zulu approach while the British safely deliver the ammunition back to their forces. 
The irregular horse succeed in their mission but after coming under fire had only one horseman remaining. He gallantly rode back at the zulus forcing them back from the British line. He knew how the Zulu feel about cavalry. 
A final bloodbath of various units as the naval brigade prove how good they can be at close quarters. The induna calls an early retreat (damn bad role) and the British thank their lucky stars as they felt their line was about to completely collapse Battle Report. Blood and steel in zululand
The British forces out looking for an impi to destroy leave their camp to the mercy of a Zulu raiding party. 
As a royal regiment approaches they are ambushed by a liking unit of the Natal Native contingent who had been left behind to guard the camp. Against the odds they see off the zulus 
A dark shadow crosses the battlefield. Maybe an eclipse which is an ill omen for the nnc who fall back before the impis that stot at by arriving cavalry 
As the redcoats approach their camp they are shit at from the hills by surprisingly well aimed enemy marksman 
The infantry form up and become a wall of bayonets that deliver a nasty shock to the zulus who after a mawling fall back only to be shot up by a well disciplined force who decided not to chase after the zulus 
Zulus smash up the water cart and burn the British supplies before falling back under fire. Meanwhile the Zulu snipers see off a company of redcoats while the British hold on to the centre 
The zulus taunt the British from their own camp but are unable to get near the redcoats thanks to defensive fire. Meanwhile the cavalry is brought down and overrun but gives the British a better field of fire. 
The zulus completed their objectives by destroying the enemy supplies but the British fulfilled their own objectives by ambushing and wiping out enemy units. A mi or victory for the British but with no supplies they will have to abandon the invasion. Blood and steel Zulu war lists
After looking at the army lists I've added up some points for my collection. I have1350 points of brits not including officers. 658 of which is redcoat infantry and 228 points of irregular cavalry. For the Zulu I have 2208 ponta not including indunas or upgrades for Royal regiments. 
Isandlwana force 
Persons coast force swapping in a gatling and naval brigade 
Late war force with lancers and some green jackets that just count as infantry but change the look a bit
Coming soon
I was at the partizan Wargames show in Newark today and got talking to one of the designers of an up coming expansion fit the men who would be Kings. Osprey are working again with Edinburgh University to create a theatre specific add in like they have for lion rampant with a vikings and crusades books. This book deals with the satsuma rebellion in Japan which is an interesting subject to choose. Away from the usual colonial wars but pits modern Japan with its samurai past. With samurai getting a lot of attention recently I thought this might be good way of tipping my toe into the subject. My chat revealed that unlike in movies the samurai at this time did use firearms do the rules won't be modern weapons vs traditional and looks like an interesting addition 
Painting guide
I picked up this book awhile ago and it took me away from GW paints for the first time and on to valleyo bottles. The guide has helped me a lot as I'm such a speedy painter it's made me take more care and I hope to expand on that paint range. This was my last British unit for the Sudan.
One Euro find
Not much hobby recently as I'm in a road trip of West coast Ireland. While in Galway I spotted these two books in s shop. 
Only one Euro forit this. It's black and white drawings if imperial uniforms which is hilarious. It has a code for each colour. See if you can figure it out
The Mahdi
The spiritual leader of the mahdist rebellion in the Sudan. When Kitchener invaded in the 1890s he raided the Mahdis timb and stole his skull. I think he used it as an ashtray
