Preparing the next batch of Imagination .

 

Whilst doing a Spring clean (of which more later) I found these 40mm semi flat cavalry I once got from eBay .

So they all got a Dettol bath to remove their paint .

Cleaning off the gunge using an old toothbrush and disposable gloves .

First batch cleaned and based ready for an undercoat.

Next batch, I was short one figure so I cast one up , and mysteriously he is slightly bigger , Think it might be a homemade mould hence the size difference ? , hopefully not to noticable when they are painted and on the tabletop. I have no idea which armies they will be joining yet .

Storming the Senti Gefyra ( part 3 )

 

The Helenyk Heavy Cavalry crash into the disordered enemy column and cut it to pieces riding down the fleeing troops ( a rare successful cavalry charge which doesn't happen often under these rules)

Another Sublime Porte column drives the Helenyk Irregulars from the ridge ! 

The third Sublime Porte column is driven back by rifle fire from the Bavarian Volunteers , things are looking a bit confused for the Sublime Porte in the centre .

The Helenyk forces had held out for the alloted number of turns, so a win for them . Their reinforcements arriving promptly was the key to their success as I think the Sublime Porte infantry assaults would have won against the motely opponents . Another enjoyable game with plenty of tension .

Storming the Senti Gefyra ( part2)

 

Overview of the battlefield The Sublime Porte on the right and the Helenyka on the ridge left .(would have been better if I had removed the playsheet before taking photo !)

Much needed reinforcements arrive for the Republic in the shape of two units of  Heavy Cavalry.

The Sublime Porte has formed it's Infantry into Attack Columns and abvance boldly towards the bridge.

A view from behind the 'Black Hand' forces on the ridge .

The Republic Artillery comes under fire and suffers heavy casualties .

The Sublime Porte columns advance ., while their Artillery shells the ridge.

The Helenyke Republic counter attack and the Heroine Tringe Smajli leads her troops against the enemy column.

The combat is drawn and both sides retire disordered .

Total chaos at the bridge as the Cavalry try to advance and form up ready to charge. Part three to follow soon  ........

Easter Weekend Battle - Storming the Steni Gefyra !

 

Decided to set up a game as the weather is typical Bank Holiday mix ! . A scratch force of the Helenyka Republic have been sent to hold the Simantike Perasma from an invading force of the Sublime Porte . I will of course be using 'A Gentleman's War' rules and my Balkans war Imagination 40mm collection .

The Sublime Porte column marches onto the tabletop using the main road and their Commanding Officer sets up his command post at the Old Inn ..

They have brought along their Heavy Artillery which opens fire with effect !

The Sublime Porte's Commander Omar Sharif Pasha .

Prince Ludwigs Bavarian Volunteers (semi flats) sent by Bavaria to aid the Helenyka Republic .

Members of the secret 'Blacl Hand' revolutionary group have responded to the Republics call for aid ! . The only Regular Helvenyk unit is a Artillery Field Gun and crew , they are hoping for reinforcements before the enemy can attack in force .

Sublime Porte Border troops try to sneak up on the defenders - I will report back when the action starts ......

Irregular Miniatures , a homage .

I've been thinking about all the Irregular Miniatures I have bought over the years and have decided to put up some photos of the figures I have bought and painted and played with over the yeats . The above are 40mm Turkish cavalry I have used for my Immagination collection.

Naval machine gun and crew in 40mm

Greek infantry and a personality figure made up from their 40mm bits and pieces range.

French Hussars in 40mm again for my Imagination project .

Irregular 40mm in combat again from my Balkans Imagination collection.

I have used Irregular 28mm for most of my Italian wars of Unification , here are French Zouaves.

Sardinian Lancers 

Austrian Grenz regiment, they do some cracking figures don'tthey !

Papal Zouaves 

Garibaldi volunteers 'Red shirts' . This is just a tiny selection of the figures I have bought from Irregular , I am so dazzled by the quantity of figures in many scales they have produced , probably unrivaled in wargaming history .

 

 

Lord Bygones Triumph ! (being Part 2 of the battle report)

 

The unit of DagTufekcileri come under fire from the Helenyka irregulars hiding in the village.

The Sublime Porte Lancers charge is met by a counter charge from the Green Hussars !

Which ends in total disaster for the Lancers ! , Oh dear ! 

The Sublime Porte Regulars have to deploy as as the Heroine Tringe Smajli and her warband threaten the column .

Flushed with success the Green Hussars capture one of the mule trains of ammunition and the corespondent of the New Tribune (this later caused a diplomatic incident with the American Government)

Meanwhile Lord Bygone and the Regulars charge the redoubt and kill and scatter the garrison ! (Lord Bygone poses heroically on the parapet )

The Green Hussar escort the mule train and War Correspondent Mustafa Drage  to safety .

With things going badly for them the leading unit of the column has to fight it's way back to the bridge .

The Border Guards (in white uniforms) move up (very slowly) to help cover the retreat . It must be said that the Regulars fought well taking heavy casualties but their morale held (the red heart donates that a unit has past it's morale check) .

To add insult to injury the Border Guard are ambushed by Tringe Smalji and promptly flee ! At this point I decided to draw a veil over the sad proceedings and the remnants of the Sublime Porte retreated over the bridge to safety having lost half of the ammunition and suffered heavy casualties . A stunning victory for Lord Bygone  which I am sure his publicity department will make the most of !

 

 

The Action in the Hizli Nehir Valley ( Lord Bygone strikes once more against the Sublime Porte!)

 

When I am in a quandary on what to play next I tend to come back to my old favourite set of rules - A Gentleman's War . Here we see a column of The Sublime Porte escorting some mule loads of ammunition . unfortunately a spy has informed the Helenyka government and the have dispatched a scratch force of local troops under the British patriot Lord Bygone to capture it .

I gave both sides a Special Cameo Character card , The Helenykan's got a 'Sergeant Major' a British mercenary employed to train the Republican Army .

The Sublime Porte got a 'War Correspondent' The New Tribune correspondent Mustapha Dragge .

The Helenyka forces are helped by the famed Heroine Tringe Smajli and her force of freedom fighters !

The village has a small detachment of Dag Tufekcileri to guard the route for the Sublime Porte .

The Sublime Porte under Kemul Attaturk Pasha have drawn a good hand of cards which should assist in their motivation ! 

The tail end of the column moves slowly up the road and over the River Hizli Nehir blissfully unawares of the oncoming ambush , Too be continued ..........