Bushveldt Carbineers?

Having pondered the new entries in Heroes, Villains and Fiends, I have been contemplating for some time putting together a Bushveldt Carbineers company, based on the irregular mounted contingent in the Boer War, formed to combat the Booer Commandos and which included many colonials including famous Aussie Harry "the Breaker" Morant.  (No idea what I'm talking about? Have a look here).  Anyway, I hadn't found the right figures that I was after so hadn't progressed it much.

South Australian Mounted Rifles, circa 1900 (pic from Australian War Memorial)

So I was delighted recently to see a teaser at the In Her Majesy's Name blog of "Brumby's Marauders", an upgunned VSF version who seem to enjoy tearing around Asia and the Orient as mercenaries.  What a brilliant idea!  Cant wait to read the full entry for this new company in the upcoming second supplement, Sleeping Dragon, Rising Sun.

Read the teaser here:
http://inhermajestysname.wordpress.com/2014/05/18/sdrs-brumbys-marauders/

ANZAC Day

Heavy Steam

Over on Kickstarter is an interesting looking project called Heavy Steam

Heavy Steam is a steampunk themed strategy and resource management game that uses mechs called steam titans in miniature based combat

Set in a steampunk universe, Heavy Steam is a game about piloting a giant mechanical humanoid war machine of doom. As a pilot you use the steam titan’s resources to strategically complete scenario objectives. More often than not it’s to defeat your opponent, but you’ve never shied away from a fight, have you?

• In Heavy Steam you play the role of a pilot controlling your steam titian’s systems from the command center inside its head.
• Fully customize your steam titan: choose a robot, recruit your pilot, then customize with weapons of your choice.
• Plan ahead if you want to power your legs, weapons or other systems.
• The battle board is abstracted with easy to master combat.
• Event cards, terrain cards and other cards keep the game fresh and new every time you play.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/greenbriergames/heavy-steam?ref=live

Hearts of Oak - Part 4

Not much progress on my Royal Navy Armoured Landing Party of late, but here is a Pennyfarthing mounted scout I recently completed.  His extra mobility allows him to slip past more slovenly adversaries and beat the other chaps back to the bar after the battle! 28mm fig by Eureka Miniatures.

PS I didn't get to finishing my last unit for this force (an armed, 1 man dirigible) before I moved to the other side of the globe and was obliged to put my VSF goodies into storage for awhile.  Not to worry, I'm sure I will return with even more in due course!

8th Blog Birthday!

Well Huzzah and Hoorah, Yours in a White Wine Sauce is 8 years old today!
Break out the brandy and cigars Gentlemen!

All Quiet on the Martian Front Playtest

Miles has posted some great pics and thoughts on a recent test game he played of this game.  I managed to resist the Kickstarter because nobody else around me was interested and its in a scale I don't usually use.  I'm now starting to really regret that decision.
http://lairoftheubergeek.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/all-quiet-on-martian-front-playtest.html

Hearts of Oak - Part 3

This is the land ship HMS FEARNOUGHT.  It is a small, three wheeled steam contraption which can be landed to support Royal Navy's Armoured Landing parties ashore.

It has variable armament with either a water cooled machine gun or, as shown here, a light field gun which increases the weight of the vehicle overall. 

The model is by Ironclad Miniatures with a resin hull and turret, and white metal cast wheels and gun.
I have remodelled the back end with a stratch built funnel and support struts.

Usuthu!!!!

Learned gentlemen and long time readers of this humble blog will know that today is the anniversary of the Zulu War Battles of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift in 1879 (see here).  But today is extra special as it is also the 50th Anniversary of the classic movie of the latter battle, Zulu.

Stop whatever you are doing, pour yourself youself a generous Gin and Tonic, and watch the movie to celebrate.  I am!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532420/A-salute-Zulu-A-spell-binding-story-raw-courage-NO-gore-NO-political-correctness-NO-swaggering-Yanks-great-British-war-film-50th-anniversary.html

Brigade Models New Year Sale

Instead of a Christmas Sale, those dapper chaps at Brigade Models are having a Happy New Year Sale! 15% off until 31 Jan- enjoy!

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Ranges.html

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your families a wonderful festive season!

Nemo's War News

This week I was excited to receive Victory Point Games's newsletter "Crimson Courier", which amongst other gems announced that a second edition of Nemo's War is being developed for release in 2014.

The first edition and its expansion are great fun indeed, so a second edition with new artwork will be fantastic.  I'm looking forward to seeing what new adventures and nuances are introduced to the game.

If you haven't heard of it check out this video review then go buy it from the great guys at VPG here:

https://victorypointgames.com/details.php?prodId=94

Hearts of Oak - Part 2

This is the first batch of troops for my Royal Navy Armoured Landing Party (also known throughout the fleet as "Ironclads").  He we see a 10 man party led by a Lieutenant and supported by a Chief Petty Officer.  They have 4 ratings armed with rifles for support, and four sailors with cutlass and pistol for messier close in work.  Figs are by Ironclad Miniatures - find them here

Now to work on their support conveyances!

Aussies take the Ashes

Those chipper lads from the Antipodes have hit the Mother country for a 6, taking out the current Ashes series in strait matches.
Champion effort gentlemen - a well earned libation or two this evening no doubt!

In the shade of the Ishtar Trees

...A Tale of the First Venus War

A fan of this humble blog, J.P. emailed me a week or two ago and asked if I would be interested in reading some VSF fiction he wrote this year.  Does a stout chap shout hurrah and dash toward the enemy with sword drawn and a cry for Queen and Country on his Lips?  Good show indeed!  And so here are my thoughts on his short (30 pages or so) VSF novella, In the Shade of the Ishtar Trees.

I enjoyed this short tale of VSF derring-do, which is set in the rarely trodden jungles of Venus.  It is a fast paced "column against the horde" scenario which reminded me of the Zulu war, but with a US Colonial slant to it.  The "young officer loyally supported by the veteran NCO" formula works nicely in the short format where there isn't the room for very detailed character development.  I quite liked the opening scenes as the column moves into a foreboding position and you don't know what's coming next, but guess it wont be good...

An action packed and fun tale filled with pluck, adventure and cold steel which I recommend to any VSF fan.  I'm looking forward to reading more of J.P.'s work.

PS J.P. tells me this book will be free on Amazon from December 25 through the 29th

http://www.jpmedved.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18245767-in-the-shade-of-the-ishtar-trees 

Hearts of Oak

After considering the Company construction rules for some time and letting my imagination wander free, I decided to build a list for a Royal Naval Landing Party.  Stout chaps who dash ashore for Queen and Country!

I have acquired the figs for this list and will be painting them up for the forthcoming Hobby Painting Challenge, so pics yet to come.  In the meantime I would really appreciate some feedback on this list. You can find it at the link here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/827ca189b4v57bl/Hearts%20of%20Oak.pdf

EDIT: You can see the completed figs here:
http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/hearts-of-oak-part-2.html