Darkest Africa Scenery

I've also been knocking together some Darkest Africa scenery stuff, initially for Adventures in Jimland, but it'll have other uses too. Mainly jungle, ruins etc. based on CDs, which I'll photograph eventually, but for now, here's some shots of the explorers camp, with a Foundry figure and some Renedra tents.

And some Masai figures, also from Wargames Foundry via ebay

Wargames Foundry Bearers

Here are some bearers I've been painting up for some Adventures In Jimland games.

As with Willie, the bases still need doing.
The figures are Wargames Foundry picked up on ebay.

The donkeys are from The Assault Group.
I still have some more to paint, and they will eventually be accompanying Effing and sundry other explorers "up country" into the jungle in search of fame and fortune

Big Willie (almost) finished

Well, he's painted, but I still need to do the base.
Big Willie is from Warlord Games
(sorry the picture is a bit fuzzy)

H.M.L.S. Elizabeth

I have some catching up to do as far as posting photos is concerned, so here is the H.M.L.S. Elizabeth, the steamtank attached to the Queen's Electrical Rifles, but this time painted.

Of course, its a (mildly) converted GW Chimera.

OBELISK CHINATOWN FIGURES + 20% discount at Black Cat Bases

Black Cat Bases have Obelisk Miniatures Chinatown figures in the UK, and they are offering a 20% discount on all orders till 16th May 2011. I have 1 of these packs which I ordered from Miniaturicum in Germany a while ago (alright, 2 years ago), and I have just placed an order for the other 2 while this offer is on. These Obelisk figures are beautifully sculpted and full of character. Perfect for Victorian London.
Check out the full range HERE

MY FAVORITE GURKHAS

I have finally managed to track down the elusive Pontoonier Gurkhas sculpted by Paul Hicks, and previously seemingly only available at shows in the US. They are now available from Newline Designs.

5 packs are available, and I like them very much. I have these 2 packs, and may well pick up the other 3 in the future. I have primed them, and hopefully wont leave it too long before I paint them and post pictures here.

ADVENTURES IN JIMLAND GAME

Here's another ruleset I became aware of through members the Lead Adventure Forum.
Despite its silly name, ADVENTURES IN JIMLAND is a great little game which can be played with a small group of players, or, rather pleasingly, solo.
Its an exploration game with a miniature game element, and a campaign game element should you wish. Sort of like Necromunda in Darkest Africa.
You outfit your expedition with Explorers, Soldiers, less reliable Askari and, of course native bearers.
You explore, with or without a rough map, and certain encounters can result in the opportunity to trade, discover new animals and plants or ancient ruins.
Not all the natives are friendly, and this is where the miniatures come in. There is a simple and fun combat system to resolve battles on the tabletop on a 30" x 30" board, with random animals joining in the fun. You can tailor the animal encounter tables to accomodate the miniatures you have in your collection.

Eventually, your expedition must make its way back to civilisation. Hopefully with a profit.

You can check out the basic rules HERE

You can buy the full rules from Minden Games HERE

Thoroughly Recommended.

I've made some jungle scenery and an explorers camp, and painted some explorers and bearers for this game which I'll hopefully put pictures of up here once I get around to it, plus the pygmies and natives once I get those painted. Maybe even the cheap toy dinosaurs and Zanzibari slavers.
For a taste of Adventures in Jimland in action visit the Soweiter League blog HERE and HERE.
Jolly entertaining stuff.

New G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T COMPENDIUM

“The Standard by Which Other
Victorian Science Fiction
Rules are Measured”

Its been a while, but I can't think of a more suitable reason for me to resume posting on this blog than the imminent release of the G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T COMPENDIUM.

(Full details HERE)

 

This is the old rulebook I currently have, (which was quite difficult to track down) and I have been building up my forces for.

(and when I say "building up my forces", I mean buying the figures, prepping them, gluing them to bases, doing a little conversion or two occasionally, undercoating them, and slowly, very, very slowly painting them. Why is everything accomplished faster and easier than painting, which is excrutiatingly slow?*)

Anyway, the rules above are just about 1/4 of the new GASLIGHT COMPENDIUM, which will also feature updated material from the "Battles By Gaslight", "Adventures and Expeditions By Gaslight", and "To Be Continued By Gaslight" books.

I am really looking forward to this book, and hope someday that I will get some gaming use out of the Hinterland Female Hussars, Pontoonier Gurkhas, Games Workshop Praetorians, Ironclad British Infantry, Empress Zulu War Infantry, Renegade Prussian Infantry, Renegade French Infantry and Marines, Hasslefree Kindred, Copplestone Sailors, numerous Wargames Foundry Darkest Africa figures, and not forgetting the myriad of character figures from various companies that I am working on.

*To answer my own question, I think its because all the other tasks can be accomplished without my full attention, e.g. while watching TV, chatting with the kids etc., while painting requires my full attention.

IRONCLAD IMPERVIOUS POWERSUIT

WIP picture of the soon to be released Impervious Powersuit from Ironclad.

Apparently a few changes are planned, and it should come with alternative heads.

RATNIK STEAMPUNK MINIATURES PICTURES PAGE

Same as the last post, I have no connection with the manufacturers or potential distributors of these figures, except that I like the miniatures.

These are beautiful new Steampunk miniatures produced by a Russian company, Ratnik Miniatures.
I believe these are going to be distributed in the EU, initially in resin, and eventually in metal, hopefully quite soon.

Until then, I have attempted to collect pictures of all the figures previewed so far on the following page:-
Ratnik Steampunk Miniatures Pictures Page

DESIGN 28 MINIATURES PICTURES PAGE

Right, first off, I need to be clear and state that I have no connection to Design 28 Miniatures whatsoever.

I just like the figures, and as they don't currently have a website (although they are apparently planning one), I thought I would put pictures of their miniatures on a page on this blog.
Hopefully this will convince them to hurry up and get on with a website to sell the figures from.

More pictures and details for how to order from them are on the following page:-

Design 28 Miniatures Pictures Page

QUEENS ELECTRICAL RIFLES UPDATE

Just some updated pictures of the first squad of the Queens Electrical Rifles, armed with their experimental Effing & Blinding Mk1 rifles. These now have a little more painting done, and are almost finished, with just a little touching up, and the bases to be done. I hope to be able to finish these before the end of the week.

My photography skills aren't great, and for some reason they appear to be much more pink in these pictures than they are in real life. I assure you their jackets are a much darker red than they appear.

BRAMBLE & SON: VAMPIRE HUNTERS

I love the fantastic Jack Staff comic. I have ordered 2 miniatures from Artizan which I am hoping to paint up/convert to represent Bramble & Son: Vampire Hunters. These two characters are based on the Steptoe & Son TV comedy series of the 1960s and 70s. In the TV series they are rag & bone men, not vampire hunters, but still, the League has no current need for rag & bone men.

DOOBAKUC'S VENUSIAN PARROTMEN

Venusian Parrotmen made from GW Kroot, with their leader, Doobakuc.

I see them as minions of the War of the Worlds Martians produced by Eureka.

The painted ones I have had for a while, and they are going to be repainted, probably blue.
(except, the white one who is the albino shaman)

STEAM TANK & WALKER under construction

British steam tank I've been working on.

Obviously its a GW Chimera with a couple of modifications.

Armed with a cannon in the turret, and with an electrical rifle mounted on the front.

The turret won't be clear once its painted, which should alter the profile somewhat.

I've added a funnel, and it comes with its own self-towed ammunition, coal and water trailer for extended missions

Raiding the GW model range a bit further, here is the steam walker again.

A slightly less fuzzy photograph than previously.

It is armed with a Tesla-Vickers electro cannon.

Both machines are attached to the Queens Electrical Rifles

NEW LEAGUE FIGURES & MORE FROM IRONCLAD MINIATURES

Loads of new characters from Ironclad including Nemo, The Invisible Man, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, plus a steam-powered Victorian Age Iron Man and some lovely ladies.

Is it just me, or or these Ironclad figures getting better and better? Every one of these is a must-buy for me.