As I might have mentioned, I'm pretty new to historical wargaming, having played WHFB off and on for quite a few years. So why on earth do I have a bunch of 28mm Ethiopians and why is there a large shipment coming from Australia with more?
One day a friend sent an email about how he and a few others had talked about playing a new game set during WW2 called Bolt Action since I had about a shelf full of WW2 history books I kind of knew that resistance was pointless and that I'd be joining in. The official Bolt Action forums refused to let me register so I ended up at BoltAction.net where I noticed that someone had put together an unofficial Ethiopian army list. That caught my eye because I had traveled to Ethiopia two times, once to help my brother adopt a son and once to help his whole family go and adopt a daughter. The second time the whole family went because the country had made enough of an impression on me that I kind of insisted that my sister in law go and see it.
So anyway, I've got some Ethiopians and eventually I had so many Ethiopians that I needed to buy some Italians for them to fight. Some of the Ethiopians are even painted and based but let's start this thread in media res with a pics of minis in the middle of being based.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/EthiopianBasing1.jpg)(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/ItalianBasing3.jpg)
As you can see, I fully subscribe to Bolt Action's emphasis on ignoring historical platoon structure and putting whatever might seem plausible on the table. Also, I swear that the Italians all facing away from the camera is happenstance and not any kind of attempt at humor.
The Ethiopians will be based with some long grass tufts and flowers being inspired by the cover of this novel
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethi_Cover_scaled.jpg)
The Italians will be based on a more harvest/desertish theme so they could possibly match someones desert rats. Inspired by this painting
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Penne%20di%20Falco.jpg)
Eventual plans are to build more enemies to match against the Ethiopians.
- More Italians for the First Italio-Ethiopian War.
British from the Napier expedition.
Muslims led by Ahmed Gran
Possibly some Sudanese, but that raises the problem of Sudanese minis having been drafted into my Ethiopian Army.
Also I've started a Kings of War "Army of Prester John" that's kind of a fever dream combining what the Crusaders were hoping would rescue them, Ethiopian touches and fantasy elements like and Arc of the Covenant and Gnolls created by feeding hyenas by mouth.
That's enough for now, I'll post more later for sure. Any and all comments, advice, questionsetc. welcome!
:-bd =D> :-bd =D>
Those are good.
Very much enjoyed your post, LLC - stories and pictures both! That seems to be how it starts - the fever of another wargaming interest - getting a few figures - then more - then other figures as OpFor - then more figures.... :)
Good on your brother and his family BTW.
Very nice looking armies!
Not a scale, period or ruleset that snags my interest but I hope read more about these and to see more pics!
OK, lets continue combining stories with pics then. :)
Let me tell you about the first time that my Ethiopians faced against a tank. It was their second battle the first being a pretty good debut against some fallschirmjäger. Of course realistically Ethiopians vs. Germans let alone fallschirmjäger doesn't really bear thinking about but hey it's a game. So second game I asked my opponent to bring a tank just to see how things would work. He brought his US paratroopers with a Sherman. Of course my Ethiopians have essentially nothing that can touch the Sherman but Bolt Action is essentially an infantry game so maybe they'd be able to handle whatever objectives and ignore the tank. First turn the US calls in an airstrike because of course they do. My opponent rolls a 1 meaning that I can pick the target. Scratch one Sherman ;D
My current dilemma is whether this basing scheme is good enough for the Italians or if I maybe should order some more golden tufts to maybe match the coir fields I'm making.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/ItalianBasing2.jpg)(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/ItalianBasing1.jpg)
You can see where I tried to use trimings from some coir mat fields on the askari on the left. It didn't really turn out that well.
Here is one of my fields
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Fields13.jpg)
Very nice looking figures.
Cheers - Phil.
A very interesting and esoteric WWII sub-period. The figures look very good.
They look cracking - I like the Italian basing as is, to be honest and it does have double duty potential...
Well done on the Sherman kill ;)
I'm not sure I could help you justify proper tanks (American Lend-Lease to a restored Emperor, maybe?!), but certainly there's the possibility of some autocannons to deal with light armour...
(http://www.ww2incolor.com/d/692592-2/2_006)
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/16/ea/9c/16ea9c610800d52fa4803c1cba752daa.jpg)
Or perhaps some captured tankettes -
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/a5/fb/a9/a5fba90285d3c370c724146d81007a12.jpg)
Yeah, unlike that tankette, I think it might be hard to justify including a Sherman by claiming that my Ethiopians swarmed over one and then picked it up and ran off with it.
It's interesting. The fact that the Ethiopians were able to win at Adawa but were crushed in 1936 without too much problem shows just how much warfare was transformed by WW I. The Ethiopians were still gunning for a big, one day, decisive battle and even if they had got it they weren't in any position to win it.
However, as far as I've read, Italian armor doesn't really feature too prominently. Probably because Italian armor was never very reliable and Ethiopia isn't exactly prime tank country.
Perhaps the best policy is to show my opponent some pictures of Ethiopian terrain and then hopefully they politely decline to attempt to drive a Tiger through it. ;D
But yeah, the list I use does have anti-air guns, FT-17s and artillery. The last might be able to destroy a medium tank with a lot of luck. I've read that the tanks never left Addis Ababa and at least one book claims that the Ethiopians bought some anti-tank guns, I think from Germany.
I do have a Matilda II but haven't got around to painting or even buying many Brits to go along with it.
Finally, I do have a armchair theory that the Allies should have trained a division or two of Ethiopians for use later in the war. The Italians had already started the work and I somehow think that they would have been useful additions to the French forces fighting in the mountains of Italy. But it wouldn't be that interesting a force to model since they'd be just another Lend Lease force. They'd even have to wear boots. :o
Heh, when you run into Tigers just make sure it's on a board you've set up, and as soon as it's on the table pop an unclimable set of rocks all round it :D
Apparently the Germans gave them 30 Pak35's (to annoy the Italians who were supporting Austrian Fascists over Austrian Nazi's...), so you can have something that's similarly incapable of taking on even mid-war armour...
Direct fire field artillery is probably your best hope, I reckon. Either that or crowbars & hand grenades and hope you can swarm all over it :S
Working on some Italian "armor." Not really much of a vehicle painter. Flory weathering washes seem to get them dirtied up without much effort.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Armor1.jpg)
Here are some of my finished Ethiopians with rifles in their traditional shammas, well most of them. Some are Ethiopians from Empress or Askari others are plastics from Perry's Sudan range.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Shamma_Rifle.jpg)
Damn fine work, once again. 8).
Cheers - Phil
:-bd =D> :-bd =D>
Nice work
Great stuff
Although I can't help but think Indiana Jones should be in here some where :D
Very tasty! The Italian armour and the basing especially :)
Some Askari got based.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Basing1.jpg)
Here is something I'm pondering. These are the Italian mortar crew I have.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Forces28.jpg)
I kind of love them but they don't have sun helmets and it doesn't seem like a trivial head swap.
Add some feathers?
Artillery being cautious?
Artillery were a separate branch from the army, so had different helmets.
In their Anglo Zulu War range Empire also have
ZWA7 10 Brit heads
(http://www.46680.mrsite.com/USERIMAGES/thumb_ZWA7.JPG)
Possible head swap material?
Based some Bersaglieri from Askari Miniatures.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Basing2.jpg)
And here are some previously finished Ethiopian regulars. I think both from Askari and Empress.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Reg_Rifle.jpg)
Very nice work !
Cheers - Phil.
Superb stuff! :)
Just got a shipment of Ethiopians and Italians from Castaway Arts in Australia. Obviously I calmly filed away the box because it would be tragic to get sidetracked when these Italians are getting close to finished.
I mean, it doesn't take too long to base these guys lemmy had a great idea of turning the mortar crew to Bersalieri...
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Castaway_Oh_Shiny.jpg)
Oooooh! Shiiiiny!
Here is an 19th Century Penne di Falco.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Castaway_Penne.jpg)
I think that making some for the 20th century is going to take some conversions. I'm sure I'll bring it up again, later.
Some Italians with goggles.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Basing3.jpg)
Some previously finished Ethiopians with shammas and traditional weapons. I don't have many of these finished yet because 1) I wasn't too convinced by the army lists idea that a lot of Ethiopians were fighting without rifles. 2)I had an idea that these could be used for both Bolt Action and Kings of War by having essentially sabot bases that also had minis glued directly on. I've decided that even if Ethiopians set out with rifles, their age, various calibers, poor supplies of ammo, etc., perhaps not being able to shoot it isn't so unrealistic and also that it would be best to do Kings of War with full unit basing.
Anyway for whatever reason most that are done seem to be the Perry Sudanese with some Askari and Empress mixed in.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Shamma_Trad.jpg)
Those look great.
Seconded !
Cheers - Phil.
Finished up some Italian officers and also some Italians I put in black leggings so they could be identified as Blackshirts. For some reason I also painted their shoulder tabs which basically marks them as officers if I recall.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Basing4.jpg)
Also made some progress on some weapons crews and assorted odds and ends that weren't based previously.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Basing5.jpg)
And now we get to the part where it becomes more and more obvious that I'm new to historical minis. Here are my Imperial Guard
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_ImperialG.jpg)
I'm pretty sure that they should be in khaki but in my defense 1)khaki is boring and since the army is unofficial, I wanted it to be easy for an opponent to be able to distinguish various units 2) I vaguely remember seeing a march past on youtube with the IG wearing green (postwar?) 3) I was testing a few colors and this looked good 4) The Ethiopian IG in Civ V wear green.
Very nice, once again ! 8)
Cheers - Phil
:-bd =D> :-bd
Like those!
Thanks for all the encouragement guys. You are the best!
Now, as for anti tank capability, I wonder if I could get one of these?
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_soldiers_Korea1951.jpg)
Sadly, it's the Imperial Guard in Korea, though with the hills it would well be in Ethiopia. Then again, that's at least as fair as having to fight Tigers with my 1936-37 Ethiopians and Italians. Considering the new Pendraken line, it does make me wonder if they wouldn't be a nice 10mm project...
Some non-descript Italians have been based.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Basing6.jpg)
And here is a basically fictitious unit of Ethiopians. When I first started this project, I read about someone using ACW Zoauves for some native troops. He meant askari but a little confusion on my part combined with the attraction of some cheap plastics led to what I'm calling the Harar Guard. Harar being an ancient (as opposed to the upstart Addis) and Muslim city. You can't exactly prove that some Ethiopian noble didn't dress up his bodyguard this way but they are really closer to some Italian Askari, maybe in dress uniform or in earlier uniforms. I've grown attached to them not least because their loose pats were easy to paint compared to the Ethiopian shammas.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Zouaves.jpg)
:-bd
Cheers - Phil
That last unit are great
Thanks.
The more I think on it the more I like these Kagnew battalion fellows, that is the Ethiopians in Korea. Apparently the fought well, gave up no MIA or prisoners and left no bodies behind. Furthermore they wore and used surplus US WW2 equipment. No reason that I couldn't do them for Bolt Action or get started in 10mm and just be waiting for some North Koreans or Chinese for them to fight.
Reading up on them brings up one of the reasons for the post rainy season flowers I used as bases. One article mentioned that the Ethiopians came from an African desert country but managed to adapt to Korea. It's true that the parts of Ethiopia that are close to or below sea level are pretty much hellish deserts, I doubt anyone from the tribes that live there would be allowed into the Imperial Guard. Most of the Ethiopians are farmers and it's when the seasonal rains fail to come that famine breaks out.
That said, it doesn't get super cold and when my niece was carried out of the Indianapolis airport on Superbowl Sunday in February, she screamed like bloody murder. I think she was out playing in the snow with her siblings later that day so, yeah, adaptable enough.
Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone makes some not too bulky late war Americans in 28mm. Or maybe 25mm would work. Also OD primer would be nice.
Tried to take some new/better pics to post back on the WWPD forums that got me into this in the first place.
=
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/BAR1.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/BAR3.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/BAR4.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/BAR2.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/BAR2.jpg)
An amazing number of people seem to be coming out of that hut! ;)
The father of an old girlfriend of mine won his DSO 'escorting' Haile Selassie and his family to Jerusalem. Didn't have a high opinion of him at all.
Lovely work 'Cookie' !
You're getting these done at a fair old rate, as well ! 8)
Cheers - Phil.
Haha. I've only been posting things that have been already painted and doing the basing for the Italians. Things will slow down when I'm back to painting. Way down.
For FK. Family sizes in rural Ethiopia are large. Perhaps too large.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/BAR6.jpg)
Ooooooh......You cheat !! ;)
Cheers - Phil.
The high birth rate is to counter the traditionally high child mortality rate...
Yes but over 100 in one hut? With only a pair of enset trees to feed them? It's going too far.
Creative cook!
Perhaps he had some help from a forum member who has been painting Carabiniers ;)
So Techno wants some honest painting? Who am I to deny him?
Here is an artillery crew that I converted from someone's Indian crew with some Somali headswaps. Oh and I've used one of my excess Italian officers to lead them. What I really need are some (or at least one) 19th century crew and also a mortar crew that I can fit into the Ethiopians.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethith_WIP7.jpg)
They are basecoated and I put in some shadows in the most recessed areas or as a bit of lining. Their hair and skin will get a black wash and I've found that polyshades works well in picking out uniform details. They'll probably sit around like this until I have a bigger batch ready for the polyshades.
Then again, these 1896 Askari's uniforms are almost white so I'll probably have to shade them by hand. Might be a while before I'll have much to dip.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Forces29.jpg)
Look forward to seeing them progress. :)
Cheers - Phil
Looking good
Decided to neither wait or mess about with dips. That way I can get these guys based along with all my other painted Ethiopians. Used and extra strong black wash on their hair and skin, GW washes elsewhere. I used some watered down Nuln Oil on a the white trousers and it worked better than I expected. maybe that would be a way to get these askari done quickly.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethith_WIP8.jpg)
:-bd =D> :-bd =D>
Nice
They've come up lovely!
Really good !
Cheers - Phil
Based some arty crews. The ones on the right I seem to remember being a British WW1 cavalry crew that I painted up as some Imperial Guard.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethith_WIP10.jpg)
Looking good
+1
Cheers - Phil
Another nice looking result. Particularly like the blossoms on the bases!
Quote from: d_Guy on 05 April 2017, 02:00:46 PM
Another nice looking result. Particularly like the blossoms on the bases!
They are yellow buttercup flowers from scenic express. I cut them in three and use the two flowered ends and the middle bit as well.
Also, I've got good news.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Basing5.jpg)
These are mostly Copplstone Somalis
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Basing4.jpg)
Somalis with guns. These make good models for warriors with outdated weapons. I used to be able to remember that mid game because they weren't based..
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Basing6.jpg)
Some Officers and Nobles and musicians. I think these are mostly Empress. Possibly some Askari minis too. The drummer behind the IG officer is one of my better paintjobs. Not sure why he is hiding.
Excellent ! 8)
Cheers - Phil
Great batch
:-bd =D> :-bd =D>
More flowers have been glued.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Basing9.jpg)
And yet more
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Basing8.jpg)
Those are a mixture of Copplstone Somalis and Perry plastics.
That seems to be about the extent of the painted...
Oh, what's that here?
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Basing7.jpg)
Some painted Ethiopians hanging out on some randomly piled up terrain from when I was showing some minis to some of my nephews' friends? Forgot about those. They actually took a surprising liking to my stuff so I had them paint up some skellies and then use some washes to make their own. They had a good time.
And apparently also forgot about this tray of unpainted Ethiopians. I'm beginning to worry that I might have a problem.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethith_WIP11.jpg)
In all seriousness, I need to count up what various armaments I have already based and painted and compare that to what I might want for Bolt Action, Lion Rampant, Pikeman's Lament, TMWWBK, etc. Then I can see what's extra and can be used for Kings of War.
As a side note: In, my admittedly limited experience you can't have this number of Ethiopians without expecting to see some goats so I'm also working some objective markers.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Basing10.jpg)
T'riffic !
Cheers - Phil.
Some tasty objective markers. Well, not sure how tasty donkey is.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Basing11.jpg)
And some cavalry. These are Perry Sudanese and some Copplestone Somalis.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Basing12.jpg)
:-bd =D> :-bd =D>
Excellent !
Cheers - Phil
I let myself get distracted and did a few tests on some Wargames Factory plastics.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Kagnew_TEST1.jpg)
On the left are two primered minis with brown washes applied (my own and Agrax). The middle mini started out with a dark green wash and then I since it looked best to my eye, I a quick paint job on him. Maybe he ended up a bit too green? On the right are two minis with just the green primer.
He look spot on IMO :D
Really nice!
Some Guard Cavalry. I need to do the metal on their weapons and the spears have already been replaced with wire spears.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Basing14.jpg)
Got most of the basecoating done on these 19th century askari
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Forces30.jpg)
Way too many white uniforms and the wash didn't look too good after it dried.
Looking like a good batch!
Bought the Reaper Olive triad and did a further experiment for the Kagnew guys. Also experimented with using flock to give a bald sudanese head a bit of a fro. I mean, if the NCOs wear their helmets there is no chance of them being where you need them.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Kagnew_TEST2.jpg)
On the left is the new experiment using the triad and the right was the previous one done with the wash.
Really nice work on all of the above !
Cheers - Phil
Superb work, as always. 8)
I don't know how you keep up this rate of production. I managed 8 28mm figures this week, and thought I was doing OK! :(
Those are great
Got halfway through a 28mm unit. Became fed up with it; put it away and got on with 10mm SYW.
Threw some washes on the 19th C. askari. A dark brown on the leather bits and Nuln Oil on lots of things. Still more to do.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Forces31.jpg)
Great work !
Cheers - Phil.
The photo confused me for a minute - wondering what the riders were mounted on......All been nice stuff.
Out of horses again?
Great work.
The mighty Ethiopian Wyrm perhaps.
Ethiopians are pretty big fans of St. George...
Just caught up on this thread and I must say mightly impressed 8)
Thanks for all the encouragement guys.
I think the Askari and Penne di Falco are getting close to done.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Forces32.jpg)
And the missing horses even have some paint on them.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Forces33.jpg)
Also, I'm getting the basing on the Korean War guys started.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Kagnew_1.jpg)
Quote from: ianrs54 on 24 April 2017, 07:19:43 AM
The photo confused me for a minute - wondering what the riders were mounted on......All been nice stuff.
We agree about something for once!
All looking good
Very nice indeed
Take care
Andy
8)
Cheers - Phil
Painted some horses. Still have to do their faces and the metal bits of tackle on them.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Italian_Forces34.jpg)
Also did some Kagnew uniforms using Reaper's olive triad after getting the bases done to the point that they need flock and grass.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Kagnew_2.jpg)
Great models in this thread!
Nice!
8)
Cheers - Phil
Thanks guys.
Even with the inspiration of the Kentucky Derby, I somehow managed to avoid finishing off the Penne di Falcos and worked on the Kagnews instead.
Decided against going insane and instead decided to break up to 30 minis into manageable groups to finish them off. Here with the webbing painted and a wash applied to it and the uniforms
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Kagnew_3.jpg)
With some non-green paint applied these guys are starting to look better, IMO.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Kagnew_4.jpg)
After a few washes, I'll have to move on to dealing with hemets. Helmets that still have mold lines...
I think these are done except for the helmet straps.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Kagnew_5.jpg)
Very nice, indeed !
Cheers - Phil.
Nicely done.
Lovely work once again 8)
Matt spray didn't end up working great on these guys. Tried both W&N and Dull Cote
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Kagnew_6.jpg)
But I got some reinforcements from BTD.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Kagnew_TEST4.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Kagnew_TEST3.jpg)
The guys without helmets have hair that will work for the Kagnews.
Someone requested a demo game of Bolt Action so I decided to bring a bunch of my terrain to the FLGS and we had a 1935 Ethiopian vs. Kagnew Battle.
Amazingly I remembered to take some pre game pics but unsurprisingly I forgot to take any after that.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Eth-Kag1.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Eth-Kag2.jpg)
Looks great
8)
Cheers - Phil.
Got to painting again. Decided to do up some Ethiopian cavalry. Figs are either Somalis from Copplestone or Abyssinians from Castaway. One or two Sudanese from Perry as well.
Some horses are mostly done
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Cav_1.jpg)
Just started the riders plus some bonus figs (the Askari were hiding in a box when they should have been painted). The women are female civilians from Eureka's Indian range.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_Cav_2.jpg)
As usual......Looking very nice, indeed.
Cheers - Phil.
What Techno said :)
Looking good
Blooming 'eck. What a brilliant thread! Great stuff =D> =D> =D>
First, this web page (https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2016/08/18/ethiopians-in-the-korean-war-wwii-gear-used/) (ww2 after ww2) is going to be very useful for deciding how to equip my Kagnews. For instance they weren't supposed to be issued BARs but got some from the 7th infantry and loved using them. In fact they kept using them back in Ethiopia even after they had M14s.
I found that while no one makes WW2 or Korean War recoilless rifles, they do make RRs for Vietnam and later conflicts.
This is my basic reference pic
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/moonrang/Ethiopian_soldiers_Korea1951.jpg)
I think that this Vietnamese RR from West Wind is the closest I've seen:
(http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/image/cache/catalog/figures/Nam/Figures/nam015-800x800.jpg)
Their US Marines RR seems to be a later version:
(http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/image/cache/catalog/figures/Nam/Figures/nam002-500x350.jpg)
Elite Miniatures in Australia also make a nice vietmanese RR. But they are in australia and their web shop's design makes it hard to share pics. Perhaps an unwise decision for someone trying to sell the pretties... (hmmm, it seems google can provide a direct link)
(http://www.eliteminiaturesaustralia.net/760_324_csupload_67109181.jpg?u=2639753521)
Speaking of pretty, this Eureka models is very, very nice but I think there are noticable differences between their Soviet weapon and the US ones. In particular the breech lever is on top.
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0291/6817/products/100MOD79.jpg?v=1385492634)
Some progress on the cavalry
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4071/35543790101_b8b5a8ba54_o_d.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4263/34865005813_ec6dd5af71_o_d.jpg)
Need to do something better with the Ras (wearing the headdress)
Like that horse!
Very nice indeed
Take care
Andy
Here are the ladies:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4208/35314577500_b64de9e544_o_d.jpg)
Did a bunch of webbing and metal bits on the Kagnews:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4211/35571057191_47495b1336_o_d.jpg)
Got a package from Empress. The minis were well protected because they seem to be in OK shape despite the box looking like it had been used for bedding in a raccoon next for at least a week.
As usual Empress's minis are great. So I immediately got out the jewelers saw mangled them. Here is the result:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4261/35571054631_8208b5278a_o_d.jpg)
In front, Askari that have been turned into some Ethiopian Imperial Guard. In back British WW1 cav that have been given fezes.
I still need to make some feathers for the Falcos.
Put some non-green paint on the Kagnews and also did a wash on their uniforms and webbing.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4207/34864908844_8a28d181eb_o_d.jpg)
All looking great, I think this project is brilliant
I completely agree with Will 8)
Thirded ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil.
Thanks guys. You are always a great source of motivation.
Did the rest of the head swaps for the Penne de Falco. At first I was upset that I was missing an arm for these guys but then it dawned on me
that I needed a different pose or something for their leader. Found that a US Civil War Zouve arm fit OK and could be made to hold a lance.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4280/35741799255_e6723ca369_o_d.jpg)
I think the line infantry for the Kagnews. Maybe I should do a highlight on their skin?
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4020/35354064850_065d0a9194_o_d.jpg)
Like both of those! 8)
A first attempt at adding the Penne using bits of expanded plastic.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4081/35743418755_a91970ec52_o_d.jpg)
They flex a bit but I'd be happier if I could pin them in somehow.
8)
Cheers - Phil.
"They flex a bit but I'd be happier if I could pin them in somehow."
Could you drill a hole in the hat for part of it to sit into? That would make them a lot more secure. Hope this helps?
Moving on to the HQ and weapon teams, I've got a basecoat, shade and highlight done on the uniforms.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4128/34953622963_e75b72db05_o_d.jpg)
Top is a Machine gun team (their camo helmets have been swapped out), a forward observer team (will be painted up as Americans), a flame thrower team, and an extra guy with a walkie talkie.
Bottom is a mortar team with spotter, bazooka team and the Ethiopian Lieutenant (with the tommy gun) with an US adviser (using the binoculars).
Got some more paint on the second batch of Kagnews. I think they are basically ready for a wash.
I also remembered to do their bases before I got to their boots. Also forgot that some were on temp bases just for painting until I got the spackle on.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4229/35429303910_3b61ea7ec6_o_d.jpg)
What should I use for antennas. Are guitar strings the standard?
Nylon Brush bristle work well, as does fishing line.
And the brush bristle is already black :)
Very nice indeed
Take care
Andy
Did some washes and highlighted the skin:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4233/35659960532_34aa514aed_o_d.jpg)
Then I redid the bases to repair the grit that wasn't sticking so well. Also based the mortar and the MG teams.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4264/34988592954_dcdf58dfeb_o_d.jpg)
That second pic didn't turn out so well but since I just varnished them, it's too late to take another.
Very nice, indeed !
Cheers - Phil
Top work
Gah! I was just googling because I couldn't find the Ethiopians in sun hats that I was pretty sure were from Empress when I found another company that does 28mm Ethiopians (and Italians).
Anyone ever hear of "Cibo's Little Dudes"? Their pics seem to be of greenstuff added to pre cast dollies which isn't easy for me to get a read on.
I guess I should just order some. I mean if they are charging in Swiss Franks they should be very precisely cast, right?
Not seen them before, bit the non-green stuff piccies look very good! Can't make much of the green stuff ones on the phone screen but what I can see does look very nice...
And ordered...
In my defense, they had Alpini, some guys that might be Dubats and of course yet more Ethiopians. What was I supposed to do?
Cracking good photos. The figures aren't bad, either :-bd
Take one for the team, LLC, and let us know what they're like when they arrive!
Yeah, the Penne di Falcos should really be in this thread, I guess.
Finished up most of the base coating then added and repaired feathers. Also use some nail clippers to trim down the existing feathers.
(https://i.imgur.com/t33JDJv.jpg)
Very nice
:-bd =D> :-bd
Great work once again 8)
Very nice indeed
Take care
Andy
Really good !!
Cheers - Phil
Some great looking figures. 8)
Thanks guys.
Painted some horses. Also applied a lot of washes and put some polyshades on the uniforms.
(https://i.imgur.com/I6EZHsz.jpg)
Those are beautiful! 8)
Damn fine work !
Cheers - Phil.
May I ask a question?
Why is there a blue one on the left?
Looks like a Ber-smurf-le-ary!
Yeah, he got mixed in so I just did his uniform along with the Askaris.
They do look good, even with their smurf friend.
Lovely, lovely work again 8)
Coming on nicely
Take care
Andy
Ack! I'm getting the 120 day warning as I type this.
Anyway, I will have to get back on this project because one of my nephews has to do a representation of a WW2 battlefield for one of his classes and wants to do something in Ethiopia...
OH GLORIOUS DAY THAT WE DID NOT DARE EVEN TO ANTICIPATE!
Ahem. I'm thinking that if got a half dozen Australians I could combine them with already painted Ethiopians in Khaki as the British trained Ethiopians and some Ethiopians in Shammas to represent the Patriots he could do something Mission 101 related.
Sure look good to me!
Terry
Decided to go with the people at Eureka since they should know Australians
(https://i.imgur.com/E7HkpTR.jpg)
Did a head swap on one and converted an Owen gun to a Bren.
I could really use some more lightly equipped soldiers throwing grenades. Also maybe a class on how to sculpt bare feet out of boots.
Oh, interesting
Looking forward to seeing how these progress
A quick test so that I can maybe hand off some of these Australians to my nephew with some instructions on how to paint.
(https://i.imgur.com/T0p5F7h.jpg)
I kind of like the buff with a bit of Khacki that I put on his shirt over the Iraqi Sand that I used on his trousers. In both cases I used a diluted sepia wash from Reaper.
Looks good!
:-bd =D> :-bd
Cool 8)
Great job on the Aussie! =D> =D>
VERY nice, indeed !
Cheers - Phil
Very nice indeed
Take care
Andy
Very nice but it can't be easy to aim that gun with the magazine right in your line of sight!
Very nicely done!
Terry
OK, looking more at Gideon Force, Mission 101 or whatever you want to call it, I'm going to need some Sudanese from the Frontier Battalion.
Dolled up for inspection.
(https://i.imgur.com/7tLMFXR.jpg)
Not as pretty but still on parade.
(https://i.imgur.com/wIbFJPc.png)
I'll have to look through some books for some more pics.
As far as I know, no one makes WW2 era Sudanese but Warlord just put out plastic 8th army with Indian heads. The Sikh beards are a bit much but I think we can work with the other turbans. Sadly, they somehow didn't put on a grenade throwing arm and Gideon Force was all about sneaking up at night and throwing grenades into Italian positions.
This is what I have so far
(https://i.imgur.com/m67gJeT.jpg)
Warlord's new plastics have most of the weapons and arms cast together. That's much easier but doesn't make for a lot of ways to pose grenade throwers. Also need to work out a relatively easy way to convert them to puttees.
Hmmmm. :-\
Short of using a burr to take away the 'top layer' on the upper part of the boots......putting on a thinnish skin of green stuff over the 'burred', area and then detailing it with a few 'lines', nothing instantly springs to mind, Cookie.
Could be a mind numbing task if you've got lots to do.
Cheers - Phil
An attempt to paint on puttees after carving away the more prominent buts of sock.
(https://i.imgur.com/V43ke3s.jpg)
That is excellent
:-bd =D> :-bd
Refined this guy a bit by repainting the base colors over the wash and doing another black wash on the skin to get it darker.
(https://i.imgur.com/crDE0o7.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/tiWkdOa.jpg)
Should I go with a darker stain on the rifle? Somehow I never know what colors to use on wood or horses.
Also, this is just a test model but how the heck did I take off half his leg and still leave a mold line?!?!
Maybe a dark brown wash over the rifle and a bit of silver edging on the metal, otherwise really nice job
Looks damn fine to me !
Nothing wrong with the 'painted puttees' ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil
A grand job! =D>
If these bombers from Brigade models were wearing shorts and short sleeves they would be exactly what I need. Well after head swaps, obviously.
(https://i.imgur.com/DHjdBs2.png)
It does go to show that even with purpose sculpted minis, it isn't easy to get a natural looking throwing pose. In any case I should be able to do greenstuff sacks.
Got some base coats on.
(https://i.imgur.com/SHOi53Z.jpg)
:-bd =D> :-bd
Like them
Very nice !!
Cheers - Phil
Coming on very nicely.
(https://i.imgur.com/CVdHHvt.jpg)
Got some washes on.
:-bd =D> :-bd
Top work, that man !
Cheers - Phil
Great stuff
Thanks guys!
Got a package from the Perrys. Now I'm scraping the puttees off their Italians to make some Patriots.
Send help!
On the left, three Italians that will be Ethiopian Patriots using captured equipment. On the right 4 Senegalese that will be from the 2nd Ethiopian Btn.
(https://i.imgur.com/UqpOyYo.jpg)
Nice
My FLGS managed to order some of Warlord's new Korean War Chinese so it's time to make someone for the Kagnew's to fight.
I'd like to get this horde done quickly so first some experiments:
I had Army Painter Sand Yellow and some Krylon Camo Sand primer. Over these I put a few shades of Polyshades and AP washes. Finally I tried some GW Contrast Paint.
(https://i.imgur.com/Spsfj3b.jpg)
Front row second from the left is Contrast Paint (over Nuln gloss over the Krylon). Third from left is Strong Tone over the AP primer. I think those are what I'm going for due to the "mustard" color and higher contrast than what the Polyshades gives.
In any case I've now primered a bunch of guys.
Things are underway:
(https://forum.reapermini.com/uploads/monthly_2019_10/Chinese_2.thumb.jpg.d37f323853c9f39ce26334c142c630de.jpg)
A closeup. Skin has just a base coat and the fur hat's haven't yet been touched.
(https://i.imgur.com/OPHZjfa.jpg)
If you want to compare, the ones on yellow bases were done with AP primer and soft tone while the ones on pale bases were done with Contrast.
Looking damn fine ! :)
Cheers - Phil
I say, those are lovely
Very nice indeed!
Thanks guys. I guess these guys are ready for varnish and basing. They are not ready for their closeup.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZUboSQc.jpg)
Are you thinking about doing the bags and pouches a slightly different colour :-\
Or perhaps it doesn't show up in the pictures
Normally I would but I'm trying to make this a quick project and art I've seen show the Chinese as pretty monochrome.
Started to work on the bases:
(https://i.imgur.com/Fhf7CoF.jpg)
Looking very nice !
Did you use florescent lighting for the newest pic ?
Compared to the one above that, there seems to be a greenish 'tinge' to the flesh tones and uniforms.
They still look damn spiffy, though !! 8)
Cheers - Phil
Yeah, it's a lighting problem. The earlier pics are more accurate.