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On Friday, I had my first game of The Men Who Would Be Kings. After action report on my blog:
http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2016/11/tmwwbk-aar.html
Many photos on the blog, here are just two:
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gzpc-9n2PeQ/WCKuaI29W6I/AAAAAAAABVs/CkT8F5BiuzUjA0wcLGM2xg2L48Ikzz8HACLcB/s1600/20161104_205859.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZDdbRFpnp4/WCKvFIlSaSI/AAAAAAAABV0/ZNbuWqT1NRc7QV2p57LDc_v2mQ5ayyTHgCLcB/s1600/20161104_211725.jpg)
TL:DR lots of fun, some lessons learned, will be better next time.
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An excellent report and sounds a lot of fun.
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Looks fantastic Will!
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thanks! i had fun (and I believe the players did too!) and am looking forward to another game next month.
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A great looking game that looked like a lot of fun.
Can you share with us the make of your Russian infantry please?
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A great looking game that looked like a lot of fun.
Can you share with us the make of your Russian infantry please?
Thanks! The Russian infantry came from three different sources:
Outpost Wargames Services http://www.outpostwargameservices.co.uk/ (http://www.outpostwargameservices.co.uk/)
Askari Miniatures http://askari-minis.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=42&zenid=26dkph2aoubuvor9vu3ksktem6 (http://askari-minis.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=42&zenid=26dkph2aoubuvor9vu3ksktem6)
Eureka Miniatures http://eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=87_126_173_174&sort=3a (http://eurekamin.com.au/index.php?cPath=87_126_173_174&sort=3a)
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Fantastic looking game!!! But what did those poor goats do to deserve to face the fury of a Highland charge? lol
Really like your three-sided scenario twist by the way, nice touch sir!
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Nicely done! :)
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Fantastic looking game!!! But what did those poor goats do to deserve to face the fury of a Highland charge? lol
the whole of the British army seemed interested in the livestock. While the Highlanders were after the goats, the Gurkhas took a great interest in the sheep:
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAhZT0icl8A/WCKuSsJEEZI/AAAAAAAABVo/gAhv2czgmc8QbPjF811ebL2eHGeA5n7ywCLcB/s1600/20161104_205845.jpg)
(you can even see a couple of small shepherds legging it away from the scary men in green!)
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That was a jolly spirited action. Well done those men :)
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the whole of the British army seemed interested in the livestock. While the Highlanders were after the goats, the Gurkhas took a great interest in the sheep:
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAhZT0icl8A/WCKuSsJEEZI/AAAAAAAABVo/gAhv2czgmc8QbPjF811ebL2eHGeA5n7ywCLcB/s1600/20161104_205845.jpg)
(you can even see a couple of small shepherds legging it away from the scary men in green!)
Probably 'rescuing' the sheep from that nasty screw gun!!! lol
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It only took a couple of months, but I managed to play a second game of TMWWBK. The after-action report is here
http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2017/01/tmwwbk-aar-sequel.html (http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2017/01/tmwwbk-aar-sequel.html)
Overall, I think it was a better experience than the first game, especially due to the leader characteristics rolled by the Pathans (the Ghazis were led by a coward who refused to charge anyone, and the Afghan regulars by an idiot who randomly allowed his opponent to move the troops). My main takeaway is that I should probably try to control my megalomania, and try again with only two sides.
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Two questions I needs to know...
1. Who makes the buildings used for the village?
2. The Cossack Occifer... did he get nobbled by the Artilley fire!?
:-*
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The village in this case was cobbled together from the Perry/Renedra mud house and the Warlord Games ruined village. There's a few more shots of it here
http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2015/12/afghanistan-people-and-terrain.html (http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2015/12/afghanistan-people-and-terrain.html)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLmIy6eyLJA/Vm0LCa5KAAI/AAAAAAAAAcs/l8Xbhd6blD0/s1600/IMG_3050.JPG)
As for the Cossack Commander, he was last seen boldly charging into a cloud of smoke and dust, current whereabouts unknown...
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:) Thanks awfully old bean! :)
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Figuring that the Pathans needed some artillery support, I've added this gun to my collection:
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONVc1kkx7Bc/WSejoOnkubI/AAAAAAAABpA/eYSa5ufy3E42vN-rcQ23pYPN-_MMA4S2wCLcB/s1600/20170525_201939.jpg)
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9LGlHN5nDM0/WSejlYktyBI/AAAAAAAABo4/ztY98xy5mqY4R1kZJufvBZhautvA3S4rACLcB/s1600/20170525_202000.jpg)
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ihplo0TXbA/WSejvRgrnJI/AAAAAAAABpE/Drnm_Srzt5gtuhFqcWstb_6G7cXGZaSaACLcB/s1600/20170525_202036.jpg)
(to be honest, they probably DON'T need a gun - we've yet to play a game where the guns have had a chance to make a difference! But then the Perrys decided to start producing Afghans and "oooooo shiny" syndrome happened, and here's the result :) )
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Looks good Bill, very inspiring for me, I'm a right novice with things Pathan...
your gun gives me something to aim for!
::)
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Good job. Bravo!
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Amazing stuff! I love those gunners....great job!
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Nice job on those :)
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Thanks for the comments!!
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And now some artillery support for the Afghan regulars!
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TG_aXcD4dJ4/WTi_78n1g2I/AAAAAAAABsg/UwHL1sNeqv8uPujfUfEZ7q_piKVeRnYcgCLcB/s1600/20170607_200050.jpg)
More info here:
http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2017/06/afghan-artillery.html
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This is a very good job. Bravo!
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Pathan artillery very colourful. I love it.
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Great conversion job, Will!!!!
When I saw that one pic above, I assumed you had painted up a crew of old Wargames Foundry Afghan regular artillerymen -- which is EXACTLY what they look like! Little did I know you had converted a crew of Perry Egyptians, using a mix of British forage cap and French carabinier heads! Fantastic job! (And we will forgive you the Krupp gun in place of an Armstrong -- the Afghan army bought some of their artillery pieces in the Ottoman Empire, so maybe one or more Krupps found their way from Egypt to Istanbul and thence to Kabul or Kandahar.)
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Thanks for the comments! As for the conversion, I happy with how it turned out. But a little research ahead of time could have saved me a load of trouble later (for example, starting with the Perry BIF artillery would have been much less work...) lol
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And of course my smug self-satisfaction was to be short-lived...
https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?products_id=3686&osCsid=c3el0jderq3393phccc5ll15u5
(https://www.perry-miniatures.com/images/IMG_1759.JPG)
lol
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And of course my smug self-satisfaction was to be short-lived...
https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?products_id=3686&osCsid=c3el0jderq3393phccc5ll15u5
(https://www.perry-miniatures.com/images/IMG_1759.JPG)
lol
Ain't it always the way ! lol
Yours look very good anyway :)
Cheers
Keith
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Cripes... that Armstrong 12-pounder and Afghan regular artillery crew look mighty fine -- too bad I have four 3-gun batteries w/crew of the Foundry versions!
Combined with their recent release of figures for both 30th Bombay Native Infantry (Jacob's Rifles) and the 1st Bombay Grenadiers, this really makes me feel like a grumpy old man.
The Perrys now make almost every single figure -- other than c.1878-1880 RHA limbers and crew, and locally sourced Indian/Afghan limbers w/mixed RA and British Line Infantry crew -- needed to refight Maiwand, so long as you don't mind replacing their Egypt/Sudan Bengal Lancers' lances with swords, to portray 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry and 3rd Scinde Horse... oh, and some figures for the half-company of Bombay Sappers & Miners.
After toiling for months unto years of conversions to create that same army... I feel like the world has caught up with and overtaken me!
The way things are going... I won't be surprised if the Perrys rise to the challenge and create a pack of Sappers & Miners. Hell, if they do, I'll buy some myself, to replace my nice but somewhat small Eureka Punjabi Pioneers, and when and if they come out with Gurkhas, I'll buy those to replace my old Foundry Gurkhas.
I know I should just be happy for all the colonial wargamers to come, and especially for the growing boon this Perry range is providing for my own favorite colonial campaign, so... I am going to just look on the bright side and be happy about all these newfound goodies for the Second Afghan War in general and even the Battle of Maiwand in particular.
Thank you Perry Brothers -- heck, you even made a straight-out-of-the-mold figure for Lt Olivey of the 66th, with his bandaged head-wound... which took me hours of piddling away in my garage to convert from an Empress Zulu War Ensign figure back in 2010. So much better for customers to just pick him up straight out of the little black box!
For any old school Star Trek fans out there in LAF-Land... I admit I feel a bit like Captain Dunsil.
On the bright side, I do get to keep my old version of this army... though how long before I can't control my yearning for even more accurate and better-looking versions of the same units is an open question.
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I'm still very happy with my current Afghan, British and Russian forces - the current forces are a mix of Eureka, Old Glory, Perry, Castaway Arts and Copplestone. Lovely as the new Perry VLW stuff is, I don't need to replace anything that's already in the collection.
I can supplement the current order of battle, though.
That's completely different.
Just an occasional order, every now and then. There's some lovely looking Afghan tribal horse, I might get that without breaking the budget. You know, just a couple (well, three) packs. Did I say three? Imeant four. You know, if I'm making an order anyway, I should really just add one more item....
Right?!?
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Oh Willie... I feel you my brother, I feel you!
(and both our bank accounts will feel it as well)
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MG, It's awesome news that the Perry's are expanding this range. Though there are figs commercially available there's nothing like converting your own. There's something to be said for creating a unit no one else has or a unit with figs no one else owns. I know that you know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm looking forward to painting that 40th Pathan's custom Piper you made for me. Your NWF conversions are Outstanding.
I just finished the (2) custom Ansar gun crews for our friend Last Stand Dan that I started about 2 years ago! I think I will have to get one or two of these Afghan crews.
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Not dead yet! I've just done a conversion of the Wargames Foundry WWI RHA limber for 1880 Afghanistan.
From this:
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5SN3nglsPE/WxASCRWUl9I/AAAAAAAACG4/6EoM1a5SBX4T_M2jHTtUPH_Fcy-vj_6YgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC01804.JPG)
to this:
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QKBe8P0uDqw/WxCwADs9xfI/AAAAAAAACHw/p38j49vNVeA5noXFbRoTEFNmw2uULW0LQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC01953.JPG)
More info on the blog here: http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2018/05/rha-limber-for-afghanistan.html
And more on the painting table, so hopefully more updates in June and July :)
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Painted up some Perry Sikhs
http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2018/06/45th-rattrays-sikhs.html
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OqRQN-Rfl0k/WxQdsMA23JI/AAAAAAAACL8/FBi4mD7V0iM3d1U-YGuUl8qeawYZI42UwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC01979.JPG)
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My blog has been updated with more Afghan horse, including an Emir to lead the Afghans!
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uo9GrzrrgAs/Wxwkwp9E65I/AAAAAAAACPU/oG0k6ftKddcQxMjXZTrN990JoEuCpqSjgCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC02020.JPG)
Plus Pathan horse from Perry Miniatures
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WetqztEnFKQ/WxwkzDi6-cI/AAAAAAAACPI/ofkmYggMmMgkCsHD23MeNelI7y-RIaJFwCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC02022.JPG)
And Old Glory
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pBYJEjpoHs4/Wxwk1oFWS-I/AAAAAAAACPM/zjxKl1pm_3EYO1L26lc9rVuhyvVB6_WSgCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC02031.JPG)
and a group shot of all my Afghan horsemen
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WRdg582sX60/Wxwk21jgd_I/AAAAAAAACPU/1_HozciqRXUM08g-S7sexZAs4A8KL4STACEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC02035.JPG)
Blog entry here with a few more photos: http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2018/06/afghan-horse-omg-soooooo-many-little.html
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Very nicely done Will Bailie- your RHA conversion is inspired.*thumbs up*
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Thanks, Codsticker, but if I am inspired it's by those who went before me, especially but not limited to the Mad Guru and his own RHA limber: http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2011/07/full-unit-conversion-1-rha-limbers.html as well as this blog: http://horseandmusket2.blogspot.com/2012/12/royal-horse-artillery-second-afghan-war.html
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Thanks, Codsticker, but if I am inspired it's by those who went before me, especially but not limited to the Mad Guru and his own RHA limber: http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2011/07/full-unit-conversion-1-rha-limbers.html as well as this blog: http://horseandmusket2.blogspot.com/2012/12/royal-horse-artillery-second-afghan-war.html
I vaguely remember seeing the pix in that second link but 2012 was sooo long ago. :D
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Will,
Great work all around, on your new Afghan cavalry and command, but most of all on your bespoke converted WWI RHA limber & crew! When I saw it, i instantly thought of my own version, converted from the Mutiny era RHA limber & crew! Thanks for including the link to that (very old!) page on my blog. I just looked at it, and it brought back some fond memories!
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Thanks, MG. I'm trying out a saving the guns scenario this weekend, so will have an AAR coming up soon!
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I've added some Perry Miniatures Afghan Regular Army:
http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2018/06/afghan-regulars.html
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wLgPzs6ejuI/WyRX6EQyINI/AAAAAAAACSA/OooHOJeOD_oIvBLWOVBvV-oFErnNqXcHwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02058.JPG)
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Very well done, Will! I like your painting style.
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Thanks, Arundel!
Got the toys out last night for a game of The Men Who Would Be Kings. This time, it was inspired by this painting:
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BC8OX_2DDA0/WxAT5pgyHDI/AAAAAAAACHM/jmFHh8DBXAY7ii0o_wUxrX0xUcM_lIgQgCLcBGAs/s1600/Royal_Horse_Artillery_fleeing_from_Afghan_attack_at_the_Battle_of_Maiwand%2B%25281%2529.jpg)
The British and Indians were told to SAVE THE GUNS, while the Afghans attacked ferociously.
Stiff upper lips on full display, the 66th and the RHA prepare for the Pathan onslaught:
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQQ4noD-K8M/WyWMrnKhHnI/AAAAAAAACS0/TjufvH9H4Okv40H9ktxFEJSC4PcmlJuyACLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02066.JPG)
Before the crew can limber up, the Pathans are on them!
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VIK8K-JIDO4/WyWNR4SNBPI/AAAAAAAACT0/7Z9_hSJdMZ4FILCbQj1oGlLSh44ONMMPgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02078.JPG)
Despite losing the gun, the 66th fight bravely, and see off the attacking swordsmen twice!
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mirqP4ZWwkU/WyWNlMkxZ-I/AAAAAAAACUg/ukmpRsrluSwBSdZBqQm6NBbY-b6SFf99wCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02085.JPG)
But it was all in vain, and nothing left for the Lancers to do but fall back lest their corpses also litter the Afghan plain.
Longer write up on my blog:
http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2018/06/saving-guns-aar.html
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The Indian Army continues to grow! 29th Baluchis join the force:
http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2018/06/29th-baluchis.html
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-14yU6vTQ660/WykYqMAKFMI/AAAAAAAACVs/1uAGelh6_ggYaybTS8b3zHk_kGlGXgPNgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02096.JPG)
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Another unit: Bombay Infantry (well, sort of, hopefully somewhat close to Bombay Infantry...)
https://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2018/07/bombay-infantry.html
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfFiJ8bz704/Wz7amLAj9iI/AAAAAAAACcs/etBMuCMOocsuMhHsYPE2fPJNEDb6yX5ewCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02174.JPG)
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Last night, we tried again to save the guns. After action report here: https://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2018/07/saving-guns-take-2.html
A few photos from the battle:
Afghan horse
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rUP599uT7fA/W0EC6L0aDkI/AAAAAAAACeQ/w5Yx2A2X06UpALlrpZNt1-jrD-fWugtzQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02188.JPG)
Charging the guns
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nkxaFQeH90A/W0EC2fc7pmI/AAAAAAAACeA/3EiD-i1HLMI4D6CSqr6Et8Fsl42bSTB9QCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02190.JPG)
Flank charge on the Afghan horse!
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXy-VGpzUX0/W0EDBNqThjI/AAAAAAAACeg/JdAlqRdnPEYBgVlHsSh7uNHODA8EdhFIwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02198.JPG)
Charging the Ghazis
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8D3S_Bgf9H0/W0EDE8UBIiI/AAAAAAAACe0/XMdBYtSBG2kjGzF6MlLYL8spNi3E3AlcQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02201.JPG)
Things go a bit pear-shaped for the British...
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K7twuuWY4fQ/W0EDH3npikI/AAAAAAAACe8/SD2qqYbEQQ0bOAxooqd_YYz12ZbSNYiOwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02203.JPG)
British infantry pushed back
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J5Qd4Em43D8/W0EDIIo1ilI/AAAAAAAACfE/6lwFrbYuXkAj2VbQTh1zQEgT_O4sk0-VQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02205.JPG)
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Cool pics. I like that snazzy stripey horse blanket.
That one guy has an RPG! Time-travelling Tribesmen! :)
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That one guy has an RPG! Time-travelling Tribesmen! :)
Shhhhhhhh!
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xG966AImxM0/V5BZj-Ic1fI/AAAAAAAABHg/plM_wMHP1eYiGGE0xDdfBdbMyIboA40mwCEw/s1600/20160720_215130.jpg)
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Fun looking game Will :-*....and my eye apparently are not sharp enough to identify time travelers lol
Lon
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I love the look of your table and figures. Very well done! And it's true, those are some very forward looking tribesmen!
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Thanks, Lon and Arundel! (and Plynkes, too!)
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One more unit of regular infantry added to the Afghan army. See blog post here: https://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2018/07/afghan-regulars-this-time-in-brown.html
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fjTfVhpaH4Q/W0Vz_1BQQ-I/AAAAAAAACgY/kV-RZAOp4uEL8iKvY2mCsJlmN-NRnx73wCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02215.JPG)
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Will, great job adding units, the collection is really turning out well. Your games look fun!
I will have to follow you and the Mad Guru by building my own RHA Limbers. But not before I finish my Elephant Limbers.
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Very nice indeed. Love the flag!