Italians 1890s - pics updated 4th Aug

[James Morris]

Following a game using these chaps the other night, I realised it was high time I photographed them (I painted them as a short project nearly 2 years ago...)  It's a small army intended for playing Death in the Dark Continent, but all the models are based individually so I can use them for other systems too.  Here's the whole force:
Most of the figures are Castaway Arts, with a few Bicorne Miniatures as well.  First up for a close-up are the artillery models - Castaway Arts Askari gun crew on the left, Bicorne on the right.  The Bicorne minis are much rougher but have a number of models that paint up OK - like the chap waving his hat.  The mountain guns are by Askari Minis in the USA.

Next up is the General and his Eritrean cavalry - the famous 'Hawk's Feathers'.


And a close-up of the General. The flag is simply a printout with some shading over the top.  

On with more pictures!  Here are the Bersaglieri.  These are Bicorne Minis; again, rougher than the Castaway models, but I liked the variety of poses, especially the kneeling ones.

Next up are the cacciatori, back to Castaway Arts for these. I usually field these as 'Raw' troops in Death in the Dark Continent, as many new recruits arrived fresh from Italy in 1895-6.

My favourites, the Eritrean Askaris.  Castaway only make a few pose variants but these are lovely, action-packed models.  They did most of the fighting for the Italians so I have 8 bases of them (but only 4 in the picture.)

Detail of the Askari bugler and NCO.

Some useful models by Bicorne Minis, Italian casualties.

All the infantry bases (on 1p UK coins - the magnetic variety)slot into sabot trays from Warbases.  I also drilled out the bottom of each tray and added a 5mm magnet, which holds the figure's base in place and also magnetizes the bottom of the tray.  The sabot bases from Warbases are 71mm long - slightly too big for the 60mm recommended for Death in the Dark Continent, but it doesn't make any difference in play, as units are arranged with bases loosely within 2" of each other.

Finally, a quick pic of the unit's storage/transport (following ideas from Simon BigRedBat Miller): a 4-litre Really Useful Box lined with steel paper.  The trays with the 5mm magnet just stick to the floor; the other models on round and oval bases have a piece of magnetic sheet underneath. The artillery crews have been slotted into a couple of Warbases 'zombie bases' for transport.

[Conquistador]

Nice!   

Gracias,

Glenn

[Justin Buck]

Those look awesome!  I've always wanted to add some Italians to my list of colonial armies.  I may have to look into Castaway and see what they have.

Justin
the paradeground.blogspot.com

[Marine0846]

Love your figures.
I like the look of the Castaway figures.
Will check them out on their site.
Also look forward to seeing the rest of the army.

[Ray Rivers]

 

Those look rather nice!

[Poiter50]

Oh, Satan, stay away!!

Lovely work.

[juergen c. olk]

 army looks great. I have an italian army to ,half are conversions I did in th early nineties before anyone made any. I wish Strateggia and Tacticca were still around,they nice  wagons and such besides their normal. Does anyone still have their product in stock? Castaway figures paintup great not much clutter. again great job.

[James Morris]

Love your figures.
I like the look of the Castaway figures.
Will check them out on their site.
Also look forward to seeing the rest of the army.

Thank you.  I can thoroughly recommend Castaway Arts, they delivered very quickly (from Aus to UK) and have a worldwide post free deal if you order over $200 Aus.  This was the clincher for me, as I also ordered a number of Ethiopians to supplement my Abyssinian forces.  It's also useful that all figures are sold singly, so I had no spare models left over.

[Traveler Man]

Very nice indeed! 

[Atheling]

Quality stuff James 

Darrell.

[gringo]

love the set up and the figures....top notch!!

regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com
www.gringo40s.blogspot.com
and 28mm ranges

[Dewbakuk]

Saw those the other night, they do look good as a force. Pretty sure you based them on 2p's not 1p's though 

[Driscoles]

Very nice looking army.
I like the basing and I need the rectangular bases too !

[pierrebi]

army looks great. I have an italian army to ,half are conversions I did in th early nineties before anyone made any. I wish Strateggia and Tacticca were still around,they nice  wagons and such besides their normal. Does anyone still have their product in stock? Castaway figures paintup great not much clutter. again great job.

You can find "Strategia & Tattica miniatures" here http://www.strategianova.it/soldatini-e-resine/guerre-coloniali-italiane-25mm
It seems the web site do not have an english page you can send them a message in english in this page
http://www.strategianova.it/contatti

[James Morris]

Saw those the other night, they do look good as a force. Pretty sure you based them on 2p's not 1p's though 

I'm saving money at the moment, these guys are all on 1ps....