TWWBK Cover

[ACW Gamer]

Can anyone give me information about the action depicted on the cover of the rules? I bought the Kindle edition and I can't find it credited in the text. The cover is what hooked me and I would like to know what British unit is on the cover.

[Will Bailie]

Based on what I see (Government tartan, black and red diced hose) the men in kilts are from the 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch).  They are fighting against Pathans.  The Highlanders are equipped with Martini-Henry rifles, which would put the action roughly 1871-1889.

Was the Black Watch stationed in India in this time?  I know they were in Egypt and the Sudan, and they were stationed in India in the 1890s. 

[Big Martin Back]

I suspect it's entirely imaginary. They were in India during the Mutiny and in the Ashanti campaign in 1874, but they were on home service until they went out to Egypt.

[Leigh Metford]

I like Peter Dennis' work very much, but in all his illustrations of colonial British troops I've seen he's never managed to successfully depict the shape of the pith helmet: not tall or conical enough.

The Pathans in that cover picture don't convince either; the leading tribesman's costume in particular suggests an Arab from Egypt, southern Arabia or East Africa rather than a Pathan.     

[Smith]

92nd Highlanders, Second Anglo-Afghan War, but it's not a specific encounter.

However, in fairness to Peter Dennis, there was some pretty harsh colour shift from the original painting, leaving the the kilts much too blue.

[Will Bailie]

The colour shift must have been brutal to wipe out the yellow line from the Gordon tartan! 

[LordSpode1879]

If you find it inspirational as I do .....why quibble enjoy!

[ACW Gamer]

Here is my dilemma. The Perry's Black Watch figures are in more of the poses I would like to use for my game. But it appears that I need to use the 92nd figures.

The difference seems to be the number of tassels on the sporran....but a google search has yield illustrations and models wth 2 or 5 tassels! Part of me says to just buy the Black Watch figures, paint them like the 92nd a defy anyone to notice the difference

But. the cover does make me want to create "Smirnoff" style rock out croppings for Highlander to storm under a hail of Pathan fire.

[ACW Gamer]

Lord Spode, you posted as I typed above. Sounds like the answer to my dilemma!

Anyone know of a website where I can see the original painting?

[Will Bailie]

Part of me says to just buy the Black Watch figures, paint them like the 92nd a defy anyone to notice the difference

That's what I did.  I chopped off the hackle, and painted them as Gordons.  I wanted the 5-tassle sporran to match the illustrations I'd found from the 2nd Anglo-Afghan War.

[ACW Gamer]

Will Bailie, that's exactly what I want to do!

Was it hard to get rid of the Hackle? (man, that sounds strange).

[Will Bailie]

It sliced off nicely with a sharp knife.  (don't cut yourself!)  After that, once painted over it would be difficult to notice where the hackle had been, and then only if you really were looking for it.

[LordSpode1879]

https://goo.gl/images/k9jv0e

I hope this works!

[ACW Gamer]

Thanks Will Bailie and Lord Spode. Looking forward to this project.

[LordSpode1879]

I look forward to seeing the results