Dorking 1875 is a Project Log (Plog) for my ‘Before & After Dorking’ project. The influence is Victorian Military Fiction (not Victorian Science Fiction) with Chesney’s novella to the fore. As best I can, I want the project to be historically viable, using units, uniforms and equipment from the time. One aspiration is to develop an alternative narrative for the invasion, which will develop and be played out as a series of campaign games.
FYI, completed units etc are carried over to the ‘Before & After Dorking’ blog:
https://badorking.blogspot.com/
P.1 Intro re background and terrain
P.2 Thoughts on using Home Service Helmet in 1875
P.4-5 Beginnings of more houses
P.6 Civilians
P.7-8 Bavarian Jägers
P.8-9 First game using Rebels & Patriots
P.11 35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment
P.12 Bavarian 12th Infantry Regiment
P.14 Discussion of project locations
P.14 Alternative Essex landings & brickyard research
P.15 Essex Yeomanry plus recap of other finished figures
P.17 Terrain test with all units to date
P.19 Bavarian Cuirassiers WIP
P.20 Bavarian Cuirassiers finished & armies so far
P.20 WIP Bavarian Command & Tower Hamlets Rifle Volunteers
P.21 Second game using NMTBH
P.22 Bavarian Artillery (WIP)
P.23 Bavarian Command and Artillery painted (see also p.26)
P.24 Limber WIP
P.24 AAR = The Slaughterhouse 3 (28 images) ; part 1
P.25 AAR = The Slaughterhouse 3 (17 more images) ; part 2
P.25 AAR = The Slaughterhouse 3 (1 more image) ; Epilogue
P.26 Bavarian artillery with painting errors corrected
P.27 Bavarian limber WIP
P.27 Bavarian Field Engineers Wip
P.28 Bavarian OOB
P.28 On the painting table: Bavarian limber, engineers and infantry
P.28 Thoughts on machine guns
P.28 Third attempt at getting the Bavarian artillery crew right
P.29 Introducing the blog
P.29 Feldl MG progress
P.30 Blog progress
P.30 link to discussion on Bavarian medic, supply, railway troops
P.30 Artillery, Engineer & Infantry units finished
P.31 Some history of the 5th (Plaistow) Essex RV
P.32 Bavarian Chevaleuger conversions WIP
P.32 British Lifeguards converted
I regularly say that I won’t be starting new projects and then I do
. But this one isn’t entirely new as it will (mostly) redeploy terrain from my Gothic Horror and ECW projects. Also, for the bigger games the heavy lifting will be shared with others.
Btw, I pondered where to place this project as it’s not Victorian Science Fiction but Victorian Military Fiction (steam tanks etc aren’t my thing
). But it’s here as here is where most of the British Home Service troops seem to hang out.
So, it’s 1875 and the German Invaders have landed near Worthing, advancing north through Horsham to what could be a decisive battle near Dorking. Meanwhile there’s been a feint landing at Harwich and an attempt will be made to seize the Woolwich Arsenal. So far, so “Reminisces of a Volunteer”.
This side project follows a separate landing, by a Bavarian Corps, on the north of bank of the Thames. The plan being to seize intact the London docks while taking out the Artillery ranges at Shoeburyness and the fort at Tilbury. Thus a role for my Whitechapel and rural Essex terrain.
The terrain has threads of its own, but here are a few tasters, some unpainted:
My starting forces comprise:
GERMAN
The Bavarian infantry by Eagles of Empire, plus a Krupp gun from Outpost.
BRITISH
The plastic Perry Zulu British Line Infantry in Home Service Helmets, various armed civilians for a resistance, and I’m having a go at creating Rifle Volunteers by combining/converting plastic Perry Sudan British and Nappy British, plus a 3 pounder manned by Artillery Volunteers.
There is much to do!
More to follow soon.
Rules will be Rebels and Patriots, with the starting rosters already drawn up.