Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Captain Blood on August 06, 2008, 10:01:37 PM

Title: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Captain Blood on August 06, 2008, 10:01:37 PM
As promised / threatened, here are some shots of my full NW Frontier tabletop...

The valiant defenders of the British Residency, Probyn’s Station, the attacking Pathan hordes of Akbar Khan, and the plucky relief column led by Colonel Sir Bindon Blood. This is a scenario I’ve played several times with my group of gaming friends - although in this instance, I just laid out the board to take some pics in a typical ‘mid-game’ moment.

The British infantry are mainly old Essex figures - the first figures I painted having (at the time) been out of wargaming for about 10 years. And that was about 10 years ago! So in truth, they are a bit rubbish, but they do the job.

Almost all the other figures are Foundry from their NW Frontier, Indian Mutiny, Darkest Africa and Boer War ranges.

Yes, I use Pathans, Baluchis and Zanzibaris pretty much interchangeably. I’m sure this wouldn’t satisfy the purists - and obviously the Pathans wore some distinctive items like the poshteen coat. But ultimately, for wargames purposes, one villainous looking dude in a robe, wearing a turban or skull cap, and armed with a wickedly curved scimitar, is much like another.
Anyway, give me Copplestone Zanzibaris over Old Glory Pathans any day.

The resin buildings are mostly Monolith, plus a few from other manufacturers – Hovels, Ian Weekley (now carried by Magister Militum) and so on.
The boulder-strewn rocky outcrops are by Snapdragon Studio.

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard11.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard4.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard7.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard9.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard13.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard5.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard6.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard22.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard20.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard2.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard19.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard17.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard16.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard15.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard14.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/NWfrontierboard10.jpg)





Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: commissarmoody on August 06, 2008, 11:09:33 PM
vary nice :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: sneakgun on August 07, 2008, 12:03:59 AM
 :o :o :o :o  WOW!!! Truly magnificent!
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: twrchtrwyth on August 07, 2008, 12:10:10 AM
Wow, excellent. 8)
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: lethallee61 on August 07, 2008, 12:27:25 AM
Simply quite magnificent.

That is the standard to which all modellers / gamers should aspire.
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Operator5 on August 07, 2008, 01:49:58 AM
I'm not sure I could ever convey how great that table looks. And with the figures added... it's stunning. You really captured something as there is just enough color to not be bland but not so much that it looks technicolor.


Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Rabbitz on August 07, 2008, 01:56:09 AM
That looks awesome, that goes for the figures and the terrain :-*
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Mad Doc Morris on August 07, 2008, 06:01:20 AM
Everything is said about the beautiful setup. But I admire your camera work, too. It's art in its own right. So may I ask which equipment you're using?
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Geudens on August 07, 2008, 07:38:04 AM
No sir, no, you must be a cheat!!!  These are most probably genuine 19th C black & white pics that you have coloured in!  :D

Wonderful and no doubt a joy to use in battle!

Rudi
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: itchy on August 07, 2008, 07:39:07 AM
excellent painting,terrain, photography the lot really.I think the mix of figures especially the europeans give it an Hollywood look?
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Malamute on August 07, 2008, 08:20:45 AM
Wow, that was well worth the wait. Pure Lead porn at its best ;D Top stuff Sir, and the joint winner of the painting competition well done. :)
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Shikari Sahib on August 07, 2008, 08:21:33 AM
Wonderful ;D
expecially for me as I'm a NWF fanatic.
it remind me a game of many years ago "the Amabala Station" when a handful of British tiger's hunters were besieged by Afridis tribesmen.
Again very well done.
Piero
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Captain Blood on August 07, 2008, 08:34:54 AM
Everything is said about the beautiful setup. But I admire your camera work, too. It's art in its own right. So may I ask which equipment you're using?

Thanks all.
I am delighted to be a purveyor of lead porn!  lol

Doc M - I dropped my old Fuji while taking these shots, and bent the lens.  :(
So I just bought a Canon Powershot A720, and it's very good indeed. These shots are all with the Canon. At last I can set aperture settings and exposure times, to get more figures in focus in a shot. And it was quite cheap too - under 150 GBP anyway. Bit fiddly to use, but I'm sure I'll get used to the interface...

Cheers

Richard
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: RJ on August 07, 2008, 08:53:38 AM
Wow CB that looks awesome!  :o

Great collection of figures and terrain, sure you all have a great time gaming with them.

Well done sir!
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Mad Doc Morris on August 07, 2008, 09:00:59 AM
Thanks a lot, my captain! Maybe time to replace my old Cyber- by a Powershot. Although, I don't believe that alone would do the trick.  o_o
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Driscoles on August 07, 2008, 09:16:27 AM
This is very inspiring and beautiful
Björn
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: thejammedgatling on August 07, 2008, 09:21:34 AM
Lovely attention to detail and very strong colours which capture the spirit of the game well. Good photos too...looks like that camera was a good investment. I'd love to see you do the British retaliation on the hill fort of Akhbar Khan. I suppose you'd need a fairly vertiginous gaming table..Anyone out there made one?

Amazingly good timing for me as I have a heap of Bengal lancers and Indian infantry crying to me to paint them from my shelf. You have inspired me. I loved the colour scheme for your lancers..is this real or a little Hollywood? Excuse my ignorance. It seems from a quick web search that there were a plethora of uniforms for the Indian troops during the Second Afgan War. Have you come across any really good web based sources that could help me?

Thanks for sharing captain!
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Hammers on August 07, 2008, 09:43:11 AM
Bloody hell what an awesom sight! :-*
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Captain Blood on August 07, 2008, 09:47:37 AM
I loved the colour scheme for your lancers..is this real or a little Hollywood? Excuse my ignorance. It seems from a quick web search that there were a plethora of uniforms for the Indian troops during the Second Afgan War. Have you come across any really good web based sources that could help me?


Skinners Horse, 1909, as taken (more or less) from the Blandford colour series book on British Cavalry Uniforms. Think this is really parade dress rather than campaign dress, but what the heck. Looks good on the tabletop!  ;)
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: dodge on August 07, 2008, 10:12:16 AM
Can't convey any more superlatives than those that have gone before. well done.

Dodge
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Paul E on August 07, 2008, 10:13:04 AM
Fantastic work.

Great to see the Essex Miniatures Brits making an outing.
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Aaron on August 07, 2008, 02:06:06 PM
Magnificent! I am also quite taken by the Skinner's Horse uniform. I am sporadically working on some Guides cavalry at the moment, but I think lancers must be next!
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: odd duck on August 08, 2008, 01:30:05 AM
OH BOY!!!What a great collection!! I have to do more gaming in that period!!Great work!!
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Grimm on August 08, 2008, 10:35:00 AM
man ! I realy love your figures !!
keep on the good work !
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Bugsda on August 08, 2008, 10:41:33 PM
Superbly colourful set up, wargames porn at it's best. :-*
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: theoldschool on August 08, 2008, 10:46:28 PM
Quite superb, Private Widdle would be proud
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: theoldschool on August 08, 2008, 10:52:41 PM
Richard you know I'm going to ask. What's the natty red colour on the bases
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: bandit86 on August 09, 2008, 05:41:59 AM
What can I say :o :o :o :o :o
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Ramshackle_Curtis on August 09, 2008, 09:37:21 AM
Gret models, nice paint jobs, excellent presentation! Can I come and play a game on your board!? ;)
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: fastolfrus on August 09, 2008, 02:44:49 PM
Lovely work, and since no one else seems to have mentioned it yet, really like that backdrop and the way it blends in with the table.
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Captain Blood on August 09, 2008, 03:48:58 PM
Thanks all.
I did paint the backdrop some years ago, to go with this 'red earth' basing scheme... It does me for NWF, pirates and Future Wars...
Pat - actually, most of these figures were painted several years ago, so they are based using the 'old method' - very laboriously applied and textured Milliput, with bits of aquarium gravel pushed into it.
I bless the day I switched to the paint / grit / sand / PVA gloop - takes approximately one tenth of the time, if that.
The red earth came about because of some pics I saw in National Geographic or somewhere... I just wanted something that wasn't normal temperate earth and grass, but wasn't boring sand either.
It's just a mix of cheap hobby acrylic (the big 99p bottles - half in half 'caramel' and 'chestnut'. It's not even drybrushed - just flat colour, with the rocks and grass picked out...
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Admiral Benbow on August 12, 2008, 04:21:39 PM
Ahhh, it always pays to stay a couple of days away from the LAF: what a nice surprise  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Darkoath on August 12, 2008, 10:34:18 PM
Wow you painted that backdrop too!  Incredible!  I think it really adds to your table!  Great scenery and wonderful miniatures!  Thanks for posting the photographs Captain! :D
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on August 13, 2008, 09:48:10 AM
Superb!

It's not just the fact that the combination of figures, table and backdrop fit together so well, but the attention to detail that make these pics so wonderful - eg the henna-dyed red beards so characteristic of the NWF tribes. You've even made the Essex Brits look good enough to mix with the later, better sculpts. I love the "full dress" of the Skinners Horse, BTW. So much more interesting than the usual khaki.

These pics are a lovely surprise present after the two weeks away from LAF due to holidays and the inevitable subsequent long hours back at work  :D
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Lowtardog on August 13, 2008, 10:34:04 AM
How did I miss this, stunning CB "Go to your Gawd like a soldier"
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: archangel1 on August 13, 2008, 01:58:51 PM
Very nice figures! I like the matte finish on the minis, some of the colours are almost like pastels.  I'm impressed by the way you handled the colouring of the 'Yellow Boys'.  Never could get a handle on painting yellow, myself.  That's why I always leaned towards Cureton's Multanis.  Blue, I can do!  :D

Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Aaron on August 13, 2008, 02:55:25 PM
Yellows were a bugbear of mine also for a long time. I went to more pastel yellows using Vallejo's German camo orange ochre, yellow ochre, and yellow sand (I think) and it made a world of difference! Yellow ink over it all makes it less pastel.
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Super_Gibbon on August 13, 2008, 05:08:59 PM
Just to add another voice to the chorus, those shots are freaking awesome! Incredible job.
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Captain Blood on August 13, 2008, 05:45:11 PM
Thank you boys, for your very generous words.

I am now almost tempted to show you my full pirate table... ;)

Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: redle58 on September 02, 2008, 04:44:12 AM
Very inspiring work! I'm doing something similar (nowhere near as good mind) only in 15mm. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Poiter50 on September 02, 2008, 10:55:37 AM
Tease!!  ;)
Thank you boys, for your very generous words.

I am now almost tempted to show you my full pirate table... ;)


Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Hammers on September 02, 2008, 11:04:06 AM
Blood, since I am in the process of planning my own later 2oth century NWF table I wonder if you could list the miniatures you use for Pathans. I recognize some Foundry Indians and DA Baluchis. Are there others?

Also I found this article on Pathans armaments which I think is enlightening in many ways:
http://www.king-emperor.com/article5-armstrade.htm (http://www.king-emperor.com/article5-armstrade.htm)

Never mind that, going reading your original post I see that you have a pretty conclusive list there.

According to the aformentioned article jezails seems to have been in very frequent use well into the 20th century
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Shikari Sahib on September 02, 2008, 11:47:54 AM
Blood, since I am in the process of planning my own later 2oth century NWF table I wonder if you could list the miniatures you use for Pathans. I recognize some Foundry Indians and DA Baluchis. Are there others?

Also I found this article on Pathans armaments which I think is enlightening in many ways:
http://www.king-emperor.com/article5-armstrade.htm (http://www.king-emperor.com/article5-armstrade.htm)

Never mind that, going reading your original post I see that you have a pretty conclusive list there.

According to the aformentioned article jezails seems to have been in very frequent use well into the 20th century

The Pathans were always impressed by the " big gun" and jezails were formidable guns for sniping but only too 300 yards or so on.
at the turn of the 20th century the most common rifles were the Martini-Henry , because many stolen from the Indian's army  and repro done by artisans;
 and later the Lee-Enfield, as the weapon artisans,expecially in Darra, make good reproduction.
still do repro of the AK in this time.
many weapons comes from the Persia border, and so rifles of many types were introduced on the Frontier, German, French.
good book is "Gun running on the NWF" by the ubiquous Younghusband , if I remeber well.
Piero
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Doomhippie on September 02, 2008, 04:15:15 PM
That's it, I'm leaving this forum unless you guys start posting some badly done models that make me feel less insignificant again...  >:(
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: garyapsledene on September 04, 2008, 03:28:29 PM
Not just the way the pictures presented which is the sort you expect to find in a glossy Wargame mag, but the close ups are fantastic.

Is there anyone here who thinks this should be set in one of the Mags with a write up?

I knew it was a good idea to join this forum last weekend.
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Shikari Sahib on September 05, 2008, 11:04:43 AM
I have attached scan documents referring to Pathans division, equipment and dress.
Piero
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/S25C-208090709051PATHANS2.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/S25C-208090709050PATHANS.jpg
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on September 05, 2008, 12:21:00 PM
I have attached scan documents referring to Pathans division, equipment and dress.
Piero
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/S25C-208090709051PATHANS2.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/S25C-208090709050PATHANS.jpg

Fascinating! thanks for posting those links  :)
Title: Re: My North West Frontier table - pic heavy!
Post by: twrchtrwyth on September 06, 2008, 12:54:43 PM
I have attached scan documents referring to Pathans division, equipment and dress.
Piero
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/S25C-208090709051PATHANS2.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/S25C-208090709050PATHANS.jpg
Cheers.