Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: pacarat on December 31, 2016, 05:20:17 PM

Title: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: pacarat on December 31, 2016, 05:20:17 PM
Had the usual suspects over for a couple of games last night. We have been working on our Congo forces for the last couple of months, and this was our first opportunity to try the rules.

We ran two scenarios.

King of the Apes - Forest Tribes facing White Men Expedition
Jewel of Africa - Zanzibaris ambushed by African Kingdom

Consensus was this rule set is a keeper. As usual got wound up in the game and didn't take enough pics...

We still have a bit to do on some of the figs and animals - mostly base work. Also want to do more natural looking flora for the Savannah theme, and touch up all the plastic foliage with my airbrush.

(http://i.imgur.com/wTjCYjk.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/AikNX1I.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/coq6ZrS.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/LDnCd1A.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/xGraWF4.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/xRm9yKz.jpg)


(http://i.imgur.com/NqkwBRr.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/UGMWiaw.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/6NC6rZh.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/1sqkG30.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/5ROBSUW.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/OUpKKIW.jpg)
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Argonor on January 01, 2017, 09:01:35 PM
I have only played one game (at a convention), but totally agree on the rules; it is a very playable game, with fast and streamlined play.

Your wildlife and jungle terrain collection is great!  :-*
Where did you get the smaller ostriches?

I really need to get some jungle terrain built - I have plenty of plastic plants (and droves of cake deco palms)---
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: pacarat on January 01, 2017, 09:26:16 PM
I have only played one game (at a convention), but totally agree on the rules; it is a very playable game, with fast and streamlined play.

Your wildlife and jungle terrain collection is great!  :-*
Where did you get the smaller ostriches?

I really need to get some jungle terrain built - I have plenty of plastic plants (and droves of cake deco palms)---

Thanks...

Ostriches are from Irregular Miniatures, IIRC. 28mm and 15mm scales..
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Furt on January 01, 2017, 09:31:30 PM
Excellent looking table. You have a miniature zoo!!  :o
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: pocoloco on January 01, 2017, 09:32:53 PM
Wonderful terrain and minis!  :-*

Must be a treat to play with that set-up  8)
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Argonor on January 01, 2017, 09:53:40 PM
Ostriches are from Irregular Miniatures, IIRC. 28mm and 15mm scales..

Thanks - I hadn't thought of using 15 mm models for young birds. Definitely works!
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Hobbyone on January 02, 2017, 08:55:15 AM
Extraordinary, we are in savannah ... we are in full 19th, and yes there were still plenty of animals .... Bravo good work.

Fred
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Dr. The Viking on January 02, 2017, 09:07:53 AM
Mmmmm Congo!

Looks like good fun!

I've succumbed and painted a Zanzibari slaver train as well... and am working on an African kingdom now.
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Elk101 on January 02, 2017, 10:05:41 AM
That's a very impressive set up. Any chance of a run down on the other animal ranges?
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Mad Lord Snapcase on January 02, 2017, 05:10:25 PM
What a superb looking set-up! Must be a real pleasure to play on that.
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: joroas on January 02, 2017, 05:58:27 PM
Where did you get the mat?
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: pacarat on January 02, 2017, 06:03:36 PM
Thanks all for the positive comments. We like to set the bar high for our tables... :)

I will try to get some closeups posted on the animals soon.

Off the top of my head:

Ostriches - metal Irregular Miniatures (both 25 and 15mm scales)
Cape Buffaloes, Rhinos - Plastic toys from Hobby Lobby (mojo minis)
Leopard - plastic toy
Oryx, Hyenas, Wildebeest, Jackals, Buffaloes -  metal Iron Wind / Ral Partha
Giraffes - small ones are plastic toys, two large are ceramic models culled from an african-themed candle holder (two giraffe grazing on an acacia tree) found at a thrift shop
Kong - resin Acheson Creations 28mm
Funts - plastic Scheich/Safari World

I have a menagerie in the works to include:

vultures (flying and on ground)
hippos (on land and semi-submerged)
crocs (same)
zebras
lions
cheetahs
meerkats
gorillas
warthogs


would love to source some more herding types - topi, gazelles, kudu, hartebeest, etc.



Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: pacarat on January 02, 2017, 06:04:06 PM
Where did you get the mat?

cigar box mats..
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Hupp n at em on May 08, 2017, 06:41:01 PM
That is a huge array of wildlife, great looking game!  :-*
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Gazjones on May 09, 2017, 01:14:48 PM
That is a fantastic table  ;)
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Arundel on May 09, 2017, 02:31:37 PM
I can only repeat that it looks amazing. Love all the wildlife, flora, etc. I'd love to play on a table like that!
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: pacarat on May 12, 2017, 02:22:05 AM
I can only repeat that it looks amazing. Love all the wildlife, flora, etc. I'd love to play on a table like that!

Thanks!

We haven't revisited this era since these games - but I have painted up another 50 or so assorted figures.



Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Abbner Home on May 12, 2017, 07:54:03 PM
That is blanking brilliant - the gemsbok in particular Is spot on!
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: pacarat on December 29, 2017, 12:27:45 AM
Thanks for the comments. Been distracted with other periods (FG-GA and post-apoc) for a bit, so have not updated this thread as a result.

Finally got around to basing some of the critters. (Doing a major basing party over the holidays ~400 figures on the table)


Doing a bit of variation based on species. Gorillas and hippos get more green for lush or wet areas, antelope and rhinos more tan and yellow to represent the savannah. Bufflo somewhere in the middle.

(http://i.imgur.com/0cvRy9O.jpg)

Once I get the human figures' basing finished I will post pics here.
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: FifteensAway on December 29, 2017, 03:44:37 PM
However did I miss this thread!  Oh, the shame, the shame.  Move over Richard from War in 15 mm - previous holder of Critter Commander title.  It is now yours.  Until I get mine all painted, based, and photographed.   ;D

While all the people stuff are just fine and the terrain is good it is the animals that just make it for me.  Who knows why but it just does, love games with lots of critters roaming around, especially Africa. 

Those deep black Cape Buffalo were a bit dark for me.  Like the newer versions in the tray.  I have 96 to paint for my herd - but in 15 mm, naturally.  Wish I could find more gazelle types in 15 mm for Africa, using Irregular's pronghorns as stand-ins and painting as different species. 

Really loved that first photograph in the thread and I, too, want a more careful coverage of your zoological hegemony.

I've used a variety of sources for my animal collection - suggest you check out the craft stores for the TOOB animals.  That's where I found my okapis (again, for 15 mm in my case).  Zoo gift shops, rarely, craft stores, thrift shops, HATT jungle set, Irregular Miniatures, Splintered Light Miniatures, Minifigs naked elephants, Peter Pig crocs in Africa range, have all helped build my collection.  While only have about 150 painted, I'm well north of 600 animals for my African set up.  Never be as well painted as some of yours but they'll work great in a game.

I will be using your work to inspire pushing forward on mine.  Thanks for posting!
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: pacarat on December 29, 2017, 04:18:12 PM
However did I miss this thread!  Oh, the shame, the shame.  Move over Richard from War in 15 mm - previous holder of Critter Commander title.  It is now yours.  Until I get mine all painted, based, and photographed.   ;D

While all the people stuff are just fine and the terrain is good it is the animals that just make it for me.  Who knows why but it just does, love games with lots of critters roaming around, especially Africa. 

Those deep black Cape Buffalo were a bit dark for me.  Like the newer versions in the tray.  I have 96 to paint for my herd - but in 15 mm, naturally.  Wish I could find more gazelle types in 15 mm for Africa, using Irregular's pronghorns as stand-ins and painting as different species. 

Really loved that first photograph in the thread and I, too, want a more careful coverage of your zoological hegemony.

I've used a variety of sources for my animal collection - suggest you check out the craft stores for the TOOB animals.  That's where I found my okapis (again, for 15 mm in my case).  Zoo gift shops, rarely, craft stores, thrift shops, HATT jungle set, Irregular Miniatures, Splintered Light Miniatures, Minifigs naked elephants, Peter Pig crocs in Africa range, have all helped build my collection.  While only have about 150 painted, I'm well north of 600 animals for my African set up.  Never be as well painted as some of yours but they'll work great in a game.

I will be using your work to inspire pushing forward on mine.  Thanks for posting!

Thanks for the "coronation"...  :D   I'll hold the critter crown ready to pass on to the next deserving poster - just too many good things going on here at LAF. The bar keeps raising and it's great for inspiration and ideas.

I agree it's the animals that makes Africa, Africa. And I expect we have no idea what it was really like in the pre-european/colonial days. Must have been a spectacle.

Yep, the black buffalo are needing some TLC - that is the stock painting from mfgr. I haven't decided what to do to weather them up. Been looking for some small birds to place on their backs, too.

I regularly scrounge through toy, thrift, and department stores for anything suitable to use, plus online sources, and convention dealers and flea markets.

I have both Irregular and SLM 15s, love them both. I was doing mail order with AMEX travelers checks to Irregular back in the 80s! Mail order from US to UK was always a lesson in patience back then...

Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: dinohunterpoa on January 09, 2018, 11:21:44 PM

AWESOME table, CONGRATULATIONS!!!  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: FifteensAway on January 11, 2019, 07:07:12 AM
So, recently discovered that Museum Miniatures have a four pose herd of Onagers in 15 mm.  I will be using these as zebras (and some as onagers for other theaters of zoological action).  Made a 'mistake' and ordered one too many packs and will convert some - or all - of these to dead animals.  This will give be 96 zebras (though perhaps need to keep in two separate herds of 48 each if they don't mix well with the ones I already have) to go along with my 96 Cape Buffalo.  Still hoping for more African antelope models in 15 mm.  I'm itching to work on my critters - but I guess I have a 'rash' of itches, Old West, AWI, ACW, Boxer Rebellion, and it seems some Indian Mutiny might be 'breaking out' all in competition for my time.

So, pacarat, have their been additions to your awesome collection of critters?
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: pacarat on January 11, 2019, 06:43:32 PM
So, recently discovered that Museum Miniatures have a four pose herd of Onagers in 15 mm.  I will be using these as zebras (and some as onagers for other theaters of zoological action).  Made a 'mistake' and ordered one too many packs and will convert some - or all - of these to dead animals.  This will give be 96 zebras (though perhaps need to keep in two separate herds of 48 each if they don't mix well with the ones I already have) to go along with my 96 Cape Buffalo.  Still hoping for more African antelope models in 15 mm.  I'm itching to work on my critters - but I guess I have a 'rash' of itches, Old West, AWI, ACW, Boxer Rebellion, and it seems some Indian Mutiny might be 'breaking out' all in competition for my time.

So, pacarat, have their been additions to your awesome collection of critters?


A dozem African cattle painted but not yet based - have some generic antelope in the works too.
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: Lord Raglan on January 11, 2019, 07:25:55 PM
Love the layout buddy, your commitment to wildlife conservation is commendable my good sir!!!
Title: Re: Congo: The Adventure Begins...
Post by: pacarat on January 11, 2019, 08:25:58 PM
Love the layout buddy, your commitment to wildlife conservation is commendable my good sir!!!

What is Africa, if not the animals in their bazillions...?


Not quite there, but working on it... :)