In the Heart of Africa/Death in the Dark Continent - Explorers

[H.M.Stanley]

I now have two units of Askari painted so i thought i'd get started on the Porters/Bearers

A mix of Foundry and OG [damn the the OG Bearers are ugly - probably the worst figures i could ever be bothered to paint]

I'll finish off the bases in the next day or so

One more unit of askari and a  couple more bases of Porters and i'm done

Then need to varnish everything together

[H.M.Stanley]

[DGrove]

Very nice.   

[Galloping Major]

Looking good. 

As it happens, I just dug out my old VHS copy of Mountains of the Moon yesterday.



www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[H.M.Stanley]

Thanks chaps - i'm finding African skin tones difficult to paint. The camera is very unforgiving.

I think they'll look fine once based etc and used in games.

Hi Lance -  that's such a great film. Burton is a bit of a hero of mine

[H.M.Stanley]

[H.M.Stanley]

Gents  - I need just one Askari/Baluchi/Ruga-Ruga figure to finish the final unit. Anything DA really with a musket.

I could offer 2 x Copplestone Adventurer figs in exchange or give you the cash

Thanks

James

[Galloping Major]

Hi Lance -  that's such a great film. Burton is a bit of a hero of mine

I'm not surprised, quite a character 



www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Plynkes]

Burton is a bit of a hero of mine

I used to feel the same to an extent, caught up in the persona of the rakish Victorian sex explorer. He's certainly colourful and interesting. Since reading Tim Jeal's Nile book, though, I've gone off him rather a lot, and find myself unexpectedly in the Speke camp (you have to take sides in this, I'm making that a Colonial Adventures rule: We'll have no fence-sitters here ).

I think by the time they were in Tanganyika his well of courage, dash and adventuring spirit had run dry. Gone were the madcap exploits of earlier years. He was quite happy to stay safely in Kazeh, relaxing and smoking with his Arab slaver pals and fucking himself stupid, and let Speke do the exploring (yes he was ill, but so was Speke). And then he had the gall to resent Speke's success, and pretty-much dedicated the rest of his life to blackening his erstwhile friend's name. All because he couldn't stand the fact that Jack had been right. The only reason he championed Livingstone's Tanganyika/Lualaba theory was to spite Speke and his Victoria Nyanza theory. His behaviour was akin to that of a screaming toddler, and unforgivable.

A great character, fascinatingly entertaining man to read about, and refreshingly unconventional for his age (in some areas, very much not so in others: Unlike Speke who seemed genuinely interested in Africans and their culture, Burton despised them). But a petty-minded, jealous, and chronically belligerent and contrary man. He could get into an row locked in a room by himself, I swear. All in all, something of a c***, albeit a compelling one.


Hark at me, rambling on. Fascinating subject though, isn't it?




As for your figure, what is your preference? I have a tribal musketeer knocking about that you can have. Is that any use, or do you have your heart set on an askari? Wangwana did generally wear the Swahili fashion of a cloth skirt, but I'm sure the odd one in a loin cloth wouldn't hurt. You could always go at him with a bit of greenstuff.


The chap with the star by him. If you want him just PM me your address and I'll bung him in the post for you at the start of next week.

[Fanis]

Good ramble Plynkes! Loved it! You also just put the final nail on my dithering on whether to get Tim's Nile book. Bad bad plynkes!

Stanley if you have your heart set on a baluchi I have one I would be happy to exchange (I have him in triplicate). I will snap a pic of him assuming you are interested.

[airbornegrove26]

Agreed fun ramble. =)
 And great figures Stanley.  Really like how these are coming along.

[H.M.Stanley]

I used to feel the same to an extent, caught up in the persona of the rakish Victorian sex explorer. He's certainly colourful and interesting. Since reading Tim Jeal's Nile book, though, I've gone off him rather a lot, and find myself unexpectedly in the Speke camp (you have to take sides in this, I'm making that a Colonial Adventures rule: We'll have no fence-sitters here ).

I think by the time they were in Tanganyika his well of courage, dash and adventuring spirit had run dry. Gone were the madcap exploits of earlier years. He was quite happy to stay safely in Kazeh, relaxing and smoking with his Arab slaver pals and fucking himself stupid, and let Speke do the exploring (yes he was ill, but so was Speke). And then he had the gall to resent Speke's success, and pretty-much dedicated the rest of his life to blackening his erstwhile friend's name. All because he couldn't stand the fact that Jack had been right. The only reason he championed Livingstone's Tanganyika/Lualaba theory was to spite Speke and his Victoria Nyanza theory. His behaviour was akin to that of a screaming toddler, and unforgivable.

A great character, fascinatingly entertaining man to read about, and refreshingly unconventional for his age (in some areas, very much not so in others: Unlike Speke who seemed genuinely interested in Africans and their culture, Burton despised them). But a petty-minded, jealous, and chronically belligerent and contrary man. He could get into an row locked in a room by himself, I swear. All in all, something of a c***, albeit a compelling one.


Hark at me, rambling on. Fascinating subject though, isn't it?




As for your figure, what is your preference? I have a tribal musketeer knocking about that you can have. Is that any use, or do you have your heart set on an askari? Wangwana did generally wear the Swahili fashion of a cloth skirt, but I'm sure the odd one in a loin cloth wouldn't hurt. You could always go at him with a bit of greenstuff.


The chap with the star by him. If you want him just PM me your address and I'll bung him in the post for you at the start of next week.

An awesome rant my friend. I almost spat my coffee on the latest askari unit laughing

PM sent my man 

[H.M.Stanley]

Good ramble Plynkes! Loved it! You also just put the final nail on my dithering on whether to get Tim's Nile book. Bad bad plynkes!

Stanley if you have your heart set on a baluchi I have one I would be happy to exchange (I have him in triplicate). I will snap a pic of him assuming you are interested.

Hi Fanis,

I can always squeeze in another Baluchi figure. More than happy to send you the 2 x Copplestone Adventurers [1 x rifle and 1 with 2 pistols - i've used the Pith Helmet/walking stick and "Egyptian" types already] and you can surprise me with what he looks like 

If you PM me with your address i'll post him off when i'm back at work next week.

Thanks

James

[Fanis]

Nah no worries mate; I just asked in case you needed a baluchi. Don't give away that two pistols bloke; it's a top mini! 

[H.M.Stanley]

Nah no worries mate; I just asked in case you needed a baluchi. Don't give away that two pistols bloke; it's a top mini! 

Fair do's mate