Author Topic: Irregulars, settlers and boers ? (Read 2909 times)

Belisarius · « **on:** 17 January 2013, 06:43:12 PM »

You know how it is a new box of figures is released and you think to yourself hmmmm I wonder if............. It had been on my mind to use the rifles left over from the Perry Anser to equip a small group of civilian types with breech loaders for use in Africa - comments and suggestions or alternatively reasons why they might prove unsuitable would be greatly appreciated.

Plynkes · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 January 2013, 04:18:09 PM »

For me the only problem are those cartridge boxes (which go more with muzzle-loading rifles). You really need to replace them with bandoliers over the shoulder or round the waist (or both). If you want them to be Boers for the 1899 war I would give them a mix of pouched bandoliers sprinkled with a few of the type that held individual rounds, if for 1880 then just the single-round type. You will hardly find a photo of a Boer without a bandolier over his shoulder.

For earlier Trek Boers you don't need bandoliers and you would see the odd cartridge box, but of course they wouldn't have breech-loaders.

Edit: Sorry to be a prophet of doom but I just had another thought. I am struggling to remember ever seeing a photo of a Boer (or a similar armed settler-type on the British side) ever wearing a blanket roll. These kind of troops almost always fought as mounted infantry, and so they didn't need to burden themselves with their blankets, the horses could carry those. Also they would get in the way of the ubiquitous bandolier.

Maybe you could kill two birds with one stone and file the blankets down a little, and then convert them to bandoliers with green stuff or other modelling putty?

Belisarius · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 January 2013, 10:22:35 PM »

Thank you for such a comprehensive and constructive reply.It appears I will have to think again . Please allow me to say that the release of plastic boxes has drawn me into periods and rule sets that I would,nt have gamed in before, with the inevitable result that I have then bought metal figures to suppliment the core of an army or list. I believe that younger gamers in particular can benifit.

Belisarius · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 January 2013, 10:33:48 PM »

By the by would this chap pass muster ?

Plynkes · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 January 2013, 11:31:53 PM »

Definitely. He makes a great Boer burgher, for either of the two later British wars I think (and if you were to give him a rifled musket instead, the earlier ones). The waistcoat and shirt look really cements the effect of a Boer citizen-volunteer, but his look is not too specifically rooted in a particular time to rule either conflict out altogether.

I like 'im.

Plynkes · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 January 2013, 11:34:04 PM »

He'd make quite a good Allan Quatermain too. That look fits the period the stories are set in much more than the "Safari Suit" he is usually depicted as wearing.

Franz_Josef · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 January 2013, 06:16:58 PM »

And watch out about the top hat. Among early Boer Commandos (a unit, not a troop type), it was a sign of senior rank. So one would be conceivable, but you wouldn't expect to find multiples of them.