Following a game using these chaps the other night, I realised it was high time I photographed them (I painted them as a short project nearly 2 years ago...) It's a small army intended for playing Death in the Dark Continent, but all the models are based individually so I can use them for other systems too. Here's the whole force:
Most of the figures are Castaway Arts, with a few Bicorne Miniatures as well. First up for a close-up are the artillery models - Castaway Arts Askari gun crew on the left, Bicorne on the right. The Bicorne minis are much rougher but have a number of models that paint up OK - like the chap waving his hat. The mountain guns are by Askari Minis in the USA.
Next up is the General and his Eritrean cavalry - the famous 'Hawk's Feathers'.
And a close-up of the General. The flag is simply a printout with some shading over the top.
On with more pictures! Here are the Bersaglieri. These are Bicorne Minis; again, rougher than the Castaway models, but I liked the variety of poses, especially the kneeling ones.
Next up are the cacciatori, back to Castaway Arts for these. I usually field these as 'Raw' troops in Death in the Dark Continent, as many new recruits arrived fresh from Italy in 1895-6.
My favourites, the Eritrean Askaris. Castaway only make a few pose variants but these are lovely, action-packed models. They did most of the fighting for the Italians so I have 8 bases of them (but only 4 in the picture.)
Detail of the Askari bugler and NCO.
Some useful models by Bicorne Minis, Italian casualties.
All the infantry bases (on 1p UK coins - the magnetic variety)slot into sabot trays from Warbases. I also drilled out the bottom of each tray and added a 5mm magnet, which holds the figure's base in place and also magnetizes the bottom of the tray. The sabot bases from Warbases are 71mm long - slightly too big for the 60mm recommended for Death in the Dark Continent, but it doesn't make any difference in play, as units are arranged with bases loosely within 2" of each other.
Finally, a quick pic of the unit's storage/transport (following ideas from Simon BigRedBat Miller): a 4-litre Really Useful Box lined with steel paper. The trays with the 5mm magnet just stick to the floor; the other models on round and oval bases have a piece of magnetic sheet underneath. The artillery crews have been slotted into a couple of Warbases 'zombie bases' for transport.
05 November 2013, 08:46:04 PM