Latest Additions and some thoughts...

I am still plugging away with my Mongols Project and as you can see by the latest chart below, the numbers are increasing all the time. The new order from Irregular arrived a few days ago so another unit of LC for the 2nd tuman and another of Chinese MI Spear will soon be added to the list. I also sent to Pendraken for a bag of their Arab infantry to go with the Khrazmians whom as you can see are still sadly lacking in infantry and unfortunately, I can't use anything as a substitute. I reckon it's about time I had another go with my rules to see how they are working...and of course to jog my memory on how to use them. 

The latest batch of articles are almost ready for Henry, I am just letting them sit for a week before I proof-read them prior to e-mailing. I also have to take some pictures but the lighting set-up in Narnia is not quite of photographic quality so I will have to work out something there. I have three angle-poise desk lights so at some stage they might be called into service.

Nationality	Manufacturer	Troop Type	Units Infantry	Units Cavalry	Figs Infantry	Figs Cavalry
Mongol	Irregular	EHC Keshik		1		21
	Irregular	MC/HC		3		72
	Irregular	LC		11		135
	Pendraken	MC/HC		1		21
	Pendraken	LC		1		12
	Command				1	13
		Total		17	1	274
Chinese	Irregular	HC		1		21
	Irregular	LC		3		36
	Irregular	HI	2		84
	Irregular	M/LI (X Bow)	4		114
	Irregular	M/LI (Bow)	3		60
	Irregular	MI (Spear)	2		66
	Irregular	Rocket	1
	Command				8
		Total	12	4	332	57
Khwarezmia	Irregular	HC		3		63
	Irregular	LC		3		36
	Irregular	MI	1		30
	Command
		Total	1	6	30	99
Poland	Pendraken	HC		4		80
	Pendraken	MI levy	2		60
	Pendraken	LI X Bow	1		21
	Pendraken	Inf Peasants	1		38
	Pendraken	LI Bow	3		64
		Total	7	4	183	80
		Grand Totals	20	31	546	510

Another thing I have been toying with is Russians in 10mm for the Mongol Project. To my knowledge no single manufacturer makes them so it would be a matter of mix and match existing ranges.

Some of the Irregular Arab cavalry (TC3) from the Medieval Range have the conical style of helmet which I have already used for the Khwarizmians and would be useful for boyars and some druzhina while TC22 and TC23 can be used for the lower classes of cavalry. For variety some of the earlier Dark Ages Range TDA10, 11 and 12 are also reasonably compatible even if the kite shields are a bit too long. For infantry, TC24 with the different shaped shields would make reasonably well kitted out town or city levy with some TDA1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 infantry mixed in. Again, the kite shield is a little long but hey. Any kind of generic peasant spear/axemen would do for the LI contingent.

Using Pendraken figures, EMM2 cavalry is useful but not overly so, personally, I would only use a few as the little chaps do not have helmets. EMM4 infantry are good –I have loads of these in the Polish Army- along with the command EMM3. The Saxon Range AS1 – 6 are useful and can mix well. In fact I have mixed both Irregular and Pendraken in the same units to give more variety and so far so good.

MickS.

More Updates.

 

    The first two articles of Series Three for Henry are finished, just need proofing before sending and the painting is coming along as well. The last 17 Mongols are finished and the lot are based and packed away with their fellows but...while I was basing I found that I had a standard bearer over. So you know what this means? Correct, another order to Irregular for 10 Mongol LC –I already have an officer figure lying about- and that will be a sixth mingghan for the second tümen. Also, I have painted another Chinese unit, this time of infantry spearmen and the bases are drying as I write. But again, I have found that I have 23 remaining spearmen. So, when the order for the Mongols goes in I will have to add another 7 spearmen to the list. Checking the numbers (including the new figures) I will have a the following totals to paint; 90 Chinese infantry, 12 cavalry and two rockets all of which are from Irregular plus 67 Polish infantry,15 cavalry plus 30 Mongol peasants and 45 Mongol cavalry from Pendraken. Couple of weeks work should see them off. Hah!

   So while I am painting stuff for the Mongol project my mind is wandering. I have realised that the tinterweb is a double edged sword in that it’s great for basic research but the stuff is at your fingertips...literally. I’ve been looking at WWI in the east, Zulu Colonial (I blame the current repeat of the excellent Shaka series for that one) and also a solo WWII Campaign.

Now bear with me because there is a logical train of thought for the last. Several weeks ago, we went camping in Sussex. On the way back we went a different way and drove through Tenterden and that area. This got me thinking. Some of the buildings were old when Charles I was a runtling so they won’t have changed much. Loads of variety even for home made 6mm buildings, with the bonus that I can make it look like the real thing –even down to the terrain. This gave me the idea of a What If? campaign set in late 1944 or early 1945 after D-Day failed and the Germans invaded England via Kent. Not long after I was perusing through the local Works shop in town and found a modern reprint of the 1920’s equivalent OS Landranger map in 1:50,000 scale of the area around Maidstone and Royal Tunbridge Wells. Excellent! I have a German SS Division at 1:5 which works out at 15 Panthers and 30 Mk IV’s plus Recce, AA, SP Art etc now all I need is an Allied army because I have a few Shermans from my far eastern Americans (unfinished), some lorries and ½ tracks but that’s it. More Shermans, Fireflys et al will be required to see this project get off the drawing board. Keeping my eyes open at any show Bring & Buys.

Another option for a campaign is based on the old WRG Game-in-a-Bag, The Empire of the Steppes, well, using the map anyway. So I got it copied (for my own use so I don’t ruin the real one) and marked it up with the right states and countries...and that’s as far as that one has got as well.

This is the problem of a solo wargamer. Focus. To my mind it’s just a word that I use but don’t necessarily follow. This is why the Butterfly Effect is prevalent as I flit from one idea to another. Most of them will probably never happen but...

Keep painting,

MickS.