references

Since I didn't know a Boer from a boar when I started this period here is a list of books I have found helpful. When I start a period I like to follow similar research techniques. First, Uniform help then a broad overview no more than 150 pages just to get a feel for the period. A indepth work is next then books about individual's or individual units.

Uniform help Osprey makes several books. I have found the most useful Ian Knights volume 2 Of his Boer war books. Good plates and text divided between campaign history and equipment/ tactics. highly recommended 4/5 stars. Other osprey books I have found helpful are the Australian and Canadian books. there are several other titles that look interesting but I do not have.

My overview book was Micheal Barthrop Slogging over Africa the Boer wars 1815-1902. Tons of good pictures and a lively text made this a quick read. The part on the 2nd war was around 100 pages, my only quibble was a lack of good maps,recommended 3.5/5 stars.

On a More involved note I am halfway through Thomas Pakenham's the Boer war. At 613 pages there is more than enough detail for everyone. Good background information and plenty of good battle information and maps make this a long but worthwhile reading 5/5 stars.

week 3 work

Here is week 3 figs. I completed 8 Boers this week for agrand total of 24 Boers and 1 artillery piece and 18 British. I did not finish anything in week 4. but I am working on 8 more Boers. In the Osprey book volume 2 on the Boer war It shows different color pugrees for the different Boer contingents. I did not want to overdue the look so I just painted a few. The Transvaal used blue or green. my unit has green ones. Orange free state...well you can guess which color they used. and white was used by cape Town rebels. although why you would want to announce that you are a British subject is a little beyond me.

old glory Boers

Finished some Boers this week. I really like the old glory figures for this range. Good poses for the most part and I think they capture the look quite well. I have heard alot of bad press on this range but I definitely like them. and compared to wargames foundry 8 figures for $18.00 old glory is 30 figures for $18.00 with their old Glory deal.

week 2: 12 Boers finished.

Boer Artillery

Most Boer units were dressed in their every day clothes. Two exceptions were the foreign volunteers and the artillery. the Transvaal Staats-Artillerie were involved in most actions in the early war period. using both Creusot 75mm guns and 1lb pom poms to great effect.

total for 1 week 18 British 4 Boer 1 artillery

Boer war

Well, after much dithering on new periods I am finally off and running on a new period. I have wanted to do a colonial period for a long time and have just been trying to figure out which period to do. The Boer war has been on my short list for a while and with the old glory deal and the army painter it seems like the time.

This period has a lot to appeal to the gamer. British, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and South African units. lots of mounted units, armoured trains and an opponent that is just as good if not better than the British. I am planning on using the sword and the flame rules. units will be roughly 20 figure infantry units and 10 figure Cavalry units.

The first unit finished is a unit of early war British infantry unit. I used the army painted system which made painted a ton easier. I did have a few incidents though. first was afer dipping the figures in the pot you need to shake off the excess. for 17 of them that was not a problem the 18th however was dropped in the dirt with this sticky syrrup like substance on them. I fixed it but it is still somewhat noticable.

One of the pictures, one shows a predip group just painted with one layer of midtone paints and the other 2 are fully done after beiing dulcoted.

B'Maso

Just when I think I'm out of the period something comes along to get me going again. In this case it is the period set by too fat lardies, B'Maso, and the rules set Troops weapons and tactics. I just ordered both and one of the great parts is you can get it on PDF, no waiting! My short attention span likes that. I will be doing a more in depth review after I finish reading both sets and who knows maybe another Rhodesia game?

army painter

I have wanted to try out the army painter system for some time now and here are the 1st 4 figures. They took a grand total of 15 minutes to paint I quite literally slopped the paint on them and then let the army painter do its thing. results are pretty good I think. However, I really enjoy painting so I am a little perplexed whether to keep going with this style. I have a weird feeling I'm cheating! I do think it will make some periods much more attainable.

The figures are painted in the style of the Royal Rhodesia Regt of the 1960's. after UDI was declared and prior to 1970? Rhodesia continued to have the Queen as official head of state. during this time the security forces looked much more like commonwealth forces form around the world.