'CRAZZZY CRAZZZY PRICES!!!!!'

I have been so good this year. Unlike some other people I don't post totals - but I have literally not bought a figure, my only wargames purchases a couple of bottles of paint, some bases from Dean at Olympian Games, and some rules.

I even had a good hard look at my lead stocks, converted some into the basis of the Desert Rajputs, made some decisions about what I was likely to paint, unlikely to paint, which armies I had in raw lead that were too similar to existing armies...  which periods I could cover. Then took the rest down the club and it was like one of those 'Shouty' ads...   you know.. 'CRAZZZY CRAZZZY PRICES!!!!!'

Well - ok, so trying to persuade hard-core wargamers that they need more lead is like flogging bottles of Scotch at an AA meeting... they know they shouldn't but... 

So, several kilos of lead lighter (thanks Tim, Jon, Michael etc... ) I had a few hundred bucks in my pocket, and by coincidence, there was this bloke on TMP selling a Medieval Army for a mere $200...  

I excused myself with the thought that it was merely a like for like swap...   so X kilos of unpainted lead for a bunch of (quite nicely) painted stuff...  all good.. 

Then that evil man Thomo posted this...   Navwar 1/3000 modern ships.. using the 'Shipwreck' Naval Rules.

Ok, so how much could it hurt, if I just ordered the rules.. not expensive..  here in a few days (I hope..) then I can decide whether I want some ships. So no prizes for guessing where this is going...   Right, straight to the Navwar site to order some ships...   Now did I mention Thomo's earlier post..? where he discusses just how hard navwar make it to do business with them in this day of internet ordering and online payments and stuff?

One international fax later, and of course, it isn't cost effective to do a small order, so three navies coming my way in 1/3000 from Navwar..   Japan, UK and USSR. Japan could be involved almost anywhere in the Pacific (Kuriles anyone?) - Russia world-wide, and the UK because of relatives who served in the RN...

Lead pledge broken...   or do really, really, tiny ships not count?

Rajput Triumphant!

So firstly, apologies for the DBx speak...  but that was a really fun game last night with the Desert Rajputs against Jon's Later Muslim Indian (LMI). I got to use my new ‘Arid’ mat that cost me a small Euro fortune (hand made by Italian craftsman you see.. ) and the Rajputs, while still only partially painted, are starting to look like the business. The LMI were very pretty too, especially like the ‘Grumpy’ Indian Swordsmen  - (DBx Blade(F)) – very colourful.

Camels manoeuvre on my left, cunningly avoiding real troops... the CinC charges off in the centre, and the Horde huddle in the face of the advancing LMI Elephant and Blade juggernaut. 

On my right.. the river boats, and a very badly deployed ally.. watch those woods!

I used all the gimmicks..   4 elephants in ambush in a wood, My own Swordsmen Blade(F) on river boats, and a flank march. Was a great game, very tense. Came down to my flank march looking like they were in serious trouble after Jon’s Elite Cavalry (DBx Cv(S)) saw off my Camelry (apparently Knights & Cavalry should flee from Camels if beaten... but we forgot that in the heat of battle.... ) 

The Flank march arrives..  I had to keep pressing Jon with the camels who were very vulnerable to his much superior mounted. 'Ghost Riders' as the Rajput nobles are still awaiting paint.

My valiant CinC elephant retires, leaving the Psiloi to face the music!

Cunning manoeuvring on my right, the river boats advance carrying their lethal cargo of Blades.

And the ambush is sprung! 4 elephants emerge from the trees..

Flank marching Knights break up, I had a dearth of PIPS on this wing. The camels and the CinC command are not far off breaking.

I had to make a few desperate tense shots to try and break him - (as by that stage both of our armies were looking very shaky), my Rajput nobles were all broken up and were vulnerable to being attacked piece-meal and wouldn;t have lasted long..   so it was time for a heroic, and historic 'Charge!' Just enough of the ‘Hail Mary’ combats at pretty even odds came off for me... with the Rajputs exhausted, plenty of casualties, but in posession of the field of battle. (Would have been something like a 17-8 in competition terms),

It really came down to the wire...  if a couple of my combats hadn't come off, I was toast next bound. Classic moments were as my elephant general smacked the opposing swordsmen up, his neighbouring elephant killed my skirmishing javelinmen – both elephants advanced past each other, and in the next bound I got to rear end his elephant at 6-3 in my favour (which sadly...for me.. didn’t come off...) the rest of the game saw his elephant chasing my general backwards across the table to his base-line...  great stuff, cracking game, and a load of fun.

Rajputs Finished

So I reckon they are about done. A final lacquer or three tomorrow morning to seal them is all that's needed now.

The observant may notice two bases with camels lurking down the back, as all of a sudden I realised that in DBA I will need baggage. So these two bases were co-opted and bases done.

Apologies for the lighting.. nearly midnight now.

The army assembled

Infantry

Those hard-charging nobles

Rajputs

So now, another drybrush of bases this morning, and a few bits and pieces to be done tonight, (highlights, wash on the bows, straps on the infantry) plus some static grass etc..  and they should be ready for lacquering tomorrow.  Overall I am pretty pleased.

Noble Cavalry - Kn in DBx terms

Nobles, this guy will be a General in the DBMM army

DBA General in Howdah

And the other side

Close fighting Foot, or Blades

Bow and Javelinmen

Almost Done

Well, that was a good night's painting on the Rajputs. The bases need two more drybrushes, then some static grass glued on. Apart from that, about all that's left to do is jewellery and leather straps on the foot, stirrups on the horsemen, then maybe add some more decoration to horse furniture and bowcases. Too dark for pictures now, will post some in the morning.

Rajput WIP

As I mentioned in my previous posts, I am building a Desert Rajput army for use in DBMM, mainly because it will be colourful and let me use the Museum camels I found lurking in the Man Cave. In the meantime, I committed to going to play a DBA competition this weekend, and so finally had to start slapping paint on. Apart from the Elephant, which I had done some preliminary work on, up until last night, these were basically glued to bases, and undercoated.

So last night, first layer of sand on bases, base skin colour, horse colours and metallics. This morning - first washes for the horses, some base colours, and first wash for the bases. I have till Saturday lunchtime..  watch this space...

Rajputs Triumphant

Just back from the club, and the Rajputs triumphed in their first outing...  versus that powerhouse, Graeco-Indian, steered by Dave and Mike.

A few 6-1 in my favour sorted out the elephant pretenders.. 

In the meantime, for Tim, here's a pic of the spear elements -