Big trouble in little Tradgardistan…

 There’s a bit of bother brewing. Intelligence has told the Tradgardistan authorities that the local chaps have got hold of a rather nifty addition to their forces. There may be trouble ahead..

Local chaps admiring their new purchase. Very cheap from a fellow with a Russian accent.

A few driving lessons later the Russian departs leaving an enthusiastic bunch of chaps in and outside the armoured car.  I fear mischief lies ahead…

Footnotes-

The armoured car was a kind gift from Eric , many thanks. I put it somewhere safe and just couldn’t find it  until l chanced upon it the other day. Thankfully rediscovered it has been a delightful thing to paint and get ready for the tabletop.

Readers new to the backstory to Tradgardistan follow the link at the bottom of the post to find out more.

A wee Christmas present to myself was a packet of downed pilots by Empress miniatures. I look forward to them arriving in the post after Christmas…

Alan’s Big Soldiers

 Firstly apologies to Mark C for the title of the post. Secondly these are 54mm figures either recasts or originals with or without new heads. Here they are -

Left to Right- The Duke of Volare Cantare sporting a splendid Alpine hat, Volare Cantare Aide courtesy of MofT, The Volare Cantare Air Attaché in full dress courtesy of MofT and finally a Bergland Officer who is a survivor of mittel europa Little Wars in the nursery.

The long and the short and the tall.

Early weeding in the morning sun gave way to serious sorting indoors with the family. There was however hobby time on and off during the day.

 A garden railway structural item was primed ready for assembly later in the week. I intend to make my own buildings if possible but I got a resin kit to begin the process. Other preparations took place too.

The painting desk p.m with the long, short and tall. The long is a 54mm Homeguard chap who had gone missing and turned up during the sorting process. He , like his fellow platoon members needed, needs a repaint before being used for gaming. The short are some lovely 1st Corps castings of rather familiar looking characters from much beloved children’s books. I had forgotten that I had bought them . They turned up in a wee nook and cranny in the painting desk and I couldn’t resist giving them a whirl. The tall are two 16mm scale railway figures. I can’t recall when I last painted anyone that tall , I am interested to see how I get on with them and their fellows...

Here are the finished  favourite characters. I am quite pleased with how they turned out. They are just crying out to be involved in a game or perhaps a visit to Tradgardistan... 

A bit of bother,part one

The game has begun but not got very far yet. The Colonial Portable Wargame rules are providing a great game so far. One would think I could get the game played but there are so many other distractions, things to do, anyway here is the state of things visually-

As ever click on the photo to read the comments.

A bit of Bother in Tradgardistan, the set up

The figures have a decent plastic box to reside in and the compartments keep them upright and safe . Just enough room for all the Tradgardistani collection so far. I also painted up some Warbases penny movement trays and decorated them with sand and undergrowth to match the figure bases. Three figures represent a company and two figures skirmishers.

The view from the starting position of the Brigadier’s forces. The squares are marked on the mat with a small cross at the corner of each square.

An aerial view of the battlefield and the rules ready to go...

The 

The view from the opposition starting line. The Man with the golden gun and sword commands from the hill top with his drummer for signalling orders. The mortar is ready to fire and the invaders are awaited. Battle report and rules first impressions over the coming days...

Our man in Tradgardistan

In his bright red djellaba and armed only with a pipe and prakirnaka the Brigadier is a larger than life character. Beloved by his men and feared by his foes across the world, he is just the sort of chap to sort out the “Bit of Bother” currently sweeping Tradgardistan.

He has arrived as the self styled “ Man with the golden gun and sword “ is uniting the local tribesmen in an attempt to throw the British out of Tradgardistan. Brigadier Laudian Falls has a force consisting of  A, B,C and D coys of Gurkhas, two coys from the Craigshire Highland Light Infantry, some signallers, members of the Tradgardistani Guides, tankettes and a biplane. Tomorrow he will set out and see if  a bit of bother can be nipped in the bud.

I am looking forward to my first game with “The Portable Colonial Wargame “ rules. The table has been set up and Reggie and his chaps will fight their first battle...

McVities Gurkhas etc

Yesterday I finished these Gurkhas which are Copplestone Castings. They were in the shed with the figures I posted here yesterday. They are splendidly sculpted and cast. I really like their uniforms.

They will form part of Tradgardistan Force. They are commanded by Captain McVitie, a Scotsman from the Lothians. 

When I was growing up I often went to my father’s office to get a lift home after school. One of his partners was called Mr McVitie and he had commanded Gurkhas during the war. Sadly I never found out any more about him or asked him anything, it just wasn’t the done thing.  So I have named my officer after him.

I also finished the opposition so far-

I am pleased with how they came out. One or two additions have been ordered to allow a small but hopefully entertaining Portable Wargame to take place. Tradgardistan Force will be getting some kilted infantry, a radio on a mule ( just couldn’t resist) and a carrier mounted machine gun. Air support is here already in the form of my interwar biplanes purchase of some time ago. The locals will be getting some more riflemen and a mortar. 

Return to Tradgardistan

I was in the shed the other day and found some Empress Miniatures from their Jazz Age Imperialism range of 1930s figures. They are lovely figures sculpted by the very talented Paul Hicks. As I needed a change in what I was painting and fancying a different focus I came upon this old travel poster-

A little research reacquainted me with this place, how it had originally been a Danish Colony sold to the Duchy of Tradgardland and then came under the protection of the British Crown. That was enough to encourage me to have a go at the figures with a view to some Colonial Portable Wargame games. Here are those I have painted so far. Firstly some fearsome locals-

Time for some figures depicting the Tradgardistan Police-

Note the mix of uniform and non uniform in this unit. Hopefully I will get some more painted up in the next day or so , I can almost feel the stifling heat of the Tradgardistani hills...

Jazz Age Wargaming in Albion.

l do find the interwar period fascinating. Before the advent of a Very British Civil War some years ago I had read little of that period in British History. Through the forum online and people I corresponded with ( especially al front who was a mine of information and encouragement) I read loads of articles about that time and really became hooked- kibbo kift,tankettes,biplanes and much more .
This interesting reading was built upon by watching Pathe news and other footage from the period. I especially enjoyed seeing British manoeuvres in the later twenties and early thirties. The heady mix of old and new, horses and tanks, biplanes and much else is something I wanted to reflect on the the wargames table. The figures are old toy soldiers, metal and 54mm scale, I was lucky to buy three already made biplanes  (1/48) on eBay and the vehicles are old dinky and new sky birds. I have set my games in my imaginary England called Albion so I might include might of beens such as bicycle mounted infantry. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Friday night favourites at the Tradgardistan Officers Club

A hobby holiday in Tradgardistan

Sunday morning in the Duchy and I feel in the need of some sun and adventure,then I remembered a far flung corner of Empire.I ascended the stairs to the attic and some rummaging later produced this travel poster from the 1930s-

Originally a Danish colony, it was passed onto The Duchy of Tradgardland quickly in the 18th cenutury as it was a place of "grave mischief,wild warriors and vexing rule."
In the 19th Century it was once more passed on (rather like a hot potato) to the British Goverment and Crown.Now in the Jazz Age rebellion was once again brewing...