Welcome to my blog, the story of my continuing journey into the World of Zombie Wargames.

Monday 4 February 2019

Forgotten Armies #1

The German Marines, only one unit of the three would be needed !
So what do you post about when you haven't done anything ? Well, in true 'Blue Peter' fashion (and like a lot of other bloggers have done, I'm sure), you post about something you did earlier, which in my case is some fifteen years or so earlier!
The Siege of the Legations in Peking (now Beijing) at the turn of the millennium 1900 have always fascinated me and were the object of a project that (like many)  I've participated in, that sadly never came to fruition. Various friends decided to join and tasked themselves with providing the figures for one of the many legations present in the siege. For my part, I went with the Boxers, the German marines, the civilian 'Carving Knife; brigade and some sailors, whilst my #1 son provided the British RMLI , Other had US marines, Russians, Japanese and other sundries.
Here's my efforts
Sailors (top three units) and the civilians at the bottom
Six units of Boxers
Another four 'proper' units, plus a host of musicians at the top !
Boxers flags, officers and a unit of Chinese regulars
The British RMLI
I also tasked myself with the making of buildings, most of which were mere shells and none were ever finished, including the 9 foot (270cm) section of the Tartar wall:
The wall, leaning up against my wall.
Well that it then, about 500 figures with their bases all but finished and that have never seem the table... and they're not the only ones  !

Next week will be my 359th post on the 7th anniversary of this blog, but don't expect anything special (sorry).

Thanks for taking the time to visit.


29 comments:

  1. Its always sad Joe when so much effort comes to nothing, but on the plus side they look fab :)

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    1. Thanks Frank, it's samll compensation for the effort that was put in, but with their bases done there is a better chance of them being used I guess.

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  2. One of the first issues of Wargames Illustrated I owned featured a game of 55 days on the front page, always liked the period and the movie, excellent amount of figure but the scenery is king, thinking of doing a 15mm sci-fi 55 parsecs at Lunar 5!

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    1. It was probably the film that got me interested it, even it is far from what reallly occurred.
      A 15mm Sci-Fi version sounds very interesting (but parsec ? They're a measurement of diatnce not time right ?)

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    2. 30. 9 trillion kilometers it seems........bother!

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    3. I need a better reference......

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    4. I think maybe you're right...

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  3. They look excellent, Joe, and it'd be great to see some of them appear in some of your future BatReps if you could find a narrative to use them in.

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    1. Thanks Blaxx and I agree that it would be great to see them in action (so to speak), but honestly I can;t see it happening anytime soon mbit like my pirates).

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  4. That's quite a collection Joe, it would be great to see them in action one day.

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    1. Thanks you Michael, I was quite surprised how many I had, but as for them seeing action...well, it's a nice thought.

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  5. Very interessting era to play in and you got a very nice collection indeed. I think it would look really great to also build a table with docks or a chinese town-center from this period.Very inspireing.Please try to find your back to the hobby.I understand that it is not easy but a try is worth the effort.

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    1. Thanks Ptr, My intention was to fill a city of 9ft x 6ft, for the seige , but it was a daunting task and I never got past designing the British Legation buyilins, due to others losing interest in the project.
      I did contemplate using these a while ago, but solo wargaming isn't for me I've decided.

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  6. Shame after so much effort for them not to be used, the buildings and scenery would be awesome to see and it would be a beautiful game but sounds like there is to much still to do to make it a viable project now the heart has gone out of it.
    Such are dreams made of.

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    1. Thanks Vagabond, shame or not it wouldn't takemuch to get them table ready, but it's quite a niche era. I doi have a single building finished for this game and lots of skeleta; buildings, though they're a bit small.
      My interest is still there for this.
      I'll keep dreaming...

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  7. Fantastic collection worth watching and playing!

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    1. Thanks Michal, I would truly love to see thme on the table, but alas that's probably all that would happen.

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  8. Greetings, Zab. You did well on these figures, sir. Maybe a short-quick game between a couple of troopers from both-sides-of-the-issue: e.g. three Chinese ambush a British soldier who is walking guard. Battlefield = 12" x 10"; conflict scenery is provided by whatever items that are on your desk or tabletop computer keyboard. Items cluttering this area should furnish a suitable surface for stealth, and the use of weapons. And cleanup is minimal!

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    1. Thanks Jay, it's a good idea in many respects, but one that would still require a bit of work (though not much), but I still don't really find enjoyment from playing solo.
      I would go along with this idea in a flash had it come from one of my 'friends' (*two of whom promised me a game in the first week of January but were a no-show).

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  9. Fabulous army dude and a fascinating period, shame they’ve never hit the table, I’ve got a few of these too

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    1. Thanks dGG, I suspect many of us have armies (or large skirmish forces) gathering dust, that haven't seen the light of day for many years.

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  10. Nice looking turn of the century forces! I've got quite a lot of painted figures I haven't played with, maybe I just like painting them? Could you do a varient of your dark continent type game in South West Asia jungles or maybe get the men who would be king from osprey,they'd be great for that?!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks Iain, I did guess hat I wouldn;t be the only one that had painted figures, but unlike many pthers, I don't like painting figures !
      I could do many things with the, if there was a point in doing so, but I'm at that stage where everything seems too much effor t for solo [lay that I'll soon tire of.

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  11. Fab collection. Maybe the flame will rekindle itself and you'll all get it done and on the table.

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    1. Thanks for the input of enthusiasm Brummie, but I@m not as postitive as you !

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  12. I'm sure you'll finish this project any day now :-) !

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    1. Thanks Hugh, I do wish I had your faith, but it's a project that is about twenty years old iirc and I don't see any light at the ned of the tunnel!

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  13. I think you need to start Zabadak's PekingWorld and finish this. If you weren't so far away, I'd promise to paint a faction and probably really do it.

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    1. Thanks Baconfat, the of guys that were to do the other factiopns two finished their ones and sold them on and the others never finished their ones - they all live less than an hour form me still too.

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