Republic of Texas: Texas Bushwhackers (1st Texas Light Infantry)

Austin, TX:  Camp Travis, Army General Headquarters.  Gen. John B. Hood seeing the need for a quick recon force coupled with the capability for hit and run tactics ordered the creation of the 1st Texas Light Infantry today.  Three battalions of three companies each will be raised with each company stationed throughout the republic.  The Light Infantry will take on the moniker of the Texas Bushwhackers due to their covert nature.  Each brigade will have it's own company assigned to it used at the discretion of the brigade commander.  The call went out for volunteers among the regular army, the Alamo Guard and local militias.  Pictured below are three units of Bushwhackers in training at Camp Bowie, in Brownswood.  The Light Infantry will be commanded by Lt. Col. Woodford H. Mabry.  Colonel Mabry has established his regimental headquarters at Camp Travis, with the three battalions induction barracks each at Camp Bowie, Camp Seguin and Camp Liendo in the Yucatan province.

British Solar Empire: Lt. Butler's Detachment

Arriving in London, our hero Lt. Geoffrey Arthur Charles Butler reports to the Admiralty and is informed of his next assignment.  You have been selected to lead 14 British Tars to an exotic location....Venus, inform your men as you deem fit, only ensure no dissent.  Suffice it to say you will encounter dangerous natives, wild beasts and a deadly landscape.  Begin training your men immediately, for you will set sail soon to stake the Queen's claim in a great unexplored vastness.

These 15mm minis are based on U.S. pennies and will conduct their battles using the FUBAR-VSF rules.  I wanted to flock them with a neutral material that would be suitable for battles in a myriad of environments from Africa, India, and Mars to Venus and the Moon.

1 Officer, D12, Lt. Geoffrey Arthur Charles Butler
2 NCOs, D10, Sgt Hunt and Cpl Smith
12 Soldiers, D8

Republic of Texas: First 15mm Army Units

Finished up flocking the first batch of my Texas Army units.    My VSF 1880 to 1899 campaign encompasses 2 rule systems thus far.  Brigadier for mass battles and FUBAR-VSF for skirmish.

Brigadier: First up and first in the fight a bold Texas Ranger.

Brigadier: Next up a battery of the Victoria Light Artillery.

FUBAR: A squad of Texas soldiers from the 1st New Braunfels Rifles.  Led by Lt. Don Gobel.

Republic of Texas: RTAS Auston

Finished up my first scratch built aeronef for my VSF campaign.  The Republic of Texas Aeronef Ship Auston.  Named for the great Texas Navy Captain Baden J Auston hero of the Battle of Cozumel during the War of the Mexican Succession.  

No gun at the moment.  The minis are unpainted RAFM US Infantry.  They will serve as the first soldiers of the Texas Army.  The Auston and crew will soon see action not only on Earth but the Moon, Mars and Venus.

The Auston was contructed from carboard, a failed Xmas ornament, bottle cap, plumbing copper piece, plastic artillery limber wheels and a straw.  With a screw and wood chip for a base.  I know it's not great but I am proud of my first scratch built vessel. 

Republic of Texas: Texas Army Uniform Template

The Minister of War the Honorable Arthur J Butler has ordered new uniforms for the Army, the Marines and the Rangers, with the Rangers being allowed to dye their new service hats white.  The uniforms are colored varying shades of light brown, or butternut, or again as our British allies say, khaki.  Below is the uniform template issued from Minister Butler's office.  This allows the soldier a more cooler breathable uniform and allows some concealment in the plains and desert of West Texas.

Texas Navy Airship in Dock

Here is the first photograh of the Texas Navy Airship still under construction in air dock in Galveston.  Once fitting out is complete the airship will be painted with the Texas Naval Colors and christened into active service.

Texas Navy Announces First Aether Ship

GALVESTON: The Texas Navy has finally acquired enough aether to begin building the first airship for the Republic.  The airship is still in design phase, below is a photograph of the naval shipwrights desk showing the blueprint design of the new vessel.  The Navy has yet to announce the name of the ship, nor the number of crew involved in it's operation.  Also we can only speculate as to the operational role the airship will have.

VSF Background

A quick summary of my first thoughts for my VSF campaign.  Now I'm not saying that I'm going to make armies or even warbands for that matter on each faction, but they will play a part in politics and intrigue.

Earth Factions
Texas (Loose alliance with the CSA and is currently at peace with the Empire of Mexico.)
USA (Loose alliance with Germany and Russia.  The USA is a rising power.)
CSA (Loose alliance with Texas but heavy dependence on allies of Britain and France.)
Britain (A world superpower.)
Italy
Japan (A rising world power.)
Germany (A world superpower.)
France (A world superpower.)
Russia (A rising world power.)
Turkey
Mexico
Austria-Hungary (A rising world power.)

Xeno Factions
Atlunis (Red Martians, founders of Earth's lost city of Atlantis.)
Hurundi (Green Martians, barbarians, enemies to all.)
Borundi (Blue Martians, nomads, neutral faction but will freely raid where they can get away with it.)
Pafar (Birdfolk Venusians.)
Jafar (Lizardfolk Venusians.)

VSF Campaign: Map of North America circa 1889

First draft of North America for the start of my VSF campaign.  Adventures will circle the globe as well as taking place on the moon, Venus and Mars.

Background:  

America:  U.S. Civil War begins in 1849 and ends in 1853 with a southern victory.  The southern states form the Confederate States of America.  The USA moves forward with expansion in the northwest.  The CSA fights a brief war with Spain for possession of Cuba.  The CSA is eyeing expansion in South America.

Texas:  Texas never joined the union.  The Yucatan joined Texas in 1836 fighting for independence from Mexico with both winning their freedom.  Five years later the Yucatan Republic joins the Republic of Texas.  In 1849 Texas purchased land due west of the republic from the Empire.

Mexico:  Santa Anna died with no heir.  Maximilian of Austria is offered the throne and accepts.  By 1890 Maximilian IV rules an Empire that stretches from the United States to Columbia.

Britain:  The British Empire takes Alaska during the Crimean War.  Grants Quebec semi-autonomy and rules an Empire known now as The British Solar Empire.

Uniform Template: Moden Guard, Huack Royal Army

Royal Army Order 1881.3.16.007 Dress Regulations - Uniform of the Royal Moden Guard.

For those elements of the Royal Moden Guard. The standard khaki Royal Army trench coat shall be issued to all Guards as well.

//signed//

Major General Erik von Falkynhuack

Commandant

Royal Army

Principality of Huack

HOTE Battle: Mafeking Zulus vs. 7th Foot, British Army

Traveled down to Fort Smith today to visit my son James and his bride to be Jessica. We met up for lunch and then headed over to Hawgshead Comics on Greenwood Ave for some Magic CCG games and Hordes of the Empires. Now, I apologize, but I forgot the battlefield and the rules so we had to make due from memory and this was our first go of HOTE all together.

The British Deployment

We each played with 24 points. The British Baggage Camp came from my Duchy of Saxe-Huack SYW Army, but HEY, at least were wargaming and having fun. :)

The Zulu Deployment

The first couple of turns saw the armies advance on the Mafeking plains. Sunlight glitterd off spear points and the air was pierced with the shouting of orders and marching of boots.

In the picture above James sent his Cavalry (Kn) around the hill to attack my left flank in the rear.

Above the Skirmishers followed by the Chief and 2 Warbands advance upon the woods towards the Gatling Gun. I pulled 1 Warband off to stall the Cavalry "coming round the mountain." The action on the right flank is all close order marching to battle.

James knocks out my Skirmishers but this allowed my Warband to close!

The right flank: The British enjoyed volley fire at my Zulus whom sang and danced to intimidate the enemy (low PIPs) before joining in melee.

As the above picture shows I was able to sneak a single Warband into the Baggage Camp but blast the dice the Camp Defenders won!

But next turn it was over (we played this way due to time restraints) the British General took a spear and now has a maggot hole in his belly.

WW1 French Forward Observer

WW1 French Machine Gun & Mortar Team

WW1 French Rifles

Finished these up the other night. I like how they turned out. UPDATE: These guys have been rebased on 40mm frontage with 3 soldiers per base vice 2.

Final Results for 2011

The Pledge
Painted/Purchased
6mm: 59/12
15mm: 121/372
25mm: 27/111
54mm: 2/0

1/72: 0/0
Terrain & Acc: 9/17

Total: 218

Goal: 500

Games Played
Ambush Alley WW2: 2

Clockwork Century: 1
COMBAT WW2: 3

FUBAR: 3

HOTT: 3

Reaper WARLORD: 2

Song Blades&Heroes: 8

Witch's Brew RPG: 1

Dungeoncrawl: 1

Total: 24

Target: 30

Uniform Template - Huack Royal Army

RAO 1880.10.5.001 Dress Regulations - Army Field Uniforms

For all units of the Royal Army, except those of the Moden Guard.

//signed//

Major General Erik von Falkynhuack.

Commandant

Royal Army

Principality of Huack

Huack Army Machine Gunners

Here are the first 2 elements (MG) of the Principality of Huack Royal Army. Also pictured is an element of Moden Guards (on loan from my WW1 German Army.) The MG crews are in their Huack Red uniforms with khaki trench coats.

British Colonial Army

Note the piper!

Artillery, MG and Cavalry on the painting bench.

The Zulu Impi

The Zulu Impi! 2 Generals, 9 Warbands, 2 Skirmishers and 2 dead markers. In the center front we have Chiefs Unga and Bunga. In the rear flanks are the skirmishers with captured British rifles, with one wearing a red service coat. Only 1 of the chiefs will lead the army at a time. Most likely Unga.

French Army General Element

Not quite a French Army but I did manage to paint quite a few figures, mostly Colonials, but I was motivated for the command element of my soon to be WW1 French Army. The kneeling soldier is a junior officer holding a map.