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Saturday, 15 July 2017

Trained Askari


Work continues apace here at Awdry Towers with regards to the assembly of forces required for our forthcoming game of 'Congo'.  The latest troops off the production line are the Askaris and mine have come from 'Copplestone Castings', now available through 'North Star Military Figures'.
These have wonderfully characterful faces and the rest of the sculpts are refreshingly simple with just the right amount of detail to work with.  Mine will make up the ranks of a White Man Expedition force, which has a particularly British feel to it at present and I thought that the khaki uniform might help to further unify them.  
There is an option to either field Trained Askari, armed with rifles or regular Askari, with muskets.  Clearly there is a difference in value and range of weapon and I shall need to think about the balance of the column before I decide which variant I will use.  Not  sure that there is any historical accuracy in the red caps, but they stir fond memories of all those adventure films I remember from my youth. 
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75 comments:

  1. Cyrus15 July 2017 at 09:14

    Fantastic Askaris!

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  2. Blaxkleric15 July 2017 at 09:48

    Awesome brushwork, Sir Awdry. Great to see the "Congo" project taking shape. I love the basing too, nice contrast with the grey rocks.

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 20:09

      Thank you Simon, really enjoying this and it helped to schedule the game in early so I had something to work towards.

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  3. Clint15 July 2017 at 09:50

    I have some Askari to paint as well (but 20mm)So I will be looking to these as inspiration. brilliant painting.

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 20:10

      Thank you Clint and I am sure yours will go well too.

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  4. Millsy15 July 2017 at 10:31

    Nice work mate. Just the right mix of colours.

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  5. Rodger15 July 2017 at 10:48

    Lovely work there Sir!

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  6. pulpcitizen15 July 2017 at 11:06

    Really nice painting Michael, top-notch work. :)

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  7. Pawn Cocktail15 July 2017 at 11:10

    Great painting, they look excellent. Really captures the period.

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  8. Michal DwarfCrypt15 July 2017 at 11:18

    Lovly work Michel! Fantastic clearly uniform colour.

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  9. Mallius Vane15 July 2017 at 11:31

    Lovely job on some lovely figs...and the caps absolutely have to be red!

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  10. Dick Garrison15 July 2017 at 11:54

    Lovely work Michael, how do you seem to get them done "just like that!" sorry I'll get me coat...

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 20:54

      That's very good Roger, in a groaning sort of way. :)

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  11. Sander15 July 2017 at 13:16

    Very good indeed! Regarding that last remark of the make-up of your force: I have the book by Chris Peers (not the rulebook the backgroundbook) about all the little wars in Africa and it has all sorts of info on fighting tactics of all the African nations as well as the response of the Europeans to them. I am now reading the chapter on the Azande and there wa a British chap in charge of a force of Egyptian troops of whom 1/3rd were armed with snider rifles and the rest with muskets. He placed the sniders in front and at the back of the column.

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 20:57

      Thank you Sander, I have that same book I think, I picked it up as part of a combination deal with Death in the Dark Continent rules; mind you I haven't started mine yet. :(

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    2. Sander17 July 2017 at 22:28

      Yup that's it! It's great for the information you're looking for!

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  12. Nimrod15 July 2017 at 13:43

    Excellent job on these!
    Can`t wait to see them in action.

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  13. Phil15 July 2017 at 13:48

    Superb, they look superb!

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  14. Rod15 July 2017 at 14:58

    They do look superb!

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  15. Peter Douglas15 July 2017 at 15:08

    Very nice work Michael. Nice subtle shading on the khaki and the red caps are required IMHO. Will Audrey II be found in the Congo?

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 21:00

      Thank you Peter, now funnily enough I was thinking something similar. but I will need to construct a more 'natural' lower half.

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  16. Unknown15 July 2017 at 16:09

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Unknown15 July 2017 at 16:11

      Excellent painting on some great figures. I really like the nonchalant way they're handling their rifles.

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    2. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 21:00

      Thank you Brian, the faces are great aren't they.

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  17. A J15 July 2017 at 17:47

    Lovely paintwork on those figures. The range is amongst my favourites. Useful chaps. One can never have enough askaris.

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  18. Dalauppror15 July 2017 at 20:03

    Splendid paintwork Sir !

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  19. Moiterei_198415 July 2017 at 20:26

    Wonderful painting on these chaps! These will be a great addition to your expedition, I'm sure.

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  20. DeanM15 July 2017 at 22:39

    Very nice additions, Michael. I agree these are high quality sculpts,but your painting skills bring out their best.

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 21:02

      Thank you Dean, Mr. Copplestone is certainly one of the best in the business.

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  21. Da Gobbo15 July 2017 at 23:18

    Lovely work buddy

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  22. Matt Crump15 July 2017 at 23:37

    Really nice job on these 😀

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  23. Simon16 July 2017 at 06:08

    In Congo rifles doing not need an action to reload like muskets. However muskets cause the target to draw a stress token when fired at.

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 21:04

      Thank you Simon, certainly would opt for trained Askaris with rifles if I could afford them.

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    2. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 21:05

      Do groups fired at with rifles not receive a stress token as well?

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  24. Paul O'G16 July 2017 at 06:15

    Bravo! A few years ago, I went to the Askari memorial in Dar es Salaam (former capital of German East Africka). Very cool.

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 21:06

      Thank you Paul, overtime I think of German Askaris, I am reminded of that horrific scene in 'Shout at the Devil.'

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  25. Ian16 July 2017 at 07:30

    Great looking troops Michael, really like how you have got the best out of the simple tunic and trouser uniforms

    Ian

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 21:06

      Thank you Ian, their simplicity is the in many ways the secret of their success.

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  26. MarkG16 July 2017 at 13:46

    Very nice. The Khaki works a treat.

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  27. Hightower16 July 2017 at 14:15

    Great looking bods!

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  28. Wouter16 July 2017 at 19:15

    Marvelous looking miniatures!
    The tufts on the base also give them a Sense of realism.

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 21:08

      Thank you, the tufts were a great find and certainly help ti set the scene.

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  29. Ray Rousell16 July 2017 at 20:18

    Top brushwork Sir M!

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 21:08

      Thank you Ray, always great to hear from you.

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  30. caveadsum147117 July 2017 at 10:44

    Lovely paint work on some very nicely sculpted figures.
    Best Iain

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    1. Michael Awdry17 July 2017 at 21:09

      Thank you so much Iain, your kind words are always appreciated.

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  31. Mike C17 July 2017 at 16:26

    Stunning work as ever.

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  32. Curt17 July 2017 at 20:34

    Lovely as always, Mr. Awdry. And really, who can deny all those lovely fez.

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  33. Anonymous17 July 2017 at 20:49

    Loving your Congo stuff. The Expedition is gonna look great once all together

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  34. Zabadak18 July 2017 at 13:24

    top notch work on basically second class troops.

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  35. Greg B18 July 2017 at 19:50

    Great brushwork Michael, very well done.

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  36. Terry Silverthorn18 July 2017 at 19:53

    More excellent work Michael, You now need to acquire a FEZ for the leader of these lads

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  37. DaveD18 July 2017 at 22:12

    Oh I do like these!

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  38. Dai20 July 2017 at 20:37

    Quite the serious, no-nonsense bunch aren't they? Not sure I'd be dropping a "Tommy Cooper" jibe at them regarding the fezzes any time soon... O_o


    Lovely work Michael.

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  39. Sgt. Guinness20 July 2017 at 23:01

    Great paint job! I love these figs. I have them and plan to paint mine in white for Egyptian Sudanese troops or early German Askaris. I'm looking forward the AAR's of your adventures.
    Cheers,
    JB

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  40. FourEyedMonster24 July 2017 at 17:34

    These minis have really nice poses which you certainly did justice to with your paint job. :)

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  41. Stefan (aka. Monty)3 August 2017 at 15:17

    Excellent work. I like the combination of khaki with the red hats.

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  42. Hils18 August 2017 at 09:33

    Sublimely painted.

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