La Liberté guidant le peuple

Les "Trois Glorieuses" - Paris - 27, 28, 29 Juillet, 1830.

Another older figure from the 'blogging gap.' Thought it couldn't hurt to show her off on the blog.

More from the Darkest Africa Variety Bucket

A few more Darkest Africa pics from the past blogless year:

Scouts for a Kipsigis raiding party. Mara Valley, Kenya, 1902.

Bugler, 3rd Battalion, King's African Rifles. Fort Nandi, Kenya, 1905.

Woman in bowler hat. Nandi Hills, Kenya. 1930s.

A Couple of Side Projects

Finished two lots of figures today, both from distracting side-projects. I am always getting turned away from my main course (Darkest Africa), and this is no exception. I really wish I could prevent this from happening but I seem to be powerless against it. I find myself tempted by the thought that it is "just a few figures" and will be done in no time, and that is why I have a kazillion unfinished projects. I need to be more disciplined, but if you know me you'd know that idea is a right laugh.

Both are destined for African gaming, but about eighty years apart. First of all we have a few fellows from the 72nd Foot, circa 1835. They will be part of a "small" skirmish project loosely based on events in the H. Rider Haggard novel "Marie", in which a young Allan Quatermain must defend the love of his life from a band of vengeful Xhosa.

The figures are Perry Carlist War Brits, which aren't quite right (but near enough) for the 72nd Foot in the 6th Cape Frontier War. I found them enjoyable yet quite difficult to paint. I don't know how those Napoleonic bods put up with figure after figure like this. These guys' uniforms are nowhere near as complicated as most Napoleonic figures, but I still found them quite challenging. And those diced bands drove me up the bloody wall. I suppose it's just that I'm not used to painting this type of thing.

Next up will be the Xhosa band, then Quatermain, Marie Marais and various servants and hangers-on.

The second is a little experiment: A soldier from Gold Coast Regiment during the Great War. Having done one test figure I'm reasonably pleased with how he turned out, so I think I will do a whole unit when I can find the time.

Darkest Africa: Variety Bucket

Masai dancers.

Masai scouts, Great War.

Burton, Speke and co. Somaliland.

Warlord Mirambo and his Ruga-Ruga.

East African Arab Sheikh and his loyal bodyguard.

Arab cannon.

DOAG troops.

Darkest Africa: Force Publique

My Force Publique army for Triumph and Tragedy.

Native scouts.

Cannibal allies.

Darkest Africa: Nyasaland Angoni

It's been a long time, but finally another post. Got out of the habit of updating the blog, mostly because I find Blogger extremely tiresome. In fact I hate it. But I thought I'd share pictures of some of the Darkest Africa work I've done during the long hiatus. First of all, some Angoni from Nyasaland.