"East Africa - WWI -- educate me" Topic

Last year, I picked up a lot of painted Darkest Africa figures from my friend's Estate, lots of armed Native figures, along with some armed Askari also.

Our group has been playing WWI games lately.

I'm guessing the Euro forces "Africa" troops would be uniformed differently from those fighting in Europe?

Does anyone even make African WWI figures for the major powers?

Thanks!

We do -

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Brigade Games makes a very nice line of East Africa, WWI figures.

What scale/size figures did you obtain from your friend's estate?

Another vote for Brigade – they are the bulk of my forces. Copplestone Germans (but not British) and the Foundry natives mix in well size-wise.

Here are some size comparisons I did:
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Not knowing very much about WWI in Africa, I found this book interesting:

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It has plenty of scenario ideas in its pages.

This should help:
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:)

As above, WW1 in Africa is a perennial favourite with wargamers, particularly as it gives yet more opportunities for uber Germans to run rings around their hapless Imperial opponents, so you can pretend it is actually 1943.

Umm, a decent single volume history is Paice's 'Tip and Run'

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Yes, they all wear different uniforms, the Germans in particular affecting natty turned up bush hat things. The Allies are in their conventional tropical dress, so eminently suitably for biffing the Ottomans in the Middle East too (which is far more satisfying than chasing the elusive Lettow von Warbeck).

What with killer bees, the SMS Konigsburg, land transported gunboats and the potential intervention of ammo carrying Zeppelins, it is all very jolly.

Nice figures Lon!

…pity about the current Exchange and Shipping rates though… :-(

Askari also makes German askaris,askari gunners, and German sailors in Pith helmet. But the majority of mine are Brigade and the old Frontier line. Brigade is the most extensive with all combatants.Also check out Chris Dales "German Colonial Uniform" website .Tons of info. Their is also a Ostafrika Yahoo gaming site.Also watch the two Young Indiana Jones episodes covering the theater,available on You tube.

Osprey has a book that makes an ideal primer.

Some of the Foundry DA colonial troops will do for the first year of the war (e.g. Belgians), and assorted askaris, Baluchis and natives with breech-loaders can be used as WW1 Ruga Ruga.

Sorry Dye4minis, thought I had typed "Foundry" above – it's all 28mm.

Henry Martini, are you referring to this Osprey?

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I picked that up at the Estate sale also.

I have a large collection of brigade's East Africa figures, very well done. And I have some cobblestone although there a bit bulky. Another company that makes some figures to supplement these two is 19th-century miniatures sometimes called battle honors. Little slighter then brigade but still very well done and they mix as far as I'm concerned.

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There have been some books about the topic on the marketplace this week

Don't forget this one:

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We ship to Canada, Europe and Oz almost every day.

For Canada your rates are pretty reasonable.

b/r

Lon
BrigadeGames.com

That's it, Mr Canuck.

If only…some one did this well in 15 mm. The only period of interest for which I haven't a single figure.

(And, Tom, I know Minifigs has some suitable figures but the new provider isn't someone I'm comfortable dealing with – last time had to prod to get an order, that's no way to run a business, even a small cottage business).

And, yes, I know about Pendraken's fine little range – but it is 10 mm and I stay loyal to 15 mm to keep things simple across my various periods.

Fascinating theater. Byron Farwell's "The Great War in Africa" is a good overview of the many interesting campaigns.

Hat are now producing some in 1/72 plastic as a cheaper alternative.

By the way; any recommendations on rules?

Battle for the Bundu by Miller is excellent.