"East Africa, anyone?" Topic

Strelets now makes SA Union infantry, SHQ ditto + Marmon Herringtons MK 1's, so building S Africans / Kings African Rifles. A friend of mine has already built colonial Italian. I quite like early war, very different feel to later, and and looking forward to the toughest beast on the table being an Italian light tank :)

Done a blog post of course…

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(Also, the KAR figs can be used in the Far East, African troops were in some big actions against the Japanese, tanks and all/….)

Hi freecloud

I am also busy with the same project using the same manufacturers for the South Africans.

The Italian forces (plastics and Mirliton) are mostly done with just the armour and aircraft still to be painted.

I have yet to start on the South Africans though all of the minis have been acquired.

I will be playing solo, using Bolt Action or Chain of Command. Might also try a game of IABSM.

But I am working with a cunning plan – the Battlegroup rules will be coming out with an African supplement next year and these forces are also being built with a view to that rule set.

For some reason Strelets think SA used Stens in 1940 :) – bit of clipping req'd but they look fine.

Main ruleset around here is Rapid Fire though we've we've been playing with Iron Cross. I see Lardies have an East Africa supplement, but give that Orpen e-book I linked to a read. Marmon Herrington on Carro-Veloce action – marvelous :)

Also looking to recruit irregulars, was going to use Airfix Arabs – any other thoughts?

Hi

You could always expand into a 'what if' in French Somaliland with converted Hat WW1 Khaki Drill, with extras from EWM and Elhiem.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

Strelets is releasing a Lawrence set of mounted Arabs soon.

If you're doing East Africa in 20mm have a look at EWM latest Italians and Abyssinians/Ethiopians;

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Great figures, with plenty of head variety.

Nice to meet some fellow enthusiasts for this front of WW 2! I'm very well advanced on the same project in 1/300. I've converted and painted (complete with flags) 95% of Italian askaris needed, as well as 4 early Italian armoured cars and 65mm & 77mm spoked wheel guns! When done, I will start posting pics on TMP. Look forward to seeing stuff posted by those who do it in bigger scale, altho I love 1/300.
PS as can be seen from the Lardies/Avery scenario book (which is great) French and Italians did fight each other a bit in Somaliland, so that is not a what if. You will need French Senegalese askaris ( which I have also converted in 1/300).

Interestd in period but will be using 28mm. So intend to follow any info.

Good to see other fans for this period, I'm lucky in that there is a friend at the club who has doe colonial Italians. I also love the armour – and spoked gun wheels, oh yes!

Good news re Strelets Lawrence, btw there is an irregular fig (1 per sprue) in the SA box.

Also, you can use the French vs the SA troops in Madagascar too fwiw

I have been doing East Africa for years as an air campaign in 1/300th, I must confess I am now picking up bits to do it in 1/600th. The air war is fascinating, with a wide mix of unusual aircraft on both sides.

Fatman