Mekelle Fort 1895 - First Italo-Ethiopian war

During this Covid pandemia, one of my club mates, he have painted a lot miniatures and made an Italian fort to give us the opportunity to play a particular period of Italian military history: the first Italo-Ethiopian war (1895-96).

He have made a great fortification that remember the Macallè (or Mekelle) Fort. Below some pictures of the miniatures he painted

The First Italo-Ethiopian War was fought between Italy and Ethiopia from 1895 to 1896. The Italian troops, starting from Italian Eritrea, having an initial success until Ethiopian counterattack. 

The Battle of Mekelle, sometimes known as the siege of Mekelle, took place in January 1896. during the First Italo-Ethiopian War. Italian forces surrendered a partially completed fort at Mekelle, a city in the northern Tigray Region of Ethiopia which they had occupied since 1895, to Ethiopian forces.

The Italians numbered 20 officers, 13 non-commissioned officers, and 150 privates, they were supported by 1,000 Askari and two mountain guns. The Ethiopian army numbered around 27,000 men.

After two weeks of bombardment artillery the Ethiopians managed to cut off the fort's water supply, prompting the defenders' surrender.

After the Italian defeat of Adwa battle the our army was forcet to back into Eritrea and close the war. Adwa battle was one of the first decisive victories by African forces over a European colonial power.

How to paint a miniature's face

I want to point out that I am only a amateur wargamers and, as a lot of other lovers of our hobby, I like to share miniatures photos with my friends. Some persons asked me how to paint miniature’ faces so I thought to write this short article. I have to premise that without Aurelian Leclerc's expert guidance and his painting tricks I was not able to write these post … so many thanks to him. If you don't know his works here there is his Instagram link >> https://www.instagram.com/aurelianpaintingstudio/

In recent times I have painted miniatures related to the WW2 and the Franco-Indian Wars for some articles that appeared on the Italian magazine: “Dadi e Piombo” but to create a kind of guide I took some old Warhammer miniatures too.

Now a couple of pics to make you understand what we are talking about ... the miniature in the center is a historical figure who really existed: General Louis Joseph de Montcalm. Warlord Games 28mm miniature.

These are some British paratroopers from the English 6th Airborne Division near Hamminkeln during Operation Varsity. Warlord Games 28mm miniatures

These are some 20mm Canadians from Valiant

In all the three examples, the color combination I used is always the same: 

Vallejo Beige Red 70804; 

Vallejo Dark Fleshtone 72.044;

Vallejo White 72.002 (or any other white of any brand) 

I have tried to break down the various steps and create a series of images that can help.

First step: paint the base with a mixture of Beige Red (80%) and Dark Fleshton (20%) Second step: highlight the base with pure Beige Red. After paint some points (as the nose, cheeks and so on) with beige red adding a little quantity of white

Third step: after waiting for a Reikland Flesh wash to dry, to proceed with further highlights. Starting from the same points highlighted in the previous phase, paint again a new coat of Red Beige on them. After this action to highlight all the face points that you want to stand out with a mix of Red Beige plus White increasing the second color quantity in every passage. At this point you have not to surprise if the last step will be practically a white.

As you can see, it is possible to paint a miniature’s face with 3 colors and a wash.

The effects of this color scheme allows good results for a not professional wargamer. Finally, I want to offer you my preliminary study for a USCM miniature for Viet Nam theatre on which I am working on these days. Miniature in 20mm Italeri

I hope I was helpful.

If you need you can contact us through the facebook page of the Piccola Armata

 

 

 

Aurelian's Punic Army - SAGA

 SAGA - Age of Hannibal is just published by Studio Tomahawk and our club is prepared.

Considering the good result of the dark age version in my club ... a group of my club mates are preparing miniatures for the future battles. But this time I have to admit that our news herald is Aurelian.

He prepared many miniatures and is still working on ... unfortunately the new Covid measures forced us to close again the club. Below there some pics I took before the temporary closing of our activities.

He painted two war elephants. This is one of them ... on the battle field

He prepared also some Punic troops and ...

... and the command group

Aurelian and Ivano: the corner of the painter

I take care of my club's public relations on facebook page and instagram and I write ... sometimes ... on this blog ... for this reason I receive many wathapp pics of the miniatures painted by my friends specially in this period. 

So you cannot share the miniatures they prepared if you receive the photos below ...

This is a masterpiece painted by Aurelian in his painting studio for a commission he received ... some details

In the same moments I received also the new Russ command group painted by Ivano

Nothing to tell ... only ... great work my friends!

French-Indian forces for the new musket and tomahawks II

With the covid pandemic and the release of the second version of Musket and Tomahawks many of my clubmates rediscovered the Franco-Indian wars

For example my friends Aurelian painted some Scottish units ...

... and to increase his collection of indian warriors

On contrary I decided for the French forces ... Some Compagnie franche de la marine 

The Naval Department of France began using the Compagnies to defend their control of the fur trade in North America with certain tribes and the safety of local civilians from raiding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy ... so why not to paint some coureur de bois ...

... and some regulars of the La Sarre Regiment

Stay in touch ... these units will fight soon ...

News from the front Covid-19: Aurelian's SAGA new army

A lot of my club mates are using these days of quarantine to complete their armies ... as for example Aurelian. 

He is a professional  painter of miniatures and generally he work by commission for his customers but ... this time he completed his own army.

The army he painted to play is a Polish one for SAGA ... He painted a new war wagon and all the shields are hand made but ... A special mention for one of this shield

He decided to "remember" this scourge and these hard times every times he played with his army. The inscriptions on the shield is: year domini 2020 COVID while in the strip, in the middle of the piece, there are some dancing deaths (to remember the plague as was represented in the past).

The effect for his troops is this one

He painted also a new war wagon 

I'm waiting to see this new pieces "working" on a SAGA scenario

News from the front Covid -19 - A wargame club during a quarantine period

In the last weeks my club is closed for the Covid-19 pandemic. 

It is a strange period and very hard for all. During week ends ... the days in which usually I'm with my mates ... we are forced to keep at home ... but my club is not only a group of enthusiastic wargamers ... is bunch of friends and so we are preparing for the future

Some week ago I posted some pics of our painter Aurelian about some knights  ...

... his work it was a kind of inspiration for some of other club members this week end ...
for example this is the Maurizio's version for the Crusades

 ... with his commander Baliano of Ibelin

Aurelian's miniatures inspired also Andrea, one of our latest club member, with a new Teutonic army

But every army must have his enemies and Antonio prepared them