American Civil War: Union (10)

A rather punishing schedule at the office this week left little time for painting, so I concentrated on adding a few more Minor Characters for our Sharp Practice games. Fortunately Brigade Games does the Western Characters pack that shall appear familiar to viewers of the HBO series Deadwood. The series is set a little after the war, but, I doubt some of the characters had changed their underwear since Gettysburg!

These chaps shall also fit in well if we have a Dead Mans Hand revival.

The first chap is perfect as our preacher, the Reverend Henry Weston Smith, veteran on the 52nd Mass. with a bible to be thumped to inspire our chaps.

Ethan Bennett 'E.B.' Farnum, perfect for when the town our heroes visit requires a mayor or proprietor of a seedy hotel.

Tom Nuttall, for when our troops are in need of liquid refreshment at the#10 Saloon, although I think that the glass is getting dirtier for being rubbed with that cloth!

For those times a more carnal entertainment is required our heroes can enlist the services of Al Swearengen and his girls at the Gem Theater. Not really noticeable in the picture, but I added a fine pinstripe on his suit and waist-coat.

Finally a physic for our troops in the shape of Doc Cochran, probably in much demand if the #10 or the Gem are frequented by our heroes.

Black Scorpion Tombstone

Last year I picked up second-hand ten figures from the Black Scorpion Tombstone range. These were a pretty simple job to base-coat, wash and highlight and I did all ten over the weekend while I was painting up my WWI terrain - more on that in another article.

The figures are a real mixed bag, some of them are delightful and others are f*#king horrible sculpts . The casting was very good on them, but, I think these must be older white metal models as it seems they are now cast in resin.

On to some close, ups. The figure on the left is one of the worst, he holds his shotgun all wrong and his coat does not flow properly, He can be my Ugly! The gun-slinger on the right is very nice though.

Another view of the same two.

These are probably two of my favourites, especially the gent in the top hat.

And again from the rear.

One Good and one Bad, the one on the right is pretty much a cartoon caricature.

Again from the rear.

I really quite like the next two, the gun-slinger is nicely animated.

Last two, again, both great figures, a 'fat deputy' and a gun slinger. Both very nice models.

I'm happy I picked them up fairly cheap, I would not liked to have paid full price for some of them.

Dead Mans Hand - The Quick and the Lead

On Thursday evening Greg and I had arranged to play Dead Mans Hand with Nick and Quinton. Quint has a huge selection of suitable terrain, but plans were scuppered when a business meeting came up and he would not be able to make the club that evening.

No worries, on lunch break I drove over to Arcane Scenery where Hayley sorted me out with three Sarissa Wild West buildings to go with the three that Greg already has.

At 7PM Greg and I settled down to make a start on 'The Quick and the Lead' Nick had texted to say he was on his way. I was using Lawmen and Greg was using Outlaws.

The Duel: I won every one of the Blackjack games but failed to hit every time. Greg threw a 20 and my guy was out of action!

There Will Be Blood: My turn for revenge, I soon shot up two of the Outlaws including the Gunslinger and the Lawmen carried the day. Unfortunately, Nick texted to say that he car had overheated on the way here and he would not be able to make it.

Gunfight: Just as we were setting up Quint arrived but as he had a long day at work did not fancy playing. Despite losing the Sheriff early on the Lawmen came good and shot down those dirty outlaws for another victory.

We polished off the evening playing the 'A Fistful of Models' scene, again the Lawmen were triumphant. What a day to be wearing a white hat!

A stranger walks into town

Yesterday evening Martin, Greg, Ben and myself had our first try of Dead Mans Hand. I had skim red the rules beforehand, but none of us really new how to play. I was sure we would be alright!

With the eleven  figures I finished painting yesterday still smelling of varnish, Gregs' buildings and my pieces of scatter we set up the table.

In the first game we would play the The Stranger scenario. Greg would be the Lawman

The Marshall

While Ben played the drunken outlaws, one each with a shotgun, rifle and pistol.

The Drunken Dudes

This game was over pretty dammed quick. In the first turn Greg moved towards the outlaws, aimed, shot and missed. The guy with the shotgun closed the range, let go with both barrels and blew the lawmans head off. Well that was quick and dirty.

Game one to the bad guys

We lined them up again and played the same scenario and it lasted until the deck ran out, but with no clear advantage.

Game two plays out for quite a bit longer

By now Martin had arrived so we set up the The Stranger scenario again, I would be the lawman and Martin the outlaws. This time it was another quicky, I got initiative and took cover, The outlaw with the rifle played the 'If I get one hit I get two more shots card', the first hit went home on a 20 - game over (we rolled the other two and they both hit!)

Time for a showdown - lawmen all in overcoats this time

Finally we decided that we would play a bit bigger game and selected the This Town Ain't Big Enough scenario, Martin and I were the Lawmen with a Marshall, two deputies with pistols, a deputy with repeating rifle and a deputy with a shotgun. Greg and Ben were the outlaws with a Gunslinger, two dudes with pistols, a dude with rifle and a dude with a shotgun.

The game started well for the outlaws, one broke cover and put three Under Fire markers on the Marshall, however the Marshall cooly turned and gunned the dog down. Our Deputy with shotgun despatched the outlaw with the rifle. Great start.

With our repeating rifle armed deputy on the roof of his building we dominated the town. The Gunslinger broke cover and exchanged ineffective fire with the Marshall. Next round the Gunslinger got the initiative drop and elected for three shots, so the Marshall chose to Duck Back out of range. Our repeating-rifle chap quickly put three under fire markers on the Gunslinger and another deputy finished him off with a pistol.

It was not going all our way though, the outlaws retaliated by despatching two deputies before they finally succumbed to weight of fire.

Gunslinger and Marshall duke it out

Well four games in about two and a half hours, it is certainly fast and furious. I am sure we did a few things wrong, but we'll certainly have another crack.

Low Down Yellow Bellied Varmits

That's enough of my regular gaming opponents, on to the figures I painted this weekend.

I've been meaning to get into Dead Mans Hand for quite some time now. Many years ago I purchased a dozen Wargames Foundry cowboys, cleaned them up, stuck them on bases, sprayed them with primer and then did bugger all with them.

Despite the hectic weekend, what with a day of gaming with Simon on Saturday and a day at Partizan on Sunday I still managed to get eleven gunfighters painted - I have lost one.

Up at 0600 on Saturday morning I did the base-coats, again up at 0600 on Sunday I did the Sepia Wash. After Partizan I made a start on the highlights and on Monday I finished the highlights and did a few washes with the Peat Brown.

This evening they got a spray of varnish and were used in my first game of Dead Mans Hand at the club - a report on that later