Baggage

[Ochoin]

I'm taking a short break from painting figures (actually, apart from a few Zulus, I don't have anything to paint).

So I'm making some removable loads for various wagons (including the excellent HaT Boer OX wagon).

To do this, you cut a piece of cardboard the exact size of the floor. Paint it like the wagon, and glue on a selection of the various sacks, barrels & boxes you tend to acquire. Paint & wash.

The beauty of this is you can remove the "cargo" if you want to. With Zulu games, for instance, the removed cargo provides additional barriers for the beleaguered British.





donald

[Minuteman]

A very good idea donald. I have done something similar with US and German 'general purpose' WW2 trucks, where these have a removeable option for the cargo area - either seated troops (using the HaT tank rider sets to provide the troops on scratch built benches); or general cargo. It makes for a flexible-use model truck.

[Peter]

Nice work Donald!

Did you have a look at the Imex set?



http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=477

[Ochoin]

I have that set! I'd forgotten but that's is where I got the idea for the baggage - nothing is original, Minuteman. All we can hope to do is stand on the shoulders of giants.

donald

[Minuteman]

I have that set! I'd forgotten but that's is where I got the idea for the baggage - nothing is original, Minuteman. All we can hope to do is stand on the shoulders of giants.

donald

I think I might have that set too, and had forgotten the cargo insert!

Agreed, little is truly original but it is what we make of the ideas and the way they are applied that counts I think. Your idea of using the removable cargo as a barricade for hard-pressed British infantry facing hordes of Zulus is a good and original one. And the HaT Ox Wagon is a very good and valuable set.

[Ochoin]

Much like the historical British (see Rorke's Drift), I've found the only sure way to beat the Zulus is to use barriers - walls, mealie bags or a "wall" of Gatling guns.

I'm busy planning a game based on the battle of Hlobane for sometime this year. Finding a balance where both sides in the AZW have a reasonable chance at victory is actually a challenge. This battle, as you know, will depend on the speed of the various Colonial horsemen to escape to provide a "victory".

donald

[Fire at Will]

I acquired some barricades some years ago and luckily they fitted well into the HaT Ox Wagons


and I can then remove them to create a laager.


Will

[Ochoin]

Excellent. A moveable fortress.

And why didn't HaT provide at least 4 oxen per wagon? Rather annoying.

donald

[Rich W]

Both look good Donald and Will. Nice idea.