Freddie

Only just heard about the news of Freddie Jones passing (I'm way outside the pop cultural news cycle). Why wasn't this broadcast far and wide as the genuine loss of a national treasure?

Freddie, the greatest scene stealer of them all, a genuine "ITS FREDDIE!" enjoyment of mine, from a very young age, when he rolls up in a film and owns the screen. Take a look at his CV, go on, take a look. He appears in them all and I am personally of the opinion that any film was made better by his being in it.

#1 appearance? Its difficult to say, it really is. The newspaper journo in Assault leaps to the mind straight away, but then Professor Keeley in Satanic Rites. Maybe being the best Frankenstein "monster" that Cushing ever created, bringing honest empathy to his dilemma? Sitting Target? Masterclass in being plan crim, that one. Who can say?

 I think, push comes to shove, that my favourite Freddie is his waspish turn in Goodbye Gemini (not just because its one of my favourite films) when he spends most of it beautifully dressed, lounging around in a hammock, sipping a drink and passing comment on all around him, culminating in the fantastic "I suppose that's what they mean by...........beautiful people.........." as the twins take a turn on the dancefloor.

Such a small part, such a masterful way of making a character. Thats Freddie.

A huge loss to a certain kind of British culture. My culture, frankly.

Enter the Sudan - Battle Report

Finally got my act together and managed to bust out the Sudan stuff for the first time. These were testing the rules really and seeing what we thought worked and didn't work, so could adjust stats as needed or add rules. 

So.......two games, single brigade each, swapping sides each time.

Flinging some pics up as a record. Scenario was a basic "take the town as there be water there" job

Game 1

Anglo Egyptian force arrives in column

Mahdists muster and rightly pissed off at this intrusion

"By god Carruthers, these fellows don't look happy about us invading liberating their home?"

Send the columns at them, that'll fix it. ........What cannon?

Start forming line, gentlemen.

They have rifles? and artillery? Form that bloody line!

This'll sort those cocky invaders out. Charge!

Rather wonderful skirmishers laying down the pain.

Alas, that line is probably too strong to get into without overwhelming mass

Gatling gun opens up. Evaporates the unit in front of it.

Camels turn up. A bit too late. Retreat!

Anglo-Egyptian win.

Game 2

Mahdists muster in the town. Skirmishers and Cavalry switch flanks

Here comes the column again, wider frontage this time

RMLI attempt an outflank march in column. Find themselves getting fucking hammered by a rapid camel charge.

Best start forming line again, I suppose

Mahdist advance in highly aggressive manner.

Are they attempting to flank the line?

One unit of Mahdists cops in from the flank

Theres plenty more to come yet though........

Camels turn up though and cause from problems from behind. What do you mean, outflanked? We just stand here and shoot, don't we?

British and Egyptians break and flee into the desert.

Once all done and dusted - win each side. Same commander won both, mind!

We upped the Mahdists to shooting 2 for this, as didn't seem right that they were under par for firing. Still less than British, but enough to cause a concern. The aggressive play style used in the second game seemed to work well with them.

More to come, when time allows.........

July 2019 Painting Tally

2 regiments British 1885 infantry - 32 models
British Sudan command - 4 models
Hadendoa camel riders - 12 models
Ansar command (mounted) - 1 model
Hadendoa camel command - 1 model
3 regiments Confederate infantry - 48 models

1 4x4 desert table - 1
God knows how much fencing - 1

Month total - 100
Year total - 563