India: New buildings and some civilians ..

Four buildings finished, the large one is the Italeri desert building, in front of it my scratch built thatched one, and two Games of War pirate buildings with alternate roofs made from cardboard and foamboard. I've also finished painting a few cilivilan figures.

Games of War building with added lean-to..

A closer look at the Italeri desert building, I added a walled 'garden' to one end.

A few civilians mill about the town ...

Some general purpose buildings

Firstly an open thatched 'storage unit' scratchbuilt from strip wood and foamboard, the frame

plus the thatched roof (thatch from toy lion puppet fur) ...

A Games of War pirate building with courtyard wall made from foamboard ...

same building this time with alternate roof made from cardboard and foamboard, for duty in India ...

I have some more Games of War pirate buildings which I'm basing up ready for painting. A nice little project for easter weekend to finish them off

Carribean: Searching for Smugglers ...

HMS Prince Albert made it to a safe port on the island of Jumeida. While the ship is refitting Capt. Cornflower has been asked by the Governer to help root out some smugglers who trade with pirates. The Governor has learnt from an informer that an exchange of goods is likely to occur soon. A shore party is assembled led by Lt Hawkins (marines) and Lt Beidecker (ships crew), they make their way down the coast .....

---oxo---

The leader of the smugglers finishes haggling with the pirate Red Jack over payment for the 'merchandise'...

Another group of smugglers wait at an old deserted farmstead which they use as a store ....

The smugglers start on their way ....

Red Jack and his pirate crew return to their ship ....

Lt. Hawkins and his marines come into contact with the rear of the smugglers 'booty' train ...

Lt Beidecker and his party have lost touch with the marines, he can hear the sound of musket fire and heads for the high ground to see whats going on

The marines are fighting a small group of smugglers, while Lt Beidecker and his men move onto the higher ground.

Lt Beidecker and his men trade shots with the smugglers ....

The engagement hots up, the rest of the Lt Beideckers party rounds the hill and tries to get in front of the 'booty' train....

Lt Beidecker and his men close in on the smugglers while the marines move up to help ...

The smugglers make a run for it ....

The shore party mops up, while Lts Hawkins and Beidecker confer ..

Lt Hawkins: Hot work heh Beidecker ?
Lt Beidecker: Not half

Lt Hawkins: Those smugglers fought hard but we got them,
Lt Beidecker: Some of them got away, we can't go on any more the men are wilting under the heat, we best return to base - we need to get the wounded men to safety
Lt Hawkins: Agreed, we better start back soon. My men will handle the prisoners.
Lt Beidecker: Who won our bet then ?
Lt Hawkins: You bet 2 shillings we would clear out the smugglers, since some of them got away with their loot I'm afraid you lose
Lt Beidecker: Thats fair, I'll give you the money when we get back
Lt Hawkins: We'll go to the tavern for a drink...

---oxo---

Meanwhile - the remnants of the smugglers with most of their booty escape into the the thick jungle ....

Caribbean: Red Jack Gets Away ...

A tryout of my pirate ships, naval ship, crews and scenics ..

Captain Cornflower and the crew of the Prince Albert are about to attack the pirates at Ponderosa the largest of the Layman islands. The settlers left Ponderosa after bad harvests and a volcanic eruption - the pirate Red Jack now uses it for his base.

---ooXoo---

Cornflower: Are the men ready Lieutenant Beidecker

Beidecker: Yes sir

Cornflower: To your boats then ..

Beat to quarters ....

Prince Albert engages the pirate shore battery while the boats make for the beach ..

The boats near the beach ..

The pirate shore battery is taking a pasting, the shore party land and are met with some resistance from the pirates ...

The pirates have had enough and run for the harbour ...

At the harbour, there is a mad scramble to get to the boats and back to their ship the White Skull,

Some of the pirates unable to get to their ship make a last stand ....

Lieutenant Beidecker and the shore party secure the harbour .... 

Prince Albert catches up with the White Skull ...

Red Jack decides to stand and fight and swings the White Skull round and fires a broadside across the bow of Prince Albert....

An heavy exchange of broadsides follows, the White Skull is taking a bit of a pounding ..... 

A stray cannon shot (or well aimed ) from one of the broadsides from the White Skull takes out the foremast of the Prince Albert ....

With half of his guns out of action and no taste for more naval gunnery,  Red Jack and his men on the White Skull makes a run for it. On the Prince Albert Captain Cornflower orders the foredeck to be cleared of debris - he hasn't enough sail to pursue ..

The Prince Albert makes some running repairs and heads back to Ponderosa to pick up the shore party. They will then have to work their way to a safe port for a full refit.