I’m sure everyone reading this has been dealing with variations on the same theme.

A few weeks ago our youngest child, Sarah, graduated from high school.  As you can guess it was different from her older brother’s and sister’s graduations from the same school.  Our family of five got into the car, arrived at the appointed time, took our spot in a parade of cars and drove around campus, past socially-distanced and masked cheering teachers and staff.  Then we all watched as Sarah got out of the car, posed for a photo with a life-size cut-out of the Principal put her mask back on and was handed her diploma by the real life human version of the same guy, via a reacher grabber held in his gloved hand.

We spent a little under an hour in the car from driving on campus till driving off.  We’re all very proud of Sarah and happy she got to enjoy some version of a graduation.  It was kinda crazy but so much better than nothing.

Things could be a whole lot worse for my family and myself and I’m grateful for our good fortune.  I hope everyone reading this is doing well, staying healthy and safe & sound, and also sane.  If you or someone you care about is suffering from coronavirus, or any other illness or injury, you have my most sincere and heartfelt best wishes for a quick and full and as close to painless as possible recovery.  And as I’ve said before and will say again, if you’re a medical professional, thank you and Godspeed.

Meanwhile, on the tabletop hobby front, I’m happy to report lots of progress is being made on my Battle of Kandahar 140th Anniversary Game.

(1) MAP / TABLE LAYOUT

I must again thank my old friend, fellow Brooklynite and fellow history lover James „Jimmy G.“ Garzillo, for sending me photos he took of the fold-out Kandahar „Battle Map“ from Howard Hensman’s book shown below.  He did this a while back but I haven’t managed to post about it until now…

The map is in PART II, Chapter III, P. 503

The map has some interesting details that are not on the map in the Official History, which I included in an earlier post.  I think this version provides a clearer view of how the central rocky ridge lay out, and the path the Mirza Kotal takes across the ridge.

Here’s a LINK to a nice version of the map I found online in the interim:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/55519/55519-h/55519-h.htm#Page_503

Earlier tonight I applied a heavy dry-brush of BROWN above the black base-coat.  That’s always one of the most enjoyable steps in my rocky hill terrain making process, because it’s the first time all the effort I put into layering the textures really start to come to life.  Now, with each successive dry-brushed coat of paint, it should only get better.

BUILDING & PAINTING THE 3 CONNECTORS:

(4) TROOPS

Over the past weeks I’ve also made progress on new troops for the game.  This includes having the 23rd Sikh Pioneers painted for me by my friend Frank Patterson.  Amongst Orange County wargamers Frank is a somewhat legendary figure painter and terrain builder, and I was very happy when he volunteered to help out by painting some figures for me.  He has a hobby-related Instagram account called „LED Army“ which — if you are on Instagram — I highly recommend!

Here’s a LINK:

https://www.instagram.com/led.army/

Here’s a period reference photo showing the 23rd Bengal Native Infantry (Sikh Pioneers) in Afghanistan during the Second Afghan War:

…and here are some pics of the figures.  They are Wargames Foundry Darkest Africa Sikhs, with Empress Zulu War accessory folded greatcoats and Eureka Punjabi Pioneer picks and shovels super-glued onto their backs.  The 2 Indian officers were conversions I made using heads from Foundry NWF Sikhs and bodies from Foundry Darkest Africa British Officers…

For the officers I gave Frank this color illustration by A.C. Lovett, to use as reference for the turban pattern, which was yellow and brown…

As I write this Frank is at work on my Artizan 92nd Highlanders and 24th Punjabis, to add to the Kandahar army list.  Thanks again, Frank!

Meanwhile at the other end of the country in Florida, my buddy Jeff „Sgt. Guinness“ Baumal has specially painted a unit of the 2nd Battalion 60th Rifles, and is almost done with the 3rd Sikhs, both of which should be here in Los Angeles in time for the game.  THANK YOU, JEFF!

Moving West from Florida my friend Bob Ridenhour — known as Rhingyll on the hobby forums — has been kind and generous enough to box up and ship me several units of Indian Cavalry: Central India Horse, 3rd Bengal Lancers (Skinner’s Horse), and 3rd Punjab Cavalry — PLUS a unit of Gurkhas!  The Gurkhas are needed to supplement my own two units, since the Anglo-Indian army list calls for no less than three.  I’m very happy to report that Bob’s troops all arrived safely over the few days, none the worse for wear, aside from some loose lances I have to glue back into the hands of some Sowars.

So as you can see, with some vital help from my friends, the project is advancing at a good pace.  The one major hurdle left for me to cross will be finishing the 10’x2′ of bare blue terrain boards with ground-cover and 3 shades of paint, but I think there’s enough time left for me to get it done.

As the Age of Coronavirus grinds on, it’s still uncertain if the Kandahar 140th Anniversary Game will be played in-person or remotely, or as some combo of the two, and all three options remain on the table.  If I had to guess now it looks like the combo may get the nod, with a few of the players traveling to visit Los Angeles and play in person while the others stay home, from where we will hopefully come up with an easy way for them to participate via long-distance.  More on that in the future, as arrangements are nailed down and the game plan comes into better focus.

I hope to be back with a new post before too long, showing the final version of the razorback ridge, complete with three completed“Rocky Hill Connectors“ in place, and maybe some more newly painted figures.  I’m also close to finishing an illustrated reference document on 19th Century Afghan Military Flags, that I hope to make available here in the not-too-distant future.  More on that when I manage to dot the i’s and cross the t’s — some of which are in Arabic.  I’m pretty confident it will be done by the end of this Summer.

Be well and stay healthy, and keep carrying on.