Guards Update and more fun in the desert

I had hoped to be showing you the completed Coldstream Guard unit but other distractions on the painting desk have put paid to that for this week. I can report however that all the rank and file are finished and part of the command - just have the two standard bearers left to do.

These are all vintage figures - the two officers are amongst my favourite of Marcus Hinton's creations.

One very pleasant distraction during the week was a trip to Goya's new seaside residence where Mrs S and I were treated to a lovely lunch. Goya had cunningly planned it so that whilst Mrs S & G toured the grounds we retired to his study for a quick colonial game using the 'Men Who Would be Kings' rules.

I played the British in this encounter whilst Goya played a rabble of foreign types. The lancers have been beautifully painted, the infantry shown are all S-range Minifigs.

You can't have a game like this without camels.

Goya's new study easily accommodated a 5' x 4' table and he reckons a 10' x 4' is possible at a push.

If you have camels you must have palm trees too, it's a rule in colonial wargames.

It was a great looking table like something straight out of Featherstone or Morschauser!

The rules encourage you to name your leaders and these cavalry were under the command of one W. Churchill.

This was a tense moment when a band of tribesmen suddenly appeared on my flank - thank goodness for the stiff upper lip.

We didn;t quite finish play before the ladies returned but I think my force managed to live to fight another day.

If you've never played these rules I highly recommend it, you don't need many figures and things move along at quite a pace whilst not overstretching your brain which for me is a plus!