Skirmish on the zócalo

Happy New Year!

All is still quiet at the zócalo

I'm kicking off 2013 with a report of the last game of 2012: Skirmish on the zócalo.

The scenario was made by Rob and Marc and since we had troops for the Texian war as well as the Mexican American War ten tears later the game was in a fictional setting. The Texians are attacking a fortified town and had to blow away the gate and get within townwalls  before the sentries could mobilize the complete Mexican garrison.
We used the TFL supplement for Sharp Practice So Far From God to guide us this game. After we settled for some extra rules, troop types and created the game deck (the most annoying part of the game for me, apart from the tiffin card being dealt before your senior officers all the time:) we could fire away.

The battle ended in a draw with the fighting still going on on the zócalo. The four commanding officers were tired of fighting and had to make their way to festive meals and drinking parties later that night.

Lots of pictures but if you still want more go here for all the pics I took during the day.

The objective

Sentries notice the approaching Texians and start to run all over town to wake up the important people.

The Alabama Red Rovers moving in as well. Properly dressed for the time of the year

Marc's excellent command vignette leads the pack

Jacco's Greys, impressive bunch

Moving up the gun to blow away the gate

Disturbed from their cardgame these guys were alerted by the sentries and rushed out

Artillery managed to wake up as well

They positioned themselves quickly on the defensive walls that provided medium cover in the game

The Texians get closer and closer

More help on it's way to the sentries as the dismounted cavalry comes to the rescue. They did not get very far though. With rolls of 2,3 and another 2 for movement and then a couple of cards after the tiffin they did not get very involved...

Panic on the zócalo

As Jacco's Texian Cavalry is about to charge through the shattered gate

Only the artillery still on the walls and the gate blown away. The Texians are about to enter

Fortunately Rob's excellent troops arrived just in time, watched by the supreme upper commander enjoying his cigar on the roof. Thrilled to see some action they forgot to reposition in the cover nearby.

So they got wiped out by the charge of the day.

More and more Texians are entering the zócalo

While Rob's other Mexicans try to make it on time

The situation at the zócalo when we had to stop. It calls for a new game to finish the final skirmish in the streets...

Mexican Artillery

These are the last Mexicans painted for the battle at casa Phollohombre next week. They are ready to shoot at anything that comes into range (and yes guys I will finally use my new set of dice). I look forward to the game and to see what the others of our group come up with but I will definitely post an AAR and some pictures of their troops as well.
I did not want to paint a gun at this time so I just grabbed one from a Nap Bavarian army for the pictures. If all goes well we plan another game for the Mexicans next year and I'll be back painting the Cazadores and some other minis (Texians) of the excellent Boothill Miniatures range.
More pictures and the complete Mexican gallery over here

Mexican Dismounted Cavalry

Before I start speed painting for the Annual Painting Challenge over at Curt's place I'm finishing up some more Mexican units for our Xmas game. These guys will be defending casa Phollohombre so I won't need them mounted this time. If the game and period proves fun I'll paint the mounded figs as well.  Next up some artillery to help them out.
Again Boothill Miniatures, and once more they are awesome sculpts..

Boothill Miniatures Mexicans 2

Today the second group of the Mexican skirmish  army I'm currently working on. Again great sculpts from Boothill Miniatures.  For the blue I've used Andrea 2nd shadow as darkest colour which is highlighted by Foundry B and C. Red was done with GW Mechrite as a base and highlighted with Foundry redcoat B and Vallejo Scarlet. Finally black, this was highlighted using Vallejo black grey and Foundry rebel grey A.

Just noticed there is huge difference of the quality of the pictures depending on the computer I use. I know this is due to my own diplay/settings but I'm confused which one is correct, are they blurry or acceptable?

Boothill Miniatures Mexicans

Ouch, It has been over two months now and finally I found the energy for another post. I returned from Salute with bags full of superb figures and many great ideas but somehow the whole thing lost me. Probably an overkill and I needed to recharge the battery...So I switched off the computer and cleaned the desk from all paints and miniatures. 
Anyway, I'm being more and more inspired lately. Played a great Carlist game last week (report soon) and in two weeks time I'm hosting a mini SAGA tournament. Also managed to get a couple of painting sessions last week.

These 28mm Mexicans are from Boothill Miniatures and IMO fantastic sculps. Great quality and easy to paint. Did a minor conversion replacing the musket for a standard on the now standard bearer.

Added a Mexican Gallery with some more pictures for the Alamo fans.