Amassing a large force

Well the name says it all. after two years of not buying figs I went on a bit of a spree in the last few days getting all sorts of figs for the 18th century Oronegrean project. Most of these figs will arrive in the coming weeks but I thought I'd give you all a preview of what will be coming and what will eventually be painted up. 

Lets start with my latest purchases. IMEX Pioneers and Pilgrims.

These two sets will give Oronegro it's civilian population as well as a few militia figures for good measure. Mainly I got them for their civilian aspect so that I may bring Oronegro to life. (they'll also make good victims in a raid).

Next up let's look at some pirates. These guys will crew the Abigail and eventually the other pirate ships I small be building (the rude joke is planned and in construction). These guys are from Orion although I hope one day to get other pirate figures perhaps some Marz or LW ones if I feel in need of removing flash.

Arrr me hearties.

The remaining figures are from Caesar and need a bit of explanation. First we have the conquistador set. This is the most obvious as it clearly relates to Oronegro's founding. In addition these guys could be specialist troops for later periods who deal with native troops and therefore generally need armour. They could be used in other ways too. All they need is a story behind them.

A useful set and one I have wanted for a very long time.

Now things get plain odd. First up is a set of Caesar's Ninja and Samurai. Now before you leave this page going "He's lost it" bare with me. Oronegro is known to be founded by European and to a minor extent North African outcasts. As Oronegro grew in power it spread it's often clandestine influence across the globe trying to take in outcasts from elsewhere. Therefore during the Sengoku Period in Japan some Samurai outcasts and Ninja took their chances and made the Journey to Oronegro. The Ninja's skills were quickly recognised and were asked to train a new Oronegrean unit - Los Angeles Negros. I'll clear up the story later.

These guys will fit in to Oronegro or I am not as mad as I say I am

Finally a little speciality set. Caesar's Journey to the West set. My sister say me looking at this one and asked me to get it. So I obliged. This one is special set and perhaps it represents a little parade group for a festival celebration in La Ley. So perhaps there is a small group of settlers from the far east living in Oronegro.

These guys are going to be fun to paint.

Well that's all for now. I'd love your ideas for what some of these figures could be. And if you have any suggestions for what I should get next. Perhaps I need to explore what to do to expand Oronegro's armed forces.

Earth Defence forces - Sci-fi fun

Well here I go off on another crazy idea but one that is perhaps not as crazy as others. Basically it's a consequence of Dr Who and we can all blame him for the idea. Basically I wish to create some Oronegrean based Global defence force. Second (or third) only in skill to the Black Angels in the Oronegrean Armed Forces - Fuerzas Armardas de la republica de Oronegro (FARO). Admitidly this is not such a big deal as the Black Angels (Los Angeles Negros) are one of the best military units of the human race, their exact position in the top 10 is unknown (like most of the other contenders).

These figures from Elhiem fit the bill. although they look a bit like Storm troopers.

Naturally I'll need some guys well creatures, mutants, robots and cyborgs to invade but as those plans are already in my head I need not go over them again.

BUT WHY ALL THIS SILLYNESS

War is hell and if Oronegro is the child of my imagination then I am putting my child through hell... I am a terrible parent

Well the real Oronegro story is quite depresssing. a story on a powerful nation ripped appart in which civilians took up arms against a democratic but quite uncaring government (and in many areas corrupt) the conflict which engulfed Oronegro was explotied and worsened by the global superpowers which were also at war! the story allows for many possibilities and I can make up lots of stuff but if I only go down the route of civil war and serious conflict (for my moderns) I don't think that I can have some really fun scenarios. sure I can have fun but none of the scenario's can be completely ridicculous and light hearted. I have been criticised for having a civil war, which is why the Soviets and the US (and any other self respecting power) is involved in an attempt to move away from the nastyness that comes with all civil wars.

if this is you call FARO... or just accept your fate. which ever is easier.

but these science fiction plans allow me to add a bit of sillyness and fun to the doom and gloom. zombies getting blown up left right and centre by a cyborg sheriff (another idea from the Dr Who episode -"a town called Mercy") Now this does not mean I intend to make Oronegro into a totally unrealistic place. the zombies, have their explanations, chemical weapons. the Advanced forces as well they pop up during the war and are repressed.

and as there are no pictures of Faro and a dalek here is the nect best thing... at least the dalek can feel safe while is raises money to help daleks avoid the doctor.

FARO is one of those groups that helps to repress these outbreaks, invations, uprisings etc. Anyway thats that. now its over to you guys for your comments and ideas

Pics from Zvezda - hot war figs

My first Reaction = YAY pics, let me see, let me see!
My Second Reaction = WOW awesome! these are great. gimmie, gimmie gimmie.
My Third Reaction = Why won't they do a large set :-(

anyway here are the pics... I'll let you decide what you think

the Soviets, by far the best in plastic! but a pitiful amount... but still excellent

Well first up its the Russians! and Wow. great stuff, the only Russians available for the era (1980's) in plastic is limited to Spetnaz (esci/italeri) and Airfix (small figures, and not that detailed). These guys are a great addition to that small list. My only complaint is that there is not a full set! but beggars can't be choosers, but still is this small set going to compete with so much metal?

again excellent but we already have a good set from Esci!

Next up its the USA, again great figs! However these figs have competition... Esci has a set of troops and these have recently been reissued by Italeri. once again Why not a full set?

a BTR-80 (please tell me I got that right)

Now for a kit! yet if its like the other at of tactic vehicles this will be 1/100 scale and not 1/72 and so no use to me.

Well there we go! some pics of some great figs, but the quantity is the issue even if the quality is amazing. still its on the list but knowing how prices work these figs won't be building up my armies any time soon. Also my other complaint is; Where is the NATO troops from other nations? and the same for the WARSAW pact nations. are we only going to get a few sets??? I guess keep your eyes on the news and on PSR. but from me that is all.

Building up the armies, and some works in progress

Well in the Northern Hemisphere its spring cleaning time, which means for me... buying time. I am currently going through what I need and what I would like. For the main part I am focussing on the Soviets! Oronegro is going to have loads! lots and lots of them. Why? Because I can and they look cool, US soldiers look professional and deadly as do most European ones but Russians look cool!

this is one of my favourite tanks, after the Leopard 2, the challenger 2

Well then what am I planning to get? 3 things currently

1. I am purchasing some second hand goods from an old friend Emmett, better known as Winttrix, he's downsizing his war-gaming collection after his big move so I am paying for the postage of a nice collection of models. :-D This I shall pay for shortly
2. I am saving up for this deal! A Dutch member of the Wargaming Guild is selling off lots of kits, I hope to buy some T-80BV's, because they look cool! and also some BM-21 Grands because my first kit was the BM-24 so it seems appropriate for some reason. I'll save up and get those.
3. another Friend also from the Netherlands, has offered to by me the Orion Chechens and their modern Russians. I got him some figures to its basically present giving! He has already given me some things but he said that he was more than willing to get the figures as well, despite my insistence that he didn't have to. ah well, I should not turn down such a kind offer, I am getting him some more figs for his Birthday anyway, also something to save up for.

 Also I will be nice and show you the Two kits my Dutch Friend sent me already, ones on the work bench (which is now actually my workbench and not the dinning room table) that is the LKW 7t. mil gl (6x6 Truck)

I needed some transport and now with this I have some :-D

The truck is proving to be a complex kit! But I shall soldier on just as the Truck itself would in the boggy muddy ground on jungle roads of Oronegro! I am also adding something not included in the kit... Crew, conversions of the Esci NATO ground crew they shall be designed to show either a sense of ease or at watch. so far only the driver is in place. I might even put a gunner in. Using the DShK included in the T-90A disaster kit as a mounted weapon, that is if the gun is not bent to buggery like the rest of the kit... we'll see. This tanks crew is looking pretty generic, which is good as the truck itself shall be also.

There is also another kit... a Tank... My Favourite tank :-D... its already named in this post... The Leopard 2 A6, what a beautiful tanks. sinister looks and a deadly armament this tank means business.

its mine... my own... my precious.

well I think this tank shall be used by the Germans but like some of the others I may paint it up without to many or any decals so it can be used by anyone. Why can't Oronegro use my favourite tank? it uses my second favourite. This shall be made once I get the truck done, but I think they shall be presented together.

well Oronegro is set to grow, with more baddies in the mix with all those lovely soviets, who of course will do good things, this is Oronegro both sides shall do good and bad, no innocence in war. And with the Good force almost complete except for some AFV's and APC's its going to get ugly once the soviets are ready for battle. Once again feel free to contact me at GJDitchburn@Gmail.com if you have any offers of second hand moderns, although I am going to make these purchases, they are basically going to be all the spending I shall make this year.

now onto the new follower... I have not had a new follower on one of my blogs for a while... greetings to Alfons Cànovas from miniaturas militares por alfons canovas welcome to this blog.

and once more have a great time guys.

Oronegro's military groes but what about foes

Well, well christmas gave me 2 sets that I needed to build up my Oronegro force.... the HaT Württemberg Infantry and Strelets British Light Infantry in Egypt now of coarse this gives me some scope for civil wars or some other conflict.... some of the strelets light infantry will find themselves on board pirate ships once they are completed. However once I have painted that plastic mountain (well for me at least that's a lot of unpainted figs to have lying around, except those moderns, damn ooh shiny syndrome) I will need to consider some foes.

Now Laurence Strong (Larry) from the Wargaming Guild is sending me some figs, I am not sure how many yet, they are destined to be crew aboard the ships but I am sure there will be a few appropriate for some foes.

However I have a horrible habit of always looking ahead and planning what to get next... as you may have seen over the history of this blog. However don't worry these posts are fun and your advice is great... so what is gowan planning???

PIRATES
NATIVES
EUROPEAN (styled?) FOES
OTHERS

Pirates are simple really, I think that the gift from Canada should solve that, if not Cossacks will, or actual pirate sets... cossacks wear the right pants... the only reason they are on my realistic idea list. Natives are a bit more complex as I have yet to get a definite design for what they should look like. other Europeans or just European like foes are simple enough, plenty on the market though its a question of sorting out those few sets from the mountains of possibilities. and as for others, well not sure apart from strange jungle creatures.

right my followers, I think its best that any of you who have gamed with musket armed armies offer whatever advice you have before I do something stupid (again). I have also thought of a few bit and bobs to make but as always your input is invaluable. But most of all

What would you like to see in Oronegro?

Now onto official site business. greetings to CPBelt From a league of ordinary gamers welcome to the blog

My mind is in need of help

Well Oronegro has been my project for almost a year now and I LOVE IT!!! the only problem is that in entering this dark new phase I am unable to pin down which infantry to use as basic Oronegrean troops... For moderns it was easy USA all the way their equipment is common through out the world. However for the 18th century I am about as sure as what to choose as I was sure who were going to be Oronegro's neighbours!

What I mean is I need your help badly. I chose Archduke Piccolo's imgi-nations to be Oronegro's neighbours as they offered an interesting set of neighbours and because unlike real nations I don't have to worry about distinct climates and certain other geographic rules also it allows one to say that perhaps its on a parallel earth accessed through say a portal... Bermuda triangle could be one perhaps... put your nation on the other side of a portal and it could be bordering several real nations and yet not appear on maps or satellite photos.
However what to do for infantry or for that matter the entire force of Oronegro. The sets I have looked at so far have been good, interesting and IMHO special in that they wear helmets and yes perhaps I will still get them! However helmeted troops are more likely to be some elite unit, not the norm as I need for a basic force. I have a few options here, as what to pick but what it comes down to is which force will allow me to create an Oronegrean century???

Here are my options:

• Peninsular war Brits > the HaT set is made from a medium consistency plastic allowing easy conversion of Shako into tricorn. Also with the release of the infantry command set I should have a a nice command structure for a century.
• French > lots out there and the uniforms show similarities to the Wurttenburg infantry also there is lots of French support sets like baggage carts which will add to the realism and possible scenarios.
• Nassau infantry> also similarities to the Wurttenburg infantry however they have sabres which makes them stand out and I am not overly keen on the limited supply of other troops types.

There are the 3 options I could of coarse get the Brits, convert shako's get a set with the drummer... what they really need along with guys with flags and repaint them in a new uniform. This would mean that they seem right especially with the marines in the Naval crew set which I will get for certain. I am so confused I just need help.

However if you were able to sell me or trade me some figs with those helmets or perhaps would like any figs I do not like when I bought a set arrangements could be made. until the groundwork for the Oronegrean army is set any ones ideas will not only be welcome but important!!!

what of early Oronegro part 2

well sort of in the last instalment I discussed the possibilities of using some Austrians as Oronegrean infantry and doing some conversions. well in this second installment I am proposing a different group to be the Oronegreans...  Württemberg. well the helmets are very similar as you will see but also its the sets available that makes them appeal to me. well the cavalry is yet to be released but look at the numbers.

HaT Württemberg Infantry  100x figs
HaT Württemberg Cavalry 12x cavalry
HaT Württemberg Artillery  16x figs and 4 guns

yes I know the artillery set has a pitiful crew but perhaps Oronegrean gunners were super efficient like F1 pit crews today. also the infantry are great you can either go to PSR or perhaps you can visit this section of the HäT site. I like the infantry set because of the Ratio of figure types; 40 infantry in helmets, 20 light infantry/ scouts (they will get tricorns or other suitable head gear) and 16 grenadiers (will get tricorns) also not to mention the NCO's officers and drummers that bring this set up to full strength.

so perhaps these men will be our Oronegreans instead. but your advice would be more than welcome.

 

the wish list. so long it rivals the longest santa list

 To start with, this list is not certain and I am willing to trade figs for figs!
well I think I did this before but here is a new list. I have decided to split it into several parts for ease of use (for me and you). this list is not too long and I should be able to get at least a few of these for Christmas or birthday (January). its annoying that they are close together, I will of coarse limit expenditure of models on this birthday as for the big 18 I want to do some airsoft, if you can make it here I invite all of you, if it goes ahead. I made this list so that I can refer to it in future and so and of you who may have one of these sets lying around and no longer want it or think that you would like some ancients of medievals can trade me for them. any way onto the list
all images are from PSR or the respective companies website.  and one from Dougie's wargaming blog.

must buys! these are the sets that I am determined, 100%, to get hold of. for this reason there are only 2.

the revell set of US infantry,  for Oronegrean standard troops

and the North Korean KPA for Rebel Militia

Hopeful but not sure! These sets have made me think about getting them on multiple occasions but so far no order has been made.

the second Caesar partisan set! for me good source armed civilians

Orion's Russians, good for the soviet unions troops in Oronegro

a companion to the Russian set, these guys will form either rebel gangs or more soviets

and just when you thought I was not going to be looking for more soviets....

The wishful but at a stretch! Now these might be purchased only id and when the sets above are not bought or in the highly unlikely event that I get some large sum of money (lotto)... of coarse these might be on the list of sets for the 19th birthday. But on the whole most of these are just temporary ideas that has stuck a little longer than most and I might not actually get them in the end, well just wait and see ;-)

militia, for the jungle or the city streets

Militia, lots of Sturmgewehr's which will pass off as AK-47's or another type of Kalashnikov

engineers, I know WW2 Germans, but they are correct for Oronegro's army

motorcycles, which with ample modification  they can form some rather modern looking bikes

METAL & Resin STUFF!!! This lot is set aside due to the material it is made from, these are perhaps more likely to be bought than those above, but still not certain purchases.

Elhiem miniatures: The following figures will be used along with the Revell set to complete the Oronegrean century I have built up :-) which will mean that apart from maybe turning it into a type B battalion later on (see Oronegro blog for info) that will complete my standard Oronegrean forces :-)

well these are from Elhiem miniatures, their armour means they are good for some MP's I only need one but the others will be good for other roles

more of the same, some of these guys will be useful for filling in the roles of medic, I still need 3 to complete the century

I need a five man bomb squad for the century, 4 men + one from the above set and that's done.

this pic is from Dougie's wargaming blog, these are the Elhiem civilian relations team, I just need one of the above infantry to accompany

with a bit of mix and match with current figs these and some others will form the engineers

I hope to get the engineers company out of this lot maybe some back packs and equipment will make the scene

and the backpacks to make the engineers look like ones... might get 2 sets so 8 of them have them

Of coarse Elhiem might also be used to add to the baddies in Oronegro.

they have a nice range of soviets as well as many other figures

S&S models: for those vehicles that you find nowhere else and a few other bits and bobs.

 these guys is a must somewhere along the line. they are the backbone of the rebel army, well them and converted figs

this image is big because the vehicle here is one of my favourites :-) the ZU-23-4, Shilka, I love it because it is so rugged!!! My favourite tank is the Leopard 2 A6 if you are wondering, why do you think I got Germans :-)

That concludes the list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I must say that this is by no means all that I will buy in future and I am also not saying I will get all of it, I have very limited amounts of money, time and I have more important things like school and qualifications and university to worry about... there are some things like MJ figures News Crew and maybe Zombies and some other things like Little Green men's colonial marines that have been left off due to me not being sure whether to go down that road yet, news crew would be for some game. I have also looked at much more and am still keen on developing the UN involvement in Oronegro. and as always other things like vehicles and aircraft are also on the agenda but do not appear much due to me not having a large can of spray on primer, which I think I need for doing them... if you have one of the sets I am more than willing to trade, my purchasing power is small and as you know for this year I will not be buying more, except for Christmas or if the deal is excellent!

HELLO TOO: Peter. Bonami from Peter's cave great models and I know that he has been looking into some moderns recently :-) welcome to the wonderful and complicated world of modern camouflage.
greetings to Erhan Atalay from mini afv great with Kits from many era's I have seen the ZU-23-4 recently appear on his site.

OH and its the holidays :-D

hmm one more set should do it! Oronegro infantry

well I am not saying that one more set and I am done with them totally no no no I mean to get a century! 100 soldiers + some command and back up... currently I have 88, 60 standard soldiers 8 Command and support and 20 specialists This set should do it...

48 + 88 maybe be 136 altogether however that is not the end of the story... in this set I get 13 LMG's and 6 Rocket launcher troops, 3 potential NCO's and 25 normal guys

well lets try and get 100 troops I have this plan for the Oronegrean century so far...
a team = 5 soldiers (5)
a squad = 4 teams (20)
a unit = 2 squads (40) + 10 specialists; LMG's, stingers, Dragon etc. (50 total)
a century = 2 units (100)

this is what with this set I will have
136 total
85 standard troops (only need 80)
18 LMG's (4 M60 + 14 Saw)
2 dragon
3 stinger
3 Javelin
9 one shot rocket launchers
5 snipers
4 MP's
2 medics
1centurion
4 NCO's

how to reduce the numbers; take the 9 one shot guys and make them become normal soldiers after using the rocket launcher... I now have 27 to deal with, make the NCO's, medics, MP's, Snipers and Centurion not count towards the century... now I have 11 to deal with, 5 normal soldiers should become spotters for the snipers so I have only got only 6 soldiers to deal with, 5 LMG's (SAWs?) can be used as a body guard for the NCO's and the centurion so just on man to deal with and one Saw should become the Optio, a roman term for the second in command of the century :-) all neat and tidy, perhaps in future I can add some bomb squad troops, civilian relation teams and perhaps a could more medics to make a grand total of 150 soldiers 100 under the command of the centurion and 50 either acting in a command role or as support!

whoops wrong set

admittedly it appears that I am also to blame, I appear to have got the Republic of Korea Imex set instead of the KPA, well I am not too fussed these guys will make some good new rebel forces. Also it appears that the modern set has a part missing a shield for the riot police :-(
the KPA is the biggest concern as I wanted to get them because they all wore the caps however in the RoK troop set most of them have M1 helmets which though OK for a militia force is not in keeping with Oronegro because...
the Oronegrean stockpiles would have had British style of 1940's style German helmets, as is shown by the native units it was the third Reich not America that influenced the uniform of the Army of Oronegro from 1946-1967 before Oronegro started to change its uniform to the field caps that are worn by many of the rebel forces from the boarders and rural towns. However there is room for the US equipment as it is likely that after 1967 that the M1 helmet was introduced in small quantities with the German Stahlhelm remaining the standard helmet up until the 1980's when it was replaced by the newer US Pagsat helmet and later the Fritz...
just a small bit of history for you there, but I shall not complain and I will continue to look out for the KPA set perhaps a Christmas prezzie :-) have a nice day guys

more goodies - no more till Christmas

well I have ended my recent spending spree with a trip to the annual? town rotary book sale, fair, thing. so I roved the tables full of thousands upon thousands of books and then made a bee-line to the History/war section and there in front of me, the first things I saw, were some books anyone with an interest in the cold war would jump for, I didn't though I did grab them quick :-) then I decided to buy my sister (who came with me) 2 books on dog breeds because she loves dogs and she chose a book for my mum! Then I went off to the Sci-fi section to see if they had for some strange reason some books in Isak Asimov foundation series, I have foundation and prelude to foundation, I looked for a while and almost gave up but then! there they were foundation and empire, second foundation and foundation and earth, I decided not to get foundation and earth because I only had $2 left. So how much did all this cost? I hear you ask.... $10 that's right just 10 New Zealand dollars, not bad for... 4 cold war comics (both in terms of subject and age) + 2 dog related items (one BIG magazine? or book from 1998 and a little book) + 2 smallish Sci-fi novels + one Book for mum. I will not show you all the books, just the cold war comics.

they are very similar to the Soviet war power book I can get out from school

they are old - for books 1976 they were published! at the time they cost $3.15 for all except the weapons and Uniforms book which cost $2.35 I got them for $1 each :-D take that inflation

the soviet war power book at school is from 1980 so these are slightly older

this one might be of use then it comes to doing more in depth structuring for my Oronegrean forces

this is a very useful book, its funny to see the prototype Apache though and the Hind A-B instead of the Hind F (totally different cockpits).

well there you go. these are just another useful source of information and if any of you cold war gamers are interested I can give you some facts from these books. OK spending over now to save as much as possible for the future, well until Christmas and birthday and then I can stock up on some more stuff if necessary.

AFV's who gives what??? soviets and the west are involved

Well I have been looking around for AFV's for a while now... I have had kind donations and looked at tip offs on good deals and I think I have found a good site... armory they were recomended by the manufacturer ACE models so I am hoping that the good deals that are shown on this site are genuine. so the big question is... when I have the money what do I get????

I do have plans... as this is the age of cold war2 (I thought it could make the game more interesting) the west and  the soviets will both be taking an interest in the nation of Oronegro. so I should think about old and new weaponary and armor being seen on the battlefield from those respective sides... Emmett (Winttrix) gave me the idea of having a british peace keeping froce to make my challenger II seem more at home in the game, which I like as an idea. but it might make the game to multinational but we'll see the alternative is it is a donation but I do not think that might work... but what else?

WELL here is what the soviet may be giving, and the kits I might use...

BMP-2 (from ACE models?)

looks cool but maybe to much to be giving?

T-90 main battle tank (ACE models as it is cheap?)

Advanced so maybe nor, a T-72 with reactive armour may do

BTR-152V (ICM kit)

good but maybe not advanced enough

BTR-60PB (ICM kit)

I saw some Kazak Elite police with one of these so my rebels would be right with one

There will also be a veriaty of other things mostly trucks but also a few hevier vehicles;

• Ural trucks 
• Zil trucks
• BM-24-12 rocket launchers fire system
• zsu/23/4a/a (S&S models)

THE WEST shall provide.... I shall not show pics as I cannot be certain of what manuacturer to use

• M60's
• styker APC's (mostlikely Tamyia models0
• M113's 
• M2 Bradleys
• Humvies ???
• Challenger II (or should they be part of a british peace keeping force)????

and others... still not quite sure but I would like to also add a bit of euro flavour south america is a mixture of US and euro.

I am not sure what I should get or even think of saving up for so I would like you to recomend which of the products or types of AFV stated abouve would be good. and add to the list if you like. please do not expect me to get anything soon and if I do get the donated M60's soon I shall do them first. the challenger II may be intergrated in one of two ways but I might get on and paint it soon or when I feel I have the experiance or courage to try it