Perry Joseon Armored Spearmen With Shields

Painted their shields to complete these figures. These are the last from the most-recent Perry order of Korean and Samurai figures. 

The figures themselves were painted a few days ago. The lion heads on the shields were painted similarly to the ones on the earlier round shields carried by swordsmen.

They remind me of Persian Immortals by the way they're armed and armored.

Not sure how they'll be deployed in a game - maybe as bodyguards for commanders, or for separate artillery.

Still awaiting a few TAG Song cavalry, but will attempt to scratch-build some Japaneses fortress/wajo stone walls next. Thanks for stopping by and hope you all are doing well and enjoying the weather.

Cavalcade Armored Ming Swordsmen - With Shields

Added the plastic shields that were from an ebay seller. The make of them wasn't listed, but someone told me they might be from the Fireforge Mongol set - the listing did say they were Mongol shields. They look just like Chinese shields, so no problem.

They were just sprayed with a white undercoat, then given a wash of Vallejo Ink Flesh and Black. The metal parts were Vallejo Bronze and then highlighted with gold. Very simple process.

Not sure if they would've been in units among themselves, or if they were mixed with lighter, unarmored, troops.

Used the image below as an example for the shields.

Still need to finish up the Perry armored spearmen's shields. After that, I should be starting on some terrain for a Japanese wajo fortress.

Perry Joseon Mounted Handgunners

Went ahead and based the three mounted handgunners after spraying them with Krylon matte/flat. Didn't do any additional highlighting after the staining. I had added some quick highlights prior to the staining - mostly on the horsehair plumes and horse tails and manes.

As with the previous mounted Koreans, the riders and horses are cast as single pieces. I normally paint riders and horses separately, but these painted up without any difficulty.

Perry Joseon Koreans are a favorite range of figures for me. Now I have a set each of their cavalry.

They're on Litko 50x25mm ovals and 3x movement trays along with the rest of the cavalry. Now a full 12-figure cavalry unit, or they can also be in smaller units of 3 or 6-figures.

As most of the Korean cavalry was wiped out in an early battle during the Imjin War, not many were present in most of the subsequent fighting. This loss was more than made up once the Ming Chinese entered the war.

Need to work on the shields for the Korean spearmen and Ming swordsmen next. Also, rebasing a bunch of the Samurai foot as I had mistakenly mounted them on stainless steel washers - which don't work with the magnetic bases, of course.

Perry Joseon Armored Spearmen And Mounted Handgunners

Just brushed on the Minwax stain. Still need to complete the shields for the spearmen. In fact, the main reason for getting the spearmen was their large wooden shields.

Speaking of shields - got some plastic Mongol shields from a UK seller on ebay. Not sure of the make (Fireforge, maybe?), but they'll be added to the Ming armored swordsmen.

Just a quick blog update on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Best wishes to you all.

Chain of Command - Philippines, Late-1944

Played another Chain of Command game ttoday at my buddy's place. The scenario was Late-War, Philippines, with US forces advancing inland against Japanese forces holding out. There were five players, and a GM, my buddy who hosted the game. Except for myself, all of the others were experienced to varying degrees with the rules. I have to admit I'm even getting some of the basic rules down too, having been playing the rules off and on for several years now. Of course, playing with folks very familiar with the rules is plus. For today's game, I ran a platoon of Japanese - one squad having four knee mortars - not bad to have in the woods with a spotter. The game ended after my fellow-Japanese player's platoon was knocked out of the game and it was called a US victory. I still had most of my platoon and had done well against a few US squads that were out in the open. My 37mm antitank gun also did well in slowing the advance of a platoon of Sherman tanks.

My buddy's tables are always filled with excellent terrain.

The infamous "Patrol Phase" - setting up Jump Off Points. Quite unique with the rules.

Capturing the hootch near the flag was a victory condition for the US troops, but the game ended when half of the Japanese force was destroyed.

Part of the Japanese platoon I ran, deep in the woods.

The Japanese end of the table.

The 37mm anti-tank gun that did well against the lead Sherman tank early in the game. It became the target of multiple US units, including two Shermans in retribution. It survived the game but if it gained one more Shock it would've been destroyed.

The US squad out in the open was one of two that were getting the worst of the Japanese knee mortars.

My two-man antitank team with bamboo poles failed to make it to the Sherman before the game ended.

One of my buddies just got back from visiting his in-laws in Japan and brought me back some cookies from a museum - the cookies had different military markings on them.

They could probably have been used as gaming aids, like Jumping Off Points, but we ate them instead.

The host lives about 5 minutes away from my place, and has a great view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountain Range from his front yard.

When I got home, my Litko order, as well as the Mongol shields for the Ming Swordsmen were in the mail box. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday. Thanks again for stopping by and wishing you all the best.

Perry Joseon Government And Monk Archers

Based the new figures - three per 40mm squares. This is the way I've based figures in the past for Lion Rampant - casualty counters used for tracking. I find it easier to move, store, and transport the figures this way.

They can be in either 12 or 6 figure units.

As mentioned in the earlier post, I really like the figures from this range. Interestingly, they can be used pretty much up to the late 19th Century. There was even a clash between Joseon troops and French Naval Fusiliers (aka Marines) in 1866.

Here they are below along with their earlier painted brethren.

Along with their Ming allies, these should be enough for a siege against a Japanese wajo someday. Thanks for stopping by and checking out the blog.

A Few More Perry Joseon Korean Archers And Monks - WIP

Here are a few more Perry Joseon Korean Archers and Monks that I recently ordered. They've just been stained with Minwax over a block paint job.

I really like the look of the "Garrison" troops in their basic white attire with a sleeveless black coat. They make a nice contrast against the more colorful and varied Japanese troops - and the Ming as well.

The picture above is before the Minwax staining. Just wanted to get a few more Perry Koreans as I like this range a lot. In addition to these figures, have a few of  Korean cavalry and armored spearmen with shields to work on from the recent order.

Also picked up some Japansese castle/fortress wall sections from Tabletop Terrain and were about $5 a piece. Plan to use some pink foam for the stonework foundation that the walls will go on top of. The wall sections have holes in the bottom to allow them to be placed on pegs. Just a quick blog update to let you all know what I'm currently working on. Hope you all are doing well!

Cavalcade Ming Armored Swordsmen - WIP

Minwax stain applied over a basic block paint job. Only used a few colors the armored coats and clothing. Awaiting an ebay order of "Mongol" wicker shields for them.

Nice figures with enough nice details to make them paint up well enough. They could be used for Joseon Koreans too, I suppose.

I should also be getting an order of Perry Koreans in the mail today too. Mostly more archers and several cavalry to up their unit to 12 figures.

Cavalcade Ming Chinese Infantry

Finished these up using a very simple "uniform" followed by Minwax staining. The flag is from the Perry website's Imjin War Korean flags article.

They're nice figures that should fit in well with the Perry Joseon Koreans. To be honest, in my opinion, the poses of the spearmen remind me a bit of the Old Glory Ashigaru figures too. This might be due to them having the same kind of plastic broom bristles for their spears.

This is just a small Ming force, but wanted them as they ended up being the main opponent against the Japanese as the Imjin War progressed.

Awaiting the arrival of shields for the armored swordsmen. Plan to base the swordsmen as singles on washers, just like their armored Korean couterparts. In any case, glad to have stumbled on these figures on ebay as like I mentioned in the previous post, they seem to be out of production now. Well, all for now, and thanks again for your visits.

Bolt Action - Soviet Invasion of Japan, 1951

Of course, this was a fictional battle set up by a buddy. This is the second playtest of the game which he'll host at Enfilade in May. I was one of the Soviet players and ended up having most of my troops and armor destroyed by turn 4. The scenario is the Soviets invade Japan via sea - they've already landed and advancing inland. The Soviets' goal is to capture intel at the two radar/commo sites on opposing hills. Unfortunately, the forces already in Japan besides their own defense forces include US infantry and naval personnel - along with several Pershing tanks and Chaffee and M36. The Soviets had a few T-34/85s and BTR-40s. The Soviets' advance was slowed by rough terrain, as well as US forces waiting in ambush stalling their advance. Two Soviet armored vehicles were destroyed on the two roads inland, thereby blocking the rest of the vehicles. We called the game at the end of turn 5, calling it a clear US-JSDF win. My buddy will do a few tweaks, like not bringing on too much US armor on the table until later in the game. Otherwise, it's a great scenario and should be a success at the convention. Here are a few images of the game - played in my buddy's outdoor bunker full of his gaming collection and books on military history (mostly WW2 and US).

After getting home from the game, my ebay order of Cavalcade Ming Chinese had arrived in the mail - not a bad Saturday!

Here's a comparison shot with Perry figures. A good match in size and style, IMO.

I'm glad to have gotten these Ming figures as they are either OOP, or very hard to find.

Joseon Army - Perry Figures

Here's the Joseon army to date - the only figure not from Perry is the guy in red with one of the hwacha. Also, the multi-barreled gun is from another maker which I can't recall at the moment.

Command stands and hwacha next to an aquarium piece which was re-painted.

I just bought some old Cavalcade Ming Chinese figures to reinforce the Joseon army.

Here are some pictures from 20 or so years ago, when I was stationed in Korea. This was inside a repro-Turtle ship. The armor and weapons were laying on a table with no one else around, so figured we'd try them on.

My two sons are grown up now, the youngest is a Captain in the Army, and the older one recently was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Washington Air Guard. He was enlisted for about 11 years before that.

This was in Namhae, and was pretty much deserted; might've been off-season. No one around, so we just waltzed right inside and toured the ship by ourselves. We later walked up along the shore and stopped by a shrine in honor of Admiral Yi. All this, long before I ever thought I'd be gaming the Imjin War.