Voortrekker Wagon

Yesterday I was very fortunate to receive an unexpected package from Clive. In it was a 20mm Jacklex Voortrekker wagon complete with original Harrow Model Shop box and assembly instructions. The instructions are necessary as this model is surprisingly detailed and contains quite a few parts. I’ve started to put it together and I think it will look great when finished.

This was the type of wagon used during The Great Trek of the 1830’s and 1840’s when Dutch speaking farmers left the Cape to set up farms on the fertile interior of the Transvaal. The move was prompted in part by a drought in the 1830’s but also by the desire to get away from British rule.

I probably wouldn’t have bought one of these models as they are quite expensive new and not of much value for wargaming. However I’m really pleased to have this one and it will add a bit of period flavour to my Boers force, just need to get some oxen. Nice one Clive.

Figure comparisons

Thanks to some super sleuthing by Roy in tracking down the UK distributor for Raventhorpe Miniatures, I took delivery of some samples this week from their Boer War range. The figures are really excellent (as was the service) and this now opens up a whole load of new options for units. Most importantly it gives me access to some decent British infantry that match in perfectly with my favoured Newline Designs Boers.

Jacklex BW5, Newline BOE01, Raventhorpe BO02

I thought I would post some comparisons of figures from Jacklex, Newline and Raventhorpe in case anybody else is thinking of dabbling in this period in 20mm as this would have been helpful to me at the start of this project - click on the pictures to take a good look.

Jacklex B5, Newline SUD04, Raventhorpe BO13 (uncovered helmet)

The Raventhorpe British infantry come with separate heads (there are covered and uncovered helmets available) which gives the potential for a great deal of variation and they have some lovely poses. They also make a very nice model of a Boer pom-pom gun and British Maxim but more on those in a future post.

Basing bore

I do have a bit of a thing about basing and I’ve been scratching my head trying to work out the best way to base figures for this project. I’m currently thinking that I will go with the system shown here with two figures on a 40mm x 30mm base. Groups of bases will then represent a commando for the Boers and companies/battalions for the British. The Boers will be allowed to space out into extended order but the British will have to stay in base to base contact.

I did think about taking a more old school approach by putting the British in close order (perhaps on bases similar to my Hinton Hunt Napoleonic’s) and having the Boers on individual round bases but I quite like what I’ve come up with – for now anyway. The bases will also have some scenic additions with rocks etc. and the size chosen will enable me to place a few lying down firing figures (Jacklex do a nice one).

The Boers shown here are Jacklex and they actually look quite good now based up. I’m not sure if I will lose the gloss finish or not, probably but I’ll see. As you know I’ve been in two minds about which figures to use for this project but it occurred to me that there’s no reason why I can’t use both Newline and Jacklex as long as I select figures of compatible size and don’t mix them within units. That way I get the best of both worlds.