The Portuguese aid the Abyssinians at Birtarin

Located far to the north of the German assault at Tamayya, the Abyssinians are faced with a Taureg assault, where months earlier, the present Raj saw his father butchered by the 'Blue Men'

The Raj (seen on roof left of center), and a Portuguese explorer (seen on roof to right of center) prepare their defense

Closeup of the Raj and his bodyguard

Two more Portuguese (on roof to right) planning on selling their lives dearly

The first Taureg get over the wall

They also take the first house

But the Abyssinians fight back and destroy the first Taureg to have climbed their wall

The brave militia is overwhelmed at the gate

Now the Taureg expand their attack along another wall

The Abyssinians prepare

More Taureg get over the wall and drop the first Portuguese, but are met by heavy fire

The Taureg secondary assault carries the gate and first house

Exchanging fire with militia in another house

The Taureg are beginning to fall back!

The last Taureg within Birtarin are shot down

The Portuguese have made staunch friends

The "Mad One' plays host to an Italian delegation

A small group of Italians have arrive at Mobuto to talk to the Head Chief of the Ngoni. The Italians have been very successful in making friends with numerous sub-tribes but now they are attempting to befriend the big chief himself. But he's not called the "Mad One' for nothing. In league with his slave trading partner, Tippu Tib, they creep up on the huts (without the roofs) housing the sleeping Italians

Fortunately for the Italians (at least at first) their sentry is alert and fires a warning shot that awakens his compatriots

Sadly for the visitors and their Askaris, they are slaughtered to the last man

British disaster: Defeat at the hands of the Azande

A British force of some power along with native allies have advanced against the Azande. This powerful and militaristic tribe is waiting like a spider in its web. The result was a British disaster. The handful of 'Redcoats' tried to escape to the coast to the west. But the Azande were closing in. The first Azande elements charge against the British survivors

More Azande close in from another flank

Close up of the Azande (sorry for the fuzzy picture)

More Azande

The British fall back to a small hill top while their native askaris are overwhelmed

The final handful are blasting down the attackers...but can they hold out?

Well...actually they break the last Azande element and they do survive!

Colonial Adventure: The Germans take Tamayya

In the continuing story of our campaign in the Unknown Continent, The Germans storm ashore at the seaside town of Tamayya where the slave-trading Taureg are assisting the Ashanti who purchases many of the slaves from the northern desert.

Germans have landed at the docks aboard several vessels, while the main force assaults from the desert

At the very start of the assault, the Germans had to deal with some native betrayal within their own ranks. They were quickly put down

Amazingly, first volleys against the Taureg holding the city wall, devastate the 'Blue Men'

The Taureg deploy their last card in the battle as their mounted forces charge forward. Unfortunately for the defenders, they run into a wall of lead, and the city falls to the Germans

Tenochtitlan and the Sacred Precinct

This is a diorama used at Green Mountain High in Lakewood Colorado. The larger portion in rear is the Aztec temple complex encircled by the Serpent Wall. The foreground depicts some of the neighborhoods the Spanish had to fight through when attempting to escape during "La Noche Triste" (Night of Sorrows) on June 30, 1520.

Culloden, 1746

After many months of not being able to access or even import photos, I believe I'm back. A quick test tonight to see if the problems are truly behind me. First on the large backload is the battle of Culloden in 15mm.

The view is westward toward the Jacobite Army as the artillery duel begins. The English guns will quickly put the Jacobite artillery out of commission, as well as inflicting heavy casualties on the Scots as they wait impatiently for their commanders to order their charge!

The view from the "Bonnie Prince" and his staff towards the English in the far distance:

The view along the Jacobite lines, from the MacDonalds in the north, or left flank  (bottom side of photo) to the south and the right wing under Lord George Murray. The English lines to the east (l):

Right rear of the Jacobites, with the Prince and his staff to left:

Now looking back north along the Jacobite Army, from the right wing near the enclosure walls:

The  Prince and his staff grouped around the Royal Standard:

The extreme left of the English Army, containing loyal Campbell clansmen (to King Georgie that is!) and much of their cavalry:

View from behind the English rear lines towards the Jacobites at the far end of Drumoosie Moor:

The MacDonalds (inc Glengarry's, Clanranald's, and Keppoch's regiments) on the Jacobite left...a position that caused no grief as they expected to be placed at their traditional location on the right

The Center of the Jacobite Army (inc Chisholm's, MacLeans and MacLachlan's, Monaltrie's, the Lady MacIntosh's, Lovat's regiments), with the second rank behind

Lord George Murray with the right flank clans (inc Atholl Brigade, Stewart of Arsheal's, and Lochiel's regiments), and the Royal Ecossois lined up behind

Positioned behind the MacDonalds was the second French Army unit fighting with the Prince, these being the Irish Piquets

Closer view of the Royal Ecossois

The left flank of the English army, the 4th Barrell's) regiment which would be the only English unit broken through and as such were suffer the majority of that armies' casualties

Looking north over the English Army

Closer view of Jacobite right wing

After enduring the English artillery bombardment for at least 15 minutes (and some say perhaps an hour) and suffering horrendous casualties, the clans finally charge on their own initiative, beginning in the center

The charge strikes home, (Barrell's on left) but just as it occurred historically in 1746, too many losses have been suffered to break through the English Army

The Viking village

After nearly two months of work, the village is complete! (of course I may always think of something else):

Sunrise:

The rear of the Jarl's Hall, overlooking his village:

View of the mountain cliff:

Final view for now (more to follow) of the waterfall: