Battle of the Catalaunian Plains: Western Rome's Last Gasp

 The Army of Attila, with the Gepids (far left) and German allies next, Huns in center, and Ostrogoths on right...

Attila himself...

The Army of Aetius with the Salian Franks front right with Roman Cavalry behind; then Romans themselves with one unit of Cavalry behind; Alans in the center block; with the Visigoths on the left...

General Aetius...

Before the fight commences, with Attila and his men on left, and Aetius and his men on right...

We only played a few rounds to get the feel of the Saga Epic Rules, but it proved to be very enjoyable.

The early conflict was limited to the Ostrogoths/Visigoths, as losses were taken by both sides (top). The Gepid commander moved some Germans forward (bottom), but this front remained quiet...

The fighting continued between the Goths, as the Ostrogoths (bottom) inflicted severe casualties on their western cousins...

The conflict finally got serious between the Gepids/Germans and the Roman/Franks. To our surprise, it was a unit of Alan Levy bowmen (center) who began punishing some Huns. The Gepids also lost a unit against Roman cavalry (bottom)...

The Levy finally lost casualties vs the Huns, while the Visigoths lost their king and their army routed! Good point to stop our 'practice' game. We plan to redo the whole battle in the near future so I will keep it posted...

San Carlos de la Barra

 Located on a spit of land guarding the entrance to the large inland bay that house, among other towns, Maracaibo. The Spanish constructed it to defend against Buccaneer Raids. It was, and still is, massive.

The view from the sea with some of the landward defenses still incomplete...

Same view, a few months later (yea1, I finished the model!)...

From the landward side...

Finally, my version of Maracaibo...

Hopefully will make for a couple of exciting games...

Trafalgar

 Have been collecting models for this epic fight for years, starting back in the 80s! These photos show how far things have progressed. Missing models are filled in by paper-slips with the vessels name. There is light at the end of the tunnel...

First view is from the north, with the Franco-Spanish fleet on the left. The two English columns are about to reach the enemy lines, Admiral Nelson aboard the Victory, at left-center and Collingwood's line lead by the Royal Sovereign just above...

The view moves to the South and Collingwood's Royal Sovereign is just about center with Nelson and Victory above...

The tail of Nelson's column on the left and Collingwood on right, with the Franco-Spanish fleet drawn up from right to left...

Final shot is from the NE over the Franco-Spanish line, which the immense Spanish ship Santisima Trinidad (largest ship in the world at the time with 140 guns!) slightly left of center. The French Bucentaure and Redoubtable are next in line behind her. Nelson's Victory will cut the Franco-Spanish line between those two French ships...

Catalaunian Fields; 20 June, 451 AD

 Been painting up a large number of miniatures to recreate this battle between Rome and Attila. Will post more details in near future, but here is a quick preview...

Attila's Army from left to right: Gepids and Germanic allies ; the center with the Huns themselves; and the Ostrogoths...

A closeup of Attila himself...

I have never painted this many mounted miniatures at one time, and it has been a fun challenge. The plan is for the Gaming Gang to play this out as an Epic Saga Game in the near future, so will keep you posted...

The Spanish Take On Guadeloupe

 After successfully raiding the French port of Petit Goave, our Corasrio Commander next selected the French Colony on Guadeloupe. The Harbor was filled with merchant shipping but even with our rule regarding surprises, the French failed every attempt to sound a warning. Not until the Spanish literally began swarming onto the dock, did the French show any suspicion! Notice the Militia guards simply strolling along the dock...

As the first Corsarios move onto the dock, they let loose a volley and quickly, two Frenchmen go down...

The Militia Commander is on the parapet of the Fortified Stone House (top center) above the harbor, and can't believe what he just heard and saw...

As French Marins pour out of one of the dockside taverns, three are quickly cut down, and the survivor is routing off...

Even at longer range, the Spanish luck continues.  Another volley from the Corsarios drops more Marins (bottom) fleeing to the Fortified House...

Spanish Piqueros Milicianos inflict three more casualties on fleeing Marins, causing the survivor to flee...

The French finally strike back as their Caribbean Militia fire into the Piqueros Milicianos (center)...

The anchored Spanish Frigate (off table to left) fires a volley and they blast the two initial surviving Militia Dockside guards (bottom and center)...

All hope is lost as the last Marins are cut down before they can make it to the Fortified house. It is the last straw for the French Commander (lower left), who lowers the flag and surrenders!

This had to be the most lopsided fight we have held. It was an absolute slaughter, with almost every French figure becoming a casualty while the Spanish lost two! The Corsario Commander then spent the next day and a half, looting the island!

A Spanish Corsario Raid

 Our Corsario player has chosen the French colony of Petit Goave as his target. Fortunately there were no French ships in port, nor were any Buccaneers present as well. Flying the French Flag until the last moment, his two Sloops pulled along the dock and grappled. A unit of Piqueros Milicianos moved into town and decided to check the first building. French Carribbean Militia opened fire, dropping one of the Spaniards...

A closeup of the fatal volley...

At the other end of Petit Goave, some Corsarios moved on the dock where they were fired upon by a second unit of French Militia. But this time there were no hits...

Melee broke out at the doors and windows of the first building, and two more Spaniards and one Frenchmen went down. The Corsario Commander withdrew his Piqueros Minlicianos and moved up some of his Marineros to continue the fight...

The Spanish Corsarios successfully took down some Militia despite their cover inside their building...

The Marineros made very short work of the Militiamen in the first house, slaughtering all four, causing the French Commander to offer his sword and ended the conflict...

An English Buccaneer Raid

 An English Sloop puts into the small dock area of the French colony of Anguilla, and unloads it's entire crew ashore. The small French Militia garrison is hiding in the large house at left...

After shooting down two of the Englishmen, the French commander decides on a big gamble. He orders his men to leave the house and attempt to outflank the Buccaneers and take their unmanned vessel! The English fire into the Militia (bottom) and drop one. The French succeed in taking down two more Englishmen. (c)...

The English commander goes all out aggressive and charges the Militia. Unfortunately for the French they are overwhelmed...

The now undefended island is then looted of its very small value, and the English sail off.