Crossing the Chindwin: Chindits for Bolt Action/Konflikt!

The Chindits, a unit that has continuously caused debate about their usefulness from their inception to the modern day. High casualty rates, inconsistent orders, and simply being asked to do too much took their toll on the force. But none can dispute their bravery; four members were awarded the Victoria Cross!

Despite their reputation, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Chindits. When it looked like Konflikt 47 might start back up at my local club, I wanted a British force that could fight the Japanese without looking too out of place. Conveniently, the stuff I bought to play such a force can easily be fielded in Bolt Action by simply leaving out the weirder or anachronistic stuff, of which I don’t actually own yet!

Many companies produce models for Chindits, but I went with Warlord Games out of familiarity, but it was a decision I’m regretting now. The Chindit line was part of the original Bolt Action miniatures(a separate company at the time) line-up, and have been in constant production ever since Warlord picked them up. It shows, the Lee-Enfields especially looking rather dated. My Boys Anti-Tank rifle came with a broken magazine and bipod, and it is in no shape to show off yet. One Chindit’s M1 Carbine was broken beyond repair, and I converted the model to carry a Thompson instead.

Still, they have some upsides. The face’s are especially characterful, with deep and interesting detail, and the price at the time I got them from a small store in Quebec was just right.

Let’s take a look at them, shall we? I apologize now for the lighting not being great. I need to invest in a lightbox, and soon.

That is all of them, at least from the Section I bought. I still have loads of weapon teams, officers, characters, and even a flamethrower! I ran out of primer though, and I need to buy more before I can continue on the Chindit project.

These were both frustrating and fun to paint. I wish some of the weapons were more crisply defined, but the faces made up for it.

As for what comes next for the Burma Campaign Konflikt 47/Bolt Action army, I’ve got a few things in mind. From a historical angle, I would like some regular army infantry sections to supplement the special forces of the Chindits. A Tank, probably a Grant/Lee or a Stuart would go nicely with the force.

For Konflikt 47 specifically, I have some ideas. While I have already painted a Centurion tank from Warlord, and it will soldier on in the Western Front British armies I have…it’s not as great a model as the new Rubicon offerings. My plan is to buy the MK5/1 kit, which was meant for Vietnam Australians, and backdate the parts on it back to a WW2 era vehicle. While the Centurion missed WW2 by a slim margin in our timeline, it is perfectly fine to field in a K47 army. The modifications on the MK5/1 for the jungle environment will work just as well in Burma as it did in Vietnam. Its ambitious, but that’s the fun of alternate history games!

Alongside that, I do want some walkers, to add some additional k47 fun. I’m looing at both the Guardian/Coyote Light Walker and the Grizzly Medium Walker for some Imphal city-fighting. My friends K47 Japanese features an absolutely insane amount of heavily armoured Japanese infantry…I’ll need all the specials toys I can get!

But, that is all in the future. For now, I need more then anything primer! Once I get some Russian Uniform spray we’ll be back in business.

Until then, Happy Wargaming wherever you are, and have a great day!