BREAKING NEWS!!!!

WE INTERRUPT YOUR LOCAL TV VIEWING OF "COLLEGE CHEERLEADER HOT OIL RUBDOWN",  TO BRING YOU THIS BREAKING NEWS BULLETIN AND SPECIAL REPORT!!!!

NEWSFLASH!!!!BREAKING NEWS!!!!!

FANDANGO/BONGOLESIAN BORDER CRISIS WORSENS!

REFUGEES FLEE SOUTHERN BORDER AREA AS MILITARY FORCES PREPARE TO GET JIGGY!

LAW ENFORCEMENT DEALS WITH HOOLIGANS!

UN PEACEKEEPER COMMANDER INTERVIEWED ON SITUATION!

PRESIDENT B'WONAH SAYS 'A BIG PAIN STICK IS COMING DOWN SOON!"

From The Euro News Network: "All the news with a European Flair, delivered by a Eurobabe...."

(SUDEKIA): Sources in Bongolesia report that the border crisis between Bongolesia and it's Southern neighbor  The Fandango Republic, seems to be worsening by the day. Reports from the nearby city of Lonnieville confirm that refugees are already fleeing the Southern area and moving towards the imagined safety of the interior as the military prepares to increase it's presence in the area.

"We've seen people moving this way all day coming from the South." said a Lonnieville citizen. "We tell them that they have to keep moving because there is no room at the inn.", confirming suspicions that all available lodging has been taken up already by those able to do so.

Scores of refugees have been seen moving forward through the town, carrying whatever possessions they can carry with them. Everywhere is the feeling that the storm clouds of war are soon to be unleashed upon the southern area of the land.

The Southern area of Bongolesia has been relatively spared from the ongoing chaotic and sporadic fighting between the national government of President B'wonah and the Bongolesian African Revolutionary Front (BARF), as they continue to try to overthrow the current regime and install one of their own., that is seen mostly in the Central and Northern parts of this country.

 (On the road again...)

 A long line of refugees moving away from the Southern Border and into the Bongolesian interior...

Meanwhile, taking advantage of the chaotic situation, certain unlawful elements in the nearby Southern towns and villages attempt their hand at causing civil unrest to cover for looting and other criminal activities. Local police are hard pressed to maintain control and do it in just about anyway possible, short of using live ammunition...

 (Sometimes...it's the ONLY thing they will understand...)

Bongolesian local police use hard action to discourage criminals and looters from causing problems during this crisis...

PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS THE COUNTRY THIS EVENING....

(Sudekia): Bongolesian National Spokesman Sp'in Dok'tur has announced that His Excellency, President-For-Life P'hat Daddee B'wonah, will address the nation on radio and television this evening, concerning the current crisis.

(Telling you like it is....)

National Spokesman Sp'in Dok'tur discussing the Presidents upcoming speech this evening on the current border crisis with The Fandango Republic)....

(Reports indicate that the President is "deeply concerned" about the situation with The Fandangonians and will address the nation this evening on events pertaining to it.)

"Make no mistake about it, my friends." Spokesman Dok'tur said to a bevy of reports this morning. "His Excellency knows how to deal with these hooligans (and they know who they are), along our border and will do his duty and utmost in making sure that they get what they are looking for. The nation and the people follow him blindly in good faith and will get on the humpty-humpty to ensure our nation comes out of this on top!"

UN COMMANDER DISCUSSES CURRENT SITUATION!

(Port Tuziak): During a routine inspection of many of the United Nations Peacekeeping troops on various duties here within the nation, the Commanding Officer of the Forces took a few moments out to discuss the situation with reporters.

"Mein Headquarters has not informed me of any orders for me to move mein troops und panz..errr...vehicles vorwards into any type of combat operations. I have been assigned here to oversee the duties of the Peacekeepers under mein command, and until I am told otherwise, that is what I will do."  said General Hans von KinderSchlager as he inspected troops at Port Tuziak.

Currently, there has been no word from the UN on what to do in case fighting does break out between the two countries. An emergency meeting on the situation is scheduled for next Tuesday at 1:30 pm at the UN building in New York. There, the assistants of the Security Council will meet with diplomats to both nations and try to figure out a workable peaceful solution. 

Gen. KinderSchlager was hopeful of the situation as he inspected the UN troops and clicked his heels together. "Ja. I do think that the UN will find a way to oversee this current issue and perhaps I will be needed to push mein truppen und panz...errr....resources vorwards to ensure that the peace is kept."

We here at ENN can only hope that the UN will be able to resolve this situation before fighting breaks out...

 (A Triumph of The Will...) 

UN Military Peacekeeper Commanding General Hans von KinderSchlager listens intently to a briefing on the situation along Bongolesia's Southern Border, before breaking for lunch...

We here at the Euro News Network ("All the news with a European Flair, delivered by a Eurobabe...."), will continue to monitor the situation and report as it unfolds. Stay tuned!!!!

And now since "College Cheerleader Hot Oil Rubdown" has ended, we now join "Grandma's Hot Tub Weekend" staring David Hasselhoff, already in progress...

They're waiting on "The Hoff"....

TO BE CONTINUED.....

CRISIS IN BONGOLESIA!!!!

NEWSFLASH!!!!

CRISIS IN BONGOLESIA!!!!

Tensions escalate along Southern Border!

Each side accuses the other of "Saber Rattling"...

President B'wonah promises "the sharp end of the pain stick" if Fandango Forces try to get jiggy....

(SUDEKIA): Bongolesian Defense Forces have been put on an escalated height of alert due to the recent border altercations with it's southern geographic neighbor, The Fandango Republic.

"Reports over the last two days indicate several "incidents" along our border with the nation to the south of us", A national spokesman said. "These incidents were caused solely by the government of The Fandango Republic attempting to flex it military muscles into our nether regions and seeing what they can get. This is not only a direct violation of international boundaries but it is also a direct insult to us as a nation and our beloved people and President."

(Checkpoint Alfred: one of the many forward border stations in Bongolesia looking southward towards "enemy territory".)

ALAN ALDA BRIEFED ON THE SITUATION!!!!

Hollywood Legend offers his advice and assistance!!!

(HOLLYWOOD):  Legendary Cinema Screen Icon Alan Alda, long a champion of the Bongolesian people, and the nation in itself, was briefed this morning on the situation in his home in Beverly Hills. 

"After watching this being briefly bandied about on CNN this morning, the seriousness of it affected me greatly, and I felt the urgent...almost compelling need to once again make my services available." The legend said with earnestness in his voice.

"The people of Bongolesia have long been trod under by the Western Nations and in particularly The United States, and usually whenever there is an issue of some type in that region (or any other region), you can bet a dollar to a grand double whipped latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on it, that the US Government is somehow and someway involved in this."

(Sincerity comes in all forms....Legendary Cinema Icon Alan Alda discusses the troubles pertaining to Bongolesia and his offer to help it...)

MEANWHILE....

Military forces increased their alert status throughout the country, as NDF troops worked to prepare themselves against any further operations, while Presidential Guard troops assisted local law enforcement officials in securing the major cities.

"Morale is high among the members of the military as the newly painted and running equipment seems to be mostly in working order." said a NDF spokesman. "The troops will be ready to give the hurt to the Fandangonian invaders in the event that the invaders decide to invade."

(Keeping "good citizens" safe from "bad citizens"....Presidential Guard troops watch  for any suspicious activity on the streets of Sudekia...)

 (While NDF Border troops show their skill, morale, and readiness to get it on with the Fandangonians...)

We here at the EuroNews Network will keep watch on this situation and will report to you as events unfold in this international crisis...

And now, back to the closing credits of  "The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck"....

TO BE CONTINUED.....

Workbench update!!!

WORKBENCH UPDATE!!

Well it's been a bit since my last update. Real world stuff has one again reared it's head and my new job is keeping me busy. But with that in mind, I thought I would give some updates on my latest work on the ol' workbench.

So without further eloquence:

"IN THE NA-VY!!!"

First up is a pic of my WIP of Bongolesian Naval Infantry. Since the Bongolesian Navy is primarily a coastal defense force, and having no real deep water capability, The BN (Bongolesian Navy), needs naval infantry for a wide variety of duties, including the occasional suppression of OTHER mutinous Bongolesian Navy troops.

"They want you! They want you! They want you as a new re-cruit!"

Bongolesian Naval Infantry (in the white shirts).

I had originally planned on giving them dark blue tops and helmets with military green trousers but the color coordination was absolutely atrocious.

So I went back and looked at some real world naval infantry pics, and decided to go with the black helmet, white top, black trouser look. The Chinese really have the outfits down...

I'll be posting more on them as I finish them, but wanted to give you a little taste of what to expect.

LAW AND (DIS)ORDER....

So every country, (even corrupt ones) needs a police force right?

So why not Bongolesia?

That's right! The nation now has it's very own standing police force. (Currently on the table, 4 figures and 1 car), but hey, ya gotta keep the citizens in line right?

This WIP will be finished soon I hope. I plan on adding a few more figs and vehicles, but they shouldn't be much of a force to be reckoned with.

 *Cue the theme music from "Hill Street Blues"....Keeping law in order (from their point of view), on the streets of Bongolesian Cities.

Let's be careful out there, okay?

MEANWHILE....To The South of Bongolesia....

Why should Bongolesia have ALL the fun??

It's well known that our beloved nation has enemies.

Among them is their "neighbor" (in geographic terms only), to the South; that mysterious nation known as "The Mysterious Fandango Republic".(MFR)

And it's only natural that sooner or later the MFR is going to show some muscle along the border.

Hence 1st MFR Armored and their M24 Chaffee tanks.

The M24's for the MFR have been mechanically upgraded with better performance engines, although the tank is essentially the same as it's WWII counterpart. It's lightweight, high-speed and maneuverability in the difficult terrain of the MFR/Bongolesian border makes it an excellent armored vehicle. The 75mm gun gives enough "umph" without being unwieldy and overpowering.

Not quite yet ready for action...But I soon think that we will be seeing more from this group...

So that's currently it for what I am working on. 

I'm hoping to finish up some stuff and run a small game by late April-early May. Origins is coming up fast....

More to come...I'm sure of it...

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY BONGOLESIA BLOG!!!!

Wow...

Another year has come and gone and the old Bongo Blog keeps on trucking...

Once again I am amazed and so grateful for all of the support that everyone has given in maintaining the interest to it. 

I would especially like to think Rebel Minis for their dedication to the "Bongolesia" setting for their "Modern Havok" rules. A big thumbs up and here's hoping for more shenanigans as many of his figures grace my tables...

Some of you have asked me "How do I do it?"  and the answer is..."I really couldn't do it without you." 

And I am being honest. 

Over the last six years, I've received praise and flak because of this site. I've grown a thick skin, because of some of the mis-aligned arrows that has been sent my way because of it. I've been accused of being a racist, bigot, prejudiced, and "just mean spirited".

But those that know me also know that I am none of those. 

One only has to look at the dark history of many countries in Africa, (even today) and realize that "If Bongolesia was truly like any of those places, it wouldn't have lasted six months on the net, let alone six years"...

Mel Brooks once said "I beat Hitler if I can make him a laughingstock."  I try to do the same thing using Idi Amin as "P'hat Daddee B'wonah". Sure his excellency is a scheming scoundrel and has a dark side. But if I can make him a bit of a buffoon, with constant schemes of richness, and power, destined to fail, then perhaps then in a way we have beat that man. And it is with your help that we win...every time...

And for that...I am grateful.

Thank you everyone for another year at the helm of foolishness and fun....

Sincerely;

Michael T. Murphy

 LONG LIVE THE NATION!!!!  

LONG LIVE THE NATIONAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC OF BONGOLESIA!!!!

From the workbench...What I can field...(mostly)....

So it's been a while dear reader since I have been able to get an idea of what it is that I have. I have been working on an inventory of what I have and need (and alas...want) for a while now...

But to get an idea of what it is that I have pretty much on hand, I decided to do the photo thing.....

I took what I had (mostly), and set them up on the kitchen table....and ran out of room.

I was unable to get a FULL photograph...(one day I keep telling myself...one day...), and so had to get sectional shots.

Please note that this is NOT the "entire collection...

The following items are not included:

1: USMC: 20 odd stands of figures

2: USMC: 4 M1A1's

3: USMC: 5 AAVP7's

4: 5 UH-60's

5: 1 Mi-24

6: 2 Various Misc Helicopters

7: 20 odd stands of Presidential Guard Troops

8: 20 odd more stands of Civilians, Media, Characters, etc.

9: 2 Bongolesian Navy Vessels

10: 1 BRDM2 with AT/5

And so now..without further eloquence....

Here's what I can show you...

 A potpurri of mixed vehicles including an SA-4 system, BTR-152's, troop trucks, technicals, cargo trucks, Chinese fuel oil trucks, a burned out Petroco wreck, and a large piece of "Farm Equipment"...

 Civilian vehicles, including the Presidential Limo, fuel trucks, ice cream trucks, Bongo Cola tanker trucks, school-buses, and other assorted goodies...

 NDF combat equipment, including the PT-76's from "The Fighting Jujus" and the T-34's from "The Golden Lions", along with the Presidential Guard T-62's...

The outnumbered and outgunned UN forces...(More for them to come)...

 A quick view of the figures...close up to follow...

 Fixed wing air support including the Mig-17 from the BAF and the UN Aerial Asset also known as "The Blue Swallow"...

Another shot of the figures...

A close of up the characters and personas and other misc of the Bongolesians...Here you can see his Excellency President-For-Life B'wonah, Vienna Dupree, Santa Klaus, The mysterious one man jungle fighter "Rambone" Sister Mary Hermann-Goering with her nuns, The Reverend Father Doctor John, Kimba the Lion, and a wide assortment of others.

A close up of the BARF troops...those who would overthrow the government of Bongolesia... 

 NDF troops...including motorcycle escorts and support weapons...(Soon to get more reinforcements)...

 The "mix" box...from L to R: US Special Forces, UN Troops, and "The Wild Ducks" mercenary group...

And last but not least...when it's time to finally leave the country...fly out in style with "Air de' Bongo"...(aka "Bongo-Air"), the national airlines of Bongolesia...(actually the only airlines in Bongolesia)...

Well that's it pretty much for now...more to be coming...as projects are getting finished on my workbench...next up..some more vehicles, troops and scenery!!!!

Comments are appreciated...

HAPPY BONGOLESIAN NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!

NATION CELEBRATES NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY !!!!

President attends parade...

First Lady shows up...

Music, Dancing, Army Stuff, Bikinis, and Happy Citizens show the world that Bongolesia IS "The Place To Be!"

(Sudekia):  The nation is in throes of national pride this day as all citizens marked the day of National Independence!

  All around the country and in certain areas of the world Bongolesian's and their friends celebrated the day in history when their beloved nation was created with the last of the European Colonial Powers handing over power and leaving by tramp steamer back to Europe or wherever they came from.

  "It doesn't matter if it was Sudekia, Port Tuziak, Lonnieville, or one of the many small villages throughout the land. It's part of who we are...It's national pride." said a local citizen as he was rummaging through a trash pile.

PARADE IN SUDEKIA:

  The highlight crown jewel is always the massive celebratory parade in Sudekia, and this year was no different. The talent, culture, enthusiasm, of the citizens were on display as they performed and citizens and foreign tourists were encouraged to tip heavily and often....

 

The National Band of Bongolesia provided the patriotic and toe-tapping tunes during the parade. One of the favorite songs of the people was a citizens participation song where the band would play a few bars and then the people would sing the beloved chorus  "E I E I O !!!"  

Attending the parade was the beloved national leader of our nation...His Excellency, President-For-Life P'hat Daddy B'wonah. Showing his patriotic pride, he salutes the national flag.

Her Excellency, The First Lady for Life, Moolah B'wonah cut short her emergency diplomatic mission to Paris and the French Riviera to attend the parade and meet with orphan children in Bongolesia.

Bongolesian NDF officer marches in the parade. A decorated hero, this soldier shows his stuff and what he's made of. He is a role model for all good patriotic young men!

Bongolesian National Defense Force Tanks of 2nd Bongolesian "The Golden Lions" roll past on parade to the delight of the citizens. Not a track was thrown or an engine blown!

Col. Lok N' Lode of The Bongolesian Presidential Guards discusses the true meaning of being "Bongolesian" and expresses his honor at serving his Excellency and making sure that he gets plenty of action...

Presidential Guard Troops (The Famed "Raspberry Berets") march in the parade....

More troops marching to the delight of the citizens. 

Just seeing if you are still paying attention....

While overhead, military helicopters make an impressive sight in operational flight....

Citizens were excited at seeing the tanks rumble down the street and no one was caught under their tracks this time...a joyous occasion for all...

B'wonah University Cheerleaders strut their stuff at the parade...showing what they got...

BIKINI PARADE!!!!

  In a surprise first time appearance, many young Bongolesian ladies took to the streets in the parade and marched wearing matching bright bikinis. "It's a hot season and the sun is shining, and we want to show everyone our goods!" said a young lady as she strutted by.

  The addition was a visually pleasing surprise to many of the men in the audience. Some of the gentlemen even shouted out encouragement and a few of them held up money to show their support for the ladies on parade.

"WHOOMP! THERE IT IS!" one man yelled loudly, showing that he was obviously pleased with the show.

Strutting their stuff! Bongolesian ladies march in the parade in bikinis...

More Bongolesian lovelies...and a few of the European tourists and visitors and aide workers that were "encouraged" to participate in the eye pleasing event....

The locals continue to celebrate their joyous nation....truly this is a country that has it good! Many people are missing a good party!!!

AND DON"T FORGET!!!!

This week and this week only!

HONEST ABDUL IS HAVING A 20% off all Russian and Chinese Imported Farm Tools....

Come get what it is you need to handle your problem. Let "Honest Abdul" help...

Honest Abdul..."The Shoppers Friend"....

Workbench update!

Workbench update...

So I am going to take a little sidetrack off of the current issues and storylines going on in our beloved third world African hell-hole and update y'all on some of the projects that I have going on right now.

In a recent question that I had asked on my Facebook page as to "What would you like to see on the Bongolesia blog?", some folks actually came out and said "miniatures of course!"...

Well of course...and then I realized that it has been a while since I have posted any new shots of what I am working on.

So dear reader, without much further ado, and eloquence, here's a "behind the scenese look" at what I've been painting and building...

First off...civilians...

I don't have very many stands of civilians, so that was one of my priorities, to get more of them painted. I needed mobs/looters/local refugees, etc...all sorts of non-combatants to make scenarios more interesting.

So here's a few stands in the "almost finished" stages. Most of them will have three figures on them, while the one stand figures is a "character/personality" figure. In this case, the fellow on the left in the white shoes, is going to be "somebody"...not sure who yet, but I've got some ideas...



(Civilians to add frolic and mayhem and all sorts of chaos to games...along with some looters cheerfully helping themselves to the local consumer electronics...)



 Next up after this is a little firepower....for the "Boys In Green"...

NDF troops have recently stared undergoing a transition of sorts. Better training, weapons that work, and more weapons, as well as "loyalty" classes and "political education" to help "round them out to be better soldiers"...One of the more recent purchases was this little baby....

It's a BRDM2 with the AT-5 ATGM system mounted on it, and a great new national camo paint job. Five shots of anti-tank killing goodness, good gas mileage, easy to drive...this little baby will add some "umph" to the NDF's arsenal...



(Tank killing goodness...)

But now see, the ground forces cannot have ALL of the fun...

Here we have the latest addition to the Bongolesian Naval Forces. This is the Bongolesian Coastal Patrol Vessel "Moesha"... Purchased from the former Soviet Union and refitted and uparmed, this little diamond of the waters features a 4 inch deck gun for that long range high powered expression of naval power, as well as 3 .50 caliber machine guns.  The Moesha is part of the recent upgrade to Bongolesian coastal forces and is part of the "Sistahs" class naval patrol vessels. Three other vessels are planned to be added. These will be the Patrol Boats "Lakeesha and Tawana" and the Support Vessel "Sha-nay-nay"....



(IN THE NA-VY!!!!....The "Moesha" ready for action!)



Now in Bongolesia there are usually deals to be made and broken...contracts to be signed and people looking for an "angle"...This includes many of the foreign "investors". Here we have an arms dealer...(He hasn't been officially named yet, but that is coming), along with some of his flunkies holding boxes and crates of "farm tools and plumbing supplies"... All I need to do is add the groundwork, seal, and they are done...

 

(He's ready to do business with you....cash only please...)



Next up is some of the many projects I've in various stages of....

Up first is my UN stuff....intrepid readers will remember the recent assumption of command of General KinderSchlager of the UN Forces. He's requested additional equipment and it's on it's way...3 more M113's and some trucks and troops...perhaps some mortars also...(The Recoilless is for something else....)

(Soon to be keeping the peace in Bongolesia...additional UN equipment...)

 Ever have "one of those things that you paint on and paint on and never seem to finish"?

I had two of those...

The first was my Bongolesian Police Station...which I did finish last year...

And the second is this.....

 It's a WWII Normandy scenic from Peter Pig...I'm just not sure how I want to finish it...it's one of those "things" that I fiddle around with when I have no clue what to do next....it's in a perpetual state of "being worked on...Any ideas?

And whats a battle area without ruins?

It too, is a work in progress...i'd like to be able to use this one ruins set though for multi-genre....(I'm thinking ACW as well as modern Africa, so I have to be "generic" on it...)

Naturally we have to have walls...this is one of the many resin wall sets that I have. Mostly finished....just need to be sealed and it should be good to go...I'm kind of happy with the final finish on it....

A series of wheeled vehicles, (from L to R), PP Wombats, Soviet GAZ jeeps and BF Russian Jeeps/Cars... The Wombats will be part of "something"...(not sure what yet...perhaps a scientific expedition), the GAZ jeeps will probably be Presidential Guard, and the BF Jeeps will be equipped with HMG's and become part of either the NDF Recon Elements, or set up as part of the National Police Force... 



A couple of years ago, I ran a scenario called "Big Bird Down"...which was essentially having to do with a crashed reconnaissance satellite and the objective was to recove it's data cores...I needed a satellite crash site, so I had to build one...and here it is....You can see the halfway hidden satellite and the big black impact hole it made...but WHAT is that mysterious "green stuff" that is leaking...oozing(?), from it????

Oh dear...

And now dear reader....an appeal.....

Over the last couple of years, I have been working on the Bongolesian Presidential Palace...(aka "The Pink Palace"),

During this course of time, I started building one, and didn't like the way it looked....

Here's the old one....



The old "Pink Palace" has towers and a removable second floor...But I was unhappy with the size and the window layout...

So I decided I wanted something that looked a little more "regal"...

So I built the "NEW Pink Palace"....



I added columns for the building, centered the windows and added a nice round balcony...I've got doors to add, and a new roof section...

But I am still not sure if I am happy with it...I'd like to fine four small plastic lions to put on top of each column, (gold of course)...of if not that, perhaps, one larger lion on the top front center of the building...

However, I am just "not sure" if I like the newer one...I like certain aspects of the old one AND certain aspects of the new one...so dear reader, please take a look at each and tell me which one do you think would be a good residence for a "President-For-Life" ?....

And above all of the Bongolesian madness, the ever lovely Linda Blair watches....