Sudan - Royal West Kents.

I have returned to the Sudan to complete the the final unit for the British infantry. A 36 figure unit for the Royal West Kents., plus a couple of skirmish stands and mounted Officer  I have gone for another red coated unit.

So that gives me 10 British infantry units altogether.

Sudan - Steamer and Egyptian Battallion

The latest additions completed . First up is the third steamer for the flotilla . It’s based on bits from a resin Grand Manner stern wheel one I picked up a while ago. I built new superstructure from foam board, plasticard and also some printed card bits I had designed using PowerPoint.  It is to represent a vessel from later in the period and has some heavier weapons , a ,12lb , 3lb and 2 maxim guns - these were all sourced from HLBS - nice pieces. I have made it so  the various flags and ensigns are swappable.

the sailors are a pack I had from Pulp Miniatures- very nice sculpts . I also think this one will see duty on some pulp games I am sure.

Next a 48 figure unit for the Egyptian Army . All Perry figures . Just 1 left to do of these now

I just need to do a last sort through the Sudan lead pile boxes to see what I have left to do - its much reduced at least!

Sudan - Young Winston , & Maxim guns

I have some work going on in relation to the reconquest of the Sudan in 1898 by Kitchener. That culminated in the battle of Omdurman. I am adding a few items to the collection that are more specific to this time frame .

First up - Young Winston , complete with his classic broom handled Mauser . The figure is a Wargames Foundry mounted infantry officer to which I removed the arm and added in one with a Mauser from a Statuseque Miniatures pulp figure , quick bit of  soldering and file - job done . The horse was a Perry one from the lead pile .

Next are 4 maxim guns - the introduction of a reliable machine gun was a game changer in colonial wars , and in the wars of the 20th century . To quote Hilaire Belloc “Whatever happens , we have the maxim gun and they do not “ .

These are maxim teams by Wargames Foundry . For two of them I added them to some spare small gun carriages (long languished in the lead pile - from Irregular I think) , and add a plasticard gun shield . I have added in some figures from the WF Imperial heroes set too .

next up a top up more Mahdists !

Sudan . NSW Infantry and water carriers

with having another large game booked it is time to do another top up of units for the Sudan collection.

First up the New South Wales infantry battalion. The New South Wales Infantry Battalion deployed to the Sudan along with a battery of 9lb guns - the first foreign deployment for a force made up of Australian units - from the colony of New South Wales. There was a deployment of a levy of 400 men to NZ in 1850 for the Land Wars in British units . Australia didn’t become fully federated until 1901, so it was still 6 separate colonies... hence these are from NSW!- there you learnt something didn’t ya!. Anyway this  helped make the Sudan a real imperial effort with troops from around the empire taking part. This unit will accompany the artillery battery completed a few years ago.

Perry plastics

I have more imperial infantry unit left that i want paint. 

Next up are some water carrier carts to accompany the columns (makes good scenario targets too) - the ration of water for the troops was 2 gallons a day - i may need some more!

These are repurposed Empress AZW items .with some Perry and Connoissuer Sudan bits added..

Sudan - The Queen of the Nile

Having a deadline is always useful , and with the date of the upcoming large game approaching its helped to move along another major part of the project - a new steamer. I was never really happy with the previous resin Grand Manner armoured steamer so decided to replace it with the Sarissa 28mm one.  Ready to ply her trade on the Nile. I have made it not too specific as it will come in useful for some Pulp games planned for next yet.

Its a big piece of kit.. 16 inches long, 8 wide , and 6 high. It was a fairly easy kit to put together over a few sessions

I wasn't happy with support joins  showing on the roof section , so ended up covering these with paper to give a smooth finish. I also magnetised the central roof section and that lifts off to give access to the upper passenger section. As designed it only has a double rail around the deck which I felt was too flimsy long term so I added rounded end coffee stirrers as the barrier - does a little bit rough and ready.

I have added a free standing pintle mounted MG to it  and still have a few crew figures to finish off. Overall through pretty happy with it!

Sudan - Egyptian Army top up

Finally back to the Sudan , with a top up for my Egyptians. These have been in the lead pile for a little while - and were going to be painted last winter so its good to get them on the move . So two 36 figure infantry battallions , taking me to 5 . Plus two more Krupp  guns , to give me 4 . These are the Perry miniatures. A pretty simple paint job overall. But its been a while since proper painting with the hot summer and holidays and it was good to give the brushes a good work out.

Next up will be some Sudanese units for the army

Sudan - Egyptian Camel Corps

I have completed one of the more oddball units for the collection this week - the Egyptian Camel Corps. It was first raised as an irregular unit in 1883 and served throughout the period.

The figures are by Old Glory - and have a lot of character - even if they have the odd unusual pose to them .

There are 24 mounted , 24 dismounted in close order and 6 skirmishing . I also completed 3 Perry mounted Egyptian commanders as I have a number of the Egyptian army battalions to be painted soon

Overall very pleased how these came out. - and another large unit completed.

Sudan - Royal Engineers

Engineers are always a good source of scenario fodder I think . Build a bridge, fort, be escorted to some place or other, so I have taken the opportunity to utilise and convert some spare figures. These were Perry gunners left over from the last gun battery. I have added a range of tools into hands (tools from Thormarillion in Germany) having removed the rammers. I also completed two waggons & 4 lots of  stores (bits by Ainsty) sections . The mules for the waggon are by Tiger Miniatures , again left overs from the battery limber teams - all good recycling. The two waggons and loads are by Warbases. I have left them without drivers etc for now as they will do service in other conflicts I think - likewise I will probably revisit the missing traces etc at some point this year.

The Officer of Engineers is an old Connoisseur figure who has gone native , having taken a shine to his tarboosh!

 

 

This will be the last Sudan painting post for a while - as the old man cave is wrappd up as work starts on creating the new and improved one.. 

There will be some more games coming up . I am also booked in to attend the Partizan show in May

Sudan - Australian Artillery Battery

One of the things that I found really interesting about building forces for fighting in the Sudan was the variety of troops the British Empire pulled in to fight in it. The New South Wales government offered its support (LINK) to the imperial cause and an infantry battalion and artillery battery were mobilised. This was to become the first overseas deployment for Australian forces. They did not end up doing much fighting and had only very small losses as the British government abandoned any attempt to overthrow the Mahdi who had taken Khartoum after Gordons death.

Never the less they will still be represented - along with the infantry in due course and I am sure they will participate in some "what might have happened" scenarios. Of course they will also do service in some other colonial campaigns too.

So here I have 3 deployed 9lb guns , 3 open and deployed limbers with 12 crew. The guns are the Perry 9lb set from their new Victoria's little wars sets. - I have replaced the cast metal firing lanyard with thinner twisty rope and soldered this into position so it nicely strong and rigid.

The gun teams have had a lot of work with all the various traces. The rope is made from garden twisty wire - twisted together in a drill - I needed to made 6 feet of the darn stuff to make the 4 traces per teams these were then soldered into place and the wire is coated in solder which makes it rigid.  The riders have had milliput saddles made too. The limbers and horse teams are all by Tiger miniatures . The guns and crew are the Perry 9lb set from their new Victoria's little wars sets. I could have got a ready made limber set from Wargames Foundry , but I have seen it and it looked too small to me - I wanted this to be big! - I know.... I blame the sun....

Well to move your guns you also need limber teams - of which there are 3 teams with 18 horses, 3 limbers , 3x 9lb guns - and 4 riders - there will be 9 riders eventually but due to a lead pile deficiency (hangs head in shame)  I thought - and still think I had some. So anyway I am awaiting on a mail from a manufacturer re sourcing some as part of pack so will just add these as and when I get some figures.  The riders I do have  are a mix of various mounted figures I had lying around.

I enjoyed making these - something different

I managed to get all imperial troops out for a video review too

Sudan - Bashi Bazooks and Mounted infantry

Typically of  course when I came to run the recent battle of El Teb and looked at the OOB there were a couple of small scout/skirmish cavalry units in it. While I could have just used some of the existing units that were not planned to be used I decided to actually get on and paint these up.

These bring a nice splash of colour to the table

I was really impressed with the standard of the casting of these (big improvement Perry - big tick from me)  , and faces are really good. The first 6 completed - I think I will take these up to a 24 figure unit.

I picked up some Boer War Wargames Foundry mounted infantry figures at the York show . They mix in well being sculpted by Perry's anyway - almost near identical bar a different water bottle and kind of rifle - I can live with that. I also found an Empress Miniatures figure in patrol jacket which I just fancied painting up.

Both these units were fielded last weekend - while neither actually ran away - I don't think they did much - but at least they are now blooded!

Sudan - Major Kitchener

It is great getting to the point in a large project where you can indulge yourself with oddball bits and pieces. I have over the last few years acquired a number of reference books and frequently take inspiration for thing to do from them - this little addition is one of them.

Major Kitchener was one of the most brilliant intelligent officers of his era fluent in local languages. He spent the winter of 1884-5 criss crossing the Sudan by camel with his guard of  'Ababda Bedouin (I need to make a small unit of these yet) scouting out the way for the Gordon Relief column. He eventually rose up the army ranks and led the reconquest of the Sudan in 1898, becoming Kitchener of Khartoum , Earl Kitchener and on to become the face on the WW1 recruitment posters. Of course like most famous British Generals he was Irish!

The rider is a Perry Bashi Bazook figure with old long musket. 

The camel is a Perry British Camel Corps one with milliput saddle/cloth added. I remade the rein with garden twisty wire and soldered it into hand and onto the camel head bridle

I think his services will be useful when it comes to any large game for scouting the enemy positions.

The original inspiration for this one.

Sudan - Guards battalion in red

Since the start of the Sudan project I have always had it in my plan to do one or two British units wearing their red tunics. this was after all the last colonial war when these were worn, with some units being ordered to change into them for battle. The battle of Ginnis in 1885 was the last time they were worn in battle. So I thought it would be nice to have a few battalions in my army wearing them.

The Sands of the Sudan rules allow for very large units -  it is an old school Grand Manner style set so I thought it was time for a big battalion ,this one to be a guards unit, and who better to have their red coats on. With the recent Perry release of some suitable plastic infantry it offered the opportunity to do a large unit with lots of variety to it. Its 60 figures in close order , a mounted officer , and 8 figures on two open order skirmish bases.

Another feature or lack of  it in the Sudan campaigns was the fact that British units no longer carried any standards in battle. I have followed this for the army overall - but I thought well perhaps just this one might be  nice to have. So I have done a standard bearer as separate figure complete with dog. The army had also moved over to a smaller size flag at this time with changes in the early 1880's -  but hell if I am having one let's make it a big one,  courtesy of a slightly earlier pattern Queens colour from my stash of GMB flags.

Steady lads!

Open order company

The Perry Miniatures plastic infantry box set does give some real variation and life to the unit. Although I think the bayonets won't all survive the first contact with the enemy as they are very delicate. if they were metal and broke I could just solder a new one on, the plastic will be harder to replace - but that's a challenge for another time. However it gives such variety in poses its something worth living with. It took almost two boxes of figures to build the unit - and I still have one box worth left to build - hmm may need another!

I could not resist a black and white shot- for the newspapers!

and I have been playing with some video options too.. I am planning a play by blog game later this year where this technology might be useful.