Sudan - Naval Brigade extras

Good progress has been made on adding in some more bits for the Naval Brigade.

All ready for a dust up!

I have added an extra gun and limber set - this time mule powered.

 Mules and limber by Tiger Miniatures, Figures are Perry, Gun by Bicorne

2 sets of open order skirmishers , and one of closed order.

 

 

A couple of deployed limber sets again by Tiger Miniatures

 

Been a very good productive week ... time for more Mounted Mahdists next ..

Sudan - Naval Brigade Gun team and terrain bits.

Along with the various bits of ongoing terrain works I decided to scratch an itch that has been playing up for a while. Namely I wanted a Naval Brigade team actually pulling their limber and gun. This was going to take some tinkering about with. I had sourced a limber set from Irregular Miniatures a while ago, this was married with a spare Connoisseur Gardner gun - I just needed some lads to pull it. These I found from the Perry metal range - set SB15 Naval Brigade running at trail.

The figures from the set have a separate hand holding the rifle on the right hand side. The left hand was suitable for just drilling and holding a  rope. For the right hand side I added a solder made   "fist" to the figure which was shaped with a file then drilled through.

I made rope from my usual garden twisty wire by winding two lengths together after attaching then into a mini drill - a few spins and the rope is formed. This was fed through the hands , a quick touch of the soldering iron held them all together. The ropes were attached to the limber. I fixed everything to a single base , and then painted it. The gun has a cover added with milliput.

Overall very pleased - it may not be 100% accurate - but it does the job . I need to make another one now as I have two deployed guns.

I also completed the two large buildings. Fairly simple paint job on the buildings , starting with a flat earth colour and just heavy drybrush up in lighter sandy colours. They are impressive sized building so will do nicely for any large town.

Buildings are from Najewitz

Also completed the rocky outcrops too

A reasonably succesful week I thought. Got a few more things on the paint table that are Sudan related as well at the moment

and all the town type terrain in one place.

Sudan - Medics ,Signallers and Skimrmishers

The collection is well enough progressed that it needs time spending on items of table dressing , and also pieces that can be used to drive scenarios. Often I hear that the Sudan games will be very one sided with the imperial just blazing away until the Mahdists run away or are dead. Well if that happens to my mind it is down to poor scenario design. To even the playing field the Imperial players will a have range of things to think about from , time constraints, ammunition, water, casualties to get to safety, communications to set up or protect - protection of civilians , and medals and honours to be won (that will keep commanders from co-operating too much!) 

New additions to the field hospital - the tents (by Grand Manner) were kindly supplied by Millsy as part of winning side bet as part of last years paint challenge - all done now , cheers mate.

Stretcher bearers and medics by Perry. The doctor in blue is by Empress from the Zulu range

The two civilians -one in MCC Eggs and Bacon colours ready to defend himself with cricket bat against the Fuzzy Wuzzies are by Wargames Foundry

 

The whole field hospital is now complete

Next I have a couple of sections of signallers with Heliograph kits

These chaps with a  small protection unit , should provide a tempting target for the Mahdists and a challenge for the Imperials to protect....

 

I have also now moved onto to the new Brigade for the operation around Suakin. This saw the Guards Brigade enter the the campaign. So to start I have the skirmish elements on sabot bases. I am using these to give me some options as there can be a number of skirmish units in the game - so I can use 3 4 - 5 - 6 figures per base (and fill in with bush/rocks as needed) depending on the size of the overall game. I also think they have an appeal on the less regular shaped based.

 

12 Skirmishers for the Guards Brigade. (Perry Miniatures)

Plus a root in the lead pile recently revealed some classic "Old School" Connoisseur Naval Brigade. I intend my Naval Brigade units to be made up from a range of manufactures and dress - just to give some diverse interest. These appeal to the early  teen in me - which is when I first saw these in the flesh! 

I am occasionally working on a naval gun team, with the guys pulling the Gatling gun and limber - got a good bit of conversion work to do on it to get it how I want.

Plenty more Sudan stuff on the stocks as well at the moment

Sudan - Naval Brigade and R.I.F.

This weeks progress sees the perennial favourites of the Naval Brigade receive the first of their infantry section reinforcements, wounded markers , the Petty Officers , and the commanders. All by Perry Miniatures. This time these were well cast taking up little time to prepare (I need to source another 5 lots of these). Also really nice to paint. 

 I am going at some point to do "special" with these lads pulling a gun and limber..

 One of the small units for the campaign are Princess Victorias' Royal Irish Fusiliers. These were diverted from service further east and wore the India Service kit . At a mere 18 figures strong they are somewhat understrength compared to some of the larger units. Again these are Perry as per the York and Lancs. Real simple and easy to paint. 

 Next we have various casualties and the M.O

 

 I am really in need of a stock up ! The lead pile is nearly empty. So it will be steamers, Camel Corps and the Cameron Highlanders (for a red coated unit) on the wish list.

The Naval Brigade

That perennial favourite -a bunch of rough & ready matelots, hauling around early MG's for keeping the natives in check. These are the first Imperial troops off the stocks for the Sudan collection. A Gardner and Gatling Gun , both Perry sets. I have based them on an Octagonal base so that they can easily fit into the corner of squares etc. There wasn't much opportunity or need for conversion work here, the only little bit of extras being a pile of spent cartridge cases made out of small gauge brass wire , just cut and fixed with a little superglue. The blues were done using the Andrea Color blue set which I really like using - really easy to highlight and shade with.

The rest of the artillery is already sourced and the order for the Redvers Bullers 1st Brigade for El-Teb will go in this next week to get some infantry sorted.

In addition I have completed the first lot of preparation work  the Fuzzy force, managing to remove every piece from the sprues in 10 boxes of Perry plastic Ansar and sorted in trays - my fingers were shredded at the end of that. Work has started on the assembly process as well, so may finish a war band this week too.

Also back to some Napoleonic conversions - so it will be out with the soldering iron as well