Siege of Malta, 1565 - Barbary Corsair Spearmen and Archer Command Stand

Okay! So, switching tack from the Grim Dark Future to the sun-kissed Middle Sea, I thought I'd finish off a few more figures for my 1565 Malta project which have been sitting half done since the winter Challenge.

Here are half a dozen spearmen to add to Turgut Reis' slowly growing contingent of fierce Barbary corsairs.

These models are from Footsore Miniatures' excellent Caliphate range. Similar to my previous efforts, I had great fun using a lot of colour with these guys. I may get another pack later to bulk-up the unit, but this group will stand as a good start.

The full unit of spearmen.

I also did up a command stand for one of my corsair archer units which was bereft of one. 

The piper and standard bearer are from Brigade Games, while the leader is a Footsore model. I did a small modification to have him holding a crossbow along with a small targe, just to make him a little more distinct from his bow-armed comrades. 

The archers with their new leader.

At first I just had the three figures on the base, but for a bit of additional colour, I decided to give them a banner as well (I figure you can't have enough flags on the tabletop).

These 9 models will give me another 45 points, for a grand total of 135.

Thanks for popping in for a visit!

-Curt

From DallasE: 15mm Egyptian PT-76 (6 points)

From Dallas:

The model is a Battlefront PT-76 from their Vietnam/Arab-Israeli line. 

It's painted in mostly GW colours with some Vallejo. I used a "chipping" weathering method - using a bit of old sponge from a blister pack to dab on GW Mechanicus Standard Grey around wear areas. I might have overdone it a bit but I like the effect.

Nice work Dallas! The camo looks great and I really like the weathering as well. As I know both you are Greg are quite keen on your Six Day War project I'm sure we'll see more United Arab Republic stuff from you in the coming weeks.

This PT-76 will give Dallas 6 points.

From ClintB: 10mm Mahdists & 20mm Arab Civilians (41 points)

From Clint: 

20mm Arab civilians and six more Mahdist stands again rifle armed. This has finished the rifle armed marhdits still a lot of melee armed Marhdists to go though so more I suspect next week. They are again 10mm figures from Pendraken. 

I was given these Arab civilians by Tim at IT Miniatures. Seven 20mm figures 3 adult males and a young lad and 2 adult ladies and a young girl. The Children and Ladies come in one pack and the gents come in  separate pack. As mentioned they were an unexpected gift and are for my Arab revolt game. Not sure they will get too much of an active part but more as moving scenery. 

Having taken on the feedback with regard to patches on the Jibbehs I have mostly kept them but have muted the colours. The result I am happier with than the brighter patches.

Great work Clint. I like that you kept some of the patchwork as it keeps the unit varied and interesting. My favourites though are the Arab civilians. I love the kids dashing about and again the bright colours really work nicely for this group.

The Mahdists and civilians will give Clint 41 points. Well done!

From ClintB: 20mm Arab Revolt Camel Riders (96 points)

Apparently this is the Year of the Camel as we make the trek from Sidney's Sudan to have another visit of Clint's Arabia. 

From Clint:

Here is my next submission to the painting challenge 12 more 20mm Camels and Riders.

This puts me about 1/2 way through the force so while there is still more to come I will no doubt be starting the Turkish forces soon.

'On to Damascushh!!' You know, the world is a lesser place without Peter O'Toole in it. I loved him in 'Lawrence of Arabia' (or as I like to call it, 'Larry of the Sands') and I try to watch it every winter to remind me what heat is all about. But this year I won't have to because Clint is sending in these fabulous Arab Revolt models. Great job Clint! I really like what you've done with the varied robes, saddlery and headdress on these fellows. Marvellous stuff. 

These dozen camels with their riders will give Clint a cool 96 points. Now get back to your hobby desk and bust your hump to get the next set done!  :)

From GregB: 15mm Arab-Israeli War Infantry & Armour (68 points)

Greg rocks on with more figures and vehicles for his Arab-Israeli War collection.

From Greg:

More Arab-Israeli war stuff for this submission. I finished off nearly all of my Khurasan IDF infantry, based individually for games like "Chain of Command". There is another FN-MAG LMG (with a prone gunner - I hate prone figures), five troops with Uzi SMGs (two of them on square bases to represent NCOs), and the balance with FN-FAL rifles. 

There are two jeeps mounting heavy recoilless rifles. These potent AT weapons were key tools for IDF troops mounting improvised defences against surprise Syrian columns on the Golan Heights. They also provide a healthy AT punch to recon troops. 

There are some pieces of Arab armour - two Syrian SU-100 tank destroyers. I experimented with a slightly new Syrian camo scheme, including some grey to go with the green and yellow. SU-100s equipped the organic AT units of Arab mechanized divisions and infantry divisions. These would have played a role trying to hold back the IDF counter-invasion into Syria after the IDF (barely) stopped the initial Syrian assault on to the Golan Heights. These Battlefront castings were real beauties, a dream to work with.

The T-55 is a Khurasan casting. I purchased a pack of these when they were first released. Over all, I give it high marks. It assembles relatively easy, and the accessories (cupola hatches, cupola MG) are very clean castings. The MG is particularly solid, and this is welcome, compared my experience with QRF cupola MGs (the QRF ones are thin crap). You have the option of building it as a T-54 or T-55, and portraying the tank without the extra fuel drums on the rear, but still with empty mounting brackets - an interesting detail. The only small criticism I would make is that some of the hull detail is inconsistent - most of the lines are clean, but the indents on the fuel tanks are very soft and disappear with a coat of paint, meaning you need to paint them back on. The other issue with this tank is the size of the model - it is a lot smaller than the Peter Pig's T-55 - I don't think they would mix well. I have yet to compare it to Battlefront's T-55. 

This is painted in Egyptian colours, a test model, for use in gaming both 1967 and 1973. There are another 10 to follow, and I'll need even more after that...


Awesome stuff Greg. I quite like the new camo scheme with the grey mixed in - very cool - and those jeeps are very cute (bad term I know). 

This fine collection of infantry and armour will give Greg 68 points. Great job mon ami!

From ClintB: 10mm Sudanese Arab Camel Riders (30 points)

From Clint:

Here are a few more 10mm Pendraken Arabs for the Sudan. Today 15 Camels with riders. All painted and based to match my Fuzzy Wuzzy's shown a couple of days ago. 

One round stand to act as a scout and 7 stands each of 2 figures to function as the first mounted component to the Mahdi's army. Base sizes are 20mm by 30mm  just in case you want to work out how big the figures are!

Great work Clint! These are great and your backdrop really places them in the right setting.

This 'troop' of camel riders will give Clint 30 points. Very nice.

From ClintB: 20mm Arabs Mounted on Camels (80 points)

From Clint: 

These are 10 Camel Mounted Arabs by IT Miniatures WW1 in 20mm. I will be using them for a show game in June and if I get them all finished, in March as well. The game will be set in the Arab Revolt 1916-1918. Most people are only familiar with this conflict due to the recently departed Peter O'Toole and the film "Laurence of Arabia". 

These figures come in a mix of rifle and sword armed and a choice of standing or walking Camels usually supplied in a random mix. That being the case and as I will need between 35-50 of them in all I will have to vary the colours in later batches.

I saw the first test models of these and I'll say now what I said then: beautiful work Clint! I love the whole idea of this project. One of those, if he wasn't doing it I would scenarios. I look forward to seeing it develop over the next few months.

These 10 camel jockeys (wow, I can actually say that in good conscience) will give Clint 80 points. Well done!