New Desert Tribe Leaders

After my big Colonial game in June, I traded two older desert tribe cavalrymen to obtain two figures that matched the rest of my desert tribe cavalry.  Since then, I've had them on my painting desk.  This past week I finally got around to painting them as a break from all the Russo-Japanese War ships.

The riders are Falcon Miniatures Arab cavalry on an unknown (to me, at least) manufacturer's horses.  Flags are courtesy of Warflag.com.  They will each lead a 12-figure desert tribes cavalry unit in my Victorian Colonial native forces.  You can click on the picture to see a larger image.

The Agandar's Escort

The final native unit that I require for the first play test of my convention game has now been completed.  It is a 12-figure cavalry unit using Falcon Miniatures Arab cavalry.

These stalwart "Sons of the Desert" are all veterans of the Agandar's many campaigns against the infidels.  Riding black steeds and clothed in the green of the Prophet, they will bring fear into the hearts of their foes.

Additional Note:  A comment on The Miniatures Page asked if Falcon Miniatures are still available.  Keith Astrofsky (in Massachusetts) now owns the line and his newly redesigned web site/store is Falcon Miniatures USA.  I have not bought from him yet as these were purchased many years ago at an Historicon.

Red Hawk Clan Infantry

I've just completed the second of two infantry units for the Red Hawk clan.  They are Iron Brigade figures armed with rifles.  They should provide some welcome firepower to the mostly sword and spear armed native infantry in the rest of the Agandar's force.

If you count the figures, you'll note that they are one man shy of a full TSATF 20-figure infantry unit.  I have an extra figure to add if necessary but I have been in contact with the new owner of the old Iron Brigade molds.  He is sending me a copy of the old catalog so that I can round-out not only this unit but several others.  More on this development later.

February Painting

So far February has not been as productive as January for painting.  I've only done a 12-figure camelry unit and a 12-figure cavalry unit for my convention game play tests that start in April, with the convention in June.  Both of these units are Falcon Miniatures (www.falconminiatures.com/), but with the cavalry mounted on Miniature Figurine horses (which is the way I bought them on eBay).  These two mounted units along with two infantry units (of which only one is painted) will comprise one of the four native commands in my convention game.

Camelry Unit, Red Hawk Clan

 

These 12 stalwarts are all armed with rifles and ready to smite the infidels.

Cavalry Unit, Red Hawk Clan

Armed with a mix of rifles and swords/pistols, these desert raiders can ride rings around the slow moving Egyptians.  You'll notice that there is one dissimilar figure in the right rear.  Since I only had 11 mounted figures, he was "drafted" to fill-in as the "12th man."

The painted infantry unit of the Red Hawk clan was included in my Colonial game at last year's convention.  You can see it here:  Red Hawk Clan Infantry 

And a few words about the convention game:  This game will pit a heterogeneous force of Mahdist, Beja, and desert Arabs led by the Agandar of Karres, one of the successors to the late Mahdi and the late Khalifa.  They will be besieging the Eyptian supply base at Wadi Zoum-Zoum on the Green Nile.  Coming to the base's rescue will be a British river column including Royal Navy landing party troops, Royal Marine Light Infantry, and gunboats.  The game will be presented at the HMGS Gulf-South Bayou Wars 2010 convention in New Orleans on June12.  Convention Link.

Well, back to the painting desk for another Arab cavalry unit and two more Arab infantry units.