A Big Sudan Project. Part 5.

 The first two companies of a battalion of the French Foreign Legion to join other units from North Africa, destined to be relocated to French Senegal to march east into southern Sudan in the campaign slated for the summer of 2026. These figures are from 1898 Miniatures. Next up, the first three figures for a unit of French Algerian Spahis. Glorious Leader bit the bullet and provided me with the Spahis from the Gringos 40 Tonkin range. These are much more "heroic" in scale when compared to Perry figures, but there was no real alternative that would fit the bill. I am actually looking forward to seeing how they turn out, as they are lovely figures.

A Big Sudan Project. Part 4.

 The transport for the battery of two 37mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon. The horse teams and drivers come from the Perry Miniatures' Victoria's Little Wars range, and I utilise the two Gattling Gun Limbers that comprise the set. The limber with caisson comes from the 1st Corps Mexican-American War range. There has been no conversion work in any of this, just a suitable palette for French Colonial Artillery.

 

A Big Sudan Project. Part 3.

 Bimbling on with the French in the Sudan 1880s project. Postie delivered some Perry AZW Gattling gun packs this week. These were the choice for the crews for the 37mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon from ActualSize Miniatures. Sadly, the officer figure from the pack did not fit behind the larger Hotchkiss gun. As a result, both Hotchkiss will be crewed with three figures. The figure from the pack that carries ammunition for a Gatling has undergone some conversion work, replacing the Gatling ammunition with a wooden box (moulded with greenstuff). This appears more suitable given the size of the rounds fired by the Hotchkiss. I decided to go with a slightly later uniform colour scheme for these Colonial Artillery figures. The khaki coat is more 1890s than 18880s, but once again, this adds a little more visual interest. I also painted up the first three of twelve Perry French Chasseur d'Afrique from their Franco-Prussian War range. They will certainly "pop" on the table top. The limber team for the first Hotchkiss is already on the painting table. 

A Big Sudan Project. Part 2.

 The decision has been taken to use the 1898 Miniatures French Foreign Legion figures for the project. They fit in nicely for size with the Perry figures. Glorious Leader got hold of some samples. I painted them up and then we hit a snag. Empress Miniatures were unable to fulfil the order for these as they are running low on stock and have no plans to re-stock this range. Therefore, we will need to source these directly from 1898 Miniatures in Spain.

I have now exhausted the supply of Perry plastic Zulu War British Infantry from the spares box, having converted and painted twenty-four of these to represent 1880s French Marines.  I await the delivery of another box of these figures. The Perry plastic American Civil War Zouaves have been pressed into service to represent Tirailleurs Algériens. No conversion work here as I let the colour scheme do the work! The officer and bugler figure in this first batch of twelve figures come from the Foundry Franco-Prussian War range. 

Glorious Leader also got hold of a 1898 Miniatures mounted French Foreign Legion officer. A quick headswap gives us the Colonel of the French Marines Marching Battalion. I mounted him on a Perry Miniatures horse. 

Actual Size Miniatures produces a 37mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon. We now have two of these for the French force. The question is, what do we use for crew? I am currently thinking about this. 

Latest Painting Guide Available Now!

 Now available from CALIVER BOOKS , the latest volume in the series. Yet another major contribution to Road Safety. 

In this seventh book in the series of Wargamers. Painting Guides, Mark sets out a set of photographic tutorials that deal with painting 28mm wargaming miniatures to represent the various regular troops that fought in “the East” from the early 1900s to the late 1920s. He includes uniforms for Imperial Russia, Bolsheviks, and the White Russians during the Russian Civil War, the Czech Legion, Chinese uniforms, British and Indian Army uniforms, as well as suggestions for palettes to use when rendering Japanese, Italian, American, and German uniforms of the period.   The information will be useful to those wargaming The Great War, the Russian Civil War and the myriad small wars in what has been called “The Back of Beyond”. 

Vive L' Empereur!

 Aly asked if I would paint some Napoleonic figures for him. I suddenly felt queasy, and I began to tremble. "Don't worry, not Hussars," he said, "in fact lots of greatcoats." So I accepted his commission and a couple of weeks later, these figures arrived in the mail.  Aly has converted these Perry Plastic figures. It was a joy to paint something that is original! I give you the 1st Battalion of the Chasseurs of the Guard. Flag by GMB Designs.