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. 

A Big Sudan Project. Part 1.

 So.... last week, our Glorious Leader outlined his plans for a new Sudan campaign to take place in a year. The scenario would involve the French in the 1880s, some years before the Fashoda incident in 1898. French troops, suitable for the 1880s, would be needed. The plan is also to have any French troops on the table to fit in with rest of the Glorious Leader's Sudan collection that is almost exclusively from Perry Miniatures. Gringo's 40 Tonkin range was spot on for the date, but the figures are simply too big to sit comfortably next to Perry sculpts. 

Something that will match and REPRESENT French troops of the era will be required. The brief here is to have some figures that LOOK LIKE French troops from the era, rather than historical accuracy.

Looking at the figure on the right of the above illustration of French Marines of the period, we have a figure in gaiters, a haversack, two pouches on the belt, a plain frock coat and a sun helmet. Essentially a Perry Miniatures plastic Zulu War British infantryman. I have a number of these left over from a previous project, as well as some Perry Plastic 1880s Tommies. Time to mix and match and do some very minor conversion work. Here we have the first company of "marsouins" destined to deal with the Mahdists and no doubt challenge British control in the region. 

The rifle is a Martini Henry rather than the French Gras 1874 bolt-action weapon, but we can live with that. Some press moulded greenstuff provided something to replace the waterbottle and give a small pouch at the centre back of the waist-belt. For the most part here, the arms come from the Perry 1880s Infantry box. If Zulu War arms have been used, the cuff detail has been removed with a scalpel. Everything else is in the choice of paints. More porpoise will follow, and in the fullness of time, French Foreign Legion, Algerian Tirailleurs and some Chasseurs d'Afrique, after all, I have a year to work on this.

10th (Prince of Wales' Own Royal) Hussars, Sudan.

 This must be the fourth time that I have painted up figures for this particular unit for action in the Sudan. Here with improvised lances fashioned from copper wire rather than the soft metal spears that the figures are supplied with. A fun commission to undertake and a pleasure to return to the late Victorian era. 

1 Bn. Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, 1885. Complete.

Two months in the painting, but the Camerons are ready to hand over to my friend Steve to add to his Sudan collection. Sadly. I could not fit the entire firing line into my lightbox! Fun to do, but I am through painting tartan for a while.

1Bn. Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, Sudan, 1885.

 No posts for half a year and then two in as many days. It is a bit like waiting for a bus! Now that the TYW/ECW painting has been concluded for the time being (I imagine that there will be more in the fullness of time), it is time to start work on the next unit for Steve's Sudan collection. These have been waiting for far too long. At his request, they are wearing their red frocks as ordered at the Battle of Ginnis, 1885. I toyed with the idea of painting them in a plain red service frock without the cuff detail but I decided that, for the sake of visual interest, I would paint this on. The Cameron tartan is VERY simplified on these figures but I think it works. Only another thirty-two figures to do. Figures are, naturally, Perry Miniatures.