Another unit for the Sudanese

This unit came about after I assembled most of the Perry Bros plastic Sudanese.  I was looking at what I had left and saw that there were sooooo many heads left over.  Not wanting them to be banished to purgatory in my bits box, I went on a quest to find a use for them.  In the back corner of the twin mountains (my unpainted lead and plastic figures) under a mound of dust, I found a box of Wargames Factory Zulus that I bought ages ago.  I never really liked the sculpting on the heads and some of the poses are definitely funky, but the wheels were turning....

My dad and I are collecting colonial troops for our respective armies, French and American for him and German and British for me, all set in a fictional Africa setting loosely based on the Anglo- Sudan war.  We have a ton of native troops painted and are still painting more and whit the philosophy of more is always better, I decided to Frankenstein an unit together.  I know that there were no Beja tribes wearing garb that a Zulu would feel comfortable in, but I don't care :)   These are Wargames Factory Zulu bodies and arms with Perry Miniatures heads, shields, and an arm or two.  When massed together with the other troops they do look impressive.

Finally got around to take some pictures

Hello everyone.  I've been busy painting away in my limited spare time and finally painted the bases on a lot of figures.  I finished some WW2 figures and some fantasy figures for Black Tree Design.  I still get all jazzed about painting figures for someone else.  I also finished a 20 man unit of Zanzibar slavers for come colonial action.  I also received the balance of my Christmas present for Wargames Foundry.  I have enough figures for another 20 man unit of Zanzibar slavers, 10 Baluchi swordsmen, and some command figures.  A 20 man unit of explorer Askari, some porters, a 20 man unit of British Askari, enough Sikhs to bump my current unit up to 20 men, plus some officers.  This on top of the previous order from Black Tree and some plastic dark age/medieval/frostgrave sprues has bumped my lead and plastic mountain way into the stratosphere.  Anyway, onto the pictures.

These are a combination of Perry Sudanese, Wargames Factory Persians and Numidians, with Perry Zouave arms and heads.  I know that the slavers around this time had varying skin tones from very dark African black to "Arab", but I wanted to practice painting some Arab like skin tones.  So this particular group of slavers have recently arrived in the area and have not been "in country".

Next are some WW2 Germans and Soviets.

These guys were fun to paint.  I always told myself that if I was to ever paint WW2 Germans then I was going to buy some Vallejo paints.  I have to say, I really like those paints.  All of these figures are from Black Tree Design.

Back to the painting table for me.  I'm prepping some of those Wargames Foundry figures.
Thanks for looking.  Any C&C is welcome.

Justin

Colonial Painting Expedition

This is my entry for the Colonial Painting Expedition over on the Colonial Adventures board at Lead Adventures Forum.  There are some very nice figures over there.  This is the first figure I've taken a photo of with my new display board and backdrop.  I think it turned out ok, might need to tweek some things a bit.

Colonial French

These are my dad's troops for our colonial battles.  I've painted them a few years ago but never took proper pictures of them.  They are for our fictional Africa setting.  As with my Germans and British, we just picked what looks good and what we wanted to paint.  The FFL are from Old Glory Miniatures, and the Zouaves and Spahis are from Askari Miniatures.   My dad has some more FFL MG teams, Chasseurs d'Afrique, and some mounted Spahis to paint.  He is also planig on using some Perry Zouaves as Tirailleurs Senegalais.  These are based in groups of 20 for Sword and the Flame.  Hope you like them.

What's that on the horizon?

Hopefully I'll be able to finally photograph my Sudanese force.  Most of them are Old Glory with a few Perry's beja command.  At the time, many years ago, Old Glory was the way to go for getting a lot of native troops; however, they do come with the infamous looking over the shoulder while running poses.  Oh well, they are meant to be hoard like in their numbers so I think they get lost in the crowd.  Of course, Perry Miniatures comes out with plastic troops right after I finish painting mine.  I think I'll still get a box of them just because.  Here is a teaser pic of the leader of my beja tribe.

The New CSA

What happens when you see some figures that you want but said figures are for a period/scale you don't game?  You create any reason to include them!  When I saw Perry Miniatures plastic Civil War cavalry and Zouaves I just knew I had to have them, but I don't game the Civil War in 28mm.  After drooling over some pictures of them, a light bulb went off.  If my colonial forces fight in a fictional Africa setting then whose to say who is fighting there.  Just like that the New CSA was born.  This small country in Eastern Africa has been colonized by people who left the USA after the Civil War and other peoples from around the world who headed East to search for a new place to live.  The Zouave units are raised from French Creoles and people from France who wanted to start over.  The Cavalry unit will be played more like irregular cavalry.  I also have some Old Glory Pershing Expedition Americans that I'm going to paint up as regular troops in a butterscotch colored uniform.  I also have some American Indians to use as irregulars and also some cowboys to paint up as rancher/militia.  Well that's the idea at least.  Just want to apologize for the pictures, using my wife's camera and I don't have it down yet.

1st New France Volunteers

Test figure for the 2nd unit

Henry Reaper leading his "Grim Reapers"

I personally really like the flag :)

Got some photos of my Colonial British and also found my old notes on the fictional units.  Most figures are Redoubt Enterprise and Foundry.  I'll be the first to admit that Redoubt wasn't my first choice for British troops.  I originally wasn't going t collect British as everyone has them, but I heard of a dealer getting rid of all his Redoubt line.  I took a look at what was left and thought, well since he is selling them so cheep I can but a small force.  Well after those were painted, I wanted to expand my troops, so I bought some Foundry figures.  Redoubt's Zulu line are huge compared to their Sudan line which work with Foundry and other lines.  However, they do paint up nice.  I still have a unit of Bengal Lancers to paint up then the British should be done....

These are fictional units for my fictional Africa setting and as with my Germans, I picked units that I wanted to paint.  Units are based for The Sword and the Flame.  The flags are hand painted.  Hope you like them.

General Sir Archibald Morley

The Bedingham Regiment

Captain The Hon. Arthur Humphries and senior NCO

I decided that the two large units would have their colors with them. This is for the Bedingham Regiment.

31st Frontier Light Horse (Fletcher's Horse)

Queen's Own Rifle Corps

Gun from the 8th Battery Royal Artillery, being directed by Lt. Angus Mctavish.

The Kempshire Regiment

North Waltland Highlanders

140th Bengal Native Infantry

Captain Alan Ludlow and Sikh NCO

11th Regiment, Gurkha (light) Infantry

Officer and NCO

Cavalry Officer and Colonel Edward Handcocks

Two Officers