Thirty Mahdists

Another project finished.  The figures have been in my possession since December 2014 when I received them as part of the post NWS Kris Kringle shuffle.

I started work on them in December last year, The Mahdists are Coming, so it has taken me just under three months to complete them.

Flags came from http://www.warflag.com/flags/colonial/dervish.shtml

 A bit of over exposure.

Now corrected, but I liked the previous bright glare of the hot Sudan sun, 

so kept that photo in the mix.

 When I say complete...  Well, this base...

 Is different to this one.  In the previous base the figures are resting on an extra washer that gives then just that bit of extra height so their base sits better with the movement tray.

 For what is a simple uniform, the flesh tones took me the most time, then I put in some double work on the white tunics.  But the coloured patches were easy.  

It helped that I was working on other projects while doing these.

The flags, as noted, were images sourced from the Internet and printed, folded, crushed and glued.

Also, note on this figure that I have him sitting on a second washer which would be the next task if I decide to raise them all so they sit flusher with the sabot.

 It took me a few brain cycles to finally settle on how I was going to base the figures.  I am very happy with what I came up with as it was relatively easy to do, versatile and provides other opportunities. 

I had these 25mm slotted magnetic bases I was going to use and I figured doing a sabot that would then be affixed to a metal base was the way to go.  This failed as the base size for Sands of the Sudan would have only accommodated four figures (as it is the recommended basing is 7 to 10), but worse my 25mm bit meant it was all too tight to reliable drill out four holes (as can be seen above).  Plus the 25mm bases would have been a snug fit.  I then switched to 20mm plastic bases and a 20mm bit but that would also have been a tight fit as well and still left me with the magnetisation to do.  But then I found the miracle ingredient:

These washers were perfect, coming in at 18mm made for a decent fit.  I glued the drilled out MDF base to a backing of magnetic paper (actually one of those fridge magnets that are now prevalent in mailbox drop advertising material).  I painted the MDF first which made life easy.

Terrain

 And here we have the thirty Mahdists swarming over my latest bits of desert terrain.

 I wanted ridges and cliffs.

 But more importantly I just need a bit more to supplement my previous production.

The Mahdists are coming...

... along nicely.

Cleaned up. assembled and undercoated.

I first posted on these guys late December, 2014.  I didn't think it was that long ago, but three years these days ain't a long time.

Unfortunately I don't know the manufacturer of these figures.  I'm sure someone will tell me.

Recently they had started to inch towards my painting table.  With the hot weather I found myself unable to continuously paint, but could start fiddling with figures.  I'd also been doing a little bit of research aided by a cache of Osprey books and more recently a concerted effort to start indexing my Military Modelling magazines (which of course finishes before their article in 1985 on the Mahdists).  Luckily it was Pyjamas to the rescue.

What got me thinking I could actually paint this number of 28mm figures was this article by One man and his brushes. So rather than my usual black undercoat hand painted, I was going to try spray painting them with a white undercoat.

But before I could do that I was struck by indecision.  Should I base them singly (on 20mm square bases and use them for Songs of Blades and Heroes or similar skirmish type games), or should I base them for Impetus Basic Battles?  While it could still change I have decided to base them for Sands of the Sudan as that rule set's 100mm by 45mm base (of 7 to 10 figures) will fit within an appropriate troop type IBB base of 120mm by 60mm (just need to make a sabot).  These 30 figures will make four bases.

The figures cleaned up okay, only a few needed major work (drilling out a wad of metal cast between the legs on three of the drummers).  However now they are undercoated I see more mould lines I should have dealt with (hopefully a lick of paint will deal with them).

I very rarely use spray paint (except for varnishing) and had to get up early while it was still cool and not windy.  I used a Tamiya Flat White (which by a Xmas miracle had turned up in Stanbridges yesterday when it wasn't there on Friday).  It was a great relief when I found that the spray had worked.  There are numerous areas not adequately covered (which is why I normally do this step by hand), but which will be easily tackled in my next planned step which is the application of some light grey to the recesses.

It is possible I might get these figures finished next year.

Rescue the Governor

At the NWS Games Day I was fortunate to take command of the cavalry that was part of the relief force to sent to rescue the Governor.

My lads, 10th Hussars flanked by the 9th Bengal Lancers.

Cavalry moving up with the 28th Bengal Infantry to the right and 

the Royal Marine Light Infantry to the fore

Intrepid reporter

It's a long way to go to the Governor's residence

The going gets rough 

The Bengal lancers get stuck into the Fuzzy Wuzzys who threaten the column;

spear and ask questions later seems to be the call of the day

28th Bengal Infantry and the 10th Hussars moving up 

while the Bengal lancers do their bit for Queen and Country

What?

Exactly - Where the bloody hell did they get that from...

The cavalry push on, bravely ignoring the cannon.

The flanking fire was...

Ineffectual

The Imperial cavalry are now bogged down in rough terrain

The whole relief force looks strung out

The 3rd Battalion Egyptian Foot look in dire straits

Bengal lancers engage the Mahdist cavalry

The enemy are repelled

The enemy come back

And are driven off again

The relief column, now more of a line, continue their advance to rescue the Governor

The Governor and his wife watches as Mahdist cavalry swarm around

The cavalry, under my command, push back the enemy

The Colonel of the 10th Hussars  pleads with the Governor to leave, 

but he refuses to budge to such lowly authority.

Luckily the Major-General is on his way.

The 9th Bengal Lancers charge the enemy

The 10th Hussars smash into the Madhist infantry

The Colonel gets a whiff of ???

It smells like victory

The Governor agrees to be escorted from the field by the brave beau sabres of the 10th Hussars.

He says it's just like hunting with the hounds

Brilliant game!  Thanks for organising it, Carlo!

NWS Kris Kringle

Secret Santa is normally something I would keep away from, but I thought I would participate in the one we had as part of the NWS Xmas dinner last night.

And jolly glad I was too.

I parted with something that has probably gone on to be a collectors item, but was not for me.

I picked up some 28mm French partisans... Um?  What am I going to do with them?

Well, after the Kris Kringle there was then a round of swaps and I heard "who collects 15mm Napoleonics?"  "Me!" I yell, knowing that at least another person at may table was also in that space, so I had to work fast.  Luckily the 28mm figures I had to swap were something of value and we made the deal and I now have a bag of Old Glory French Cuirassiers.

Better still, this was actually the contribution by the other 15mm collector at my table, so no hard feelings.

Now, there was also a supplementary allocation of Kris Kringle gifts as it seemed that more had been put in than had been pulled out.  This time the challenge was to answer a question.  The first one was about the movie Gettysburg - no idea who financed it.  The next was about someone who was in the news due to their backside... Duh?  I know our PM and other politicians have been making regular arses of themselves, but the answer required a single name.  Where to start?  Luckily a person at my table knew the answer (and will explain later to his significant other how he came to know it I am sure).  Oh well, out of luck.  

Last question was what other battle occurred on the same day as Waterloo.  Warve I scream (well, muttered somewhat forcefully and made myself heard) and picked up The Sand of Sudan by Carlo Pagano.  Yeah!  Another thing I wanted.

But it gets better.  The knower of bottoms passed on their prize to me as they were leaving (perhaps he was trying to divest himself of incriminating evidence before SWMBO got round to questioning him).  Regardless, my win and thank you!

Thirty Mahdists that look very fierce and hopefully not too challenging to construct and paint up (but only after Waterloo 2015).

Sorry for the shocking photos.  I took them outside.  It was in the shade, but the sunlight was blinding and obviously affected the camera's setting.

And just to provide closure, here is something I didn't know.

Kim Kardashian's bare-bottom broke the internet