Sudan - Naval Brigade and R.I.F.

This weeks progress sees the perennial favourites of the Naval Brigade receive the first of their infantry section reinforcements, wounded markers , the Petty Officers , and the commanders. All by Perry Miniatures. This time these were well cast taking up little time to prepare (I need to source another 5 lots of these). Also really nice to paint. 

 I am going at some point to do "special" with these lads pulling a gun and limber..

 One of the small units for the campaign are Princess Victorias' Royal Irish Fusiliers. These were diverted from service further east and wore the India Service kit . At a mere 18 figures strong they are somewhat understrength compared to some of the larger units. Again these are Perry as per the York and Lancs. Real simple and easy to paint. 

 Next we have various casualties and the M.O

 

 I am really in need of a stock up ! The lead pile is nearly empty. So it will be steamers, Camel Corps and the Cameron Highlanders (for a red coated unit) on the wish list.

Sudan - Gordon Highlanders & York and Lancs

The last of the main infantry for the 2nd El Teb OOB have now been completed. These were both Perry Miniatures. The end results as with with most Perry figures are excellent, it is just the painful process of cleaning the beggars up that is frustrating. I found the Gordons particularly bad for this and was finding little faults all the way through the painting.

I was particularly pleased with the end result of the tartan -

The York and Lancs were shipped into the Sudan from further east still wearing thier India Service pattern uniform. This is a somewhat less complicated uniform with less webbing ,packs , or pugarees - and they are all khaki, This whole unit took about the same time as the kilts on the Gordons did!

while doing the photographs for these I took the opportunity to get the rest of the foot, artillery and baggage train out to get a group shot. - so here it is in high resolution. Hmm I may need to get some more Mahdists..

My replacement soldering iron has turned up so work can start on the conversions for the 10th Hussars. I want to do some more skirmish stands and I have some Naval Brigade infantry companies to do too.

The man cave has had a serious tidy up and is ready to go again

Sudan - 19th Hussars and Col Fredrick Burnaby

Work has been proceeding at pace on the Sudan Imperial units. The 19th Hussars have been completed. I have done conversion work on the lead squadron, removing the arm from its cast position and remaking it with solder and adding a curved sabre into the hand - this is made form a flattened mild steel in - I intended to do more than 1 squadron like that - but my trusty soldering iron has died - a new one is being sourced!

These are Connoisseur Miniatures once more, with a few other random horses from the lead pile. Next cavalry will be the 10th Hussars.

Colonel Frederick Burnaby–  travelling without permission - was among more than 4,000 British troops who took part at El-Teb.  Burnaby was in the thick of it, doing dire work with a characteristically unorthodox weapon: a double-barrelled shotgun.

Burnaby was a larger than life character , and Victorian Hero. Depicted here in his characteristic blue patrol dress as he refused to wear khaki. He met his end at the later battle of Abu Klea – where he had left his Shotgun behind after the bad publicity of using it on the natives at El-Teb.

 It is said Queen Victoria wept on learning of his death. The figure is by Redoubt and is a fair size compared to other 28mm – however as Burnaby was 6 foot 4 and reputed to be the strongest man in the army it seems fitting.

 We also have the newly arrived Daily Telegraph reporter Bennet Burleigh with notepad , and for the Illustrated London News Caton Woodvile looking on , protected accompanied by the skirmish screens.  I picked up the skirmish lads as part of the painted stuff I traded – they needed rebasing only .

More "Devils in Skirts" next!

Pulp - Meet the Band

A continuation on the theme. Here we have the Jazz Quartet by Bob Murch.

and with Miss Lilly Von Verde the front woman 

Just need to come up with a good name and build a stage set!

Another of the Femme Fatale range - Wanda Midnight

And the shot of all the employees of "Long Sarah's"

Pulp - The last of the Police Department.

Here we have the remainder of the "Serenity City P.D" . These are a set of Copplestone Minatures which were gifted to me by my Secret Santa (an idea originally devised by our very own Ian Willey and organised by Cath) this year - good choice Santa. These were a real joy to paint.

 The tough beat cops of "Serenity City"

The brothers Fran and Ray O'Shee (ok maybe he ain't so tough), Pat McKay, and Dan O'Donald (from one of my GxGrandparent who was a beat cop - often found in ale houses, and fond of an odd drop of the water of life..well that what his disciplinary record showed!)

These were painted using the Andrea Color Blue paint set. This can give very subtle blends and finishes easily. However you can lose it under a flat varnish so with 28mm figures I give them a coat of varnish and then add some extra highlights to the areas that need it.

Here is a full roll call 

 

I am on the look out for a good "Chief" figure and of course next I need some detectives and G Men..

Pulp - New Cops

First proper post of the New Year. The workbench is nice and busy with lots of thing in production. The Sudan stuff is coming along nicely, and inbetween the larger units I am completing some extras for "Serenity City" as there are some more re-inforcements due along shortly. Here we have the boys of the 2nd Precinct - a nice set of Pulp Miniature cops.

Very nice clean casting to work on. and they fit in well with my Dixon ones as well. My Secret Santa also sourced some Copplestone policmen so there will some good variety to the Serenity City P.D.

I have also completed another of the figures from the Femme Fatale pack - I found the facial detail a bit off on this one - she is no beauty thats for sure!  I had her down as the Ice Maiden , but I need to come up with a proper name for her - any ideas?

Back to the sands of the desert with work on the Second Brigade and the Cavalry progressing.

Looking forward to 2015

That is 2014 all packed away, and I guess its traditional to set some goals for the coming year. 

So looking into the crystal ball for the year ahead. 

Having used the mind bleach to rid myself of the vision of Millsy's victory dance following our opening wager for this years challenge , this is what I see.

Sudan Related

1) Complete the Sudan Imperial forces that are already sourced.

2) Build a steamer for the Sudan

3) Terrain items for the Sudan

4) Source the Camel Corps,mounted and dismounted

5) get a game running

Gangster Related

1) Complete the already sourced buildings

2) Review rules to create a simple participation game set.

3) get it to a show and play it!

Cowboys

1) Gaming! 

2) look at a Steamer for the River..

Show Attendance

1) Blog Con3 - let's see if we can make it fly again

2) York in February

3) Salute..just maybe.

4) one of the Partizans.

I have a left field hankering to do something WW2.. I have an idea of doing the Raid on St Nazaire .. But not sure what scale, size etc...

Oh and get my own back on Millsy..

There are bound to be a few distractions along the way...but in the meantime it's back to the paint desk over the weekend.