Osman Digna and his personal standard bearer

My adjustment to the organisation of the Hadnedowa army is now complete, and very much a family affair.

Osman Digna leads it, of course, and I have just completed his standard bearer Abdul Adab, both shown in the image below. The artillery will be commanded by Digna’s nephew, Fai, and the rubs will be commanded by two of Digna’s cousins, Muhammad Mussa, and Mahsud Musa, another by his nephew Madani bin Ali, while the fourth is commanded by Abdallah bin Hasid.

Osman Digna and his personal standard bearer Abdul Adab.

The Beja army

I have finished my Mahdist army … for the moment. Comprising three rubs, a camel mounted band, another band of warriors on foot, and a brass gun battery, it’s 195 figures.

As I finish a unit I put the figures into box files (lined with magnetic sheet), so this is the first time I have had them all out … and it looks like quite a large host. There will be more – of course there will! I already have a handful of painted figures over, and a mix of plastic and metal figures in the drawer.

But first I want to finish the Empire uints I have.

Osman Digna’s Mahdist army. In due course I will name the tribal leaders.

Third anniversary of my blog

Blimey! Three years! Everything has taken far longer than I imagined it would. Then again, I have been busy over the same period with a major work project.

The Empire forces are well advanced now, with just four units waiting to be painted. (I intend to finish everything I have before ordering anything new.) The Mahdist forces approach completeion (for now) with three more bands of warriors at the basing stage. I hope to have these finished this week.

Basing the last three bands of Beja warriors … for now. (A mix of Perry Miniatures’ metal and plastic figures.)

WiP: painting and a minor conversion

More progress with the next Hadendowa rub and my first British Army infantry company. These are to be joined by new recruits shortly, four figures for the infantry company, a charging command group, six riflemen, and six charging swordsmen for the Mahdists.

These are currently in the Perry Miniatures’ queue that resulted from a surge in orders in the wake of their announcement of price increases. I got a fairly large order in to make the most of the free postage threshold too, including various mounted and foot command figures, Black Watch, Hussars, Bengal Cavalry, a couple of screw guns, and the figures and guns I need to complete the towed Gatling gun limber. All of which which should keep me going for some time.

Hadendowa foot and command figures, British infantry in mêlée, and a pair of ammunition mules. I needed another amir more than I needed a khalifa, and a minor conversion gave a suitable result.

Work in progress

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve surprised myself with my output this month, especially given everything else I have going on.

Just now I’m varnishing a couple of Empire units, and preparing another for priming, while beginning preparation and assembly of more Beja for my second rub. I enjoy the assembly, in particular a bit of minor conversion work like attaching a sword-armed forearm to a sleeved upper arm, or adding an extra spear to a hand.

I will need to make an order for some additional metal riflemen and charging command and swordsmen, and I fancy some Empire cavalry, but I am mindful of not allowing the lead pile to begin to look unmanageable. I worry less about the plastic sprues, accepting that these represent a longer term effort.

The second rub begins to take shape.

The second anniversary of my blog

Firstly, happy new year. It’s two years since my first post here, and what a couple of years we have all had. Against the backdrop of a global pandemic I have collected some 5,794 page views and six followers, although I cannot imagine that these six are responsible for all those page views. Limits to personal freedom and movement weren’t all bad though, as these circumstances enncouraged downtime focused on my Sudan project.

I thought it time to take stock. I work slowly, seeming to spend a lot of time on research and modelling (the Gatling gun limber model is a very good example of this), and not enough time actually painting miniatures.

All the same, I seem to have got quite a bit done, including a handful of scenic items comprising buildings, a fortification, supplies, barricades, trees, shrubs, and thorn bush.

The Mahdists are ahead in terms of finished miniatures, with a rub comprising a camel mounted band, two bands armed with spears and swords, a band armed with rifles, and a command group. Another rifle-armed band and a brass gun battery are finished (both destined to join the main command group. (I don’t think ‘flags’ as such were a form of organisation deployed by Osman Digna.)

Within a few weeks I should have added another Naval Brigade contingent (from HMS Hecla) and a RMLI company (from HMS Carysfort) to the Empire forces.

My first rub, which I have dubbed the Blue Rub because of the blue accent to the flags.

Mahdist brass gun battery; it’s very likely that the guns were spoils of the disastrous Hicks Pasha expedition.

A second rifle-armed band.

Naval Brigade contingent with Gatling gun battery, deployed by HMS Carysfort. Colonel Fred Burnaby is ready for anything at the front, while Melton Prior sketches at the rear.

Medical Staff Corps Number 3 Field Hospital.

A strong point built to protect the construction of the Suakin to Berber railway … a whole other project waiting in the wings.

Three buildings at this scale seems like plenty … but we shall see.

Priming and painting

I’ve been using Liquitex acrylic ‘gesso’ to prime metal and plastic minatures for some years now. Gesso has its detractors, but I find it works rather well.

I drybrush it on to avoid air bubbles, which results in a thin and streaky look. Left to dry for a couple of days it’s rock hard; to the detractors I simply suggest they try getting gesso off anything it’s been applied to.

Two Hadendowa spear and sword armed bands, and the first Naval Brigade company starts to really look the part, with detailing and touching up to do before shading and varnishing. All figures are Perry Miniatures.

On the painting desk

Finishing the first two Mahdist units, the Naval Brigade Gatling gun battery, and the Field Hospital, I thought to take stock of the next units due for painting.

The most advanced is the first mounted Mahdist unit, a Hadendowa camel band with some rifle-armed warriors amongst them. One further Hadendowa band of 16 figures is primed, and another assembled and ready for priming. These will complete my first Rub, so I had better organise a command group for them. The first Naval Brigade and Royal Marine Light Infantry companies are primed and painting has begun.

The first Mahdist mounted band, Hadendowa warriors armed with swords, spears, and rifles.

Two more Hadendowa bands, armed with swords, spears, and throwing sticks, all are Perry plastic miniatures.

The first Naval Brigade company.

The Royal Marine Light Infantry company.

The first Rub commmand group.

First Madhist units

Rifles and canon characterise the first of the Madhist units, armed with weapons most likely captured when Baker Pasha’s relief force was roundly defeated at the first battle of El Teb.

The 7 pounder gun crews are a mix of Perry Miniatures’ metal and plastic figures, and a couple of these fellows actually look as if they know what they are about. The rifle armed warriors are also a mix of metal and plastic figures, testament to the excellent compatibility across the Perry range.

Hadendowa gun crews with a couple of capable looking fellows, and a band of rifle armed warriors. The impact of their harassing fire on the battlefield shouldn’t be underestimated.

Progress on the painting bench

In addition to a number of finished or nearly finished terrain pieces, I have a handful of figures and equipment ready for shading and varnishing.

Bases are 2mm MDF affixed to thin magnetic sheet, and will be prepared with Vellajo sandy paste before painting.

It’s taken me far longer than it should have to get to this stage, but I now have some momentum, which is just as well because I have a large number of figures primed.

Gatling guns, limber, Hadendowa flag bearer, and the staff of my field hospital, with a couple of casualties.

Clockwise: Melton Prior sketching, Captain Arthur Wilson, and Colonel Frederick Burnaby. Bases have been prepared with Vallejo sandy paste, and are ready for painting.

Mahdist brass 7pdr mountain gun battery, with crew members converted from metal and plastic Perry Miniatures’ figures.

Half of the first Hadendowa rifle-armed band, with leader based separately …

… and the remainder. These are a mix of metal and plastic figures.

First of the Fuzzy Wuzzy hoards

It seems to have taken me an absolute age, but the first of what I hope will be hoards of Fuzzy Wuzzies are ready for varnishing.

These fellows are armed with rifles and a pair of 7pdr brass mountain guns, likely taken in the aftermath of the first battle of El Teb in February 1884.

Rifle armed warriors caused the British no end of torment, especially when camped at night. Contemporary accounts relate that their fire was more than merely a nuisance, often inflicting wounds on animals and men, and sometimes wounds were fatal.

The first band of rifle-armed Hadendowa warriors. The gun crews are in the foreground, converted from metal and plastic figures, with one fellow pulling a friction fuse lanyard.

These North Star 7pdr brass mountain guns are tiny, just 35mm muzzle to trail.

Magnificent beasts

While I don’t intend to document every small step of progress, this week I have managed to get some day-by-day momentum into the project, so this post is recognition of that.

In addition it’s a long time since I painted camels. The last were for my first century Imperial Roman army [link], Warlord Games’ rendering of EBob’s camels. The Perry Miniatures’ camels are rather more muscular, and I have a sense they will paint up rather well. I also sense I will end up with quite a lot of camels, since both sides deployed them.

I made some progress with the tiny 7pds and their Hadendoa crews too. Base coating seems to be a sensible antidote to a working day which involves very detailed work in the main.

Half the camels and Melton Prior’s horse have been base coated. It’s a long time since I panted camels – summer of 2011 in fact.

More progress with the Mahdist 7pdrs and crews. I plan to finish these and the riflemen at the same time.

Auxilia Dromedarri … I must finish my Romans …

7pdr mountain gun and Mahdist crews

I was browsing North Star’s web site over Christmas and noticed their ‘arsenal’, a small range of guns with and without crews. While Perry Miniatures’s Sudan range features Krupp field guns with Egyptian crews in chains, I wanted to model a battery of mountain guns, likely captured when the Hicks Pash Obeid relief expedition was defeated.

I have repurposed plastic and metal figures, the latter from the crouching warriors code (SA11). One fellow directs another hurrying with a sponge and bucket, another crouches with shot, one crouches with a sponge, another crouches clutching a ramrod. The last is firing one of the guns. I twisted a lanyard for the friction fuse from 34 gauge beading wire, and I’ll adjust the length and attitude when I base the gun and figures.

The gun crews and one of the tiny 7pdr mountain guns, additional figures not yet primed. Medical Staff Corps figures in the background.

More Beja, and mud brick houses

I had a bit of time over the last two days to make some progress with my project, so I decided to get stuck in to the plastic Ansar.

I have three boxes of Perry Miniatures’ plastic Mahdist warriors, and assembly looked like a daunting task. Nevertheless, once underway I discovered pleasure in scanning the sprues for likely head, arm, and weapon options, and satisfaction as each unique figure emerged while the liquid cement dried.

The next Beja band, armed with swords and spears. Some will have shields added once the figure has been painted.

One of the joys of the plastic sets is the alternatives which are possible. I assembled two commander figures, but the first (left) looked a little too ‘come and ‘ave a go if you think you’re ‘ard enough’, so I assembled another which looked the part for the headlong charge.

The mud brick houses are beginning to shape up, but there is still a bit of finessing to do.

Happy New Year!

Once again I begin the year full of good intentions. Having managed to get spome momentum into the project I am a bit more optimistic for progress this year, even with demanding professional commitments. At least I have almost finished decorating the interior of my house!

My plan is a modest one: to paint all the figures I currently have before ordering more. It’s likely that assembling (literally in the case of the three boxes of plastic figures that I have) the Mahdist hoards becomes an on-going task parallel to any other parts of the project.

A little more progress …

Mahdist artillery

I fancied an alternative to the Egyptians shackled to Krupp 6pdrs, and references to ‘brass guns’ in the Mahdist armoury, most likely mountain guns captured when Hicks Pasha was defeated at Shaykan (on the way to relieve El Obeid), suggested a little modelling detour.

I ordered a pair of North Star’s 7pdr mountain guns [link]. Given their small size I thought to convert some of the crouching Beja figures into gun crew, with others from the plastic set.

The first of a handful of Beja gun crew with sponge, shot, sponge and bucket, with the battery commander on the right.

Having a merry little white Christmas

Season’s greetings, and here we are, or rather here I am, almost a year since I published my first blog post, almost three years since I ordered Go Strong into the Desert – where the gestation for this project began, and a year since I received my first order of figures from Perry Miniatures. Over 2,000 page views and three, yes three, followers.

Progress hasn’t been as rapid as I should have liked – even the lockdowns were filled with a major professional project, which is ongoing, and will continue to demand much of my time. Overall then, I am not too unhappy with my progress … I now have a clear idea of the structure of the project in terms of the overall scope, unit composition, army composition, modelling projects, and so on.

On the subject of unit composition, I have revisited this and decided to increase the RMLI and infantry companies to 24 figures, two half companies of 12. This was prompted while looking at the composition of the infantry unit in melee, which had been bothering me for a while. I concluded that the addition of some kneeling and reloading figures would give it more of the character of the eye witness sketches (usually worked up by the artists at The Illustrated London News or The Graphic). Rather than substitute figures I decided to add some, increasing the unit size.

I am now thinking along the following lines:
– Naval Brigade companies 20 figures
– Infantry and RMLI companies 24 figures
– Cavalry troops 6 figures, squadrons 12 figures

This allows for a standard size infantry unit of 24 (a company) for Black Powder and a regular infantry unit of 12 (a half company) for The Men Who Would Be Kings. Cavalry troops are a bit small for The Men Who Would Be Kings, but I think I can live with this, since I would rather not have expensive cavalry figures left over (given that there are three in Perry Miniatures’ codes). Much of this is about the look of the unit on the table … too few figures at 28mm just looks wrong. For the same reason I am making batteries units of two models.

Accordingly I purchased some extra figures; two sprues of plastic Afghanistan/Sudan infantry; six kneeling/receiving infantry; six firing/reloading infantry. I also bought some additional Beja riflemen and crouching spearmen.

White-out … undercoated buildings, tents for the British field hospital, and small barricades including one of sand bags … plenty of sand in the Sudan.

Undercoated RMLI (top) Naval Brigade (middle), Beja camel band, and Melton Prior, with Burnaby just out of shot … reloading, probably. (Did you see what I did there?)

Not much progress with these … I am replacing the flag bearer with a metal rifleman, since I want these fellows to be stealthy.

Beja camel riders

A delivery of a small flatpack unit yielded some very useful polystyrene, increasing my preparation capacity significantly. So I thought to make the most of it straight away.

A handful of free hours resulted in the first of the Beja camel riders being prepared for painting.

Since there aren’t any command codes for these troops in the Perry Miniatures’s Sudan range I decided to convert two of the riders to a commander and flag bearer.

The commander: original figure on the right, and after surgery on the left. The replacement arm and rifle came from the plastic Mahdist Ansar set, and I added a sling cut from tin foil.

Surgery complete: the commander holds his rifle aloft.

The first four of a unit of twelve.

More flags

Seeking out flags for the Mahdists I discovered a comprehensive range from US-based The Armchair General, and considered buying sets. However, once I had a chance to review the flags included with the Perry Miniatures’ plastic Mahdist Ansar, I concluded that I could work with the more modest offering from Adrian’s Walls. I was also swayed by the significant advantage of much lower postage costs from a UK supplier.

Adrian’s Walls offers a single sheet of eight different flags, duplicated three times; 24 in all. Plenty for my purposes at this early stage the project. 

The flags are finely detailed …

… and well printed on very thin stock.