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.

Abdul Adab and Muhammad Mussa

I’ve reconsidered the organisation of my Beja force ever so slightly: Osman Digna was to command the black rub, but I have decided to pass command to one of his cousins. Consequently Digna needs his own standard bearer, so I decided buy a set of Perry Miniatures’ Mahdist mounted Command (SA2) and convert one of the figures.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have very few usable parts left on sprues, so I had to cannibalise a surplus painted figure for a sword hilt (the original has the sword over its shoulder).

Muhammad Mussa, Osman Digna’s cousin, and Abdul Adab, Osman Digna’s standard bearer.

Last of the Beja …

As the British Infantry and command figures approach completion I prepped the last of the Beja, a healthy mix of plastic and metal figures.

These will form three bands, two of which will join a band of rifle armed fellows. The other will join the brass gun battery and camel mounted band, and form around Osman Digna and his command.

Osman Digna’s command, with variously armed warriors. I’m looking forward to painting these.

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.

Heliograph section and Bennet Burleigh

I’ve allowed myself a bit of a distraction while putting the finishing touches to my first Hadendowa Rub: painting the Perry Miniatures’ Heliograph section and Melton Prior’s great friend, and fellow journalist, Bennet Burleigh.

I’ve had Burleigh almost two years, and the heliograph section since before the first lockdown began here in the UK, so it will be very satisfying to get them finished.

Meanwhile, a RMLI company and a second Naval Brigade contingent await further work.

Hadendowa commanders, Burleigh and his mount, and the heliograph section.

Hadendowa riflemen, and the wet palette

I began work on the second rub, constructing the first of the plastic rifle-armed warriors. Just now I think there will be three rubs, each comprising one rifle armed band, two of spear and sword armed warriors, and a mounted band.

I indulged in some minor kit bashing for one of the figures, dead easy once one has narrowed the choice of torso and arms; one of the features I really like about working with plastic figures.

The wet palette is working really well. I haven’t moistened it since first using it over three weeks ago, and although the sponge has begun to dry out in one or two places, and the hydro paper has cockled a bit, it’s perfectly servicable and has transformed my painting experience.

Hadendowa riflemen, with a minor conversion for the fellow on the left so he can rest the weapon on his shoulder, and the first command group with my Green Stuff World wet palette … which I simply love. It makes painting so much more fluid – literally – espacially on hot days like today.

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.

Medical Staff Corps, Naval Brigade Gatling gun battery, and 40pdr Armstrong

I made quite a bit of progress today, so I’ll let the photos do the talking.

Gatling guns and limber, Mahdist flag bearer, and Medical Staff Corps, all shaded and tinted and ready for varnishing, with field hospital flag.

First of the Naval Brigade – Gatling gun crews. After some thought I decided not to attempt to paint the multiple blue lines around the flap collars … wait see how a simple white boarder looks.

I made a test rig for the gun carriage using cotton. I think it will be easier to achieve the desired result using scale wire rope than scale rope.

Mahdist command: one of Osman Digna’s Amirs

With the arrival of a few more Mahdists, by courtesy of Perry Miniatures and Royal Mail, I turned my mind to command groups.

Here’s the first, a static one of an Amir, a drummer, and two flag bearers. I think it will make a nice little vignette.

An Amir and his flag bearers … the Amir will have a name shortly.