Welcome to my blog, the story of my continuing journey into the World of Zombie Wargames.

Monday 16 September 2019

Soudan Stuff


I've been working on my Sudan collection as much as possible during the last week,  whilst attending hospital (regular check-up) and various other hobby-hindering real-life stuff.
Nevertheless I have managed to complete some things, that I can post about!
Firstly I have finished all my artillery, or at least all that I could find (there's definitely one missing !).  I believe all of these fine models are "Old Glory" and like much of this collection were purchased fifteen years or so ago.
British Artillery
Egyptian artillery (Krupps)
Anglo-Egyptian Gardners, two different multi-barrels types
Maxims
The artillery bases are made from defunct plastic credit cards etc., they're thin, easy to cut and cheap !
The crews for these guns are on the painting tray, but I'm short of Egyptian gunners - oh well.

I have managed to finish a half unit of sailors , they're form Redoubt and came with the Redoubt paddle steamer I bought many years ago, compared to OG and Perry, they're large, but still usable.
Sailors, in "Sennet" (straw) hats.
Starboard view
Stern view (for those who like this sort of thing)
Along with the sailors I had enough Marines that came with the steamer to make another half-unit:
Marines (Sergeant on the front right (probably shouting "Ahoy")
Sorry, but no rear Marines piccy, even by my standards it was too blurry to post, but at least you've experienced almost my entire repertoire of nautical terms, missing out on only "the pointy end" and "the blunt end" !
I have made a start on my cameleers, purchased at "Border Reiver ", they're nowhere near finished, but they are coming up to the stage of the rest of their unfinished unit. As an aside, I now hate painting camels more than I hate painting horses.
Three more camels  (that I wouldn't walk a mile for)
The rest of the paint tray looks like this:
It may look a mess, but it's my mess!
A mere 120+ figures in various stages of completion; gunners, highlanders, officers, NCOs and three camels (plus the sailors and marines!)

Save for my "Jimland" native huts, which are possibly suitable for Southern Sudan, I haven't got any buildings for gaming in the Sudan, so I've started to plan some archetypical wargame style adobe buildings.
Theses should be fairly quick to churn out, once I get it in mind how they're going to be realised (based in groups, lift off roofs, free standing etc.) or whether I'll just buy a few cheap mdf ones to gunge up.
Cutting board with initial building started  (- large sheet is the building's base)

The first building is for an idea I have for a mini-game, but more on that later when my ideas are thought through.

That's it then from me for another week, one in which I've been un-characteristically enthusiastic abut painting, even though I thought I'd finished two more units only to find I'd missed various details (Looking at you "Helmet straps") and mistakenly painted the wrong colours (bayonet sheaths are black not white - only the frogs are white). It's things that Fantasy gamers don't have to worry about, that historical gamers seem to obsess over!

Next week I'll post whatever I've finished painting and may even have made my mind up whether to have new terrain boards (foam or mdf), a cloth or a felt sheet for the desert terrain I'll need for this project and I also have another "Jimland" adventure to write-up!

Here's hoping there was something here of interest and of course, as always, your comments, criticisms and queries are always welcomed and appreciated.

26 comments:

  1. My word Joe you've been busy! I just love the look of your table, so many wonderful things to enjoy.

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    1. Thanks Michael, I have to take advantage of my enthusiasm whilst I can !

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  2. WOW! You have indeed been industrious, Joe. Lots of eye candy to enjoy in your pics. I especially enjoyed the "Sailors, in "Sennet" (straw) hats" - which had a lovely blue on them.

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    1. Thanks Blax, (see above reply to Sir Michael) at best I think the figures are 'wargame standard' and getting worse imo as my eyesight (including colour recognition ) fades; I guessing colours most of the time and these look completely different according to the light available !
      I think I mixed the sailors blue to get something I was pleased with.

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  3. Redoubt figures are big but they're very nice. I have a few to paint.
    Your table is full of goodies Joe.

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    1. Thanks MJT, Redoubt are very nice and I have quite a few of their figures too, but the variety in this range is poor imo (and comparitively expensive), but I'll be using the ones I have !.

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  4. Looks like you've been a very busy boy, Joe.

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    1. Thanks Ray, just making hay etc., whilst I can, but goodness knows how long this surge will last.

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  5. Reminded me I was watching The Four Feathers the other day, lovely work especially the artillery!

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    1. Thanks AL, I believe there are about seven film versions of "THe four feather", I have the 1938 Corda version, which many believe is the best - gret afilm that's stood the test of time !

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    2. That was the one, by the way I didn't want to be the one but you need to change the Soudan header!

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    3. All good then, the 1939 version has some excelleny detail.
      Soudan is an original Victorian spelling of the more modn "Sudan" and my ventures into it will be a lot more 'fictional".

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  6. Lots on the table to say the least Joe! I did laugh out loud when I read "I now hate painting camels more than I hate painting horses" 🤣 I completely understand!

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    1. Thanks Ivor, I normally try and paint a lot of minis together - it's a geat feeling when they're all finished !
      I hate painting figures, but still wouldn't play a game with unpainted ones (no matter how bad my painting is !)

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    1. Thanks Michal, always a pleasure hearing from you.

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  8. Gosh, you have been busy! Nice sailors and marines,I really like the artillery and good luck with the camels! Good to see your painting table,reminds me of mine! With your scratch building skills I'd have thought you'd be building Khartoum yourself? You'll have to texture mdf, you may as well save a few bob and knock them up yourself!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks Iain, the camles are a pain, but as they're more or less mandatory in a desert environment one has to have them.
      I'll be making a few scratcgbuilds to begin with as I'm loath to buy more mdf - though there are some detiling bits I'd like.
      Khartoum was nothing really special at the time, a few very large buildings (Palce, goverment buildings etc) and probably a lot more two-story buildings than you would find elsewhere - no city walls either. If I ever have to represent Khartoum, it'll be a case of just putting as many suitable building together as I can muster.

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  9. Lots going on Joe, great to see your enthusiasm back.

    I'm interested in how you do the adobe houses, I've been intending making some for years and just not gotten around to it, so happy to learn from your expertise.

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    1. Thanks Vagabond, I'll be making the adobe houses from foamboard as I have a shed-load of it A2,5mm thick. The simplest is four walls and a roof, but I'll be making a few variaitations on the them.
      I'm finidng that my expertise is currently fading as all my staight lines appear to bend (an eyesight problem!) and I cand find my adjustable set-square, but I;kk get there !

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  10. I must say that your pictures inspire me very much. Very nice collection there and lots of fun ahead this winter.I think the Sudan-scenario also is very playable and interessting both to play and to read about(battlereport).

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    1. Thanks Ptr, once I get the reat of the figures I'd like for this project I'll be ready to play a game or two.
      I think all of the Victorian era small wars and colonial wars can be very colourful and make great games to.
      I hope any baars I write come up to expectations.

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  11. My what big guns you have Joe :) all looks very well & great to see you beavering away.

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    1. Thanks Frank, I think these were the easiest things I cold knock off for a post! Whilst my enthusiasm is still unwavering, reallife concerns aredoing their best to hinder my progress !

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  12. You've gone a far distance on your high-octane modeling this past week, Zab. Nice work, sir.

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    1. Thanks Jay, I admit I have been pulling out all the stops to clear the tray and make a dent in my lead pile as well as using up some of my foamboard too! (all to make way for incoming)

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