Medical Staff Corps stretcher bearer

I wasn’t really happy with the standing stretcher bearer, because I felt that in the circumstances suggested by the medic assisting a wounded soldier he should be crouching.

I had a spare figure from the screw gun battery, holdng a ramrod/sponge. I cut away the shaft, carefully reinstating the profile of the webbing beneath, and added trousers over the puttees with ProCreate. Add a right arm and left hand from the plastic sets spares box, and the result is not too shabby.

I abandoned the standing stretcher bearer in favour of this fellow.

Beja crouching drummer and captured Egyptian Krupp 75mm

The additional miniatures have arrived and I set to work with a minor conversion to add a drummer to the Hadendowa crouching band, and assemble a vignette around the captured Krupp 6pdr.

I know I should be cracking on with my scots, but just now I am finding the Beja easier to get on with – I’m not quite well enoiugh for the level of concentration that painting the tartan will demand.

Crouching drummer conversion, with parts from the plastic Mahdist Ansar set, and the Krupp 75mm with captured Egyptian crew and Beja overseers.

RML 2.5 inch 7 pounder screw gun battery

While contemplating the challenge of painting various kinds of grey stallions for the 19th Hussars, I decided to begin work on my screw gun battery.

I have read that these handy artillery pieces were transported on three sturdier camels (which meant that the barrel could be carried without disassembly by one animal, the carriage and wheels by two more). Once deployed they could fire explosive shells, shrapnel rounds, or case shot.

I plan a battery of two pieces, with three crew figures each, and a battery commander. I have made some minor modifications to two of the crew figures so that each group will look different enough.

These guns are so small that I have decided to paint them prior to assembly.

A future modelling project is a screw gun in transit, for which I have the components – I just need the time.

Minor modiciations using hands and arms from the Perry Miniatures’ plastic Sudan/Afghanistan British infantry set, and the crew and guns ready for priming. That’s Private Thomas Edwards on the end, soon to join a pair of Naval Brigade ammunition mules.

New recruits, progress with painting, and the towed Gatling gun and limber

I’ve managed to get quite a bit done over the last few weeks, and now I hope to maintain the momentum.

My latest Perry Miniatures order arrived, and I wasted no time getting the new Beja into the painting work flow. I wanted some slightly more aggressive swordsmen, and more spirited command figures to acompany the khalifa on a rearing horse.

The bulk of the order comprised Empire figures, including Black Watch, 19th Hussars, 9th Bengal Cavalry, a couple of 7pdr screw guns, various command figures, and, finally, Naval Brigade figures for the towed limber and Gatling gun piece. Easily enough to keep me occupied beyond Christmas.

I also added Brian Robson’s Fuzzy Wuzzy to my references (second hand but in excellent condition), which is dedicated to the campaigns in eastern Sudan.

Top to bottom: Fuzzy Wuzzy is spot-on for my interests; the second Hadendowa rub with some figures ready for varnishing while the new recruits are only just started; an Emprire infantry unit in mêlée, which also received a handful of new recruits; a couple of minor Naval Brigade officer conversions – just enough to make them different to the ones I already have; the main components of the towed limber and Gatling gun.

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.

Hadendowa riflemen kit bashing

One of the things that troubled me was the lack of ammunition carried by the plastic riflemen … while some of the metal rifle-armed figures have ammunition pouches the plastic figures just have rifles. Since it seems likely that they would have carried ammunition in the original boxes captured form the Egyptians, I thought to make amends.

Just now I am preparing a rifle-armed band which will be a body guard for one of the Mahdist commanders, organised with the brass gun battery and a command group vignette. So I thought to add a couple of figures carrying an ammunition box between them. This minor conversion required removal of weapons, careful drilling of hands, and threading of wire rope.

The result looks promising.

Four minor conversions: the fellow on the left has his rifle modified so he can shoulder it in a relaxed fashion; the two middle fellows have rope handles in place for the ammunition box between them; the fellow on the right will bar a flag. This will be the only band of riflemen to carry a flag.

King’s Royal Rifle Corps bugler

I did a bit of painting today, but the temperature wasn’t helping. I did manage to make some more progress with my first Naval Brigade company though, but switched to priming my third Hadendowa band.

I have some figures allocated to become a company from the third battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps. They’re in a range of fire-at-will poses, but the only bugler I had left was in a running pose. There was nothing for it but major surgery; so a sergeant from Perry Miniatures SB4 (British Infantry command advancing) donated his legs to the running bugler from SB5 (Light Infantry Command standing and running).

KRRC bugler: major surgery, but the result is plausable.

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.

Melton Prior inspired Hadendowa conversion

A while ago I bought three boxes of Perry Miniatires’ Sudanese tribesmen, so there are quite a lot of plastic figures to assemble. From time-to-time I read complaints about having to assemble these figures, the nature of it being characterised as a chore. I enjoy assembly, actually; it takes me right back to my early teens self assembling Airfix models. I make one or two at a time when I have a spare moment, and day-by day this gets them done at a reasonable rate. Priming and painting is another matter, though.

As I did all those years ago, I like to make things my own with minor adjustments or major conversions. The principal advantage of these hard-ish plastic figures is how easily they lend themselves to conversion. This account of a moment at El Teb in Melton Prior’s memoir Campaigns of a War Correspondent suggested assembling a figure with a throwing stick in one hand and two spears in the other:

One man in particular I noticed. He held spears in the left hand, and he actually flung his boomerang and succeeded in hitting one of our men on the leg before he was killed.

Three easy conversions. The fellow on the left has just drawn his sword. The fellow on the right was inspired by an account by Melton Prior at the second battle of El Teb. He’s left-handed, obviously.

A little progress: 40pdr and Gatling gun limber

Most of today’s effort has gone into applying the first coat of varnish to twenty-odd Hadendowa rifle-armed and gun crew figures, along with Burnaby, Wilson and Prior.

I also spent about five minutes on the Gatling gun limber and a couple of hours on the 40pdr.

Yesterday I did most of the cutting and trimming to narrow the two carriages for the smaller weapon. It’s the first time I have worked with resin, and it’s brittle stuff, requiring slow careful work to avoid disastrous chips and breakages. I had one of the former, but a bit of filling was required in any case.

I added larger diameter trunions to the barrel, drilled the gun carriage for the wire rope, and added a pair of leavers, one each side. I need to add small wheels to the rear of the carriage, and model the elevation mechanism. The latter needs some investigation. I also need to source some blocks of a suitable size for the tackle … so quite a bit still to do.

The limber is nearly ready for priming, while the 40pdr is going to take a while longer.

Gatling gun limber: assembly

I had a bit of time this morning so I was able to make some progress with assembling the limber.

Cutting and assembling the sides and interior was a methodical process of measurement, cutting, and adjustment, but I now have all the measurements I need for the towed version. The Broadwell magazines need their centres drilling, and I want to add a cross bar to the shaft. I’ll add rope to the chain once the model is painted.

It’s certainly not 100% accurate, but I think it will look the part.

Most of the assembly is done, the hook for the hauling chain is not yet fixed since this will be best done once the model is painted.

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.

Armstrong RBL 40pdr on naval carriage

Serendipity to the rescue! An unexpected post on the Facebook The Men Who Would Be Kings Fan Group highlighted an ebay source for a 28mm scale Armstrong RBL 40pdr. A quick look revealed a small range of what appear to be resin castings perfect for this era.

I ordered a 40pdr and a RML 64pdr naval casement parapet cannon. Comparison with photographs of the armed train improvised by sailors from HMS Hecla and HMS Invincible in 1882 suggested the parapet cannon carriage would be suitable for conversion.

Now to aquire the rolling stock.

Armstrong 40pdr on naval carriage adapted to the railway flat car by sailors from HMS Hecla.

View from the other side. These two photographs provide plenty of detail for the model. Note the ship’s name plate on the front.

The resin components from two kits, with the Armstrong 40pdr barrel in the foreground, and a Perry Miniatures’ Naval brigade Garder gun crew member for scale.

I bought some wire rope. Although this is intended for use as scale steel tow rope (for AFVs etc), I think it will be easier to manipulate into the requred shapes than actual scale rope.

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.

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.

Gatling gun and limber: more detailing

Having given some thought to the nature of the limber model, I have decided to model more equipment, including Broadwell drum magazines.

Six magazines could be stowed within the limber box, with another two hanging from the axel tree. The six black discs grouped together in the image below give an idea of the size of the limber box. It will have less height than the ACW limber though, so those components will need to be trimmed.

I used a paper hole punch to make the tops and bottoms of the drum magazines from plastic card, with the body from wooden dowel. I have fashioned the drum handles from 15 amp fuse wire. I plan to detail the vertical hopper rails with thin card or paper.

Next … assembly!

   

The main components for the Gatling guns and limber models, clockwise: ACW limber components; gun barrels; gun carriages and wheels; hooks, towing eyes, chains, and magazine handles; limber wheels; magazine tops and bottoms; magazine bodies.

Gatling gun and limber details

I have begun making the details that will be needed for the two Gatling guns and the limber. The single photo accompanying this post does not give away the amount of time that went into making the the first set.

The limber will have chains attached to each wheel, and tow ropes will be attached to the chains, all arranged at either side of the model. The guns will have towing eyes attached to the wheel hubs, and lengths of chain attached to the carriage.

I fashioned the hooks and eyes from 15 amp fuse wire, which is a little over-scale, but workable I think.

The first of the details for the guns and limber. The towing eyes with chain will be fitted to the limber’s wheel hubs. The wheel hubs have been drilled to receive the wire.

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.

First Naval Brigade company

Finally! I had some time to prepare and prime my first Naval Brigade company. There are to be two, one in caps and the other in Sennet hats.

Naval Brigade organisation and operations ashore were specified with precision in the 1859 document Instructions for the Exercise of Small Arms, Field Pieces, etc for the Use of Her Majesty’s Ships. (The Long Arm of Empire, Brooks R)

Companies comprised 80 men, commanded by a Lieutenant, aided by three Petty Officers, and two Boatswain’s Mates or Midshipmen.

A ship of the line might be able to deploy two such companies, a frigate one, and a sloop half.

When companies were brigaded together they were commanded by a Senior Captain or Commander, aided by a Lieutenant (adjutant or brigade major).

Front: the first half company, commanded by a Lieutenant and Boatswain’s Mate, with whistle.

Rear: the second half company. I considered giving the Boatswain’s Mate a rifle with a cutlass bayonet, but fashioning the bayonet and cutting away the existing hilt was too challenging. Instead I equipped him with a Martini-Henry rifle without a bayonet, to which I added a tinfoil sling. The Petty Officer has had a bit of surgery – I substituted an arm and hand with revolver from the plastic Afghanistan / Sudan infantry set.

The crews for the Gatling gun battery are on the left hand end of each set.

Gatling gun limber components

On deciding that I want my batteries to look a bit more substantial, I ordered another Gatling gun. I took the opportunity to obtain a couple of the American Civil War artillery limbers too.

As expected the wheels are too large, but the chassis and other parts look as if they will provide a good basis for the model. Importantly, the track is about right. I have a spare set of wheels from a Gardner that is destined for an armed train or gun boat.

Initially I plan to make one deployed limber, which should look like quite enough with the two gun battery. If it works out I’ll make a second limber being hauled by Jack Tars. I’ll order a second Gardner for the wheels. As I mentioned I’ll need two Gardners – one for an armed train and the other for a gunboat.

Two Perry Miniatures’ ACW limber frames with the wheels from the cannibalised Gardner for comparison.