Beja Camelry

Andy had bought me a stack of Perry Miniatures Mahdists a couple of Christmases ago: some infantry, some command figures, and six Beja camel riders.  With the Paddle Steamer completed I thought it was time to get these other Sudan figures painted up.

The figures are based on 6cm x 3cm plasticard to match the rest of my Black Powder bases

Redoubt Paddle Steamer completed

With the completion of the infantry, the Redoubt kit is now finished after 4 months.  I'm planning an initial gaming scenario using it as a Congo paddle steamer with my Darkest Africa stuff while I get on with painting sufficient Beja opposition to use it in a Sudan game.

The Redoubt illustration doesn't allow for the figures to be based, and doesn't include all the figures that come in the set (eg the chaps stoking the engine)

Cressida Rose

Given that the bases take up space on deck there are more figures in the set than appear in the pictures above.  At some point I think I'll also fashion some steam to attach to the smokestack...

13th (Somersetshire) Light Infantry - Part Two

With these last 6 figures, I've now completed the full Redoubt Paddle Steamer set.  Will take some pics of the full set tomorrow, but for now, these are the last of the infantry.

The other half of the firing line...

The full company (without officers as yet) on magnetised bases for Black Powder

13th (Somersetshire) Light infantry - Part One

In addition to the Paddle Steamer itself, crew, support weapons and Naval Brigade, the Redoubt Paddle Steamer kit comes with a company of British Sudan infantry.  I had a bit of a dilemma in deciding on how to paint these - whether to go with the later Sudan uniforms of grey or khaki, or go for scarlet so that I could use the unit alongside my Zulu Wars British infantry.  In the end I opted for the earlier uniform, choosing that of the 13th (Somersetshire) Light Infantry, counterparts for my existing companies of the 24th foot (like this chap) who took a bit of a pasting at Isandlwana.  And scarlet was worn in the Sudan (by the Yorkshire Regiment at the Battle of Ginniss at the end of 1885) so they'll be good to take on the Beja at some point too.  Just six more of these chaps to go and that will be all the elements of the Steamer kit.

Royal Artillery 7lb Screw Gun

Aside from the Nordenfelt machine gun, the Cressida Rose Paddle Steamer also comes complete with a 7lb Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) screw gun from Redoubt Miniatures.  Several of these mountain guns were deployed in the Anglo-Zulu war and in the First and Second Boer Wars.  Given their provenance I have painted the Royal Artillery crew in the earlier Zulu War uniforms as opposed to those worn in the later Sudan campaigns.  

The gun isn't glued onto the base and hence can be overrun on the table top by rampaging Zulus...

The view from the business end, behind hasty fortifications

The gun in situ in the bows of Cressida Rose

The captain observes as fire is directed at the natives on the far bank...

Nordenfelt Gun and Naval Crew

Having recently finished the Naval Brigade complement for Cressida Rose, the Sudan paddle steamer, this week's project was finishing the first of the two support weapons - the Nordenfelt machine gun.  This Redoubt Miniatures kit consists of the gun on a deck mounting, a crew member operating the firing crank, another providing advice, a third looking on, and a fourth opening up ammo crates.  As with the paddle steamer crew I based the kneeling figures on sand so as to be able to use them deployed, and the gun on a deck base to blend in with the steamer itself.

I had to build up the gun's base.  It needs to be able to fire over the deck barricade but, perhaps surprisingly, the figure operating the firing crank needed to be set at a higher level than his own base allowed, hence the platform.

Side view showing the deck to good effect.

The Nordenfelt gun in position infront of the steering cabin of Cressida Rose, firing out over the top deck bow barricade

Naval Brigade - completed

Next set of miniatures to be completed is the remainder of the Naval Brigade.  I've had very limited time for painting over the last couple of weeks so the pace has slowed a bit.  However, all the ratings are now done, with the Nordenfelt gun and naval crew due to be finished tonight (kids permitting...).  These were painted as per the last batch - matt black undercoat then three layers of colour then the usual gloss varnish.

The last six ratings in Sennet hats and Sudan uniforms.

The complete Brigade on movement bases (magnetised) and ready for Black Powder games.

The Brigade in position on the top deck of Cressida Rose.

Vulture's eye view...

Manning the barricades.