Royal Marines for Death in the Dark Continent

Although it's a very long way off I've been doing some more research on uniforms of the Royal Marines, with the Black Tree Designs Zulu War range in mind for a Naval Landing Party unit. The obvious example to follow is the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Tel El Kebir, which is the closest in time and location. The Sudan Campaign a couple of years later is also relevant but I'm going to focus on the uniform and equipment used in Egypt, as there would be fewer bits to convert or modify. Here's the description to go with the illustration in the Osprey book:

Private, Royal Marine Light Infantry

The Royal Marine Light Infantry uniform worn in Egypt in 1882 consisted of the customary white helmet and a blue 'frock’ with brass buttons. The blue collar was decorated with a bugle-horn badge in scarlet worsted and the shoulders were decorated with scarlet worsted cords. The trousers were blue with a scarlet welt on the outside of the leg and worn tucked into black leather gaiters. The equipment was the 'Valise’ pattern worn with black leather pouches, which had been replaced by white in most regiments by this date. At Tel-el- Kebir The Times war correspondent remembered seeing the “… endless line of the dreaded redcoats, broken by the even more fearful blue of the Marines.”

With the exception of the pugaree and some details in the uniform that can be easily fixed, such as the cuff braiding, the Zulu War figures are a pretty good match, especially if you are not too bothered about button counting (which I most definitely am not!). 

Here Come The Camels

Over the next few days I'm going to be painting the 1/300th scale 3D printed aircraft for the Lard Day in January, including five Sopwith Camels and five Albatros DVa scouts. I'm starting with the Camels as they are a more straightforward paint job and will enable me to work out the best way to go about painting the resin prints. I've painted plenty of 1/300th aircraft before, so it shouldn't be too tricky, even if I'm used to metal models rather than resin ones.

Nyamwezi Basing Boshed

The last four bases of bowmen have been glued together, based and undercoated today, so to all intents and purposes the Death in the Dark Continent Nyamwezi (Generic Villagers) army is now complete and ready for painting. I'm still making up my mind about which combination of shades to paint the skin tones in but that decision is going to wait a little longer, as I'm now diverting my attention to some 1/300th scale WW1 aircraft for the Lard Day game in January. 

Dartmouth Castle

The weather was really good yesterday, which was a bit of a change and a good reason to get outdoors. As we are down in South Devon we took a trip to Dartmouth, not realising it was jam packed with tourists for a food festival. To get away from the crowds we walked over to Dartmouth Castle, which was only a mile away, taking time to enjoy the fine weather. The castle site is actually in two sections, one a Victorian coastal battery and the other a late medieval, Tudor and Civil War era defensive tower. These are both very well preserved and presented, so well worth a visit. 

Torcross Tank Detour

A detour down to Torcross today on the way to Dartmouth, to see the Slapton Sands DD Tank memorial, which I've wanted to visit for years. I read Ken Small's book about the disaster prior to D-Day many years ago, so this was a worthwhile visit, even if there's not a lot to see. The weather was also much better than yesterday, with a nice walk on the beach and a cup of tea in the local cafe, so a good trip all round 

Second Hand Book Bargains

It was chucking down with rain and very windy yesterday, which meant visiting a couple of historical sites was a good idea. A trip to the local National Trust Georgian pile meant a chance to browse the second hand bookshop, where I found these three books in immaculate condition. I was expecting to pay at least twenty quid just for the Friedman but the whole lot was only eight quid... bargain!

Fort Charles

We're down in South Devon for a long weekend and today visited Salcombe which, despite the imminent arrival of Storm Austen, was actually quite sunny. After some local advice we took a walk along the coast road and passed the remains of the Civil War fortifications covering the entrance to the estuary. There's not a lot left after the fort was sleighted and exposed to the elements for four hundred years but it's still pretty impressive. 

Skin Shades for Death in the Dark Continent

 

In the past I've used Foundry Bay Brown Shade and Bay Brown for African skin, which I think gives a really good effect and is easy to use as a basecoat and highlight layer. Unfortunately, my very old pots of paint are now on their last legs, so I've been looking for an alternative. A trio of Foundry paints would put me back sixteen quid including postage, which means other options might be better value. I ordered some Vallejo Game Colour paints that are supposed to be equivalent but they are not quite right, so I'm now thinking of trying one of the Army Painter sets. The front runner is the set based on Obsidian Skin, which is the closest to Bay Brown by the looks of it, although you can never tell just from the photo....worth a try out anyway and a better bang for your buck!

Death in the Dark Continent Nyamwezi Army List

Here's the army I have based up and will be painting next month for Death in the Dark Continent, based on List 1: Generic Villagers.

1. Skirmishers with Spears (6 bases) @ 24 

2. Skirmishers with Spears (6 bases) @ 24

3. Skirmishers with Spears (6 bases) @ 24

4. Skirmishers, Untrained with muskets (6 bases) @ 30

5. Skirmishers, Untrained with muskets (6 bases) @ 30

6. Skirmishers, with bows (4 bases) @ 16

7. Skirmishers, with bows (4 bases) @ 16

8. Arab nobles, Skirmishers,Elite,Untrained with breechloaders (4 bases) @ 48.

9. Swahili Wangwana, Skirmishers, Untrained with muskets (4 bases) @ 20.

Stratagem: Witchdoctor @ 50 points

Total Points: 298

It's a bit light on close combat capability but does have some decent short range firepower and should be useful when there's plenty of cover to flit in and out of. If it turns out to be a bit fragile, I can replace the last two units with warriors or just swap out the Arab Noble skirmishers for their soldier equivalent. 

Happy Trafalgar Day

.... especially to all my Royal Naval friends and relatives and, of course, the French side of the family 😜