Now that I'm almost half way through preparing the Beja for my The Men Who Would Be Kings project, I thought I'd take a look at the British.
As I'm not exactly rolling in cash at the moment, my plans to use metal figures have gone astray, so I'm going to use plastic figures instead. This limits my options quite a bit as I'm setting the scene in the First Suakin Campaign, so that I can field the Fuzzy Wuzzy hairdo figures for the Beja, so my British will either have to be the Yorks and Lancs or the Royal Irish Fusiliers, being dressed in Indian North West Frontier uniforms.
I did for a moment think about using the Zulu War plastic set but with pugaree helmets from the Sudan box and green stuff converted trouser bottoms, but then reality slapped me in the face and I decided not to (yet). Anyway, I'm not keen on the pith helmets with covers, so Princess Victoria's Royal Irish Fusiliers it will probably be (unless I go all 'what if?' and create my own plucky regimental detachment of a suitably fictitious description or pretend that the 2nd Devonshires were sent to the Sudan instead?)
I also have a metal screw gun and crew to deploy, so my field force will consist of three units of twelve stalwart, stiff upper lipped infantry and the attached rather unsportsmanlike artillery. This is a convenient 24 points worth in the rules, so much less assembly work to do and also a relatively short painting timeframe required. I have ordered a spare command sprue to make up the officer and NCO numbers for the three twelve man units but may also get a Zulu War command sprue as well, so that I can make a useful heliograph team on the cheap.
Just painting these myself. The good thing about going with khaki uniforms is that it makes for a fairly straightforward paint job and with not a lot of webbing to paint I've found you can get through these at a reasonable pace (when not distracted by other projects that is!).
ReplyDeleteThat's what I was thinking, especially if I basecoat them in Khaki to start with!
DeleteBasecoat Army Painter bone, paint webbing, bags white, soft tone, dip. Job done
DeleteOn the plus side when funds allow you'll be able to get some plastic Afghans (either Wargames Atlantic or wait for the Perry ones) and get double duty out of your British.
ReplyDeleteGood idea!
DeleteYes, 3 regulars plus artillery can be a bit brutal on the tribal types in TMWWBK in my experience.
ReplyDeleteThat's a thought. I may well a unit of irregular 'friendly' scouts for the British, using my leftover Mahdist figures, which would be a bit more crumbly that the regulars?
ReplyDeleteNot a bad plan. I'm intending to get some Perry metal Egyptians for my British Sudan force (eventually) and a field gun (with enslaved crew) for the Beja to even the odds a bit.
DeleteFunny you should mention that as I am using the field gun too. I didn't fancy painting up any cavalry at vast expense, although the camel mounted beja are cool!
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