My birthday...

It t'was my birthday yesterday (27 again) and my boys bought me some great little figures...from TQD Castings (CP Models) from their 20mm (1/72) DARKEST AFRICA range, 1879 BRITISH INFANTRY...

To Mike and Jonathan - thank you gentlemen! Dad Love's you very much!!

I pack of OFFICER, NCO, SCOUT & RIFLEMEN etc & two packs of RIFLEMEN, in MIXED POSES...

They are wonderful figures - I've added them to my queue...but they may just jump a few places forwards...







Not sure if they are planning to add to the range...

Should I paint them as intended or should I convert them to 1882 Egyptian Campaign infantry...mmmmmm!!

Hello Keith...yes we all have lists and projects in the planning stages...hundreds and hundreds of them!

Duncan

Airfix & HäT Zulu War British Infantry

While we (all) await the test shots of the up and coming HäT Zulu War British Infantry...


I thought I would add some items of 'associated interest'...

Mister Mannix added on the HaT Forum a "short?" List of Campaigns which the Hat Colonials could be used...I am sure he won't mind me listing it here too...

Second Ashanti War (1873-74) West Africa
Daffla expedition (1874-75) NW Frontier
Naga Hills expedition (1875) North Eastern India
Rebellion in Griqualand (1875) South Africa
Rebellion of slave traders in Mombasa & Kilwa (1875-76) East Africa
Kaffir War (1877-78) South Africa
Expedition against the Jawaki Afridis (1877-78) NW Frontier
RN Bombardment of pirate strongholds (1878) Borneo
Gaika War (1878) South Africa
Expedition against Zakha Khel Afridis (1878) NW Frontier
Second Afghan War (1878-80) Afghanistan
Exp. against the Zakha Khel Afridis (1879) NW Frontier
Exp. against the Suliman Khel Pawindahs and other tribes (1879) NW Frontier
Exp. against the Mohmands (1879) NW Frontier
Zulu War (1879) South Africa
Exp. against Sekukuni (1879) South Africa/Botswana
Naga expedition (1879-80) NE India
Exp. against Batanes (1880) Philippines(?)
Exp. against Marris (1880) Sind Valley (Pakistan)
Exp. against Mohmands (1880) NW Frontier
Exp. against Malikshahi Waziris (1880) NW Frontier
5th Basuto War, aka, the Gun War (1880-81) South Africa
First Anglo-Boer War (1880-81) South Africa
Exp. against the Mahsud Waziris (1881) NW Frontier
Arabi Rebellion (1882) Egypt
Bikaneer expedition (1883) India
Akha expedition (1883-84) India
Metis Rebellion (1884) Canada
Zhob Valley expedition (1884) Baluchistan (Pakistan)
Exp. to Bechuanaland (1884-85) SA/Botswana
Gordon Relief Exp. (1884-85) Egypt/Sudan
Bhutan Expedition (1885) N.E. India
Third Burma War (1885-87) Burma
Wars against Arab slave traders in Nyasa (1885-98) East Africa
Exp. against the Black Mountain Hazaras (1888) NW Frontier

Believe it, or not, that is the short list! His note can be seen here;

http://pub19.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=1619281253&frmid=6&msgid=897214&cmd=show

However, some of us have been waiting for a while for these chaps...I first saw a posting on the HäT forum on the April 12, 1998. An article by Mr. Arlin Tawzer, who then was a frequent contributor to the site, and whose efforts at calling for a set of Zulu War British Infantry where then load and clear...ha ha! 13 years!


Excellent stuff Mr. Arlin Tawzer...here is his note on the HaT site here;

http://www.hat72.com/Othr/Spare.html

Back to the core of the post - the HäT Zulu War British Infantry can be used (with a little imagination) for not only Victoria's Barmy Army...

They can be converted into Colonial Italian Troops...


And then converted into French Colonial Troops...

French Fusiliers Marine 1887
French Marine 1883
French Marine Artillary 1888




And lets not forget the Dutch...KNIL Colonial Reserve Soldiers in Indonesia!


Loads and loads to enjoy...
Duncan

War on the Nile...

While looking for inspiration to repair my Gun Boat...as this is how it looks at the moment...

http://osborneradloff.blogspot.com/2010/07/nile-gun-boat.html
...and this is how I wanted my boat to look...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk3Qne3dp3PsxuexV2oPGOKBxBIBhhCoTvaQ80DuxKAeHDLtUIm0Wj9Z0HtVa0Z74gLn470S0KUCv7H5um3oNam1xflAwVtzjBt3_ma0bIQ8U_yRVoJaydoA480QrTLMIYjTTBWP9TIbh/s1600/Peter+Gilder%C2%B4s+British+Highland+Column+with+a+Sudanese+company+shuffles+the+Sudan+followed+by+PG+scratch+built+Nile+steamer.jpg

...and while planning its recovery (as it has seen better days)...I received an email from those lovely people at Sierra Toy Soldier...I have used them a number of times for my fathers 54mm Napoleonic collection...

And guess the subject of the email...the Nile Wars!

Oh heck - these great figures are from the new and latest editions to Britain's War on the Nile rang...if only I lived in a hanger!

Take a look...I am sure you will enjoy the images







Dervish Infantry

Britians Camel Corps



Egyptian Infantry - Summer dress


Battle of Tamai March 13, 1884

York and Lancaster Regiment







The whole rang is listed here...

http://www.sierratoysoldier.com/ourstore/pc/Sudan-c799.htm

Back to painting my 20mm

Duncan

The Camel Corps - Britian's Special Forces

It would be another 32 years before T. E. Lawrence developed modern Guerrilla warfare - and another 60 years before the Special Forces idea would come into its own.

In 1884 it was no less than revolutionary. It had the 'ol Skool' in fits of apoplexy and The Duke of Cambridge (no not William) called it 'outragious'...

The Desert Column was simply an innovation. British Troops had never operated on camels before, and even more - there was no repository of expertise in the British army at that time on which to draw. Wolseley, it is said, had thought long and hard about what king of troops would be needed for the desert march. They would have to be men who were extremely fit and adaptable, preferably with combat experience. They would be deep inside hostile and unfamiliar territory, facing a fanatical enemy of unknown, but vastly sperior strength. One false move would result in the same situation that had done for Hicks...

The above is an extract from one of my favourite books on the subject of the Sudan in 1884...Michael Asher's excellent, "KHARTOUM...The Ultimate Imperial Adventure"...

I will focus on my recommended library in a later blog...today I have decided to post images of those 1100 or so gallant fellows who volunteered to dash across such inhospitable terrain - as part of Wolseley's first 'Special Forces' unit - and save Gordon and the 30 to 40 thousand inhabitants of KHARTOUM!

This picture postcard journey will start with images of some 54mm figures...then a few images I have collected over the past few years - I have included some of my images of the superb HaT figures - and end with a few links to some excellent Camel Corps painted figures...

Go Strong into The Desert is a great source of information...

Here are a few other great links for your interest...

http://www.hat.com/Othr8/Bowden12P.html

http://www.bennosfigures.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4339

http://www.soldatinionline.it/Gallerie/andreamelani/British-Camel-Corps.html

http://www.bennosfigures.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=686

http://www.fuhrmann-figuren.de/1zu72-figur/haet/hat-camelcorps1884/camel-corps-1884.htm

I'm updating my links list - on the right too as there have been simply hundreds on new colonial postings...also adding a few new titles (17th & Bengal Lancers)...Alan and Taran should be pleased!

All the best to you all

Duncan