Baluchi, Pathan and Sikh Warriors off the workbench

 Mainly focused on getting some more irregulars off the workbench this week. Mix of different ranges and you probably get a better feel for the batch painting with limited pallettes with this lot too.

First three are Foundry Baluchi  in pale of white and ivory colours, lovely characterful figures.

These are simple but elegant figures, large when they were sclpted but fit really well with more modern sculpts.

This next lot have a definate bias for blue grey and orange (Colour party field blue and Tawny) a really goos mix of colours these.

A mix of manufacturers here from left to right we have a Perry plastic Afghan, a studio miniatures Afghan and a Foundry Baluchi leader type.

Adding more figures in scruffy of white colours with the next bunch, highlighted by a bit of mid blue.

Left to righ we have a Foundry Afghan with two Wargames Atlantic lastic Afghans, both of these last have got Perry arms added which has worked quite well.

In a slight departure with the blue out I painted an extra two Sikh Currassier, these are the Foundry Sikh Wars range.

These two give me four more figures to add to the original six and finish the unit off.

Here are the full four on their way to be based and join the rest of their comrades.

More to follow I am sure, I am however also trying to get  abit of basing done so perhaps another unit or two will see the basimg knife before I share anymore brushwork. Until then stay safe.

The Sikh Wars figures Just Keep Coming

 Hi again, more Sikh Wars to share with you this week. Really pleased with the current progress on the project and some of the colourful units starting to emerge.

This green coated unit is nearing completion with the Perry plastics fleshing the unit out and mixing quite well I think.

The Iron Duke Sikh Matchlock men are of course just lovely, the baggy sleeves great for a bit of added variety. I will probably add another plastic figure or two and may add in a shield for them as they look great on the Empress figures.

I also like the colour pallette on these Muslim Hill Tribes. The orange and blue in particular a good contrast. The kneeling plastic figure didnt quite come out as nice I was hoping but the figure firing whilst advancing I think worked really well.

They should mix in really well with the multiple other villains waiting in the painted box to be based up.

This particular Brigadier has come out rather well I feel, in full uniform with a nifty blood bay horse.

It is of course one of the Empress staff officers from the formerly Iron Duke Indian Mutiny range and fits in really well with the Sikh Wars collection. A lovely figure.

I have also managed part way through this post to finish off the last five of the Green Coated uniformed Sikh irregulars. I made the coats slightly lighter on this bunch though I dobt you will particularly notice when they are mixed into the unit, hoping it might add to the irregular look.

The outer two figures are wargames foundry with the right hand figure being a spearman with a jezail replacing the spear. The inner three are all Empress matchlock men.

Tha completes the unit and gives me another regiment and a couple of commanders to fire off to York for basing.

The mix of figures looks quite natural and only enhances the irregular nature of the unit. Hopefully the different shades of clothing also adds a little to that effect, we may see that on the pictures when they eventually come back from the basing department. 

Overall really happy with the look of this unit.

Again thats it for now, I may focus a little on the Jacobites for a few days before returning to the Bengal Europeans, lets see.

Until then stay safe everyone.

More Sikh Wars Goodies

I have thoroughly enjoyed painting these Sikh Wars figures. Its such a diverse and colourful period with a bit of sub plot too with the addition of the Bahawalpur contingent.

These next guys are painetd as the 1st Bengal European Light Infantry, not an exact match for uniform but not far off, the shoulder wings the main difference. Using Foundry Opium War and Perry First Carlist War British infantry. The bell top shakoe's look great. The Foundry figures have shell jackets and the Perrys coatees but you cant tell on the bases so I am pretty comfortable mixing them. I have no doubt that Mike Snook will release properly uniformed versions of these in due course and I will kick myself but until then.......

I already have the next batch of these on the painting table so hopefully not too long before I can share them with you.

These two Officers are actually a commission, I dont normally do commissions but did these as a favour, quite liked them so including them here for you.

The irregulars are also carrying on in the back ground in this case a Foundry Afghan and a Perry Plastic swordsman with a Sikh head.

Lovely dynamic figures these, I dont get tired of painting them which is probably why I have so many.

This next lot are my green coated Sikh unit. The two Foundry command figures are accompanied by three Perry plastics with Sikh heads, I think they look spot on myself and mix in really well.

The red and green is a classic Indian combination, really enjoying these and as with the BELI I already have the next batch on the painting table, this is probably the next unit I will target for completion.

I also want to keep a little momentum with the Baluchi figures for my Bahawalpur contingent so two more here, using a buff and orange pallette but these will be very irregular as a unit so different palletes as I do more.
 

As with the other Baluchis and Pathans they will be useful for the Sikh side when I need them and a multitude of other colonial games too of course. 

Lastly another commander for the British, each Brigade will need an officer so eventually that will be 8 brigadiers plus the army commander so a few more to complete.

An Iron Duke officer on a British Offciers horse. nice figure, not sure I have entirely done the horse justice on this occasion.

Thats it for now, lots more already started so watch out for another update shortly, until then stay safe!

The Baggage Train Completed

 I decided to crack on with basing up the Baggage and I am quite impressed with how it looks all together. Some lovely peices from a number of manufacturers but mainly Empress. I doubt I will add too much more to these.

Indian baggage trains were typically huge and also quite vulnerable, great for small scale scenarios or objectives in larger battles. The British had a lot of trouble in the Second Sikh War in particular with the Sikhs driving off their camels when they were taken out to graze.

One of my inspirations for this was Budowhal. The day before Harry Smiths victory at Aliwal he was caught tired and strung out near the Village of Budowhal , the Sikhs did not press, their leader was a little timid, and Sir Harry extricated his Division but at the loss of a company of infantry and all of his baggage, I have always wondered how he might of fared if he chose to try and rescue the baggage. A nice game at a managable size.

I think this will add lots of character to our games but also serve as an objective in some cases, particularly Sharp Practice games or similar..

Empress ammunition camels with a pretty tired looking Foundry bearer walking alongside.

The elephant limber is Foundry from the Inidan mutiny range and was donated by chum Mark.

I am really pleased with this Empress Bullock cart, the Bullocks could perhaps be whiter but I think they lok OK. 

I dont think they used a lot of donkeys and mules in India but I had these handy so a shame not include them. 

The drovers, Bhistis and bearers. A mix of Empress and Foundry. A suitably disreputable bunch.

The Camels look particularly nice en-masse like this, mainly Empress with a couple of others chucked in. I think thats probably enough camels. Empress do another 4 baggage camels but I think I have enough for now.

So thats the baggage where I want it pretty much, see you next time, stay safe!