Sikh Wars Refresh

With Partizan around the corner I am supporting the Boondock Saints Aliwal game, a very interesting and playable first Anglo Sikh Wars battle.

Having played a couple of games recently, working through my own WIP rules, I had realised that the basing on these was not the best so I decided to refresh it and share with you some of the units I am going to be using for the game.

Ian and the rest of the guys have most of what's needed, I am providing a Company Infantry brigade, a Cavalry Brigade and a Sikh regular Brigade. Happily that should all fit in one box.

In terms of the basing the base colour is OK but  a little light as it was painted onto white filler, the bigger issue was that the ivory dry brushing was far too heavy on most bases.

So a good wash with the original base coat of ECW Buff from Colour Party darkened it all back down a few shades, then a dry brush of buff and a very light further dry brush of Ivory and some flock drop onto any bits that were less than great. In less than 2 weeks I have refreshed 20 regiments of cavalry 36 battalions of foot and a fair few guns and generals. Happy with the results.

So for the Sikh Infantry brigade I will need two regiments each of two battalions, the Sikhs very much followed the French Napoleonic approach to most things being mainly trained by ex French or Italian Napoleonic officers.

This particular unit is a special one, painted by me 25 years ago, sold to chum Chris to pay for kids nappies, then spotted on ebay 2 years ago, bought and rebased. The flag is hand painted based on my local Sikh Temples flag. 

I then have two battalions each in red turbans.

Number 1 Studio Miniatures.

Number 2, Foundry and Old Glory.

And two battalions in blue turbans. Both Studio Miniatures courtesy of 

The Cavalry Brigade consists of the Governor Generals Body Guard.

These are Perry Plastic British dragoons with the peaks trimmed off their shako and a plume added, mounted on Empress horses.

Bit of a close up here, I do like these.

Two regiments of Bengal Native Light Cavalry.

All Empress figures. Regiment one charged swords. The First BNLC

Regiment 2 shouldered swords. Second BNLC.

The Shekawati brigade had irregular cavalry, possibly a red coat with blue turban although we are not entirely sure, the nearest I have is blue coat with red turban so this will need to do, although who knows that might actually be right! Again lovely figures by Empress.

We can see the different weapons in the close up, tulwars supplemented by lances on soem figures, only like their later incarnation the Bengal Lancers the Irregular cavalry provided their own weapons so a mix of tulward, matchlocks and lances throughout.

Brigade Commanders, the below shows a British command group argueing over which way around the map fgoes!

Foundry and Perry figures with some nice trees donated by chum Jerry Miller.

And of course Flashman was busy during the Sikh Wars, here he is heroicly defending the colours with his pepperpot pistol.

Lookign forward to the show and I hope to bump into some of you there.