I've had the figures I use for the SAVE GORDON! Matrix Game for a long time, and I decided that they were looking in need of a bit of a spruce up. Over the years the sand-coloured paint I had used on their bases had begun to look more and more faded, so I decided to flock the bases with natural cork chippings. This not only covered up the paint, but also made the figures compatible with the rest of my Colonial figures.
The Mahdists
They have done me great service over the years, and I hope that they will continue to do so.
The Mahdists
The figures represent The Mahdi, the Khalifa, and Osman Digna.
The Anglo-EgyptiansThe Mahdist army: Four units of Hadendowah tribesmen and six units of Sudanese Arabs.
The figures represent General Gordon, Sir Evelyn Wood, and Sir Garnet Wolseley.
Some of my my astute regular blog readers will have noticed that these were also the figures that featured in some of the earliest, experimental PORTABLE WARGAME battles that were fought on an old wooden chessboard.The Anglo-Egyptian army: Four units of British Infantry, two units of Egyptian/Sudanese Infantry, a British Artillery unit, and a British Cavalry unit.
They have done me great service over the years, and I hope that they will continue to do so.
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Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteGood to see these figures out and about again. It also never ceases to amaze me how a little thing like freshening up a base can really galvanize the figure with a new lease of life.
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
DeleteThese figures were definitely looking tired, but the addition of cork chippings - which should not fade - to the bases makes them look a lot fresher.
All the best,
Bob
I’ve never managed to get matrix games to work in a satisfactory manner. I’ve neber seen them with figures either.
ReplyDeleteConrad Kinch,
DeleteIf you ever make it to COW, we'll put one on fir you to see how they work.
SAVE GORDON! was demonstrated at several wargame shows, hence the use of figures to make it more visually attractive,
All the best,
Bob
Bob, the figures look good with the new base texture. I particularly like the one of Gordon - but he seems rather small when compared to Wood and Wolseley! A different manufacturer, I presume? as I'm sure you would never commit the wargame heresy of mixing models in different scales...
ReplyDeleteThough I do seem to remember once suggesting that wargame armies of 6mm or 10mm troops could be commanded by larger officer figures, whose size would represent both their importance in the chain of command and military skill. So Napoleon and Wellesley would be 54mm; Ney and Massena, 40mm; Davout, Hill, Picton and Craufurd, 30mm; Soult, Moore, Kutusov, Archduke Karl and Blucher, 28mm; Schwarzenberg and Uxbridge, 18-20mm, and the likes of Bernadotte, Erskine and Slade, only 15mm.
I'm sure your COW game will be a great success.
Best wishes, Arthur
Arthur Harman (Arthur),
DeleteThe figure of a General Gordon was a Naismith Miniature and the rest are Miniature Figurines, hence the difference in stature.
I like the idea of using bigger figures for more important characters ... and I seem to remember that in the film CALLAN the players used 54mm models of Lee and Meade on the tabletop.
All the best,
Bob
Nothing like getting old wargaming "friends" spruced up and ready to go again.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteIt is truly amazing how such a simple change can improve the look of these older figures. I'm really looking forward to using them again this weekend.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteThe 15mm Minifig- British and Mahadists look great. A nice little figure collection for sure- I'm sure your Save Gordon game will go well at COW.
Kev Roberston,
DeleteThe Minifigs 15mm-scale figures were - and I assume still are - nicely proportioned and the detail is not too exaggerated, unlike so may of the more modern figures ... with a few notable exceptions.
All the best,
Bob
Always good to see old models still in service.
ReplyDeleteLee Hadley,
DeleteIt is a good argument for never getting rid of figures!
All the best,
Bob
They served in fine fashion!
ReplyDeleteGeordie an Exile FoG,
DeleteThey are great figures, and I wish that I could say that I painted them myself, but unfortunately I didn't.
All the best,
Bob