Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Captain Blood on September 13, 2020, 08:51:45 PM
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Having received the newly released Perry plastic Afghans a couple of days ago, couldn't resist quickly sticking a few together and getting some paint on them.
What can I say? There is nobody, but nobody (just IMHO mind), in the same league as Michael Perry when it comes to capturing exactly the look and character of a fighting man of any race, nation or period. They're not just incredibly well made figures, they ooze exactly the right character for the subject matter. I think I'm going to be making a lot more of these. Not because I really need them (I've already got over 100 Pathans ::)) but because they're just so damned good! An out and out pleasure to make and paint.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-130920194221-481261466.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-130920194221-481291627.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-130920194221-481282340.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-130920194221-481301831.jpeg)
For comparison purposes, here are five of the new plastic figures (on the right), along with five of the original Foundry Pathans (on the left) and five of the Perry's recent metal Pathans from a couple of years ago (centre).
As you can see, they all fit in well together, both stylistically and size-wise, as you'd expect being from the same sculptor - even though those Foundry figures must now be at least 25 years old, and were painted by me (when my painting wasn't quite as developed as it is now :D) around 20 years ago.
(I did touch them up a bit before taking this pic to be fair lol)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-130920194221-48131128.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-130920194633.jpeg)
The plastic kit is just superb. A cornucopia of different head, arm and weapon options, and ten different bodies. Those hawk-like faces, perfectly rendered, and the detail on the weaponry is incredible. The sense of movement, the natural posing and body proportions are all spot on. I swear the Perry's plastic sets just keep getting better and better.
I can also see myself swapping a select few of the Pathan heads onto the British Infantry 1877-1885 bodies, to make up some more Guide infantry.
So many possibilities.
:)
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Wonderful work :-* ....and now you put a hit on my wallet and increased my lead/plastic pile as well because how can I not have more of these fantastic hairy hill men? lol lol
Lon
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Aren’t you supposed to be juggling apples? lol
They look the biz :D
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There's a real joy to see :-* :-* :-*
The new Perry stuff sits really well with the old (Perry) Foundry sculpts 8)
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Here is me doing the broken record again: fantastic paintjob, Richard, and thanks for the review. As you know I, to, have a sizeable Pathan muster, but since I have reinforced my Jazz Age Indian Army little by little for quite some time, I really need to reinforce my Wazirs and Afridis to balance things. These plastics seem to just what I need.
Am I right in recalling that these do not come with Enfields or Mosin Nagats on the sprue?
Are there any riders on the horizon?
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Hi Peder. Yes indeed, I know you have more NWF tribesmen than is strictly healthy for anyone lol
No ‘modern’ rifles included in the set I’m afraid, just jezails, Brown Bess muskets, and um, Snyder (?) percussion cap rifled muskets.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a plastic Afghan cavalry set follow on, although I kinda feel that a multi-purpose British colonial cavalry set might come first, with some options allowing cavalry (lancers / hussars / Indian cavalry) for the Sudan, Zulu War, and NWF.
Not that I know anything about the Perry plans. Just surmising what may be most marketable :)
Aren’t you supposed to be juggling apples? lol
They look the biz :D
lol Cider making all done for the day. 15 gallons of apple juice extracted. Phew.
Thanks lads.
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I’m delighted to see you tackling these figures, Richard . I have all the old Foundry figures. I haven’t lifted a paintbrush for over a year , since moving house , but these Afghan figures have me sorely tempted .
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Wow, that was fast Richard, even for you! Those look great! :-* :-* :-* :-* Just waiting for my delivery of the pride of Afghanistan to arrive....
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Brilliant work, moi capitan. And so fast!!! But in one point I don‘t agree: Paul Hicks become with his latest figures in the same league as the twins. But the air in this league is very thin.
What will come next from you? Some mixes of these boxes with older boxes???
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Oh ah, just the thing. More masterful Perry sculpts, given the Captain Blood treatment. They should pay you a commission, Richard. I'll bet a load of people have bought their figures after having seen what you have done with them.
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Your just so damn good Captain !!! One hell of a painter those Pathans are superb
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No ‘modern’ rifles included in the set I’m afraid, just jezails, Brown Bess muskets, and um, Snyder (?) percussion cap rifled muskets.
Nerdish info-dump incoming: The Snider (or Snider-Enfield) was actually the first breech-loader used by the British Army (later to be replaced by the Martini-Henry). As the name suggests, it was actually a conversion-job of the Enfield rifled musket - Enfield rifles with the brand new Snider modern action. To look at, though, they are virtually identical to the Enfield. You would think you were observing a percussion musket, not a modern rifle. So an easy mistake to make, thinking they are percussion muskets - if they are percussion muskets then they are Enfields probably. That of course means on your figures you can treat them as either.
One thing that comes up often in Darkest Africa threads is "why are the British askari of the 1890s still using muskets?" The answer is: they aren't - those are hand-me-down Sniders (obsolete by two generations, but still better than what most natives have got).
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Wow! Just beautiful... I am tempted to buy them and I do not even play that theater/period...
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Those are lovely. I've been tempted to pick up a box of these guys to restart my 1920s/30s pulpish NWF adventures, but hearing that there's no modern(ish) rifles in the box at all is a bit disappointing.
Might be able to scrounge rifles from some of the plastic WWII sets, maybe off the Perry Desert Rats Brits?
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Might be able to scrounge rifles from some of the plastic WWII sets, maybe off the Perry Desert Rats Brits?
There are 2 spare rifles on each sprue of Wargames Atlantic WW1 Germans; they may work:
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0078/4764/1186/products/WAAGW001WargamesAtlanticLateWarGermans_Small_fa3c5864-781a-4fe6-80cf-1cfb344ac85e_1800x1800.jpg?v=1590778602)
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Lovely paintwork, Captain.
Regarding Afghan cavalry, I believe that Wargames Atlantic are working on a set soon - they have images on their site for the mock ups. My apologies but cannot comment on scale differences.
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Wow, excellent work. They are probably the best plastic set I have seen so far.
Haven’t stuck many together yet but I have started to mix them with the WA kit and they do mix quite well, so even more variety. For Martinis, I will be taking some from the Zulu sprue and the WA Afghan sprue.
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There are 2 spare rifles on each sprue of Wargames Atlantic WW1 Germans; they may work:
Is there a British WWI sprue for Enfield Mk. I's and other?
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Wow - beautifully done Captain, and damn fast too.
The muse has struck clearly!
Any plans for ambitious conversions yet?
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I think there are some really useful arms and weapons on that pack, really good for conversions
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Wonderful work - as ever. :-*
I will follow your progress with interest.
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Thanks chaps :)
Wow - beautifully done Captain, and damn fast too.
The muse has struck clearly!
Any plans for ambitious conversions yet?
Thanks Keith. Only perhaps to try a few of the turbanned heads on the British Infantry bodies to make up some more Guides. Some of the Nile Arab heads from the Ansar set would also give some more interesting variations on these.
Wow, excellent work. They are probably the best plastic set I have seen so far.
Haven’t stuck many together yet but I have started to mix them with the WA kit and they do mix quite well, so even more variety. For Martinis, I will be taking some from the Zulu sprue and the WA Afghan sprue.
Thanks Alan. I fear mixing the WA set in with these would be like putting Trabant spares on a Porsche ;) They look like chalk and cheese to me. These Perry figures look like authentic North West Frontier tribesmen. The WA set looks to me like someone's vague idea of what North West Frontier tribesmen should look like. The detail looks soft and the posing peculiar. Apart from that... :)
...hearing that there's no modern(ish) rifles in the box at all is a bit disappointing.
Might be able to scrounge rifles from some of the plastic WWII sets, maybe off the Perry Desert Rats Brits?
To be fair, the Perrys have strictly labelled them 1800-1900, so can't really blame them :)
If they'd included some C20th rifles, someone would probably have complained there were no AK47's and Mujahiddeen hats.
I don't think the Desert Rat Lee-Enfields will work, as those WWII sets are a good bit smaller than the rest of the Perry plastic range ('true 1/56 scale')
Other manufacturers' weapon sprues may be a better bet.
Nerdish info-dump incoming: The Snider (or Snider-Enfield) was actually the first breech-loader used by the British Army...
Thanks Dylan. Good nerding there - useful and informative :)
Ah yes, I remember now - 'Snider'... (Snyder is an upmarket pretzel snack brand lol)
Cheers all.
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I hear ya, but the WA set does provide some useful additions even if it is just hand/weapon transplants.
My Youngest son has just handed me some old Project Z sprues on which there are all kinds of AKs, M16s etc, which might work for the modern era.
The Warlord Bolt Action sprues provide a source of more pulp era useful weapons, although not early interwar.
Most plastic sets have fixed bayonets which is a bit of a pain.
I suppose when I have fiddled together some examples they will have to be on several boards.
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To be fair, the Perrys have strictly labelled them 1800-1900, so can't really blame them :)
If they'd included some C20th rifles, someone would probably have complained there were no AK47's and Mujahiddeen hats.
I don't think the Desert Rat Lee-Enfields will work, as those WWII sets are a good bit smaller than the rest of the Perry plastic range ('true 1/56 scale')
Other manufacturers' weapon sprues may be a better bet.
There was some suggestion on a videocast/podcast that they might consider adding AK47's, Lee-Enfields etc etc in metal but i ought to emphasise that this was said in passing live on a podcast.
Still, it might give some folk hope :)
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Love your new figures.
Outstanding job of painting them.
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Excellent brush work sir!!! I’m currently working on some Afghans and some Ghazis for my 2nd Afghan War project. I honestly wasn’t going to get these until I saw your post since I have about 60-80 lead unpainted. But seeing how well they came out I must order some. I will most definitely add some more modern rifles for my 3rd Afghan War project as well.
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Richard you are a very naughty boy, tempting me and most likely succeeding to get me into another period and I don't paint plastics. It's looking like I'm going to have to bite the bullet.
The Afghans are your usual little works of art, beautiful by the way.
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Thanks Alan. I fear mixing the WA set in with these would be like putting Trabant spares on a Porsche ;) They look like chalk and cheese to me. These Perry figures look like authentic North West Frontier tribesmen. The WA set looks to me like someone's vague idea of what North West Frontier tribesmen should look like. The detail looks soft and the posing peculiar. Apart from that... :)
Nicely done
I have to agree with you there I purchased a couple of sprues of the WA Afghans thinking to use them to supplement my Foundry Baluchis for Darkest Africa. They where nasty odd proportions, tiny hands and arms that didn't fit well together about the only decent thing on the sprue where the shields I wouldn't soil Perry perfection with WA bits....
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They look fantastic.
Steve
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Thanks fellas :)
I've built a few more Perry plastic Pathans. Started to get a bit more creative with this second lot :)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-160920095135-481582383.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-160920095135-481592408.jpeg)
The Mullah and the Ghazi
Straight builds from the set, but it's about picking your components and how you pose them to create distinctive characters :)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-160920094854-481542167.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-160920094854-48155481.jpeg)
The Imperial interlopers...
A bit of minor kitbashing here.
1. On the left - it's old Flashy by God! In one of his demmed native disguises! lol
I saw this turbanned head with the 'tache on the sprue and instantly thought 'Flashman!' (Or some other British political agent, fetchingly attired in romantic native dress).
I've swapped a British infantry officer's revolver hand onto the end of the right arm in place of the Afghan flintlock pistol, and shaved down the foot wear so that once painted, instead of bare legs and slippers, he'll be wearing Arabian Nights style boots. He carries the ubiquitous Khyber knife in his left hand.
2. On the right - a member of the Corps of Guides - essentially a Perry British Infantry 1877-1885 body and arms, with a NWF tribesman head. Also had to shave the folded glengarry off the backpack/greatcoat.
Interestingly, the British infantry set is uncharacteristically willowy amongst the Perry plastic sets, whereas the tribesmen are more chunky, so he perhaps looks a whisker top-heavy? But we'll see how he looks once painted before doing any more.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-160920094854-481431854.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-160920094854-481531758.jpeg)
The Jezzail men...
A cunning marksman, and a headman yelling orders to advance... Nothing clever about these really, but I'm happy with how they look :)
The separate puggaree / turban tails are a lovely and versatile touch that let you add particular character and dash / movement, depending on where you position them.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-160920094855-4815696.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/48/577-160920095135-481571514.jpeg)
Painted soon hopefully...
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Oh dear, those are looking excellent aren't they. Glad you gave the Corps of Guides fellow a shot - was interested to see how compatible those might be.
Flashy is inspired as is the fellow running with abandon (that trailing arm makes the pose IMO).
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Can't wait to see some paint on all of these. Flashman especially is an inspired bit of thinking.
Should the Corps of Guides fella be in an Indian Army kurta rather than a British Army frock, though?
This is a genuine question rather than nitpicky grandstanding, I don't actually know much about what uniforms they wore.
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Thanks Keith :)
Ah yes, you’re probably right on the kurta, Dylan. I was actually going to attempt a Green Stuff poshteen, but I’ll see how this one looks in his uniform tunic first. Under all that webbing and kit, it’s not too visible anyway. Or won’t be at tabletop distance!
I believe he should probably also have the pointy cap within his turban too, but again, probably won’t bother with this one. Might have a crack with the Green Stuff if I do some more Guides.
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I've turned button-up shirts into smocks and jerseys before, it isn't actually all that much work just to remove the detail below the belt and smooth it out with some putty.
Whether it's worth doing for an entire unit is a completely different matter, though. Good way to drain the enthusiasm well rather quickly, I imagine. :)
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I always enjoy a bit of kit bashing youve created some nice miniatures there.
I wonder if you could combine Perry ACW or Zulu war British and this set to create Afghan Regulars?
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Looking forward to seeing some paint on these
Your kitbashing skills are amazing
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Cheers Colin :)
I wonder if you could combine Perry ACW or Zulu war British and this set to create Afghan Regulars?
I reckon you could. There are a couple of different furry beehive-hatted heads included in the Afghan Tribesmen set, which I think is what Afghan regulars wore? One on the main frame, and one on the command frame. Mind you, that only gives 6 in each box in total, so you'd need to buy a lot of boxes if you were going to make up a force of them.
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Looking good Richard! Still waiting for my Afghans to arrive... o_o
I believe he should probably also have the pointy cap within his turban too, but again, probably won’t bother with this one. Might have a crack with the Green Stuff if I do some more Guides.
I would suggest you get some of the heads from Warlord's WW2 Indian/Sikh infantry plastics, as those heads would work well I think. Once I get my Perry Afghans I will play around with the Warlord heads to see if they work.
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Continually brilliant work! Very inspirational.
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Excellent start, Capt'n! Following.
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Got three boxes of them, their lovely figures. I'll end up with a good few hundred of these plastic Afghans eventually, as well several dozen of the metal ones. For me the great thing with plastic is the opportunity to build large armies without a hefty pay out!
You've done a really great job with these, thanks for sharing. :-* :-*
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You are setting the bar pretty high for the rest of us, Captain.
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great stuff - have a box of the WA ones waiting, will order a Perry box now and use these to add to my 200 strong metal afghan army
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These are just fantastic. :o
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Your kitbashing is a great Inspiration. Hope you will do some terrain and make the great pictures you made for the Painters league. It is fun to watch it.
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Amazing work, as ever, Captain Blood! I have been holding off on buying the new Perry plastic Tribesmen because I'm not a big fan of plastic figures, plus I already have a couple hundred metal Tribesmen who look pretty good... but I predict seeing your work on this thread will overwhelm my feeble resistance. Also, though I have a homemade Malalai standard-bearer figure converted from a Wargames Foundry Ancient Roman Woman Civilian, the completist in me wants the new Perry-sculpted version.
RE: your converted Guides Infantryman -- in my non-expert but informed opinion, I think his turban with Shamla (the bit of cloth sticking up from the middle) and no Kullah (pointy cap in the middle) will allow him to pass as an Afridi member of the Guides. There were definitely Afridis in the regiment, though I don't know if they had a discrete company. I think his turban could also pass for the style generally worn by Dogras, and there were definitely Dogras in the Guides as well, but Dogras generally wear mustaches, not beards, so probably not so useful with the Afghan heads, which I assume are all bearded. As others have already said, I'm excited to keep following your progress!
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Thanks Mad Guru. You are the ruling king of the North West Frontier, so I will take your word for it on the Afridis and Dogras :)
Several of the heads in the Perry plastic set are moustachioed only, so may serve for Dogras.
My late father (d. 2002) was a British officer in the Indian army in WW2, and was stationed in India and Africa for most of the war, (and before and after it) apart from participating in Operation Ironclad, the Allied invasion of Vichy Madagascar.
He always said the Pathans in his regiment were the best soldiers - brave and (interestingly, given their reputation) very disciplined. One of his favourite stories however, was that they couldn't handle innoculations at all. He found it comical and unfathomable that not a small number of these big, fierce, bearded fighting men, fearless in battle, would keel over in a dead faint when queuing for the hypodermic.
Just a cultural thing I suppose.
Your kitbashing is a great Inspiration. Hope you will do some terrain and make the great pictures you made for the Painters league. It is fun to watch it.
Thanks Dirk.
I think I may eventually redo all the 'red earth' bases on my NWF collection to match my sand-coloured desert boards, and then make up a couple of extra boards with more irrigated areas. Much of Afghanistan is mountain and desert, but it also has fields and gardens, so I need to find a way to represent that mix.
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Cheers Colin :)
I reckon you could. There are a couple of different furry beehive-hatted heads included in the Afghan Tribesmen set, which I think is what Afghan regulars wore? One on the main frame, and one on the command frame. Mind you, that only gives 6 in each box in total, so you'd need to buy a lot of boxes if you were going to make up a force of them.
I think soldiers from Herat in western Afghanistan, regulars as well as ir-, were known for their turkoman-styled fur hats.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Herati_Soldiers_1879.jpg/800px-Herati_Soldiers_1879.jpg)
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I'm looking forward with some excitement to see the full fruits when these excellent conversions are painted Richard 8)
Especially Flashy- who wouldn't be :D
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Captain Blood,
Cool to hear that the Perry plastic Tribesmen include some heads with mustaches instead of beards.
Great story about your father. My father (1924-2013) spent WWII as a private, then an NCO in the US Army Signal Corps. His first overseas post was British India, where he spent almost a year, before flying "over the hump" into China, and then to the Pacific Islands for the rest of the war. His company built and operated high-tech radios and their equipment was guarded by Indian Army troops, who left quite an impression on him.
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Is there a British WWI sprue for Enfield Mk. I's and other?
Not yet, but I was thinking for Wirelizard's pulp project they may be acceptable.
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Well, six months on, having been a wee bit distracted by assorted other endeavours, I've finally managed to paint the second lot of Perry Pathans that have been glowering at me from the shelf... ::) ;)
Four more fierce Afridis or Waziris or somesuch Khyber troublemakers...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/51/577-100421131956-510211833.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/51/577-100421131956-510231199.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/51/577-100421131956-51022388.jpeg)
Harry Flashman in native disguise, and a loyal Pathan infantryman. These two are mash-ups from the Perry NW Frontier Tribesmen and the British infantry box...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/51/577-100421131956-510242437.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/51/577-100421132728-51026995.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/51/577-100421131956-510251461.jpeg)
Here's the Perry plastic Pathan assemblage so far...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/51/577-100421132728-510272163.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/51/577-100421132728-510281794.jpeg)
Will try to complete a few more in the not too distant future (he said, optimistically :D)
Although I've used up a fair few of the heads for my Haradrim ::) The joys of plastic kitbashing... :)
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Oh, the life of a retiree lol
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I love seeing your painting - always an inspiration :-*
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Lovely colours Richard :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
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Not bad at all Richard :D
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Excellent as always. Lovely vibrant colours
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How clear, how lovely bright. How beautiful to sight. Nicely done Richard.
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Nice work! I particularly like Flashman.
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Superb brushwork! I love the colors!
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Excellent stuff Richard :-* :-* :-*
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These are lovely Richard, give me a shout if you run out of heads will see what I have spare.
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Thanks all. Much appreciated.
These are lovely Richard, give me a shout if you run out of heads will see what I have spare.
That's very kind of you, Roger. Thank you. I shall bear that offer in mind :)
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Most Excellent as usual Richard. :-* :-* :-*
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Wonderful stuff as usual. Congrats on being a 'retiree'. Definitely looking forward to seeing more of your work. :)