I happened to visit the Perry Miniatures FaceBook page and discovered it's finally happened: the Perrys are about to release Gurkhas for their "Victoria's Little Wars" range. As to be expected, the figures look excellent:
LINK:
https://www.facebook.com/perryminiatures/photos/pcb.2696933730428716/2696933057095450/?type=3&theaterTwo out of three planned pack codes are pictured above, which look to be "Attacking with bayonet & kukri" and "Loading and firing". I assume the missing code is "Command". It would be amazing if the Command pack includes a Gurkha carrying the Queen's Truncheon… but I wouldn't bet on it, and I certainly wouldn't blame them for not including such an oddball eccentric detail... but I can still hope!
The only wrinkle is their release has been delayed by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. This is a bummer, since it will probably make it impossible for me to buy, receive, paint, base and terrain a unit (or two) of these new figures in time for my 1880 Kandahar/Baba Wali 140th Anniversary game in mid-August. Still, it will be good to finally have "new" Second Afghan War Gurkhas. At some point Artizan Designs is supposed to release Gurkhas for their Second Afghan War range, but I haven't heard anything about that in a while.
So while I hope these new brave sons of Nepal arrive in time to reprise their key role at Baba Wali in a few months time… if not they will still be a welcome addition to many a colonial gamer's army, myself included.