Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: FifteensAway on 09 June 2023, 05:47:09 PM
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Not sure if QRF will ever release their WWI Belgian Force Publique figures I was hoping for.
Failing that, what recommendations for building a 15 mm Force Publique unit suitable for WW1 German East Africa?
Thanks.
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Somewhere along the way I realized I had asked this question already - back at the end of January. Got some interesting responses but not a lot of figure specifics. (And posted a LOT this year! Hadn't realized how much until back tracking to confirm.)
Thoughts on using ACW Tigers as Force Publique figures - or maybe some Mexican war figures - thinking in terms of straw hats? Similarly, can Egyptian askari work as Belgian askaris? Seems a reasonable adaptation in 15 mm.
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For later war perhaps eureka Italian Askari
https://www.eurekaminuk.com/collections/italian-askari-15mm/products/italian-askari-in-fez-w-rifle-15mm (https://www.eurekaminuk.com/collections/italian-askari-15mm/products/italian-askari-in-fez-w-rifle-15mm)
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What exactly do you mean by 'Egyptian Askari?'
If you mean Egyptians from the Mahist wars of the 1880n I would say not. Cut of the uniforms is all wrong. Force Publique either wore trousers that stopped at the calves and went bare-legged below that (pre-war uniform), or wore puttees that entirely covered their calves (later war uniform). Neither of which looks like an 1880s Egyptian. The jackets and equipment are pretty different, too.
Though maybe you have some other Egyptian figures in mind? Not entirely sure what else is out there in the world of 15mm.
Egyptians of the 1890s would be a slightly better fit, having at least got puttees. For the Zoauve look of the early war Force Publique I think your best bet would indeed be actual Zoauves, either ACW or French ones. In 15mm nobody is really going to notice the fact that they don't have African facial features.
As to Diablo Jon's suggestion, I don't think the Force Publique wore shorts during the Great War, though I know they did in WW2. But the overall look is pretty good. Perhaps the best idea yet. They don't look very Zoave-y though, so I'd paint them up us as wearing the khaki uniform, or the intermediate one of a khaki vest and blue pants.
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Youll get a unit (20) of em from blue moon in their set, and Ten other that are good rugga or various hangers on
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What exactly do you mean by 'Egyptian Askari?'
If you mean Egyptians from the Mahist wars of the 1880n I would say not. Cut of the uniforms is all wrong. Force Publique either wore trousers that stopped at the calves and went bare-legged below that (pre-war uniform), or wore puttees that entirely covered their calves (later war uniform). Neither of which looks like an 1880s Egyptian. The jackets and equipment are pretty different, too.
Though maybe you have some other Egyptian figures in mind? Not entirely sure what else is out there in the world of 15mm.
Egyptians of the 1890s would be a slightly better fit, having at least got puttees. For the Zoauve look of the early war Force Publique I think your best bet would indeed be actual Zoauves, either ACW or French ones. In 15mm nobody is really going to notice the fact that they don't have African facial features.
As to Diablo Jon's suggestion, I don't think the Force Publique wore shorts during the Great War, though I know they did in WW2. But the overall look is pretty good. Perhaps the best idea yet. They don't look very Zoave-y though, so I'd paint them up us as wearing the khaki uniform, or the intermediate one of a khaki vest and blue pants.
Yes my main thought was a least they have puttees and a fez. Certainly no good for the classic 19th century look but I figured close enough in 15mm for later WW1. The way I see it there aren't likely to be actual WW1 Belgian askari miniatures out there so you have to fudge it a bit. At least that's what I find with my 28mm Darkest Africa project some times you just have to say "close enough" (or perform 100 head swap conversions)to get what you want.
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I agree completely, Jon. I think they'd be fine for anybody other than the most incurable of button counters.
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Another possibility late period Sudan Sudanese Askari from irregular miniatures ( far right)
(http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/images6/Anewfzpic.jpg)
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Gentlemen, thank you for the replies. I believe I have some of those Irregular figures Diablo Jon posted - the one on the far right.
For Smokeyroan - are you referring to Bluemoon's ACW Zouaves? Not quite sure.
QRF have a great selection of figures for 15 mm German East Africa but I've been waiting a long time now (a couple years anyway) to see Belgians and Portuguese but maybe the new owner doesn't find them cost effective. But British and Germans and all the rest pretty well covered. Bought lots, just need to get them in the painting queue.