Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Dr Mathias on September 28, 2011, 09:27:56 PM
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Normally I don't show WIP (rather, I don't think to take a pic until its too late) but I wanted to show the officers I am working on for my Copplestone Zanzibari Regular army. I scored some of the rare OOP marching poses off eBay (almost certainly recasts unfortunately) and happened to find a Foundry Darkest Africa Stanley at the recruits convention a couple weeks ago. I've had him in mind for a conversion for quite a while- the British Zanzibar officer, wearing what has to be one of the most ostentatious uniforms to appear on a European in a colonial backwater. There's a good image of his uniform in the Foundry "Armies of East Africa' book. My only regret is that my version is more 'healthy and fit' than the slightly tubby officer in the image below.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Bosal/ZanzibariWIP.jpg)
After the head swap from a Copplestone Naval officer, I decided to make an African arab officer, color bearer, and bugler while I was at it. It was my first attempt at doing hussar style lacing and I have to say I have nothing but respect for mini sculptors.
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Very Nice.
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Those look awesome! I wish I could manipulate green stuff that well. Mine always looks like son 2yo threw some playdough on my figures :(
Justin
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Looking super!
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Can't wait to see them painted.
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After laboring on my Space Hulk layout and miniatures for so long, I'd forgotten how quick and easy (relatively speaking) it is to paint up Copplestone figures. I've managed to get the officers, attendants, and marching poses painted up to match the Zanzibar regular force I painted about eight years ago o_o
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Bosal/DrMathias-ZanzibariOfficers.jpg)
I didn't have a clear concept of what the African officer's uniform would look like as I've never seen a color photo- I could only go off descriptions in the Foundry Africa books. My goodness is it garish.
I gave the fez a yellow stripe, which was my interpretation of "red and yellow" fezzes described by one period account. It also helps to differentiate them from my British and Egyptian askaris. That also meant I had to go back and paint a yellow band on all the older figures...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Bosal/DrMathias-ZanzibariCompany.jpg)
A Zanzibari patrol evicts the inhabitants of a tembe allegedly harboring slavers...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Bosal/DrMathias-ZanzibariAction.jpg)
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Its been worth the wait :D
Nice PJs on all those whites, plus the fezzes look particularly good.
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More than a little bit nice :-* :-* :-* They are simply superb
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Excellent! :-*
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More than a little bit nice :-* :-* :-* They are simply superb
What he said.
Must admit I know nothing of the regular forces of Zanzibar in the colonial era. What were they like?
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Fine looking troops.
Have to ask,"Will they fight?" :D
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Must admit I know nothing of the regular forces of Zanzibar in the colonial era. What were they like?
According to the sources that bother to mention them (Colonial Armies in Africa by Abbott and East Africa by Chris Peers) the Zanzibari regular forces looked great on parade- supposedly good enough to put some European regiments to shame- but were not particularly good in the field. At its largest the army had around 1200 men if I recall. I must admit that I haven't read any accounts of minor actions they took part in... I'm not even sure why I have them, other than I enjoy the word 'Zanzibar' and pretty much collect everything Darkest Africa. I haven't read all of Zanzibar in Contemporary Times but it does mention some Whitworth cannon, so I acquired one for my little company along with a Nordenfeldt and some terrible, terrible Old Glory crew.
I do know the regular army supported the British during the Anglo-Zanzibar War (which lasted less than an hour!!!) and came under fire but didn't suffer any casualties. Copplestone used to have some information on his website when he had them for sale, but that was many years ago.
Fine looking troops.
Have to ask,"Will they fight?" :D
The troops under my command fight- just not very well and under poor leadership :)
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:o :-*
Nicely done! They look fantastic!
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Fantastic looking force. The white is really well done.
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Superb Matt. They look absolutely dandy :-*
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Champion. This has inspired me to go back to painting. I've done nothing since June, just haven't been interested. Well done, and thanks!
Not sure I'm convinced about those yellow bands, though. On the officer yes, but rank and file? Where did you read about those?
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Not sure I'm convinced about those yellow bands, though. On the officer yes, but rank and file? Where did you read about those?
Your skepticism is entirely justifiable, I wavered on the yellow band for some time before deciding to do it- I thought there was just too much difference between the officer and the privates and wanted to unify them a bit.
Here's the passage, found in Armies of the Nineteenth Century: Africa - East Africa by Chris Peers:
Harry Johnston, visiting in 1884, wrote of 'a smart-looking regiment of the New Zanzibar Army, the men in white uniforms, with red and yellow caps'.
Who knows what precisely that meant... ah, the vagaries of descriptions. The officer has embroidery on the top of his, so maybe that's what form the yellow took?
I was somewhat misleading in an earlier statement about the Zanzibar army's parade performance by the way (from the same source, emphasis mine):
Even Portal, otherwise so critical of the force, admitted that 'on parade they appeared fairly smart, they drilled in a way that would put some English militia regiments to shame'.
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The officer's pillbox hat was described as having a gold band, so I think it is entirely justified for him. Apart from that one line though, the men's hats are generally just described as red.
But they look proper smart, no doubt about that, and the descriptions are vague enough to leave some wiggle room.
Brilliant job. Really got me inspired back to British and German East. I've spent the last couple of hours painting WaTuta because of you. :)
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I've spent the last couple of hours painting WaTuta because of you. :)
Good! When you post pictures, it will inspire me to work on my WaTuta ;)
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Outstanding! This gave me pluck to convert some of the current ranges for Colonial Portuguese.
Just a couple of side notes: The Anglo-Zanzibari "war" lasted 40 minutes and there was also a minor Portuguese-Zanzibari "war" in 1887 that led to the occupation of Tungue Bay by the Portuguese.
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great figures..even better thread!!
regards
Ged ;)
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Tremendous work indeed. It's a pity Mark Copplestone 'lost' the masters and the moulds for his Zanzibaris.
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Good! When you post pictures, it will inspire me to work on my WaTuta ;)
This is what LAF is all about! A self help group for mutual motivation!
Well done chaps :)
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Tremendous work indeed. It's a pity Mark Copplestone 'lost' the masters and the moulds for his Zanzibaris.
I'm not sure about that, their stock has risen considerably since he did. Nobody cared a hoot for them when they were easily available, now that they are hard to get they are THE hot property in Darkest Africa gaming. Despite having nothing to do and nobody to fight, everybody wants some. I can't fathom it. :)
Good! When you post pictures, it will inspire me to work on my WaTuta ;)
Perhaps not. After six months I find I am a little rusty. Not the best afternoon's painting I've ever had. Oh well, best just keep plugging on.
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I'm not sure about that, their stock has risen considerably since he did. Nobody cared a hoot for them when they were easily available, now that they are hard to get they are THE hot property in Darkest Africa gaming. Despite having nothing to do and nobody to fight, everybody wants some. I can't fathom it. :)
That's got to be every wargamer's inner squirrel acting up. All jokes involving remarks about their nuts will be met with corporal punishment.
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Despite having nothing to do and nobody to fight, everybody wants some. I can't fathom it. :)
I'm going to paint mine as Portuguese East African native Police and infantry... And maybe put some aside for a small Zanzibari regular unit at Tungue Bay.
Howard Whitehouse wrote a few useful notes about Zanzibar that you can read on Savage and Soldier: http://www.savageandsoldier.com/articles/africa/NotesOnTheDarkContinent3.html
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I have just finished prepping a group of mixed units of Baluchi, Arabs, & Africans. They would make either good allies/irregulars or slaver opponents for your Zanzibari regulars. Too bad you are so far away.
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A little bit late, but...FANTASTIC! The conversions are really outstanding and the whole force looks terrific. Your work is always inspirational.
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Yep - they've come out really fantastic in the end...
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Fantastic conversions and paintjob! Really dashing looking fellas! Would love to have them on my gaming table! :-* :-* :-*
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Found a great source of historical Zanzibar images and info: http://zanzibarhistory.org/
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:-* :-* :-*
Beautiful PJ's and great putty pushing!
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Anyone saw this Historicon 2012 game?
http://www.flamesofwar.com/Portals/0/Documents/WargamesIllustrated/The-Shortest-War-in-History.pdf
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Anyone saw this Historicon 2012 game?
http://www.flamesofwar.com/Portals/0/Documents/WargamesIllustrated/The-Shortest-War-in-History.pdf
Thanks for the link, it looks great!
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Great looking force there 8)
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
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I have just stumbled on this thread. I don't do Darkest Africa any more- having switched into modern war torn Africa instead, but I love what you have done here- It's inspiring me to go back to my colonial routes.
Well done!
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Great paint jobs there and seeing everything altogether is just stunning.
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What figures were used for the gun crews?
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What figures were used for the gun crews?
The gun crew are Old Glory 'Egyptian Artillery Crew'. Not the best figures but I had leftovers from a pack of twenty and they seemed to fit the best. There's not a lot of choice for Darkest Africa cannon and machine gun crew prior to WW1.
http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/proddetail.asp?prod=CSB-07
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What figures were used for the gun crews?
Maybe this could fit for Artillery Zanibaris as well with a little conversion.
http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_35_49&products_id=2414 (http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_35_49&products_id=2414)
Cheers
Dr. Moebius
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Fantastic army Dr. Mathias! :-*
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Maybe this could fit for Artillery Zanibaris as well with a little conversion.
http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_35_49&products_id=2414 (http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_35_49&products_id=2414)
Nice idea!
How would they compare in size to the Copplestone figures?
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Nice idea!
How would they compare in size to the Copplestone figures?
They will fit very well to Copplestone miniatures.
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I'm pretty sure those Perry figures didn't exist when I acquired the Old Glory figures, I almost certainly would have purchased them instead.
Perry would be more realistically proportioned than Copplestone for sure, and slightly smaller, but I've found that both manufacturers work together well if painted and based the same way.
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Great looking figures. I especially like the officer.
Regards,
Hitman
8)
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Superb conversions and excellent brushwork! :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Darrell.
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Anyone saw this Historicon 2012 game?
http://www.flamesofwar.com/Portals/0/Documents/WargamesIllustrated/The-Shortest-War-in-History.pdf
The above article and game was mine. Basically, a "on off" type of game.
The large ships were made by a friend of mine in Kansas -- Rick Nance -- who can be hired out to make terrain (for those in so need).
The game was great fun, and nice to see some interest in using the Zanzibari force for some other actions.
Regards,
Bob Giglio