Basmachi foot / Bokhara irregulars

[Wagstaff]

Paint conversions in 1/72 from Strelets Foot Rif Rebels.

https://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2540





I added some waistcoats to make them a little less Arab-looking. I let the curved daggers remain however, so I might use a scalpel on the next lot to either remove or make them straight-bladed knives.



Any other comments or tips to take on for the next lot? Comments on the colour scheme?

Cheers all
Wagstaff

[marianas_gamer]

Nice work. Who do you have as 20mm opponents?

[cuprum]

Very good!

In "Russian" Central Asia, local people wore a long (often knee-length) shirt as underwear, a thin undercoat as a "middle layer" of clothing, and a thick, padded robe as warm clothing. When it's cold, they wear fur coats with the fur inside.
The color scheme of clothing and the type of headwear often indicate nationality.
In the Bukhara Emirate, the overwhelming majority of residents are Uzbeks. They are characterized by a wide range of colors in clothing (often vertical stripes of bright colors) and a small, quadrangular embroidered cap - a skullcap. A small turban can be wrapped around the skullcap.
Look for ideas for painting figures here (the video timing from 2.08.53 is well shown):

https://youtu.be/56QkopYL1sg?si=vywfTDU5LhQpNFyW

The Bukhara (and generally Central Asian) saber is always curved.
Basmachi often used elements of Russian or English military uniforms, trying to "militarize" their costume. Basmachi tried to decorate their weapons in a national style.

The buildings were not white, but sand-colored.

[Wagstaff]

Marianas gamer- thanks! Strelets and Orion Bolsheviks, but in true BoB style, various forces will end up taking part!

[Wagstaff]

Thanks Cuprum.
Informative as always!
I was hoping to get away without any trimming, but appears the robes are mostly too long. I can paint some as being multilayered, so that will work, but they are just too long! (I compared 35:50 and 1:03:00 in Krushenie Emirata It’s why I haven’t thought to use them as Pathans (listening Strelets?), since they lack the long tunic/short trouser combination.
Maybe more generic “bandits” rather than semi-formal Basmachi units would be better use for these chaps.

Yes, the buildings are my generic adobe stand-ins, but the closest I have (so far!) Interestingly, I’ve seen some of the Afghan ones that don’t have doors that go down to ground level. You have to step over a low barrier, which makes sense in terms of keeping dust out!

Next batch will take on board suggestions!

[cuprum]

The length of the robes is acceptable. They could be of different lengths. When walking, the hem of a long robe could simply be tucked under the belt.



The tsarist army can act as opponents for your Basmachi (You can play the uprising in Central Asia in 1916):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asian_revolt_of_1916

They can be part of the militia of the Bukhara Emirate in the war against the Bolsheviks - they had a lot of irregular troops.

And in general as irregular formations of Muslim rebels. Basmachi fought against the Red Army until the mid-30s, raiding from abroad, burning Soviet institutions, killing Soviet employees, stealing herds, and so on...

Also, part of the Uzbeks make up the fourth largest national group in Afghanistan, wear the same costume and, accordingly, can be used as part of the Afghan irregular forces in the wars of the late 19th to the first third of the 20th century.

[marianas_gamer]

Cuprum, thank you for the illustrations. I am looking forward to the time when I can purchase more Basmachi from you!

[cuprum]

I'm always glad to help!

What's stopping you from buying now? Parcels from Russia are currently only impossible to send to Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Finland. I work with other countries without problems. 

[Wagstaff]

Superb! Thanks again for the help!