Back to Africa: Force Publique

[coggon]

The Perry's have a Nordenfelt in their Sudan range

[smirnoff]

Plynkes, I got my mitts on a Copplestone Nordenfelt...did you shorten the gun trail on your model?

Having now had a closer look at the photo I don't think you did...

[Plynkes]

I don't think I shortened anything. Don't recall doing so.

[smirnoff]

Thanks.
When I got the miniatures I was surprised at the length of the Nordenfelt/Gardner carriage trail.
However the sculpt/casting is excellent.
Mark Copplestone says that the mold is shot and the master has gone AWOL, so I don't know if any more will be done/available.

[Arthur]

That's a shame : it was a neat little model. Quite a few Copplestone Darkest Africa items went O.O.P over the past few years. Some did resurface, like the British sailors in Sennet hats, but the Zanzibari regulars are still unavailable and likely to remain so for a good while.

[Gluteus Maximus]

.. the Zanzibari regulars are still unavailable and likely to remain so for a good while.

A major loss, for me at least 

I have enough for two 10-man units, but would love a couple more. Oh well......

[Arthur]

A major loss, for me at least

There's always the option of dropping Mark Copplestone an e-mail and asking him if he intends to re-release them : Mark usually answers such queries promptly and courteously - which does not necessarily mean he always says 'yes' though. 

[Gluteus Maximus]

Might be worth a try, especially if several people do the same. I know there was a lot of interest in them in past threads 

[smirnoff]

Foundry have a 20% off their collections; just bought the Force Publique one.
Will follow Plynkes lead on crew for the Gardener Guns but, bar the 'Askari with Mountain Gun' in the Foundry range are there any other figures available to use as black and white crew for Force Publique artillery etc out there gentlemen?
I'm no stranger to conversions but would value some pointers.....

[Arthur]

To the best of my knowledge, there's nothing out there for the Force Publique per se.

Tiger Miniatures has some German gunners which might be pressed into service :



The figures aren't that great, but I reckon there have potential for conversions.

You may also want to try the Foundry British gunners from the old Taping Rebellion range, as they are wearing a rather generic uniform. You'll need to do headswaps as the helmets aren't right, though :

[smirnoff]

These look OK. I'll give them a whirl. Thanks.
There seems to be no FP as you say; nor much in the 'pantaloons' that can be converted.

[smirnoff]

Can someone tell me what 'T&T force' is please?

[Hammers]

I suppose it means a set of miniatures to be used with the rule set Triumph and Tragedy.

See  forum Acronyms

[Plynkes]

Hammers is right on the money. T&T is Triumph and Tragedy, which is the set of rules I like to use for Colonial games and other things too. By 'T&T force' I was just referring to the Belgian force I was building for my T&T games.

Links:
LAF T&T Message Board
T&T website

[smirnoff]

Thanks gents.