Reference material for Medieval Islamic Forces - Any suggestions?

[Ingmar]

Hello everyone!

I'm looking for reference material on Medieval Muslims. Mainly clothing and 'uniform' colours, so I have a basic idea of how to paint stuff. Can be online stuff, but would prefer a good book with lots of pictures/images.

Regards,

Ingmar

PS. Would anyone recommend a certain manufacturer for 28mm metal Medieval Muslims? I was leaning towards Blacktree Design, but have no experience with them.

[traveller]

The Osprey books is always a good start. More specifically, what period are you looking for? Muslim conquest or the Crusades?

[frank xerox]

I share your pain, I can do uniforms or grubby, but I've no talent or colour sense for the like of colourful armies like medieval Muslims.

No references I'm afraid but for figures try the Perry's crusade range or Musketeers Caliphate range. They're just lovely.

[Ingmar]

Thanks for the help guys! I must admit, there's been a change of plans.. Something quite awkward happened when visiting the Musketeer/Footsore Caliphate range..  I made an ever so slight detour into the Irish Dark Ages when browsing the site. Somehow I seem to have become the new owner of a full fledged Irish warband... *cough* Impulse buy *cough*... First time that ever happened to me (I'm usually quite the miser!), so I'm determined to make it count!

[joroas]

You, sir, seem to have contracted a mild case of shinyitis! 

[SteveBurt]

David Nicolle, Medieval Warfare Sourcebook, volume 2: Christian Europe and its Neighbours
Lots in there on Islamic armies.

Ian Heath: Wargamer's Guide to the Crusades

[Codsticker]

I have 5 Opsrey books that could apply and I recommend all of them  :
El Cid and the Reconquista 1050-1492 (MAA 200)
Armies of the Caliphateds 862-1098 (MAA 320)
The Moors: The Islamic West 7th.-15th Centuries (MAA 348)
The armies of Islam 7th.-11thCenturies (MAA 125)
Granada 1492 (CS 53)

Oddly enough, even though some of the titles overlap in period/theme, there are very few duplicate colour plates and quite a but of variety in amour and dress across the Islamic empire of the medieval period.
For visual references,the last is probably the least interesting as it only has a couple of plates of the Moors.