Slitherine

Which 15mm figures are folks using for Fatimid 'Abid al-shira (Sudanese)? I'm particularly interested in 'true' 15's, as much of the army I'm upgrading is of Essex and old Tabletop figures, but also curious about Old Glory and others.

Essex lists castings for AEA17 Sudanese Ghulam spearmen and AEA18 Sudanese Ghulam archers, but there are no photos. If someone has seen these or other appropriate figures, I'd appreciate hearing about them.

(I ordered Sudanese figures from Tabletop many years ago and they were bare chested with short skirts--no swords for the javelinmen--and am leery of ordering figures sight unseen.)

Thanks!

I'd suggest the Outpost Sudanese Javelinman from their Crusades range - http://www.outpostwargameservices.co.uk ... sades.html

A touch bigger than Essex though.

Ive got a BG of Old Glory sudanese swordsmen and spearmen from their crusades range that arent too shabby. Long robe, conical helmet with turbany thing around it, spear and sword.

Anthony

nikgaukroger wrote:I'd suggest the Outpost Sudanese Javelinman from their Crusades range - http://www.outpostwargameservices.co.uk ... sades.html

A touch bigger than Essex though.

i think we need to face facts. most of the outpost range is *freakin ugly*.

might have to chase up essex figures.

nikgaukroger wrote:I'd suggest the Outpost Sudanese Javelinman from their Crusades range - http://www.outpostwargameservices.co.uk ... sades.html

A touch bigger than Essex though.

let me follow up my last comment by saying, that the paint jobs on the figures on the outpost site are a credit to you nik. i've struggled with that range.

Thanks - it isn't a sophisticated style but it seems to come out OK.

I think the Outpost figures paint up better than they look "naked" but as their detail is quite flat they don't lend themselves to some techniques.

Personally I find the Crusades Islamic range very nice, but it's all a matter of individual taste

Thanks for the steer, Nik. I checked out the photos, and they are accurate, if not fancy. I started out back in the misted past painting Mikes Models Han Chinese: virtually all detail needed to be painted on. While I love painting Xyston with highlights and washes, I'm certainly not averse to a different style if the figures call for it.

I won't be mixing the figures in with any existing unit, so the larger size of Crusader would be fine.

I am curious, though, if anyone has seen the Essex figures, I'd love to hear what they look like. My basic question: long robes, short robes or naked to the waist?

I think I have some and if they're the figures I think they are it is long robes, simple helmet with a simple turban round it, basic "at ease" pose with shield in front spear held to side similar to AEA11 here http://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/gal_aea1.html

Are these the sort of droids, sorry, arabs you are looking for ...?

Arab Warriors with spears and swords

Tim
www.madaxeman.com[/url]

Hope not, they'd be pretty wrong

Like these CRU5-6??? Or perhaps AEA17...Sudanese Spearman.

They are what I used....

http://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/gal_cru1.html

Madcam

CRU 8 may be OK.

The 'abid al-Shira used javelins and swords and the small kite type shields is known from Fatimid times in Egypt as well, so I'd tend to figures with shorter spears than CRU6 myself.

while we're talking arabs. anyone have a snap of cru50 - ghilman?

it is extremely annoying that essex doesn't *list* it's full range online... let alone have snaps of them all.

a listing or snap of cru51 - naffatun would also be useful

while we're talking arabs. anyone have a snap of cru50 - ghilman?

No but I know the bow cases will be wrong

nikgaukroger wrote:

while we're talking arabs. anyone have a snap of cru50 - ghilman?

No but I know the bow cases will be wrong

heh. it's a good thing that i'm a little more... "liberal" in my need to depict accurately...

i also just worked out that purchasing 60 bags of essex all the way from engerland is cheaper than ordering from australia...

These are the images of CRU50, although I don't see them available under the Crusader range.

Delbruck wrote:



These are the images of CRU50, although I don't see them available under the Crusader range.

whu-who!!

thanks man.

any chance anyone has a snap of the dailami infantry?

These are Essex Daylamis (not mine). There are only two poses, but the shields and spear arms can be re-arranged to add variety. As a matter of fact, painted with dark skin, I don't see why these could not be used as Sudanese.

Thanks much to everyone who posted ideas.

My fear is that the (elusive) AEA 17 are naked guys with towels, but I've also been secretly hoping (nay, for years) that I'll eventually find it's a figure in a calf-length quilted robe, wearing a pointed helm, like the illustration in Plate D1, Osprey 125, The Armies of Islam, 7th-11th Centuries.

If I have to get used to disappointment, a different shield would be fine, and a turban around a helmet acceptable, but I like that this figure is distinct from the classic Arab foot.
So CRU 6 & 8 would be ok (the kite shield is more Fatimid) but the outpost guys--despite the differences in shield and dress--look distinctly African, which is also good.

Decisions, decisions. My pile o' shame is big enough I guess I can wait to do a little more research.

I just have a thing for those quilted robes... a little ink and, voila, they look terrific.

BTW, the CRU 50's look nice! They're listed on the lefthand panel of the main page, scroll down a ways: http://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/

Museum Miniatures makes some nice Ghilman/Turk/Mtd. Archer types as well, a bit later period but can mix in well. I especially like AC03P, Akinjis Cavalry (Firing), which looks like figure C3, Osprey 171, "Ghulam Cavalryman" Saladin and the Saracens



For barded horses I also like PR05P,Al- Halqa Ehc, Firing Bow PR01P,Al-Halqa Hc, Firing Bow,

http://www.museumminiatures.co.uk/pages/index.htm (haven't painted them, yet.)

MarkSieber wrote:

Bow cases are wrong

Nice paint job BTW