From MikeW - 28mm 17th Century Ottoman Horsemen - 90 Points

This week I have bee able to complete the batch of Ottoman Light cavalry and commanders that I obtained in an eBay lot in December. I have also been able to make some good progress on a second eBay lot of 15 Mountain Men on foot plus 2 on horseback - however - they will not be ready for this week's deadline 😒

So here's the lot as it arrived, pre-primed in a mixture of black and white,with many of the figures separated form the horses, I took time to file off any flash and re-seat the figures on their horses and to re-apply an undercoat where needed.

Raw Ottoman Figures

I decided to go with the black undercoat on the horses where this was good, others I applied my normal white undercoat. Undercoat colour definitely impacts the final colours you get - as you'd expect black undercoat mutes most colours applied to it....

The batch represented 3 Ottoman Commanders plus a unit of 6 Mameluke Light Cavalry, on closer inspection the Mamelukes were mostly Riever Castings figures (with one exception, that I can't place) and the Ottoman Commanders were likely from another unknown company - simply due to the different casting qualities.

The painting techniques were very similar to those I discussed on my first post, building up from a white undercoat with layers of colour, adding detail and metalics at the end before fixing all the errors and mistakes I made!

Completed Mameluke Light Cavalry

These light cavalry were a riot of colour, so I have deliberately mixed many colours into the unit to give it that irregular look, I have also mixed the colour of the horse furniture to add to the irregular look.

The 'Red' Mameluke

I tried to get some idea of rich silk clothing by adding some patterns to a couple of the figures, I kept it simple using 'triangles' of dots in contrasting colour - a tip I read many years ago, the effect can be best seen on the 'Red' Mameluke. Unfortunately my photography skills are lacking, not sure how well these show up and the photo makes it appear that the figure is gloss varnished when in fact it has had several layers of Matt spray varnish this morning! Tips on camera settings welcome!

The horses were a variety of colours, I have a chart of all the common horse colourings and so use this as a basis for all horseflesh I paint. I apply the base colour and then usually paint the mane, tail ad lower legs black, If the mane or tail is a lighter colour  - I the add that colour before adding white blazes to the horse's head and a variety of socks to their feet.

Hooves are painted a dark tan colour before adding the reins and other saddle / tackle to the figure. Inevitably I have to fix a lot of the base colour after that process and then I add in metalics at the end as usual.

Using the Army Painter Dark Tone dip for figures gives a great shading effect for the horses and blends in all the colours to one unified result.

'Odd one Out' Mameluke

Ottoman Commander No1

You'll notice a couple of greys in the mix for the officers and the 'Odd one Out' Mameluke and a couple of the ottoman commanders. I got this effect by using a light grey base coat and then dry brushing with white - the more dry brushing you do the lighter the horse will get!

White socks and blaze are then added and on all greys I dry brush their snouts (don't know the technical term for a horse's mouth area!) flesh coloured. In fact I do this for any horse that has a white blaze that reached their mouth area - seems that's what happens for real horses as well! Again the dip adds shading as required...

Ottoman Commander No2

Ottoman Commander No3

Points Calculation: 9 x 28mm Mounted figures @10 points each = 90 points

You've certainly succeeded in achieving a unit that is a "riot of colour"! Who is the manufacturer? Your tips on painting expensive silks are handy. I know a lot of people baulk at painting horses, but you've given some encouraging advice that it can be simply done. Good photography starts with good lighting, and I'm sure fellow Challengers will have plenty to say.

Barks

From KenR : 28mm WW1 Turkish Cavalry (122 points)

After building up some pretty big Infantry forces for both sides in the WW1 Mesopotamia Campaign (10 Turkish and 12 Empire Battalions) it's time I built up some horse borne troops.

The main problem however I lack of suitable figures. Sadly Woodbine Design Company have just never got round to doing any Cavalry despite their pretty comprehensive range of foot sloggers.

I have used some Great War Miniatures Cavalry with head swaps for the Brits (sadly it doesn't look like they will be done before Challenge End however keep an eye on Yarkshire Gamer). For the Turkish Cavalry I used the same Setting the East Ablaze range from Minifigs that the Highlanders came from.

http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/Catalogue.aspx?ScaleID=15&CategoryID=51&SubCategoryID=253

There is ony three figure types, an Officer, a Bugler and a Cavalryman so sadly not much variation in poses, I have added the lances and pennants myself to make up this 12 figure half unit, I will look to get a 2 Fig HQ with 4 x 6 Fig companies to represent a full unit. So at 10 pts a piece thats a nice 120 points to add to my total.

There are very few pictures of Turkish Cavalry from the period, the one above is from near Jerusalem. It does show however that the Turks did a like a BIG lance pennant !

The Cavalry in Mesopotamia spent most of the war trying to flank each other and the trench works of each side. I certainly hope to build up a few units over the next couple of years so that we can explore these actions on the tabletop.

Sadly work is conspiring against me in these final days of the Challenge, I should get a few WW2 Desert vehicles in before the end but a planned ANZAC entry is looking unlikely.

That just leaves me to Thank Jamie, Team Thursdays Minion, for all the hard work put in over the Challenge , cheers !


What a cracking entry Ken!  It's always been one of the weird things that cavalry were used in WW1, which I'd consider to be a modern war and just shows how thinking hadn't moved on in some ways to match the new weapons being deployed.  It sounds like they were used in this theatre for longer than the more famous Western Front, so looks like you'll get plenty of use out of them!  I wouldn't worry about the lack of variety of the figures as these chaps have turned out a treat, there's something quite menacing about them trotting like this.  And who doesn't like a nice large pennant on a lance?  I know I make sure I have one attached when I'm out and about in town!


Thanks for the raft of brilliant and informative posts on one of the lesser known theatres of WW1 and a massive pat on the back for such a huge points total - nipping in and out of the top ten all challenge is an achievement to be rightly proud of!  I've chucked another 2 points your way for all the pennants, so 122 points all in.

From KenR : 28mm WWI Turkish Infantry (115 Points)

Entry 2 is here and it's more troops for my Mesopotamia collection. These fine fellows are 28mm Turkish Infantry from Woodbine Design Company.

As well as introducing new units I have decided to use the AHWPC to get some half finished units done as well. When I set off with this collection a few years ago I had no real plan other than buying some of those lovely new Woodbine Figures and finding a set of rules.

Having decided a while back on unit sizes etc (2 Fig HQ and 4 Coys of 6 to 10 Figs + a MG) I found that I was short on one battalion (notice I didn't think I had too many and sold the excess, typical gamer!) by 18 Figs and an MG (the MG being a base of 3 figures plus the MG itself) so these have been sat in the to do pile for a while.

So other than Cavalry that's my Turks (probably) done, there are lots more WWI to come though, with Brits, Highlanders and Indians prepped. I make it 21 figures at 5 pts a piece plus 10pts for the crew served MG for a total of 115 points.

Next up however will be the first dent in the second half of the big push this Challenge my 28mm early war Forces for North Africa, stand by for 3 Matildas.

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Very nice work work, Ken. Those Woodbine miniatures are real gems and you've done them proud (and you can never go wrong with having a red fez in a unit). I love your comment on the initial purchase, selloff and purchase again. Question: What rules are you using for this collection? 

115 points it is - Well done!

From ScottB - 54mm Turks for NZ Gallipoli Diorama (125 Points)

I just finished the latest batches of Turks I have received for the Gallipoli Diorama project, as previously discussed...

The first set of 10 figures are more metal figures in an advancing pose, with rifles held across the chest, two different hat styles; a simple round cloth cap, and also a kalpak with cover, which protects the wearers back of the neck from the sun, I am guessing, as it looks a little like a French Foreign Legion style headgear...

10 Rifles

Again I have not based them as they will be pinned directly into the Diorama Board.

The latest news I heard about this is that the Perrys themselves will by flying over to NZ to help set up the diorama!

The next set of 10 figures are a set in a casaulty pose. These figures were some kind of resin. A little like GW Finecast, but it felt stronger, more resilient.

10 Casualties

These were quicker and easier to paint obviously - no rifle to do, and only one side to paint!

And as you can tell, this time around for both sets of figures I have gone with various shades of tunic and trousers, puttees and hats as would reflect a more 'on campaign' worn look.

I droppped these off to Sam at the club tonight, and as yet there were no spare models to collect for painting, so I have a little more free time to get back to working on my own stuff, for a few days until the next batch arrives, possibly just afer the weekend... depending on how long NZ customs decides to hang onto them for!

So with only a week to go, this may(?) be the last submission I have time to get finished... but I have a few bits and bobs I may be able to finish and sneak in... I'll try my best...

From Curt:

It's great to see some more of this very worthwhile project Scott. Those Turkish infantrymen look terrific and you've done a fine job on the casualty figures as well. 

I'll cross my fingers that you can get in another submission before the curtain drops, but if not it has been a pleasure as always Scott!

From ScottB - Ten 54mm Turks - Perry WWI (100 Points)

Having had my planned figure schedule for the Challenge somewhat interrupted, by a very worthwhile cause, I have soldiered on as best as I could, and managed to get these assembled and painted in 10 days... Which is about as quick as I can manage - I don't feel my bum, has had a spare moment off the painting chair! So now I can't feel my bum! ;-)

But its all for a great cause, so [Queue - Windsor Davies accent] "Chest out, stomach in, stand up straight!"

More information here if you have not come across this great undertaking already... Mustering the troops

They are specially commissioned, by Sir Peter Jackson, 54mm scale metal figures from the Perrys, with a proposed painting guide to follow by Aly Morrison. The instructions specifically stated to not paint the eyes, just to allow the shade wash to fill the eye socket...

Slightly different camera position altered the apparent lighting...

So I have followed the guide as best as I was able with a mix of GW, Foundry and Vallejo paints that I had on hand. I finally managed to source the elusive GW Ushabti bone today, in time to use it to dry brush the weathering on the boots...

We were also specifically told not to remove the mounting peg, and obviously not to individually base them as they are destined to be mounted on a huge 10m long diorama board, representing the battle of Chunuk Bair. The diorama board is to be made by the crew at Weta, and will be on display at the Wellington Museum until 2018.

Unfortunately I am unable to say this blog post is the debut of the figures as I submitted the picture to the Mustering the Troops blog manager; Roly Hermans, for approval, who immediately posted them to the main blog...

If that voids their scoring in the challenge then, so be it. I am happy to share the pictures and the details of this venture with you all, anyway...

Right, so while I wait arrival of the next dispatch of figures, I'll see if I can get back to some of my own figures that I had left half done...


From Curt:

Great Scott!! (Yeah, I know, I'm on a bit of a roll this week.)  These are fantastic figures and you've done a marvelous job on them (I'm especially impressed with the faces). It must be such a honour to have your work be part of a museum-quality exhibit such as this. With the diorama being created by the folks from Weta I think we can rest assured that the final product will be nothing less than amazing.  

So, Scott, give us some more details on the project. How many other painters are involved. Are all of you from New Zealand? How many models will be part of the display? I assume each is a unique sculpt? When do they plan to unveil the display? 

Again, great work Scott. I look forward to seeing more of these from you in the coming weeks/months.