"Even a Charge of Bloomin' Mamelukes!" Topic

I know. You are getting sick of Mamelukes…talk to my wife about it!!!!!!!

The charging characters are not yet based, but I thought I'd give a sneak preview.

I thought it was great Gringo40s giving us a separate right arm. Opens up many a conversion for variety. The arms are spare Perrys I think from the scrap box. The outstretched hand is from their dead plastic infantryman, swapped for the pistol hand (which is invaluable in itself)

The "Lost in a wheatfield" basing. I have never been convinced by. It probably works for the French trio but the occifer and his trumpeter I may yet rebase.

and now I notice I forgot to "blue" their sword blades….arggghh!

Very nice dh

great brush work!

Beautiful!

very nice – I like especially the Mamelucke shooting the pistol

Oh he is their's totally unconverted. Straight from the "box". The dying chap is the same figure with his neck extended (by force and soft pliers!)and his hand swapped.

I think he is brilliant, but I gather that for some wargamers the post might be too "heroic". I know what they mean, but, as a stand alone figure….the pistol guy is superb

Seriously, these are the best 28mm figures I have ever worked with. I do not like, I do not want, I have no real interest in, a unit of Mamelukes (they hardly featured at Waterloo after all….if at all, indeed)…..but these are irresistible.

Honestly, they paint themselves. They are cast in such sharp relief that edging, washes, highlighting is "instant".

The manufacturer is "Gringo40"? Not that I have any need for Mamelukes but based on your review it might be worth checking out the rest of what they have to offer.

Gringo40s indeed.

No one "needs" Mamelukes, let's face it.

They were a tiny unit and made insignificant contribution (if any, who knows?) in the only real battle of the Naopoleonic Wars.

You probably "need" thousands of scruffy Marie Louise types in filthy overcoats and lots of line artillery, if you are a wargamer. That is realism alas.

I saw them as a painting challenge and used the term "intimidated by them", in an earlier posting, when they arrived. At a glance, I knew the casting and the animations possible were in a league of their own. It was quite scary!!!!!!!! A real expert could do them far better still, I knew that before I started.

Having done the first dozen, I felt I had far from exhausted the possibilities. In a funny way, I was almost glad when von Winterfeldt pointed out my error with the band, in the horse colours. It forced me to get another dozen!

Deadhead the looming tree line combined with the wheat works a treat.
personally I think the Mamelukes were a very effective unit…a terror weapon in the Dos de Mayo…rip-roaring charge at Australitz…certainly unleased many more times then the foot guard. Even dare I say present at Waterloo.that mystery alone continures too fascinate.

best regards
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com

Hello.

Excellent work indeed. Mr. Adkin alludes to some of these guys being at Waterloo in a limited capacity. Page 248 The Wayerloo Companion refers.

I am fascinated by the wheat however. Is this handmade or commercial as it looks very good indeed?

Best wishes,

Chris

Thanks to all. Yep, everyone agrees there was a squadron attached to the Garde Chasseurs a Cheval for "Waterloo".

My St Jean site has them in the colourful dress, but most were French and I suspect the blue and crimson was nearer the mark. If anything, I think the cut away frock coat in dark blue was more likely, if dull!

The wheat field I make myself. Dead easy, mass produced. I'll post some pics of how it is done together with the last, charging, figures, all now based on a trampled wheat field.

The funny thing is I honestly was never convinced by the effect. It looks right, but I thought it swamped the figures themselves………great feedback though!

My favourite 'Mameluke moment'. Taking on I believe the Russian Chevalier Guard at Austerlitz:

Oh how did I miss this picture?

Thank God they are in the earlier outfit (the flared half sleeves, less obvious collar, open front jacket etc) but, even so, this is a very tempting diorama……….now, with some Greenstuff around the upper arm of a Gringo40s charging Mameluke…………

I had thought Perry skirmishing cossacks in full retreat but now…..

Chris was asking about the wheat (apologies for quality of pics, just a flash with no decent lighting, nor depth of focus

The stems are from JTT 95085 Field Grass, Golden Brown. Many other colours are available, to suit the season. My fields are far too ripe for Belgium in June; greener stem, with green powdered tips would be better. This is a "natural product" of some sort, but does look better than the alternative (nylon bristles from children's large paint brushes…dirt cheap…..usually yellowish……….can be coloured just by soaking in a dilute acrylic wash eg green). Many US dealers sell. The first UK I found was;

link

(Except it is NZ instead I now see!)

So then, dip into PVA glue (top left of the plastic tray) , then into a 35mm film canister (I have dozens still) containing "Fine Turf, Yellow Grass, T43 Woodland Scenics". Repeat the process 200 times.
The little sliver of cardboard is easily found from any small box with a corrugated centre to the walls. Several of these then allow the strands to be inserted into a Pollyfilla base. This is from Boots dispo contact lenses….but hunt around.
Top right is real Waterloo mud mixed with PVA, but that is another story………
I think the wheat strands work really well, en masse. But I still think not ideal for moving figures, I plan to do Light Bobs in this setting……….

Hello Mr Deadheaf.

Thank you very much for the wheatfield tips, brilliant. I have used chopped sisal from Wilkos soft brushes which is ok, but to be entirely correct needs dying a green colour for June. Nevertheless better than teddy bear fur in my opinion.

I shall get cracking on your technique and see what I can come up with.

Thank you again.

Chris

Soft brush bristles work really well and, as you say, can be coloured easily. Very cheap and all are same length! Simply dip in PVA and into some kind of fine powder, then. Enjoy!

I may have to add more Mamelukes to the range……
……..its getting harder to resist.
every second order is for Mamelukes …thanks in part
im sure to Deadhead !!

best regards
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com

Stunning work, I could of swore I posted a comment on these! Guessing its my age!

You probably did! But I have posted these at various stages and everyone must be sick of them by now………

You have suffered "Mamelukes lost in a Wheatfield". "A parade of Ms", "A Toug of Ms" not to mention this one. I must finally photograph the whole unit. They are now sitting here with the Chasseurs a Cheval of the Garde…also in a crop field!

Delighted the Mamelukes are proving such a success. They deserve it. The detailed casting is a joy to paint.

Deadhead

s cornucopia or is that a wheatopia of Mamelukes
they look smashing all together…most impressed

best regards
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com