"Back to the Sudan in Amazing 54mm" Topic

Der Alte Fritz and I are in final preparations for two July 23, 2016 54mm Sudan games at his home. Many of you I'm sure have seen his blog posts with stunning terrain and a beautiful toy soldier collection.
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The following link shows my preparations and a test game trying a few modifications to the BAR variant for colonial gaming we've used for 5-6 years.
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There is something uniquely compelling how 54mms with varied poses and facial features make images come more alive. Interesting too.
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link
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Respectfully,
Bill P.
Chronicler of the General Pettygree stories

PS
See a new version of General Pettygree.

Great stuff. Thanks for sharing. I've been eye-balling the AiP figures myself.

Bill, you and Jim are barking mad, but in the best of ways! Personally, I could never convince myself to play with the metal toy soldiers, but the Armies in Plastic makes perfect sense.

Thanks 79th PA and Joe,
Joe, AIP are hugely easy to paint – with a big brush. I would never have thought the latter possible.
Arf, arf,
Bill P.

A truly spectacular effort- and in my favorite historical era, the campaigns in Sudan. Keep the AARs and photos coming!

Most excellent! I am thinking about some of the AIP for my grandkids

Bill, I have the BAR rules and your black and white colonial variant. Are/will the new colorized versions be available for sale? Thanks. Gene

Gene,
Yes and thank you.
Go to oldregimerules.com
oldregimerules.com
Tally Ho!,
Bill

Thanks Bill.

Looks great. Those AIP figures are very tempting. Looks like you had a lot of fun painting them up, and results are A+.

Superb!

I'm almost tempted to do the Sudan after I finish my Zulu's. That would be mad but very tempting.

Love it!

Yep, the AIP really paint up nicely. Have done a bunch for ebay but may have to do some for me ? <lol> Nice job on yours

Bill P., Armies in Plastic should put you on their payroll! After reading your blog I immediately went to their website and took advantage of their buy five, get three more free offer. All Sudanese natives.

On the subject of Hadendowa, I wouldn't go with the traditional two to one native advantage. At least historically, the Fuzzies took on the British closer to one to one odds, and, as we all know, they broke a British square!

Where can I find Ansar artillerymen? Or captive Egyptian artillerymen in 54mm?

Not sure where you would find them nowadays but I am pretty sure Trophy of Wales had a captured artllerymen and gun set.I used to have an extensive collection of the Egypt and Sudan sets from Trophy but sold them all off long ago due to a financial crisis. Really wish I still had them now.

Some can be converted without too much trouble ? Spears become ramrods, etc. The beauty of plastic :)

I converted my NWF Pathan artillerymen using parts from my Little Wars Revisited figures.

Nick, Drop me a line if you want some artillery arms, etc

Mike

Thanks all for your suggestions about converting native artillerymen. Come to think of it, I need Pathan artillerymen as well. One last question: Any idea on where I can find a 54mm scale Krupp artillery piece? I believe that's what the Ansar captured from the Egyptians. I'll pay for metal if necessary. And I can use it for my Boers as well.

Nick, I'm looking for Krupps and Dervish (captured Egyptian crew) too. Hopefully someone will come up with the Ansar. Ouch!

I can use my existing Trophy artillery pieces for the Dervish, just need to find the righr crew. AIP Egyptian regular infantry conversions might be the solution.

As a fellow 54mm enthusiast, I salute you!

John

John, if I recall correctly you sold your 54s on moving to the states. Have you started to replace them yet?

I'm still settling into a new house, the only painting I'm getting in is walls! sadly.

My gaming itch is returning, though, I'm trying to curb my 54mm meglomania, but am still tempted to do some more of the Romo-Cathaginian DBA armies I did for the Salute Trebbia game, lotsa 54mm figures, big bases, we'll see. The only thing I didn't sell was my WW1 1/72 plane air combat game using my own rules, and they got pretty banged up in the post! I haven't had the heart to look at them properly, as I think a lot of repair work isd coming!
As to the WW2 54mm, I think I'm done, over 2000 figures, and 300 vehicles does that to a man! lol. Plus, I've done that, not need to revisit an ex!

John

Der Alte Fritz, I just spotted some plastic Krupp guns in a "Special" AIP Sudan set. You get two Krupps, one set of Ansar and one set of Egyptians for $24.00 USD. Unfortunately, no artillerymen. But I went for it. Now all I need are some artilleryman arms from Black Hat.

Another great AAR, and game.

I had 'No idea' that 54's were still as popular, I honestly thought they were VERY few and far between out there, and even then only old collections and all metal ones at that.

I think I shall have to search the web a bit just see what is out there if for not other reason than the sheer 'eye candy'.

Bill, a beautiful day, a table full of miniatures, peace and best of all.. man's best friend. What more can ya ask for on any given day? )

Thank you everyon for your kind remarks and interest.

Part Time Gamer see:
armiesinplastic.com

These are amazingly economical – cheaper than 28mm castings. Note discounts for multi-box purchases.

Respectfully,
Bill P.

Bill,
Thank you, but after looking at your AARs, or perhaps I should say; "Dispatch's from the front, on the actions of Gen. Pettygree".
I couldnt resist so I have already 'been there', looked and loved it.

I will be honest and say IF I had any issue w/ 54's, it would be that being 'soft plastic', you often get the lance, spear or sword thats 'curved'. A very small issue granted, after seeing some armies, I still remain in awww that they were NOT factory painted.

I have about 50 Brit. Colonial troops from the now defunked Wargames Factory. They were one of their earlier lines and unfortunatly, all of the mini's were cast as the basic rank n file soldier. Nice, but not a single command character in the lot (CO, bugler, standard nothing), disappointing.
This they corrected in other period (ancient, WW II etc) runs later.

I must admit 54's may have been less intimidating in painting, specifically the webbing. Which I found 'nerve wrecking' on the 28s w my "hammer hands" lol.

And I must say, after seeing your great games and table not to mention wonderful variety of troops not just your 'Regulars', but Naval, Marine, artillary and of course cavalry.
Even with my limited playing (hence my choice of memeber name) Im again thinking on searching out some lancers and yet to find but would love a plastic Naval unit in 28.

Thanks again Bill
you (and rocket) keep those AAR's coming and the dice rolling!

Were yours the Arnhem game at Salute John? Very impressive if so.

John – you could do the desert on 1/32

Or naps. That needs a fair few figures…

Yes Ben, the big Arnhem game was mine, I did two, actually, one based on Arnhem/Oosterbeek, and the drop zones, and the Monolith that was the 70ft 'all of Market Garden' madness, that was half a ton! hahahahahaha!

John

Oh, and thanks for the nice words.

John

No problem John – how did you do those infantry bases (a little thing but it seemed to solve at least a couple of issues)?

I don't want to hi-jack this fellows fine thread, so I'll keep it brief, Ben!

My infantry stands, in 54mm, for Crossfire, were 4" square, made of Aluminium, with the metal folded up along two edges, just under half an inch, to form flanges to enable people to pick them up. without fingers getting too close to all those very thin, very fragile gun barrels, etc. The edges were also useful for Platoon/Company designations.

Cheers, sorry Bill P!

John

The AIP Sudan British artillery sets come with additional barrels plus gun accessories. One of the barrels looks like a Krupp barrel and may work in a pinch. Also included is a very cool dragon barrel that would work with the Boxers.
I have a few AIP sets and they look great and the prices/multi box deals can't be beat.
Great looking game Bill. Who makes the mounted officers and wagons?

Pete