"Recommend Afghans with Martini-Henry rifles please" Topic

I don't know anything about British colonial gaming or history, but I've heard the siren song of the NFW and keep sneaking glances at 28mm brits in khaki and bearded tribal hooligans sniping from behind rocks. I am trying to resist starting a new period, and in an attempt to stay focused on my current projects I thought painting a few "test" figures might get the bug out of my system without completely derailing me into a new period. Of course, I'd like anything I paint up to be usable once I decide to commit to starting wargaming 19th century Asia. you know, after I finish all my current projects.

Can you recommend 28mm tribal warrior figures that could be used in the widest range of potential colonial conflicts? I was thinking of figures armed with Martini-Henry rifles, which may have seen use all the way up to the Soviet invasion (I was also hoping I could press them into service for some interwar Back of Beyond gaming too). I'd be happy with metal figures or cobbling together some plastics from different sets too.

Thanks in advance!

Old Glory has a pack of Pathan Tribesmen with Rifles which includes a mix of MH and Enfield rifles:

link

They also have a pack of Pathan Tribesmen with Muskets and Jezails:

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I would recommend reading Victoria Schofield's Every Rock, Every Hill and then checking out both the Perry and Foundry Afghans. If you can withstand that, you're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

Empress Miniatures (best figures on the market, AFAIC):

link

Several potential candidates to browse through here…

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Tiger Miniatures (Recreational Conflict in the US) has packs of Afghan tribal members as well as Regular Afghan military infantry and cavalry.
recreationalconflict.lusagi.com/nwf.htmlsubheading Bobgnar 

I have a number of Pulp Figure thugees which are I have used as Afghans

link

See middle of the page

Bob had some additional figures on display at Adepticon,

I've been resisting the ‘Colonial Northwest Frontier' bait for quite some time now but my resistance continues to weaken! I've been checking out various websites pics of their ranges but when I click on the Empress website pics I just get a blank black screen. Anyone else having this problem?
Also can anyone help me with the changeover date for the Brits from scarlet to khaki for field expeditions on the NW Frontier please? I'm looking at ‘policing' skirmish games rather than set battles.
Thanks guys

Yikes, PrussianMonty, sorry it took so long for me or anyone else to reply to your question!

You can reasonably get away with using British troops in red coats on the North-West Frontier until about the end of the Second Afghan War of 1878-1880. British and Imperial Indian troops fought the war wearing what is often referred to as "transitional dress" -- a mix of red and a bit of green (60th Rifles, various Gurkha regts.) service dress and khaki field uniforms locally dyed in India by individual units. Sometimes the colorful and khaki dress items were mixed together, such as the khaki jackets and blue trousers worn by the 67th Regt. of Foot and 10th Hussars, or the khaki tunics worn with tartan trews by the 72nd Highlanders. That being said, at the start of the war the 59th Regiment of Foot did wear red tunics and blue trousers, and some say they wore them at the Battle of Ahmed Khel.

By the time the war ended, a khaki field uniform was being issued in a standard color that replaced the various regimental shades from local dye jobs using tea, mud, curry powder, date palm dye, etc.

Troops on the NWF might still have colorful service dress uniforms to wear on appropriate occasions until a much later date, but if they expected to see action, be it "policing" or some major battle, from 1880 on they'd probably be wearing khaki -- though the Imperial Indian troops would still have full color turbans.