Bengal Lancers in the Sudan

..wonders will never cease - he's finally lifted a paint brush on something other than the boat... 😏

The Minifigs figures I bought have finally seen some paint applied by something other than a spray can (ie. the undercoat)!

This is what I was trying to represent..

Caton-Woodville (of course!) - illustrated London News 1882 - 13th Bengal Lancers in the Sudan showing campaign dress/equipment

This is how they came out..

My research would indicate that three regiments of Bengal Lancer/Cavalry served in the Sudan at various times - there were thirteen or fourteen regiments of them in total but the rest served in either Afghanistan/Peking or locally in India...

• the 9th [clicky] - in 1885 which was the year they became Lancers - there is an excellent regimental history of their time in the Sudan on this page and I recommend it highly - fascinating reading...  I painted mine to represent this regiment using the excellent Perry Miniatures uniform guide [clicky]..  I'll be honest and say I picked them purely because the turban looked to be the least complex to paint!

• the 10th [clicky] - in 1885 at Suakin

• the 13th ( (Duke of Connaught’s) [clicky] -  in 1882 they served at Tel-el-Kebir where they impressed the aforesaid Duke so much that he asked the his mother (who happened to be Queen Victoria!) for the honour of being their Colonel in Chief.

Given they were my first painted figures in some considerable time (the first three or four units after a hiatus* are always troublesome, and then you kind of get into the swing..  which isn't to say they get any better painted, just a little quicker..! )

So eight figures, Minifgs, 15mm, painted with Vallejo and Games Workshop paints, and Rowney inks (turban, puttees and lance pennant).. 2 pts a figure on the Olley scale, 16 points to add to my pitiful yearly score...  

* from here on defined as any period long enough for your water jar/mug/beaker/receptacle to completely dry out...  clearly this doesn't apply to those still on the Humbrol dark side...