Post
by Buzz0000 » Sun Dec 19, 2021 7:32 pm
So I finally got all the orders in and found some time this weekend to do the comparisons and select the ranges and models I needed.
Here is a quick analysis of the figures comparing them to the English Tangiers garrison I have assembled from my existing (older) ranges of Magister Millitum and Irregular LoA/Malburian figures.
1/ Essex from their Ancients range for Arab Conquest/Empire e.g. AEA3, AEA4, AEA9 and AEA11- although they have no firearm troops in that range >>> All generally too big and even some variation within their range. Did need to use the Archers (AEA12) for my light skirmishers.
2/ Irregular from their Colonial ranges with samples such as FZ116, FZ112, FZ24, FZ25, FZ30, FZ32, FZ37, AB21 which gives me some camelry and troops with firearms as well as some other variants of Dervish, Moslem and Afghan/Pathan. >>> Reasonable castings but surprisingly inconsistent with their LoA range for my liking. Did pick out just a few useful bits for the Camel Mounted Sharpshooters (the Kneeling Camel (FZ22) combined with the kneeling Pathan Rifleman (FZ30) to be combined with some Peter Pig items (see below)) to make up the "Dragoon" bases.
3/MiniFigs/Matchlock from their Moors range (e.g. 144X arquebus) and their Colonial Victoria's Enemies (Two Dragoons) such as VE13, VE41 and VE46 covering various Arab types >>> The Arquebus figures were not quite right, so have opted for Peter Pig (see below for most) but I will use the Ansar (VE13) figs for a unit of javelin armed skirmishers; and the Amir on foot and mounted (VE41 & VE46) as command figures mixed in with others for variety as they are close to the PP figs.
4/ Museum Miniatures classic Arab range eg AI03, AI09 and ACO8. >>> There was quite a bit of variation just between the foot figures in this range, with the command (AI09) being noticeably bigger than the spearmen (AI03); I maybe able to mix the spearmen in with the PP equivalents as they were reasonably close; the light cav (AC08) I will add the the General's stand as messengers/bodyguards.
5/ Donnington from their Armies of Islam range, for Berber style cavalry MUC20, MUC22 plus various Spearman types, including MUF05 (Murabit/Sudanese Guard) who I hope can double as the Black Guard (although the FOGR lists do not allow any HF/MF superior armoured w/ Spear - so may need a "special scenario" rule to allow them when playing the Tangiers campaign (it is a little odd that the English Reformation list does have a Tangiers scenario). >>> The Donningtons were ok castings, but too big for compatibility with the preferred PP Arabs (and existing Garrison troops), more close in size to the Essex. I do have another Essex based set of Arab cavalry units I originally acquired (an eBAY pre-painted acquisition) I had hoped would form the basis of my Tangier attackers; but didn't, so these Donnington's (plus the other Essex) will go in the painting pile for adding there in due course)
6/ Forged In Battle ancient Arabs including WE-AC-01 Arab heavy cav; WE-AC-02 light/med cav; WE-AC-06 spearman; WE-AC-07 archers and WE-AC-08 long spearman w/ Armour >>> These were just too big, more like 18mm; so have listed these on eBAY.
7/ Peter Pig has a Dervish colonial range that has some possible figures including 22001/22206 SUDAN Dervish turban foot, 22010/22011 Dervish turban mounted and others. >>> I already have quite a lot of PP (e.g. ECW/TYW, Pirates etc) and although not a huge fan of some of the casting detail, they are in good animated poses and scale well to the Garrsion Troops. So the vast majority of the Spearmen and Mounted, plus the Dragoons will be coming from this range; and the gun crews (with some mods and the guns from Magister Militum should work).
So another huge (mostly PP, with a sprinkling of Essex, Minifigs mixed in) will be the next lead mountain for the New Year!
David (B)