As part of my ongoing Funny Little Wars project, I decided that it was high time I painted more infantry. Readers will recall that I have painted one small unit so far (the Palace Guard) for my fictional country of Forbodia. Regular readers will no doubt be shocked to learn that a certain amount of toy buying has taken place over the past few weeks, and although the Forbodian Army is far from complete I have toys for parts of at least two other armies... One is never enough.
While casting around for suitable toys I had a look at the ACW Zouaves made by HAT and decided that they would be suitable for the obscure Balkan principality that is Forbodia. As Zouaves would also fit into a French-style army (or as H.G.Wells would have it, 'Army Horizon Blue') then I could justify buying quite a few of them.
HAT actually produce two different sets of Zouaves, with 16 or 18 figures in each, so I bought three of each. This enabled me to achieve some degree of uniformity in terms of poses and will give me four 20-figure battalions (at least one for Forbodia) plus 'spares' to be used as gunners, staff officers, medics etc.
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| These are really rather nice figures - seen here awaiting an initial coat of PVA. |
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| Mine will look rather different to the box artwork! |
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| The Forbodian Jager Battalion being formed. The bases are only temporary to make them easier to handle while painting. |
4 comments:
I can't tell you how much (or exactly why) that annoying Funny Little Wars trick of turning HG Well's Red Army into Army Red etc grates on me.
But I'm sure these lads will serve splendidly. Have you picked a colour scheme? Typical Zouave or something else? I was very fond of some I painted years ago as Turkos in light blue with white pants and especially the Emir of WahdiFoulyam 's guard based partly on Egyptian troops serving in Greece in the 1820's with short red jackets and white pants. Enjoy!
Ross
I know what you mean about the army names - I think the trick is to call them whatever you like, or indeed invent your own. In the case of 'Red Army', however, I thin that has been claimed by a foreign power since HGW used it!
Your colour scheme sounds very racy. Mine will be in dark green with pale green and purple detailing - but that will still leave me with three more battalions and three more colour schemes!
haven't taken the 54mm plunge yet,
but I'm being sorely tested...I guess I don't like the idea of shooting them with sticks...)
Don
According to the er, 'scientific' research I have carried out, two coats of gloss varnish seems to make even plastic figures matchstick proof. Go on - you know you want to...
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