PAINTING GUIDE

OLD KINGDOM EGYPTION

Clothing white, tanned skin. Shieds covered with white ox hide with irregular patches of black or red-brown. Weapon points bronze. Nubian skin colour would be very dark. Try an African flesh tone, with a black wash.

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SUMERIANS

Most troops dressed in grey or off white sheepskins with the upper body bare. Cloaks and straps could be leather dyed red or green or felt coloured buff or off white. Studs on cloaks are bronze. Helmets and weapons are bronze, figures used as standards either gold or bronze. Flesh would be tanned.

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ASHANTI WARS

British Infantry Mid grey uniform, green mosquito net wrapped around khaki helmet . Buff straps and pouches. The Black Watch Regiment, the Royal Highlanders, wore a small tuft of red feathers on the left of their helmets, the famous Red Hackle. West India Regiment Early in the campaign wore a colourful and ornate "Zouave" style uniform, white shirt, red waistcoat with yellow lacing, dark blue trousers with yellow seam stripe, red fez (cap) with white turban wrapped around. As the campaign progressed the uniform became more practical in the jungle, white/grey tunics in place of the waistcoat, loose white/grey trousers, plain red fez without turban. Haussa Infantry Dark blue shirt and trousers, red fez with black tassel, white/grey equipment. Some troops wore a yellow waist sash striped with red. Native Scouts White or off white loincloth or shorts, natural leather or hide equipment, straps and pouches. During the campaign some troops acquired British equipment which would be buff, white or grey. Feathers and other head-dress would be in natural colours. Ashanti White or off white loincloths, sarongs and head cloths. The warshirt, covered in small pouches would be natural hide coloured or red, with pouches in many different colours of leather or cloth. The more wealthy and higher ranking warriors would have more colourful clothing, blue being popular and stripes and patterns on some. All jewellery and decoration gold. Cowrie shells were stuck to some weapons with dried blood. Bones attached to drums would be sewed inside cloth covers.

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COLONIAL EGYPTIAN

These figures represent some of the troops in Egypt and the Sudan at the time of General Charles Gordon and the Mahadist revolt. Regular Infantry, figures, CE1 to CE6 White uniform, red fez/tarboosh (cap) with black tassel. Black equipment. Sudanese Infantry CE7 White uniform with red fez/tarboosh. Brown leather equipment. Bashi Bazouk CE8 No uniform as such, dress was very individualistic, but generalisations are as follows:   white shirt   red, buff, brown, green or blue waistcoat with black or gold trim   red waist sash   blue, white or drab pantaloons   brown leggings over black or dark brown shoes.   Brown leather equipment. Arab Infantry CE9 Irregular uniform appearance but commonly long white pleated shirt hanging well below the waist, white pants. Red waistcoat and sash, white turban. Brown or black leggings and shoes. Sudanese Gendarme in Zouave uniform CE10 White shirt, light blue coat and pants with yellow trim, red sash. Red fez with white turban wrapped around. White leggings over black boots, brown equipment. Egyptian Infantry, headcloth CE11 White shirt and pants, black equipment. The usual red fez worn under a white cloth cover. Black Sudanese Bazinger Rifleman CE12 Irregular uniform appearance but commonly, white pants, white, tan or brown robe worn wrapped around waist & over the shoulder, improvised leather or cloth equipment, red fez with black tassel Variations In the far-flung regions of the Sudan military dress and equipment would often appear anything but uniform. While the members of regular Egyptian units might look similar, those collectors and gamers who like plenty of variation in their units could include some CE7 and CE11 in otherwise regularly equipped units. The reverse is also possible, with the less well equipped CE 7 and CE 11 making up units, perhaps with a few of CE 1 to CE 4 representing those individuals retaining most of their issued equipment. Bashi Bazouk individuals often wore widely differing dress so units of CE 8 can be supplemented by some appropriately painted CE 9 and CE 10. The highly regarded Black Sudanese troops, CE 12, could be mixed with the better-dressed CE 7. Following the early victories of the Mahadist revolt, large numbers of former Egyptian army troops were incorporated into the Mahadist army. CE12 can be used as Jihadiya rifleman, with some CE 7. Note that the red fez was not worn in the Mahadist army, white caps would be appropriate. Both regular and irregular units can be commanded by Egyptian Officers CE 5 or CE 6. Egyptian Camel Corps **When ordering choose either Remington or Martini Henry rifles. Early campaigns - Gordon Era Remington rifle. White uniform, red fez with black tassel. Cartridge belt brown leather. Haversack brown or white. Other equipment black. Camel saddle brown leather, saddle cloth off white. Later campaigns - Reconquest of the Sudan and Omdurman Martini Henry rifle. Khaki uniform, khaki fez optional white cover. Cartridge belt brown leather, water bottle mid grey. Haversack red brown. Camel saddle brown leather, saddle cloth off white. For variety within units mix dismounted Camel Corps with Egyptian Infantry and vice versa.

CAMEL NOMADS/MIDIANITE ARABS

Camels can be various shades of brown, often light tan. Hair on necks, heads and tails often darker than the rest of the animal. White camels occur, blacks are much less common. All animals would be dirty and weather beaten. Saddle cloths can be dark brown/tanned leather, straps similar. Foot figures and riders would have tanned skin, dark hair and wear white kilts. All equipment, quivers, straps and bows in various shades of brown for wood and tanned leather. As well as fielding armies in their own right, these figures can be fielded in the following armies: - Early Babylonial or Chaldean - Neo-Hittite, Aramaen, Phonician or Cypriot - Later Hebrew - Meshwesh (Libyan) Egyptian (Infantry) - Saite Egyptian

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HEBREWS

Bronze armor and weapons. Early armies could have iron sword and spear blades. Clothing for the majority of poorer warriors would be natural wool colors, various shades of off white. Wool could also be brown or black. Bright colors and patterns were popular with Hebrews at this time. Richer and higher classes warriors could have brighter colored clothing, including various shades of purple and crimson. A variety of head scarves were worn, often with a hanging end. Equipment and straps would be leather. Hebrew troops could have a variety of captured or traded Canaanite, Philistine or Egyptian equipment. Shield designs could include the branched Menorah candelabra. The Star of David symbol is from a later time period.

BIBLICALS

Most Middle Eastern peoples of this time would have tanned skin and dark hair. Weapons were bronze, spear shafts and throw sticks should be natural wood colours. Gutians would wear goat or sheepskins which may be black, grey, brown or off-white. White would be worn by upper classes. Helmets can be leather. Makkanites would have dressed in natural colours of woven cloth. Off-white, grey and shades of brown are possible. Head bands, white. Amorites could have woollen clothing with coloured borders or geometric patterns in red, white or blue. They were light skinned with black hair. Their shields were animal skins stretched on a flame of sticks, the tail of the animal was sometimes left attached.

French Foreign Legion

Skin Tones: Tanned Flesh (GW), Bronzed Flesh (GW), Elf Flesh (GW) Coat: Regal Blue (GW) + Black, Regal Blue (GW), Regal Blue (GW) + Baltic Blue (Palmer), Baltic Blue(Palmer) Kepi and trousers: Coffee (Palmer), Iraqi Sand (Vallejo), Iraqi Sand (Vallejo) + White Rifles and Pack: Raw Umber (Palmer), Burnt Umber (Palmer), Burnt Umber (Palmer) + Snakebite Leather (GW) Kepi Brim, Black Straps and boots: Black, Black + Shadow Grey (GW), Shadow Grey (GW) Brown Straps: Raw Umber (Palmer), Raw Umber (Palmer) + Bleached Bone (GW) Small Buckles and Buttons: Boltgun Metal (GW) Pan, Pot and Rifle Barrel: Boltgun Metal (GW), Smoke (Tamiya) Base: Brown Oxide (Apple Barrel), English Mustard (Folkart), Buttercrunch (Folkart) Base Trim: Buttercrunch (Folkart), Bleached Bone (GW)

French Foreign Legion by Castaway Arts - Painted and Photographed by Andrew Lum.

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