The Mahdist Wars Source Books

I recently received both volumes of The Mahdist Wars Source Book and I am very pleased with the content and quality.  They are available from The Virtual Armchair General (link) in print or PDF format.  I chose to get the PDF version and had them printed at the local copy store and put them in sheet protectors with a 3-ring notebook.  The CD arrived in a few days and had a custom label made with my name on it.  Excellent customer service from VAG.

The content in comprised mainly from articles that were previously published in the magazine Savage Soldier that was produced from 1965-1996.  This magazine was dedicated to the hobby of colonial wargaming.  TMWSB contains a tremendous number of articles, maps, OOBs and diagrams that are invaluable to the Sudan era gamer.  There is a lot of information about the Mahdist forces which seem to be lacking from other texts and resource material on the subject.  I particularly like the color guides for the Jibbas and directed my painting efforts to match them.  The article on Mahdist rifle units (Jihadiyya) and their effect on the battlefield is also contrary to many rules sets.

These volumes are an excellent addition to my resources on the Mahdist Wars and I strongly recommend any serious gamer to get these before you start your project.

Blog Kick-Off for the Sudan Wargaming Project

     When I was college at Ohio State in the 80's, I tool a Comp Studies course about the experience of warfare in classic literature taught by Dr. Stanley Karhl.  Although an English Professor, Dr. Karhl was an avid military history scholar and an active wargamer.  I played many games that he ran including WW2, Vietnam and Modern skirmish games.  He also ran many Sword and The Flame games and it was then that I was introduced to the Mahdist Wars in the Sudan.


     Last summer, I won a large painted colonial collection that included a selection of Pendraken Sudan minis in 10mm.  This got me interested again in the period.  I attended Rock-Con last fall and was able to play a Sudan game in 10mm.  I was hooked!

     My focus is the first period of the conflict from 1883-1885 so I have picked up more of the Pendraken line and I am now in the painting process.  I have painted several hundred Ansar infantry and about 150 Fuzzy Wuzzies.  For Mahdist cavalry, I have 50 Nile camelry and 50 Baggara cavalry.  Here is a photo of the Baggara Cavalry...

 

I am using washes of black and brown to get the shadows that I want for the miniatures.  I dry brush with an off-white of light tan to get the details to pop out.  The cavalry to the right have been washed with black but not dry brushed yet and appear a little dark.  I have to finish the Mahdist artillery and command before getting them based.


I have also finished the Egyptian infantry including two battalions of Sudanese along with several regiments of Egyptian Cavalry.  I have Over 60 British Infantry in khaki that will serve for the units that came from India and Australia as they were the only units to wear such in the 1883-1885 period (see picture above.)  I have finished two regiments of Highlanders - The Black Watch and Cameron Highlanders.  I gave the Camerons the red jackets that they wore at Ginnis and the Black Watch has the standard grey jackets.


I am now painting up the dismounted Camel Corps.  I am doing double the standard number in case I want to change the figure ratio for a special game featuring them.