Hollowcast Egyptian/Turkish/Fezian Column Marches & the Joy of Imagi-Nations

 I did show these in a post a few years or so ago but took new photos today and, I have to say, I need to take more photos outside as they look a lot better.

  I bought the figures repainted but did my own repainting and basing as they hadn't looked too good with bubbled paint work from an acrylic clear spray used over an enamel. I also like more detail on my figures.

  I 'cheated' here and added a plastic British Guard drummer with new hat. I need to make the base match the others. The officer at left was already converted when I got him, but the left arm is too big and the large cavalry glove still discernable. he also has infantry equipment. The officer at right is my own conversion but not very clear here.

  The falling figure was also plastic, in this case a BMC ACW. For some reason I gave him, the new officer and the drummer red cuffs but not on the rest - I might change that, either by changing them or changing the rest.

  I really like the cavalry, although they are dwarfed by my AIP Egyptian lancers. I might have to make some more hollow-cast style ones to get a 12 man unit. I have some original battered and damaged Britains cavalry and also some home-casts I can use. As something new I added some purple flowers on some of the cavalry bases. I like them!

These troops are basically part of my more modern Fezian army (late 19th to early 20th century). In Funny Little Wars parlance, they are 'Army Khaki' although as a pseudo-Ottoman army they represent a pre-Khaki army, simply because they look prettier!

  Their typical enemies are Army Red (pseudo-Britain), Army Light Green or Trans-Slovania (the pseudo- Balkans), Army Dark Green or Crussia (pseudo-Russia) or Lionia (pseudo-Abyssinia), In reality they might fight anyone from Cortesia/Army Lime-Green (pseudo-Mexico) to Army Red White and Blue/Ameriga (pseudo-America). (Although, come to think of it, historically some Ottoman Egyptians fought for Maximilian in the Mexican Adventure which was contemporaneous with and lasted a little longer than the ACW).

  Why have color designations for nations? I think originally HG Wells had it for his games, notably red and Blue. The idea was probably to reduce nationalist sentiment. For my view it is handy because I like the idea of referring to history in a generalized way but with the option of not being 100% historical. That means I will include units and uniforms that might be a few decades apart, nice for choosing ones I like. Also, by adding 'national traits' (which are not 'really' 'national' as they refer to 'Army Purple', etc.) adds some fun situations and contrasts in abilities and foibles.

  Of course, I sometimes go even beyond that and include interplanetary or supernatural forces of Barsoom, Chaos, 'Lost Lands' and so on.

  These figures suffered slightly from the recent Inundation and consequently the bases became a little soggy - the con of having card bases. However, after placing them in the sun the moisture left. I noticed a few small black mold spots under a few bases, so I intend to paint the undersides. The holes in the hats were filled in so there was not a problem with water getting inside the figures. Which makes me wonder, should we fill in those holes, at least on our repainted and converted hollow-cast figures or leave them as part of the 'charm' or for some other reason?