WARGAMES, INC., Box 278, Triadelphia, WV 26059 carries the very nice 15mm ESSEX colonial line; years ago I purchased all of the Sudan packs for my Sudan project and they are some of my favorite figures. The line must be at least a dozen years old, however, it holds up very well quality-wise and I would say they are still "state-of-the-art" figures. There are five packs of British infantry in puttees or trousers including command, which are, I think, intended for the Reconquest, though they don't have neck cloths, as I would expect from that period - I am sure they could be used for the Boer Wars as well. I am using them as troops from India sent to the Sudan and building two 24-figure units. They come in firing, kneeling at ready, and at the ready positions with command consisting of an officer, well-done sergeant, and a bugler. I place kneeling poses in the first line with either firing or at ready in the second rank. There are three packs of Highlanders in kilt, firing, at ease and command (officer, piper); I am not crazy about the "at ease" pose, not that it is a "bad" pose, I just don't care for at ease poses. Very nicely done figures, however. A pack of British mounted officers (two poses) is available for the Later Sudan and you can go into the Zulu War range to get mounted officers for the Early Sudan (OC58), my Hicks Pasha mounted figure is from the Zulu range.
My favorite figure is the British and Egyptian Camel Corps the British line has one enlisted man pose in which his is carrying his h his rifle in his right hand while the command consists of a beautifully done officer and bugler. All Essex camel mounted figures are one-piece castings which I prefer in l5mm. As for dismounts, the British have only one enlisted man pose - you guessed it - at ease; nicely done figure, however, I would have much preferred an "at ready" pose. Command has an officer and bugler. The Egyptians have a single EM pose, much like the British, while the command pack has only officers (all three in the same pose). There are no dismounts for the Egyptians though I use pack OC34 "Later-period Egyptians" in a standing firing pose. They have a back pack while the Camel Corps doesn't, but they fit well enough otherwise. The 21" lancers, of course, are for the 1898 Reconquest and they have one enlisted man pose and an officer-, they have the BEST lances I've seen in l5mm or 25mm. British artillery is represented by a Gatling gun with either army or Naval Brigade gunners and a 6-figure pack of army crew members though I haven't seen any of the army crew figures. The Mahdists have camelmen with sword or spear with different types of headgear and are excellently done! The Essex camels are so good! There is only one horseman with spear with several different headgear. I should mention that the Essex cavalry packs have a wide variety of horse poses and I think they make the best horses on the market. There are three packs of spearmen, again with different headgear, one of riflemen (six firing with legs widely spread and two with rifle upraised), foot command (flag bearers) and gun crew (handy figures for Egyptian gun boats) while the Fuzzies have two packs of spearmen, one of swordsmen, and one with rifle. Many of the melee-armed natives have two poses/pack and have separate weapons, which I don't like, but Essex always leaves a good clean hole in the hand for weapon placement. I wish I could tell you which packs have separate weapons (none of the rifle-armed packs) but it's been so many years since I got the native packs that I don't recall. I am using the Dervish rifleman as Gordon's "Irregular" Arab rifleman as well.
Egyptians are divided into "early period" (Charles Gordon) and "later period" (late 1880's and Reconquest). In the early period, they have an excellent infantryman and foot command pack; the standard bearer has a caston flag and there is an officer and bugler. The gun crew is excellent as are the Dragoons and Lancers; for cavalry officers as well as infantry mounted officers, I use the later Lancer officer figure which fits very well. Lastly, there is an excellent Sudanese Gendarme infantryman and I use the regular infantry foot command figures for command for this pose. Perfect figure for Gordon's troops. The later period packs feature an infantry which I already mentioned using for dismounted Egyptian camel corps as well foot command, gun crew, Gatling gun & crew, Sudanese infantry which are excellent - puttees, at ready with legs widely spread, British officer pack for Egyptian/Sudanese infantry (for the later period), and Egyptian lancers as well as the Camel Corps already mentioned. Although the Egyptian Camel Corps was not available for the Gordon period, I plan on using it as such, as well as the Sudanese infantry pack. That completes the Sudan range, however, I am using the Zulu War British infantry (ready, loading, and firing as well as commaTzd), Naval Brigade (kneeling and at ease with one officer figure), and Dragoon Guards as Hussars for the Sudan. I plan on using Zulu War British infantry as dismounted British Dragoons or Hussars and will remove the bayonet so they look more like carbines. All are excellent poses. As to equipment, there is a smooth bore gun for the Mahdists ($2.89), wagon w/4 horses or oxen and two British horse riders ($7.99), pack camels which I haven't seen, ammo mules with either British in puttee or Egyptian handlers (3 mules/I handler per pack) which are great, British breech loading gun ($2.89), Maxim gun on either carriage or tripods w/crew (haven't seen), a Krupps gun ($2.89) for the Egyptians which is very good, an early British gun ($2.89) and British or Egyptian limbers ($5.49 for limber, four horses, two horse riders). What I like very much about the Essex line is that it is usually cleanly cast - the entire line is always in proportion, and the poses are very well done. They are short a Bashi-Bazouk foot and horse figure for the Sudan in their line, however, most lines don't include Bashi's. Unfortunately, many of the packs are limited to one pose which we don't see much anymore, Nonetheless, they are still my favorite 15mm line! Foot are $3.69 for eight figures or six command while you get four horse/three camels or three mounted command. As I mentioned, they have a Zulu War range but the only items I've seen are the ones I mentioned above. Highly recommended; matches up well with Stone Mountain, Irregular Miniatures, Gallia, and Minifigs. I should also mention Wargames provides extremely prompt service; my order was faxed to them on January 2nd and I received it January 4th.
It had occurred to me that ESSEX probably has figures within their other lines which would be useable for the Sudan so I took a chance and lucked out! From their MIDDLE EAST 700-1400 ARABS AND ALLIES line, I got the following: CRUI-Mailed cavalry, line, turban, shield - four mounted w/lance upright (cast-on), large round shield, sword at side, same pose, four different horses; good as Ghorchurras for Sikh War but could use limited numbers for Sudan. CRU17-Assorted light cavalry with round shield - four figures again, upright spear (caston), large round shield, sword at side, no chain mail; perfect for Sudan but also can be used as Ghorchurras three different poses, one 1-piece casting w/spear across horse's neck (nicely donel), all in turbans and all different horses. CRUI 9-Command Mounted - three poses of which two are 1-piece castings, three different riders/horses - one in cloak w/turban, other two w/steel pointed helmet w/cloth around bottom edges; the two 1piece castings would make great Emirs for Sudan, cloaked figure w/turban better suited for Sikh War.
I also checked out the ARAB CONQUESPENPIRE line and found AEA1-Mounted General - three identical one-piece castings, hooded cloak over chain-mail w/steel pointed helmet w/cloth around bottom - very nice Emir or Sikh War (leaning toward Sikh War). AEA2Heavy Cavalry - four figures w/lance, round shield, full chain-mail, conical helmet, four differently poses horses, riders all in one pose, better suited as Ghorchurras. AEA3Medium/Heavy Cavalry - four lance w/round shield, turban, quilted armor to below waist, turban, four different horses, better suited as Ghorchurras. AEA4-Light Cavalry; four different horses, turban, same poses, spear/round shield - fine for Sudan but I lean toward Ghorchurras for them. XEQ4-Arab Salves (from Ancient equipment line) - a REAL find here! Great for Sudan or Sikh War! Six different poses (of six figures) all in turban, carrying long piece of wood on shoulder (will be used on Sudan gunboat as crew member or for pontoon for Sikh War), carrying large water gourd, carrying large sack over shoulder, carrying large carpet over shoulder, loaded down with many different sacks and pack on back, and as just mentioned but with different load. Very handy for Indian Mutiny as well, I would think - In general, highly recommended as is WARGAMES!
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© Copyright 2001 Hal Thinglum
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