The Mahdi's forces were well organised - one of the problems the British and Egyptians had was they failed to understand the organisation and command structure.
Most infantry units seemed to be mixture of mostly hand to hand troops with a proportion of rifles or muskets. They also used cavalry and camelry for skirmishing, scouting and in melee. They also possessed a little artillery; old muzzle loaders which seem to have been used against towns or in defensive positions. Later they had some captured Krupp guns and pressed Egyptian crews but never many.
I'll let you see the OOBs shortly.

Shame ... the box would have been a lot easier to paint, and quicker too :)

Can you give a brief appraisal of the Mahdi forces? (the Sudan campaign is not something I know a lot about)

I see Perry lists Beja swordsmen, spearmen and riflemen. Would these have operated in distinct groups/regiments or was it just a mix? How was the command structure? What are the rules you are using and how are units set up within the rules?

:)

(That'll teach Mike for his "don't paint the box" quip!)

It's the figures in the box you need to paint (just thought I'd make that clear). I'll keep you in mind when the figures are available. I'm also working on OOBs for both sides too.

Happy to paint up a box :)

Just as a follow up to the Sudan project (which hasn't happened). Perry are to produce Ansar & Fuzzy Wuzzy infantry in plastic later in the year. If only a few of us painted up a box of these each we'd have a really good army. That would only require a few extra units; cavalry, artillery & commanders. Then my Brits could relieve Khartoum and save Charlton Heston and Chinese Gordon too.

I'll let you know if we go ahead. This is the problem - such projects are only worthwhile if enough members join in. So far we've three or four showing some interest in the Sudan. I'll ask around and see what we can commit to.

Well if you give me a link to the sort of unit you want me to do I'm more than happy to pain them up as a "distraction" project. It would be nice to practice some different skin tones.

That was one of the reasons for suggesting a Sudan Campaign as a club project. Between me & David we have enough British, Colonial and Egyptians (apart from a cavalry unit) so if each participant bought about 30 Mahdists we have a large force with little individual expense. The Perry Mins range is particularly good & the Old Glory ones not to bad.

They sound ideal for the sci-fi skirmish, but also for some a Sudanese opponents. Do you think some Foundry Sudanese would make a suitable force to oppose them in the future?

My British Colonials are the ones I use for VSF. They are mainly Black Tree Design. About 50 Infantry with Gattling Gun & 9lb Field Guns.

Mike ... What figures do you have in your British Colonial Collection and what make are they?

Sounds good to me. I reckon I'd take a British Colonial faction or maybe the Vikings shown above if that seems more appropriate.

Just thinking out loud ...

We could easily put on a Mordeim game with the collections we have.

The MO would be ...

- D/L the Mordeim rules: The main rules are 45 pages BUT I could easily condense that to a 11 page booklet for anyone that needs it.
- Choose 10 figures from any collection you have: That's right, any collection e.g. French Napoleonic, Vikings, Elves ... anything.
- Post here your unit and I will come up with some rules for your "fraction".
- We make a date and play: I woulds suggest a suggest a Sci-Fi scenario in that all the fractions have been drawn into an alternate universe where they must fight for the key to the gate to get them back home.
- Play Area: A town with lots of buildings? the gate in a central area?

What do you think?

Well, I can see that a club project is going to be awkward as we all want to pull in different directions ... BUT

What if ... we chose something small and manageable, something Gang-Based?

Your commitment would be a handful of mini's 10-20 tops. Each person could be assigned a couple of bits of scenery to make and thus we can get together for a fun game?

For example, Games Workshop do a game called Mordheim which is fantasy based where to get a warband together and slug it out with multiple opponents. There are also a lot of Pulp Fiction type games so we could run, 1920's Gangsters, Monsters or Zombies, etc. etc. All with low outlay and easy to throw a game together ...

Anyone want to take me up on this and start something? Any ideas?

(oh... Mordheim rules are a free if big download from the GW site)

My personal projects at the moment (in order of proposed completion):
Seven Years War 15mm - Prussians & Austrians almost complete Russians just started.
Ptolemaic & Seleucid 15mm - a large number of pikemen to finish but then they should be ready.
Dark Age/Vikings etc. 28mm - Several new units to paint & a fortress to complete.
VSF 28mm - Prussian tanks required then I'll add cavalry to both sides with a few more infantry.
Then there's a few bits about for Napoleonic Spanish, ECW, SYW Russian 28mm, Back of Beyond & Modern Africa.
That should keep me busy for a few months.

Ideas for club projects in the recent past have included the Sudan in 28mm, ACW in 6mm, the Battle of Marathon in 15mm & a Napoleonic Naval Campaign for which we already have the models.