Saturday, 10 February 2024

Egyptian Fellahin

Today's post shows two of the three units of fellahin that will join the collection. 




Servants-at-arms of the Mamelukes the fellahin were recruited from local peasants and were a permanent force of trained warriors. Largely armed with spears and hand weapons they made up a significant part of the foot troops that served in Egypt in the Mameluke forces. At the Battle of the Pyramids there were reputedly 6,000 of them present.



Although the Perrys have now released fellahin with muskets, I had ordered these before that release. So I have raided my big box of bits to provide firearms to some figures.




Descriptions of the Ottoman armies tell of many flags in the battle lines so I have done four standard bearers with these units.


These had to be easiest units I have painted in a long time.

20 comments:

  1. Well you've done a great job there Mark and I really love them:)! Having lots of flags makes them look even better and will certainly stand out when on the table.

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  2. Excellent work, Mark. Say, is that one fellow carrying a hubcap found along the side of the road?

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    1. Thanks Jonathan...yes several have found hubcaps...maybe from ancient Egyptian chariots.

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  3. Fellahin sounds a bit like something a rugby league player would be in court for. Beautiful work Mark, and the additional standards really make for an eye-catching unit. It is funny how sometimes the easiest units can be the most effective, whereas some others that require a lot of fiddly work don't offer the same return for the amount of effort expended.

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    1. Maybe a cricketer from the sub-continent...the standard bearers and the Imam take time with more ornate coats, but the rank and file are super quick - all done with the contrast paints.

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  4. Those look fantastic a great looking unit.
    Cheers
    Stu

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  5. What a fantastic looking unit, the new Perry Sculpts are great.

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  6. Once again, very colourful units, Mark, and I do like all the flags!

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    1. Of course with all those flags one third of the unit are non-combatants!

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  7. Lovely job. They look a lot of fun to paint.

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    1. Thanks Norm. They are remarkably simple to paint - well the rank and file anyway - just a white undercoat then a few different contrast colours.

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  8. Colorful, certainly going to make a splash on the table. Your extra standards will make the units stand out even in the Mameluke army.

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    1. Thanks Joe. As nice as it has been to work with all that colour, I yearn to work with some uniformed units!

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  9. They look lovely Mark…
    What’s not to like about lots of flags…

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Thanks Aly, I concur flags give the unit life.

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  10. looking fantastic! nice job there. rich colors. 😁

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    1. But I am scraping the bottom of my red paint supplies, having used most of it up painting 1870 Frenchmen...

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