Rummage Sale!

I've been rummaging about in my seemingly never-ending pile of gaming boxes and I've decided to get rid of a couple of projects that have never been finished. You'll see pictures in this and the next post of 54mm Sudan and 54mm AWI collections. Both are relatively small collections and I'd like to sell them as whole lots rather than individual figures or units. Of course, I'm not averse to selling them by the unit but the per figure price is lower if the entire collection is purchased. I'll accept PayPal payments or cash, if you're local. For those who don't know, I'm located in Canada, near Toronto, and shipping will be at cost (i.e. you want it fast, it'll cost you more).

54mm Sudan

Below each photo there is a description of the figures and the unit cost. In total there are 49 foot figures, 2 guns and 7 cavalry. The total of the unit prices is $595.00 USD. If the collection is bought as a whole, $525.00 USD (plus the bonus gift in the last photo).

British line (8 figures: Armies in Plastic) $80.00

Royal Marine Light Infantry (8 figures: Armies in Plastic) $80.00

British artillery (6 crew + gatling gun) $60.00
These are conversions from the talented hands of Ken Cliffe of All the King's Men Toy Soldiers.

Marine Artillery (6 crew + gatling gun) $60.00

Again, conversions by Ken Cliffe.

Cavalry (3 British lancers + 3 Bengal lancers + 1 cmd) $105.00
These are conversions using CTS French Napoleonic dragoon bodies as a base to work from and AIP heads. The Bengal officer is a metal rider, the origin of which I can't remember. The horses are from CTS on ATKM metal bases. These were created before AiP brought out their British and Bengal lancer boxes.

Ansar warriors (10 warriors + 1 standard bearer: Armies in Plastic) $110.00

Ansar riflemen (10 riflemen: Armies in Plastic) $100.00

French Foreign Legion (9 figures: Armies in Plastic) If you buy the entire Sudan collection, this unit is gratis (even though it's not really a Sudan Wars unit).

Out of Obscurity...

Since I'm so busy at work today (grin), I thought I'd post some pics of a project that has long lain dormant for me but has been slowly percolating in the background. Maybe it's time to resurrect this very cool project. These are 54mm Sudan Wars figures, mainly from Armies in Plastic but with a smattering of other manufacturers and some customized items as well.

Royal Marines & British line infantry

The Armies in Plastic figures are quite nice but are limited in pose variation. I am not quite sold on working with plastics and I try in this scale to use metals, if available. Thus, my use of All the King's Men Toy Soldiers for my 54mm AWI project (of which more anon). Ken Cliffe, the proprietor (and good friend) urged me to try out this big scale a few years ago and I've been slowly crawling out of the mire of my 28mm collections into what Ken would surely characterize as the light and beauty of "toy" soldiers. I'm still working on my painting techniques for these bigger figures. My normal practices with 28mm figures often don't translate well onto the larger toys.

Indian Cavalry (conversions from Napoleonic French dragoons)

One of the more challenging, yet satisfying, aspects of working with plastics is the ability to convert. When I began this project several years ago, there were no Indian cavalry available in this scale. I had seen prints of this unit and thought it a cool addition to my British army. With Ken's help, I was able to find some suitable Napoleonic French dragoons to work with. I used heads from AiP's Indian infantry and with some creative use of tissue and putty, I was able to produce three passable figures. Of course, within months of the completion of these figures, AiP produced a boxed set of this very unit. Oh well, now I have limited edition unique figures for the Sudan campaigns.

Gatling Guns & British Naval Crew

These fantastic guns I found at Michigan Toy Soldiers for $5.00 USD each. Unfortunately, I needed sailors to man them and none were produced anywhere. This is where Ken stepped in again. Ken is a master converter and can see possibilities in the oddest figures. An American Civil War infantryman can easily become Napoleon in his fur coat in 1812, in Ken's eye at least!. These figures are superb conversions and if you're wondering whether this is a blatant commercial for Ken's products and services at All the King's Men Toy Soldiers....well, yes it is!

The dastardly Mahdists!