More French and Egypt - FRC 3s Mamelukes

I had never seen this figure before but this morning 45 of them arrived from eBay. They are the proper French Revolution and Egyptian Campaign Range Mamelukes, and are particularly welcome as they will provide  a substantial number of cavalry for my S Range Egyptian army, which (similarly to the French I admit) has been overdependent on camelry - FRC 4s Arabs for the Egyptians and FRC 1s Dromedary Troopers for the French.

When I first saw the listing on eBay I passed it by as I thought they were the Guard Mamelukes from the general French Napoleonic Range. As I already had plenty of these, both in S Range and Hinton Hunt, and Napoleon himself only ever had about 200 at any given time, I didn't think much more about it. However, thankfully, on the closing day for the auction I looked at the photos again and saw they were all carrying small round shields which meant they are the proper Egyptian Campaign Range ones. I had to bid strongly for them but I am very pleased to get them.

The photo is a comparison shot - the two figures on the left (the unpainted ones) are FRC 3s Mamelukes from the French Revolution and Egyptian Campaign Range, while the two painted figures on the right are FNC 6s Guard Mamelukes from the general French Napoleonic range.

Identifying features for the Egyptian Campaign figures are that not only do they have a small round shield carried on their left arm they also have a musket slung on their backs.

I had never seen this figure before so am very pleased to have acquired them - just need to face up to the prospect of painting some or all of them now.

French and Egypt bits and pieces

I'm trying to finish off my French Revolution and Egypt figures, particularly the French forces. I have been part way through for months two units of Hussars - S Range in Mirliton and Lamming Hussars in Mirlitons and finishing some standard bearers, using the FR 12s Demi Brigade Officer with some of the rather lovely Adolfo Ramos versions of the distinctive French flags.

When these are finally done I'll try to take some photos of both armies. As with the Landsknechts I resorted to modern figures from the Hagen Miniatures shop to provide some Ottoman artillery, with guns from Newline. I'm happy with these but for French guinners I thought I would just paint som S Range Austrian gunners, which would provide a better fit in style. I still have to source some guns for these figures.

There is a long and convoluted story about S Range ginners which I will probably disclose when I have the army finished - I am waiting for some guns from Kennington.

So first up: French (?) gunners:

Secondly, a figure I had never seen, until I acquired these late last year/early this year:

This is FRC 4s Arab camel Rider with Musket, which is a tremendously versatile and useful figure which would serve from 1790 to 1918 at least.

Napoleon in Egypt - the French

Surely the most colourful French army ever.

First, Demi Brigade infantry and grenadiers (FR 10s, 11s and 12s):

Then Demi Brigade light infantry FR13s, some with more grenadiers FR10s

FR 14s Demi Brigade Riflemen:

FRC 1s French Dromedary Trooper - I probably have more of these than Napoleon had:

French Officers - these are Fine Scale Factory figures

French horse mounted general:

Things I still have to do: command bases - I have plenty of spare officer figures who will be given flags I currently have on order from Adolfo Ramos. Horse cavalry - I will look out some S Range Dragoons. There is a lovely one piece Lamming Hussar in Mirliton and if I can find some this will give me my light cavalry. I don't know what to do with artillery yet.

For the opposition I think I have some Mamelukes - I know I have a reasonable number of Hinton Hunt figures but I may also have some S range ones. Trip to the loft is called for. I have never been able to identify with confidence  FRC 6s Arab horse lancer and FRC 7s Syrian horse lancer. I have some S Range figures which may be Ancients but could stand in.

When I work out a decent way of photographing them en masse I will see if I can photograph the whole force together.

Napoleonic Units: French Imperial Guard Chasseurs a Cheval

Napoleonic Units: French Imperial Guard Lancers

Napoleonic Units: French Line Chasseurs a Cheval

Napoleonic Units: French Line Hussars

Help Please!

For a while I have been wishing I had seen some of the cavalry figures from the French Revolution and Egyptian Campaign range. Then in a small moment of lucidity I wondered if these figures might actually be one or some of FRC 6s (Arab Horse Lancer) or FRC 7s (Syrian Horse Lancer). They come from a Colonial collection I bought a while ago, which included many conversions, eg from British Napoleonic Alberken infantry, and gems like Crimean Spahis and Chasseurs d'Afrique. I had always assumed that these figures, which are clearly S Range, would be Ancient types, of which I have almost no knowledge. However, on looking at the catalogue I can't see what else these figures could be, apart form the Egyptian Campaign figures. Can anyone help clear this up with a more definitive identification?

French Revolution and Egyptian Campaign - Dromedaires redone

A couple of these have lost their plumes. 5 x FRC1s mounted on Camel 1s, Dromedary Trotting.

French Revolution and Egyptian Campaign Range

This small range contains figures which are full of character, and in my experience quite rare. The examples I have have variously been masquerading as Spanish Guerillas and colonial wars figures. Vintage20mil lists 15 infantry, 4 cavalry and 3 camel riders, together with a number of empty codes.

I thought I would start the blog with this range as it is small, the figures have charm, and I always dream that one day someone will offer me a collection of them - if that person is you, let me know!

FRC 1s French Dromedary Trooper

These are rare figures but I have now acquired some, so can add these before and after repainting pictures of actual figures to the one from the S Range catalogue below.

FRC 2s French Hussar - use FSWC 2s

I currently have no picture of this figure

FRC 3s Mameluke

This is a comparison shot - the two figures on the left (the unpainted ones) are FRC 3s Mamelukes from the French Revolution and Egyptian Campaign Range, while the two painted figures on the right are Guard mamelukes from the general French Napoleonic range.
Identifying characteristics for the Egyptian Campaign figures are that they have a small round shield carried on their left arm and a musket slung on their backs.
I think the Guard Mamelukes are much more common in circulation, although Napoleon himself never had more than about 200 of them.

FRC 4s Arab Camel Rider with musket

FRC 5s Syrian Camel Lancer

I currently have no picture of this figure

FRC 6s Arab Horse Lancer

I currently have no picture of this figure

FRC 7s Syrian Horse Lancer

I currently have no picture of this figure