Abyssinian Crisis: 1st Half-Platoon Mehal Sefari - Conversions Part 1

And here we go with the first half-platoon of my planned Mehal Sefari for the Abyssinian War, which could also be used in 1941, when the British liberated Abyssinia.

The choice of suitable figures is quite limited, Empress has to my knowledge the only line of figures for Mehal Sefari, but support weapons and even LMG for example are completely missing.

Accordingly, conversion and DIY is the order of the day here.

Pedivere, who is really deep in the subject, had given me the tip to have a look at the Zanzibar Regulars from the Darkest Africa series by Copplestone Miniatures.

I also wanted to have a look at the Italian Askaris from Empress and for the LMG I would like to have a look at the "British Lewis Guns" from the "Great War in Africa" series from Brigade Games.

A Sudan plastic box and Wolesley helmets from the Perrys, and heads from Woodbine with British peaked caps completed the conversion materials.

Plus the usual stuff like wire for pinning, glue and lots of greenstuff.

On the far left is the Lewis LMG, the two center figures are the Zanzibar, and on the right is an Italian Askari.

Rebuilt Askari - the fez was filed off and then the Wolesley helmets were fitted.

The converted Zanzibars - the two on the left each got a head from the Sudan box, the two in the middle got a German pith helmet from the Perrys' DAK box, and the figure on the far right got a head from Woodbine.

On the far left the LMG crew - on the MG gunner himself I made only minor changes: remove mustache and shoes.

The magazine carrier got a plastic head and I removed his leg wraps.

Since according to the list the crew consists of 3 men, I built another figure from the Sudan box, which got a head of Woodbine with a peaked cap and to which I modeled 2 magazines for the Lewis MG from wooden discs and greenstuff, worn on a strap over the shoulder; said strap must now be trimmed and sanded at the edges.

All conversions at a glance

A Half-Platoon Mehal Sefari consists of an Inferior Junior Leader and 2 sections of 9 Riflemen each, where one section can be upgraded with an LMG via the support list and then 3 of the infantrymen become its operators.

Together with the Empress figures, the conversions give me sufficient variety of poses as I envisioned for my Mehals - as they count as regular troops, but are by no means as uniformed as European units.

It still remains to convert another Lewis operation to be able to equip the 2nd Half-Platoon accordingly and also for the MMG from the support list I already have an idea what has to serve there as raw material for the conversion.