Nile River Gunboats from Grand Manner and Old Glory Miniatures in 28mm / 25mm

The Nile River Gunboats of the Mahdist War / Sudan Campaign are some of my favorite engines of war in the Victorian / Colonial era.  These steam-powered war machines were an example of asymmetric warfare and the technological superiority of British forces in Egypt in the late 1800's / early 1900's.


Here is Grand Manner's 28mm Middle East / Sudan SM19 Rear Paddle 4 - Louisa Gunboat that has been converted to a Tamai-class Gunboat.  There were four gunboats in the class: Tamai, El Teb, Abu Kea, and Metemmeh.  The 28mm miniatures used were:

  • Grand Manner 28mm SM19 Rear Paddle 4 - Louisa
  • Houston's Naval Guns & Ship Fittings 25mm WC-01 12-pdr (3") QF on Mount (at fore of ship with Half-Round Shield omitted)
  • Houston's Naval Guns & Ship Fittings 25mm WC-24 1-pdr "Pom-Pom" on Cone Mount (at aft of ship under tent)
  • Houston's Naval Guns & Ship Fittings 25mm 2 x WC-54 Vickers/Maxim .30 MG on Pedestal Mount (modified with sheet styrene gun shields)
  • Old Glory Miniatures 25mm CSB-01 British Camel Corps Firing Line with Command

Here is the inspiration for the Tamai gunboat conversion from the cover of Angus Konstam and Peter Dennis's Nile River Gunboats 1882-1918 from Osprey Publishing. 


The second 25mm gunboat was based on the historical Safia which was a converted passenger side-paddle steamer and one of the earliest river gunboats on the Nile River.

  • Old Glory Miniatures 25mm MCL-02 Colonial Gun boat (Old Glory calls this "Safieh" style but Osprey's "Nile River Gunboats 1882-1918" spells it the "Safia".  It included 1 gun, at fore, and 4 crew)
  • Old Glory Miniatures 25mm CSB-01 British Camel Corps Firing Line with Command
  • Old Glory Miniatures 25mm CSB-07 Egyptian Artillery Crew
  • Old Glory Miniatures 25mm CSG-02Krupp Gun for Egyptians (at aft)
  • Old Glory Miniatures 25mm 2 x CSG-03Nordenfeldt Machine Guns

Here is the inspiration for the Safia gunboat conversion from Angus Konstam and Peter Dennis's Nile River Gunboats 1882-1918 from Osprey Publishing.

Here are the two 28mm Nile River Gunboats from Grand Manner and Old Glory on patrol.  The background includes the following miniatures:

  • Perry Miniatures 28mm SB39 British Camel Corps command
  • Perry Miniatures 28mm SB40 British Camel Corps, rifles on hips
  • Perry Miniatures 28mm SA29 Late war Ansar riflemen
  • Grand Manner 28mm SM01 Small House
  • Grand Manner 28mm SM02 Medium House A
  • Ainsty Castings 28mm 3503 Sampan Barge



Welcome to Mechalawyer's blogs. Devoted to retro nostalgia from the 80s and 90s.

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