The Fireforge Games Black Guard is a 28mm scale hard plastic miniature kit featuring 30 multi-part figures designed for historical tabletop wargaming. This Armies of Islam box set provides elite Moroccan infantry, modular assembly options, and authentic weapon loadouts, all molded in high-detail gray plastic.
The Iron Guard of the Sultanate
Known historically as the ‘Abid al-Bukhari or "Slaves of Bukhari," the Black Guard stood as the elite, highly disciplined standing military corps established by Sultan Isma‘il ibn Sharif of Morocco during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Sworn directly to the Sultan upon the sacred texts of Imam al-Bukhari, these professional warriors were rigorously trained from youth in the arts of archery, musketry, horsemanship, and melee defense. Free from local tribal entanglements, this 150,000-strong army formed the unbreakable military pillar of the 'Alawi dynasty, garrisoning strategic fortifications and dominating North African battlefields with dense, defensive spear formations.
Hobbyist Versatility & Battle Deployment
Molded in durable high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) gray plastic, this boxed set delivers deep customization across 5 identical multi-part infantry sprues. The kit allows tabletop generals to field formidable shield-wall battle lines or mobile auxiliary blocks. Featuring interchangeable heads with tagelmust desert wraps and helmets, textured pavise-style tower shields, long bamboo-banded thrusting spears, sheathed scabbards, and dedicated command bits, this set is fully modular and compatible with Deus Vult, SAGA: Age of Crusades, Barons' War, Warhammer: The Old World, and Oathmark.
From this box, you can build:
- Up to 30 Black Guard Spearmen in braced or marching poses with long thrusting spears
- Up to 30 Heavy Infantrymen carrying large rectangular pavise-style infantry shields
- Dedicated Unit Leaders holding sacred scriptures, raised swords, or commander batons
- Military Musicians equipped with field drums and dual percussion sticks
- Standard Bearers with multi-tailed Islamic army pennants and flags
Tip: Assemble the body, head, and spear arm first, leaving the large pavise shields on sub-assembly sticks to easily paint the quilted gambeson and chainmail trim underneath. Use a high-precision solvent like Tamiya Extra Thin Cement to fuse the long spear shafts securely into the hand sockets, and apply a rich deep blue, dark green, or black palette on the robes highlighted with lighter tones to accentuate the deep fabric folds.
Features
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Scale: 28mm (1:56 Scale)
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Category: Armies of Islam
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Historical Era: Medieval / Early Modern (12th–18th Century North Africa)
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Product Type: Multi-part Hard Plastic Figures
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Total Figures: 30 Figures (across 5 sprues)
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Construction: Unpainted, assembly with glue and painting required
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Material Color: Molded in gray
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Bases: Not included (requires separate tabletop wargaming bases)
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Dimensions: 8.9" L x 5.9" W x 1.75" H
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Age Recommendation: 12 years and above
Recommended Finishing Essentials
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Assembly Cement: Tamiya Extra Thin Cement for ultra-strong, clean chemical welds across modular spear arms and hands.
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Professional Palette: Use Vallejo Model Color for rich robe basecoats and AK Interactive 3rd Gen acrylics for crisp edge highlights on facial features and turbans.
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Speed Painting Path: Apply The Army Painter Speedpaint for rapid one-coat shading across textured fabric wraps, leather belts, and quilted armor.
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Basing & Scenics: Pair with Krautcover Scenics groundwork materials and Gamers Grass tufts to create realistic arid earth and desert terrain battlefields.
