54MM British Colonial Collection of Toy Soldiers circa 1880. (My own). (Maiwand/Kandahar etc)

Visits: 158

The “square” formation is only to show the Toy Soldiers in a single pic. Cavalry had not use at all “inside”. But even more important the “square” as such was not used at all intensively at that time… so you will forgive the artistic license!

In fact the purpose of this “parade” was to count them all, stop adding more troops without sense of perspective… and find where to put the two machine guns newly commisioned!

Vast majority of them are REPLICA METAL MODEL SOLDIERS (Andrew Stevenson), complemented by DORSET SOLDIERS (Antony Spencer) and even 4 Gordon Highlanders done by my friend Paul Watson in a moment of yours truly deep anguish!…

Enjoy!

You must read Major C.E. Callwell (Royal Artillery) opus SMALL WARS (Their Principles & Practice).

Quite aerial view.
Maybe a better shot!
Another perspective.
Indian Mountain Battery.
Corps of Guides
Gurkhas
British Guards
66th Berkshires
Bobbie (the dog) is purposefully misplaced! (it should be with the 66th!
Gordon Highlanders
Commander + British Artillery.
Just to say farewell…

Those are in the offing…
The Maxim with wheels too!

British “Squares”

Visits: 125

Since seeing “The Four Feathers” (1939 version if you please!) film as a child the idea of a British “square” formation has been ingrained in my brain (not that it appears in the film at all but vaguely the idea is there when the Fuzzy-Wuzzies attack at dawn the lone company of Captain Durrance -already blinded by the Sun- and Burrows and Willoughby of course!

The reading many years later of SMALL WARS revealed to me nothing “new” but it is a book I recommend because it is a compendium of “obvious things to do” (but easily forgotten)… it took me a long time to read and digest (meaning that since begun I read and finished a lot of other books) because it was interesting and meticulous. It has been a long time since I recommended a book!

So today I chosed some old pics from my personal Vault to illustrate the point. Maybe when I get the remaining 16 figures from DORSET (sorry IMPERIAL MINIATURES nowadays) I will indulge in a new series with Khaki clad warriors.

Maybe you already have seen them but anyway…

Enjoy!

A Major (later Colonel) in the Artillery… and specially useful if you are a colonial wargamer or buff. Not the edition I’ve got… but that’s the one!
54MM “square”
A variation of my first one with Perry’s added to my Old Minifigs.
The 54 mm version (aka ULUNDI times)
I even did it with customized Playmobils (75mm).
Ulundi in 6mm (Baccus minis)
Not forgetting 6mm Baccus
I used those well known pics on the cover and backcover of my Spanish Second Edition (unavailable because of the I.R.S. that was pesting me every year!… I am not American you kow… and I pay my taxes in Andorra!) So I deleted the books from amazon and that put an end to the harassing.

The second and final English Edition (try ebay if you must)

42MM (Britain’s “B” Scale) by Andrew Stevenson (REPLICA METAL MODEL SOLDIERS).

Visits: 105

It was a gift! (It came with an order of 54MM casts you have seen ad nauseam…)

I did paint it between colours on other projects in 54MM… quite pleased with the result… not as pricey as 54MM… and they look smart for the size!

Queen’s Bays (more or less…) for a while I was tempted enough… some would love that scale! (see Graham Hilditch)… It was like the old days when I painted a lot of 25/28MM wargames figures.

I rather keep me in the 54MM lot though (details are easier at my age)… but though to show it here nevertheless.

Enjoy!

One side
The other side

The Second US Cavalry as portrayed in SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON. (XVII) VARNISHED AND DISPLAYED!

Visits: 105

Now… this is truly the last Post about it!… I for once always thought Wayne deserved the Oscar for his performance on “Yellow Ribbon”… and Ford (Of course)… but well… Westerns only become “cult” later on…

LOL

Thanks for watching…

Now… Other things…

Enjoy!

Job finished
It would have been easier to do only the main characters… but that is the wargamer in me!
Right platoon YOOO!

The Second US Cavalry as portrayed in SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON. (XV) and nearly last!

Visits: 121

Ok, you are all tired… but I have finished them at last.

It only remains to varnish.

But I won´t do that until I have checked and doublechecked the figures for mistakes.

It lacks a bit of “gold” in the unifoms of the officer’s… and silly things like that… some kepis buttons… etc

DO NOT VARNISH until thoroughly dry!

Including a pink colour accident while I was doing some nice touchs on a horses’s mouth… OMG!… a splash of pink over the side of a soldier (already finished!)… ufff repaired in a hurry… will check again tomorrow.

Probably they will dry in the weekend and be varnished next week.

It was a very personal project. Next batch I will buy already painted!

Enjoy!

Right platton Yoo!
Not the last patrol… the one before that one!
See First Sergeant Quincanon on the side…
Detail
Second Lieutenant Pennell (Harry Carey Jr)
Still doubting about the horses eyes… To do or not to do…

The Second US Cavalry as portrayed in SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON. (XIV)

Visits: 104

Started work with the horses (6 are black… was able to finish only 5 today the other is on its way…)

Faces and neckties are also done.

Finally decided to varnish altogether and not in two fases (it would be necessary anyway because you need to grip from somewhere I guess…)

Hope you enjoy!

Lateral view
The other side

The Second US Cavalry as portrayed in SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON. (XIII)

Visits: 108

Well, some details done! BUT I have to do the hair and the “faces” yet… meaning eyes, eyebrows and mouths… beards are fairly easy…

Finally did (not yet finished) the yellow colour!

Black stripes on the saddle bag.

Doing neckties too! Had to consult the film again to get them right!

Now… next week it would be the horses… if I do not gloss varnish the soldiers first… always nagging doubts… if I do varnish with gloss the riders and let them dry they will provide a very good hold to grip while doing the horses… I do not want chipping now… at all…

Enjoy!

Lateral view of the work in progress…
The other side
Semi-frontal view

The Second US Cavalry as portrayed in SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON. (XI)

Visits: 72

Well… today I did the white crossbelt and the silver swords and spurs.

Also working on the side on Winston’s horse… not yet finished but I like so far the dappled effect (Toy Soldier like NOT Military Modeling) so… do not be too harsh on it!

It seems to take ages now to finish all the petty details … but I enjoy it I guess (much encouragement on Facebook from my friends there)

Enjoy!

Lateral view (as usual)
The other side (also as usual)
Working on it!

The Second US Cavalry as portrayed in SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON. (X)

Visits: 65

Mainly black paint (boots and some other parts)

The “X” mark on some horses means they would be painted black as in the film.

Had to scratch the back of Liteunant Pennell (Harry Carey Jr.) to take the cartridge box away…

The funny things one indulge on…

Enjoy!

Lateral view.
The other side (of course)
View from the back
View from the front