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Could have been called a tale of two chaps too. To begin at the beginning… due to that blasted pandemia who seems more or less in control nowadays… I was stranded in Pal at 1.660 mts over the level of the sea with nothing much to do than wait for a vaccine etc (as you all). So thanks God are my books and my Toy Soldiers Collection (in Pal I mean)… so I reordered the shelves and find a way to make place for some beauties from REPLICA. As an ex wargamer in 25mm all my British Regiments had matter of fact two colours, the Queen’s (or King’s) and the Regimental one, so I become worried because I did not have one of the Colours of the Gordon’s (Highlanders), I wrote to Andrew an email asking for 4 figures to complete my obsessions etc. Real life intervened an in June 2021 my needs were not fulfilled because a lot of real life intruding in REPLICA “WORKS”… to my disappointment by X’mas the matter was still unsolved… You see “collecting” is somewhat “complicated” it had to be the true companion of the existing one… but REPLICA could not then supply… weeks and months of frustration ensued… and a rupture of diplomatic relations too!.
Many months later I explained the case using the first pic in Facebook explaining my dire straits and asking “the world of friends” for solutions or alternatives… I was in some state of acute obsession and anguish (all that fuss for a standartbearer mind… we collectors are mad as hares).
Then, out of the blue (that is a lie he is a long stand facebook friend), Paul Watson (which is also a friend of Andrew Stevens – the REPLICA chap _) offered the perfect solution: he said he could make a cast from a mould and sent it to me from faraway Sheffield… I could not believe it!… one thing is to add likes and hearts to Posts in Facebook… and the other is getting truly involved!… of course I thanked him and after a chat on messenger… I had the idea of asking for two figures! (by then I was asking STEADFAST to send two POM-POM guns to Paul with my heartfelt thanks!… he is into Boers/British)… not everything in this world is a matter of a computer and a VISA card I am afraid… I asked for some suitable arms… and pieces and bits for me too to DORSET/IMPERIAL who sent the flags arms to Paul.
And to cut a long story short yesterday a parcel arrived in ANDORRA by post and my esldest son sent to me the pics of the contents…(see pics below) to my ever lasting surprise Paul did outsmarted me and included an Heliograph party (using the same figure with different arms) consisting of a Highland officer with binoculars, the heliograph and its operator (so two extra figures+heliograph)… nonplussed is the word!
The original box from REPLICA… (and to think that the Gordon’s were added to an order as an afterthought!)
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Now, when my “real life” permits (a bit of a bother of surgery inflicted on me) it will be speedy recovery and painting of those chaps and to complete the collection on the cabinet thanks to Paul Watson!
Of course as colateral benefits the old Ensign would be converted in a RSM for the Gordon’s, and some Artillerymen will be added sponges and shots because REPLICA did all of them in the same stance without accesoires….lol… in due course pics will be provided by yours truly of all those modifications…
A truly satisfied collector I am. The most convoluted “operation” I ever did… lol
Hope you have enjoyed the tale. Cheers!
