Lieutenant John Chard: If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 caliber miracle.
Colour Sergeant Bourne: And a bayonet, Sir, with some guts behind it.
Perhaps one of the most memorable exchanges in the 1964 classic 'Zulu'; the immaculate Colour Sergeant Bourne quietly reminding the 'Officer of Engineers' that the British soldier armed with little more than a stiff upper lip could hold out and carry the day!
Nigel Green's portrayal of the larger than life Colour Sergeant owes much to the movie's appeal and it seems only fitting that Empress Miniatures created a likeness in their 'Hollywood' version of the Defenders of Rorke's Drift set.
As always the sculpt and pose make these miniatures a delight to paint. My only dilema was in deciding whether to paint him accurately or in the 'Hollywood' style!
Pte. Thomas Cole: Why is it us? Why us?
Colour Sergeant Bourne: Because we're here, lad. Nobody else. Just us.
Many months ago when I started this ramshackle collection of thoughts and musings the intention was to document my first tentative steps into this most wholesome of hobbies by initially building a collection suitable for gaming the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879.
The long and short of it is that I felt it was high time to get back to the original concept, if only momentarily, and so here is my interpretation of the Reverend Otto Witt as portrayed in the film Zulu by Jack Hawkins. Hawkins' portrayal of the tormented Witt was so superb if not historically accurate, and I knew that I wanted a fearsome, bullish character and this Victorian Gentlemen seemed to fit the bill. Originally designed by Wargames Foundry to have a lady on his arm and a faithful hound at his side it was unlikely that I was going to need him any time soon so I wasn't too worried about getting struck in with the Dremel! Firstly the top hat was rounded off and the brim was pulled down flat with a set of pliers. If the truth be told, I was a little too forceful and managed to deform him a little, but it all helped establish the character!
Jack Hawkins as the Rev. Otto Witt
Original miniature
I decided to leave the dog's lead in his right hand, but painted it as a piece of rope or whip, however I did feel that I needed to add a little of the fire and brimstone alluded to in the movie. To that end I cut into his left hand and positioned a scratch built bible there. This was created by cutting little rectangles of foil gluing them together and then folding them over to create the effect of a book with pages; these pages were even given a gilt edging. The only other addition was to fashion the bow tie into something resembling that worn on set. Again fine slithers of foil, suitably folded and placed gave the effect I was looking for.
Bible & tie in place
I've got to say that I'm really pleased with how things turned out, normally I'm the sort of chap that likes to have very clear reference and instructions; 'special' my wife refers to me as, clealy a term of affection!
I seem to have been sidetracked at every turn; there is so much out there that is capable of turning a chap's head, so to actually get around to finishing something that I set out to achieve has come as a bit of a boost. Perhaps I should bear that in mind when I'm next contemplating somethinmg new and shiny!
Just the briefest of updates on this modelling aside. I had hoped, sadly in vain, that he would be completed for an Armistice Day post but as you can see I am nowhere near ready.
I have to admit that I'm really struggling with this project. The sculpt is wonderful but the painting technique required is really frustrating me. What one can get away with at 28mm is not viable at this larger scale. Blending is obviously the way to go but it is such a time consuming process, constantly going back and forth. I will obviously keep going and with a bit of luck will get something that looks half way decent!
The second part of my mini project to try and recreate an American Civil War trading card from the 1960s, sees the introduction of boys from the North! Now I'm squaring this away by the fact that the conflict did at least fall during the reign of Queen Victoria, tenuous I grant you but it works for me.
There certainly isn't a shortage of miniatures out there covering this period; Perry's, Foundry, Renegade so many to chose from but where to start? I knew that I needed the troops to look fatigued and at least one had to be charging with a bayonet. After quite a period of searching I happened upon Redoubt Enterprises' range that had just what I was looking for.
I have to say that I really enjoy painting Redoubt's figures, true they are not the tidiest sculpts out there but there is something very reassuring about their weight and the poses were perfect for what I wanted. The soldier with the bayonet will be the brave soul taking on the Gator, while the others fight their way through the Florida swamps.
Decided not to go for the red top to the kepi, must be a creative decision on behalf of the illustrator as I don't seem to be able to find any referemce for it.
Who knows where my next distraction will come from as this post will surely illustrate. Some will remember the dubiously entitled post 'a beer and a bag' where I was given the most bizarre mix of miniatures you could ever imagine, one of which was a crocodile like creature and I immediately envisaged building a wonderful terrain piece reminiscent of the rope bridge scene from 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'. (I even went as far a ordering up some additional crocodiles and vultures!) It wasn't until the 'Laughing Ferret' (his tremendous blog can be found here.) pointed out that the said beastie was in fact a gator that stirrings of a possible project began.
Many, many years ago I was presented with a set of trading cards depicting scenes from the American Civil War. This gift from my father left such an impression on my young mind as the illustrations were incredibly violent but brilliantly presented, full of dynamic composition and colour. On the reverse of each card was a news report relaying was happening in the war at any particular juncture. Some cards left more of an impression than others but I had a very vivid memory of one with a gator in it. Sure enough after several hours of scrambling around the dirty loft space at 'Awdry Towers' the collection was unearthed and to my joy and delight 'Through the Swamp' was there, just as I remembered it!
Well that I was it, I now had to recreate this scene using my Gator! Phase 1 is now complete in that I have found a suitably large base and painted up Mr. Alligator here. He looks far too happy, observed the saintly Mrs. Awdry, but that is probably because he knows that he is going to be able to get his teeth into some Union Boys before too long!
Just as an aside does anyone know if the red top the soldiers' kepis is accurate or is it just an artistic device?
What a week! So much for my plans to get this chap finished early on, but finally able to get some paint out today. This wonderful creation, again from 'Hasslefree Miniatures', was to be the companion character to 'Wolfie', posted on Monday. A sort of before and after if you will; hence similar base and trouser colour.
Finally united! Great fun to do, perhaps I need a section called 28mm Victorian Gothic Horror?
Well tonight is all hallow's eve and many will have you believe that it is tonight when all manner of ghoulish creatures will roam the earth intent on causing mischief and striking fear into the unweary. There is of course the alternative opinion that the whole thing has been dreamt up by those looking to exploit all in their pursuit of making a fast profit, but for fear of becoming a bit 'grumpy old man' about the whole thing I have used it as an excuse to order up another very splendid miniature from the wonderful 'Hasslefree Miniatures'.
This suitably fiendish (and suitably Victorian!) miniature is another of their wonderful sculpts and a real delight to work with even if it did require a modicum of construction. 'Wolfie' came with a slotted base but I wanted to make a bit more of a feature of the whole thing so snipped off the excess and pinned the figure to a lipped one complete with homemade floorboards.
It is of course another excuse to get out the recently constructed cemetery terrain pieces an capture the moment on film when the beast bursts from from the restraints of his straightjacket. Such a great and dynamic pose and all in all I was really pleased with the outcome.
There was a companion piece to this that I have started but what with one thing and another I didn't get around to finishing it time. With a bit of luck and a following breeze I hope to get it finished this week.
