28mm 'not' Daryl Dixon

  

I have very little ‘must watch’ television scheduled into my daily life, but every once in a while a series will capture my imagination and The Walking Dead, an American horror television drama series  spawned from a comic book series of the same name, is certainly one of those.  The series has had many awards lavished upon it, but for me its strength is its character driven storyline and the relationships and group dynamics that are forged by the survivors as their fate unfolds.

Not surprising then that some of the characters have become immortalised in lead and this wonderful two part character piece comes from 'Studio Miniatures'.  Daryl Dixon has to be one of my favourite characters from the immensely watchable ‘Walking Dead’ and this wonderfully detailed sculpt was a joy to paint up, albeit in a rather predictable palette; the fun being picking out items like the squirrel, Bowie knife and necklace of ears!

Although a relatively new devotee to this tale of life after the zombie apocalypse it strikes me as a tad ironic that Daryl is one of the few people who actually finds himself with more friends since the dead stared walking!  A loner by choice who can deny the importance of a crossbow wielding, 'good ol’ boy' on your side when trying to stay one shambling step in front of the walkers.

"We're going to need a bigger truck"

I was just clearing away some photographs the other day when I realised that I hadn't really give this little aside its just deserts, here at '28mm Victorian Warfare'.  Another one of those projects that was dreamt up an eon ago but never got anywhere until the incentive that was the 'The 3rd Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge' came to pass.  I 'won' this Matchbox Models of Yesteryear  Y41 - 1932 Mercedes Benz L5 - Howaldtswerke Kiel truck on eBay at the same time that I was looking for suitable vehicles for my 'Conundrum Carriage'; a real bargain for a couple of pounds, but it was then banished to a little visited corner of the lead pile, often referred to as 'the forgotten project zone'.

I envisaged this being used for the dinosaur hunting scenarios that have still to be played and its base included some 'Copplestone Castings' fossils to reinforce that idea; I quite like the idea of the bumbling Palaeontologist parking up exactly on top of the very objects that he was hoping to find!

I really enjoy working on these vehicles as they are such a wonderful opportunity to let the imagination run riot and try out all sorts of modelling techniques.  This particular experience was relatively straightforward, the bizarre engine block was removed along with the transfers and the whole thing given a black undercoat.

Optional extras included a spade, attached with tiny strips of paper, a tarpaulin crafted from a kitchen cloth and bits of string, a chain winch added to the front and an 'Ainsty Castings' packing crate to suggest supplies in the back leaving enough room to place a miniature if needed. 

As for painting, the colour scheme was based heavily on the Mercedes trucks used in the wonderful chase scene in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', suitably distressed and liberal application of 'Modelmates' rust effect.  

"We're going to need a bigger truck"

Captain William Morris...

…The Pocket Hercules.

So named because of his short stature, forty three inch chest and immense strength, Captain Morris completes the triumvirate of the Charge of the Light Brigade Characters from ‘Great War Miniatures’ distributed in the United Kingdom through ‘North Star Military Figures’.  This is a cracking little miniature and perhaps my favourite of the three.  Again a one piece sculpt, nicely proportioned and dynamic in its portrayal of the man who led the 17th Lancers into the ‘Valley of Death’ astride his favourite charger, ‘Old Trumpeter’.

Morris was one of those rare creatures in that he was a professional and experienced soldier having attended the Royal Military College and saw service in India during the Sikh Wars winning medals for gallantry at Sobraon and Aliwal, but this active service saw him looked down upon by those with wealth and social standing who referred to men like Morris as 'Indian' officers.  

Captain Morris would be one of the first to reach the Russian guns and survived the charge only to endure an untimely death from dysentery in Poona during the Indian Mutiny.

'There is your enemy! There are your guns!'

Captain Nolan, the second miniature in the Charge of the Light Brigade Character Pack from ‘Great War Miniatures’ distributed in the United Kingdom through ‘North Star Military Figures’.  A one piece cast that I have to say, I was less than enamoured with.  The sculpt of the horse was superb with particular attention given to the saddlery, my issue, however, was with the face that just seemed to be badly misshapen; not the end of the world really but a little disappointing given that this was a ‘character’ pack.  That said Captain Nolan is displayed nonchalantly waving the written order in the direction of the Russian guns – the prelude to what would become one of the most disastrous cavalry engagements in history.

Much has been written about the charge and who was to blame, certainly reading contemporary reports the dashing and enthusiastic Nolan finds much of the responsibility placed at his feet.  Perhaps not the time to debate the matter here, suffice to say that this chap’s opinion is that the whole catastrophic event was the result of a series of disastrous decisions and interpretations that, combined, led to the finest Brigade of Light Cavalry ever to leave the shores of England smashed by the force of the Russian guns.

Did Captain Nolan deliberately misinterpret the order or even embellish Lord Raglan’s verbal command?  We shall never know, but what is not disputed is that he was the first casualty of the charge; an exploding shell sending shrapnel through the young office’s heart.  The infamous hand written order can be seen below.

‘Lord Raglan wishes the cavalry to advance rapidly to the front, follow the enemy & try to prevent the enemy carrying away the guns. Troop Horse Artillery may accompany. French cavalry is on your left. Immediate. R. Airey.’

Perhaps the last words on the whole disastrous event should be those of the French Marshal, Pierre Bosquet, who having witnessed the charge is reputed to have said,

"C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre." ("It is magnificent, but it is not war.")

Marshal Pierre Bosquet

Butcher Jack

Having completed my latest instalment of the Flashman papers, 'Flashman at the Charge' it seemed only appropriate to paint up a miniature that was in some way related to that ill fated cavalry engagement during the Crimea War of 1854.

This fine, two piece miniature was part of a Charge of the Light Brigade character pack from 'Great War Miniatures' available through 'North Star Military Figures' and was great fun to do.  

I first became aware of the exploits of Trooper John Vahey of the 17th Lancers when reading Terry Brighton's wonderful, 'Hell Riders'.  'Butcher Jack' is one of those characters that populate the annuls of British Military History, the sort of chap legends are crafted around.   Acting as the regimental butcher, Jack spent the night before Balaclava under guard because of over-indulging in commissariat rum.  When he awoke the next morning, "deucedly muzzy" the camp was empty, returning to his tent for a refresher from an inexhaustible rum bottle he became aware that the Light Brigade was forming up in the valley below.

Although no regimental mounts were available to him, 'Butcher Jack' was able to take advantage of a riderless Russian pony, its saddle emptied by the 'Charge of the Heavy Brigade' earlier that morning.  So it was that Jack Vahey trotted up to take his position in the line still in his bloody overalls and wielding a butcher's axe.  

'Butcher Jack' would go on to survive the charge and avoid a court martial instead he was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on that fateful day.

Book Review#16. - Flashman at the Charge

This will be the third time that I’ve seen fit to write the briefest of reviews about another of George MacDonald Fraser's ‘Flashman’ books and so far all have been magnificently entertaining.

  

Our cowardly and lecherous Flashy continues to find himself at some of the most dangerous hot spots of 19th century history, usually looking for a place to hide, trembling in fear as the heat of battle reaches fever pitch, praying that he is not discovered by the enemy or, more likely, the cuckolded husband of his latest conquest!

As with all MacDonald Fraser's tall tales, it is his ability to weave fact into fiction that makes them so appealing and ‘Flashman at the Charge’ is no exception.   Apparently Fraser’s ‘favourite’ novel, Flashman’s behaviour continues to appall and delight in equal measures and while it might seem unnecessary to keep apologising for some of the language used it is important, nonetheless, to say that some might find it uncomfortable.   

In this instalment of the recently discovered Flashman Papers our eponymous antihero is persuaded out of retirement to nursemaid one of Queen Victoria's cousins through the seemingly unavoidable Crimea campaign.  Little is to go Flashy's way as he is somehow an unwitting participant at the 'The Thin Red Line', the 'Charge of the Heavy Brigade' and ultimately, powered by fear and flatulence, ill-fated 'Charge of the Light Brigade'.  

If the morning's work wasn't bad enough he is immediately captured by the fearsome Russians and here begins another great adventure across the snow covered Steppe, ultimately leading to the North West frontier and an action that would see Flashman defending the Jewel in the Crown!  Undeniably my favourite yet and a hugely entertaining yarn, that brings out the best, and perhaps more entertainingly, the worst of Harry Paget Flashman Esq. to the fore - a flatulence favoured four crowns!

The Obligatory Post Salute Post!

My goodness what a day!  Bathed in early morning sunshine, myself and the 'Provost Marshal' travelled up from the coast to gorge ourselves at the halls of plenty, more commonly referred to as 'Salute'.  I have to confess that I've been as giddy as a schoolboy in the run up to the great day, but as we stepped off the train at Custom House I was all to keenly aware that I was becoming a stereotype - a gentleman of a certain age, follically challenged, belt fastened precariously at the last hole carrying an empty rucksack; oh well, we all have to embrace our inner geek sooner or later.  Having arrived at the Excel centre in good time we were confronted by a vast queue that was clearly not destined for the London Marathon registration (see previous note on stereotypes!) but having had the foresight to advance order our tickets we were able to walk straight in.  

Having charged the camera the night before in readiness, counted up the pocket money and printed out the wish list I though that I was a ready as I could be, but try as the 'Provost Marshal' did to instil some form of order to the proceedings the shroud of 'shinybloodyitis' descended and I was held in a frenzied bout of purchasing until lunchtime!   So distracted was I by all things shiny that the only real photograph I took was a test shot of my beloved Earl Grey! 

As for the loot, well pre-ordering is definitely the way to go and the day was all about getting my grubby hands on the 'In Her Majesty's Name' merchandise.  That said I always have to swing by my old favourites, 'Empress Miniatures' and Mutineer Miniatures' to add to the burgeoning lead pile and then it was really down to looking for characters to flesh out my zombie hunting team that I've got planned for later in the year.

The final highlight was of course meeting up with fellow bloggers at lunchtime and whilst it was lovely to see familiar faces, I'm afraid that I didn't meet as many of you as I hoped, the result of a certain amount of nervous trepidation and please accept my apologies for that - perhaps name badges next year chaps?  That said I was able to add a few more faces to names and hand over Sidney's prize from the recent draw and with the somewhat lengthy debrief at the local hostelry amiably concluded I was able to fall into bed a tired, but happy chap.