My French Cavalry, just not good enough!

FRENCH LIGHT HORSE?

Here is the newly completed officer for that rather odd uniformed cavalry unit, recently purchased. I'm still wondering quite what they represent, the saddle pouches are confirmed as French, so they will serve as chasseurs a' cheval on French colonial service. The spike on two helmets was not robust enough to survive handling, better to reduce them.

Decided to add some additional ornamentation to the uniforms, befitting Chasseurs.

But these photos are already OUT OF DATE!!!!!!!!!!!

More changes!

I'm still not happy. Viewing my collection of French cavalry, it is still in a total mess! I feel the above chasseurs should be wearing kepis. Equally odd, looking at my two squadrons of Dorset-made Algerian Spahi, the figures are holding swords, but still have sword hilts in their scabbards! And I don't need eight of them! As for my French cuirassiers, two figures is hardly a fine representation. This is a wargame project that must be sorted out.

Viewing the figures again, it has occurred to me that the Algerian Spahi could be divided into two units, the second to be repainted as Senegalais Spahi, in their distinctive red uniforms. I'm able to home-cast some suitable heads and replacement arms for those surplus swords, and will no doubt find a use for those being replaced. As for the cuirassiers, I will just have to invest some funds into new recruits. Well, that's my plan.

SPAHI SENEGALAIS ENTER SERVICE

Rather than a total paint strip of four mounted Algerian Spahi, I restricted it to the uniform clothing. I also removed the sword arm and head. Will clean them up and then prime the required areas. The former owner also used a rather messy and thick epoxy glue, it was a pleasure to remove that too.

Replacement arms, and primed.

With the home-cast heads fitted, I was ready to apply some paint. I'm a lot happier with these now they represent Spahis Senegalais.

COLLECTABLES SHOP

OK, not quite a period piece, but still a vintage toy. I paid £3 in the collectables shop for this lead item. Just needed to tidy up some chipped paintwork.

THE FRENCH CAVALRY ARE RECRUITING!

Not too surprising, but perhaps slightly uncanny, my French 1870-1914 army has gained some new recruits. I spotted these on Ebay, and the seller accepted £40. Still an expense, but these figures rarely go for less. What made their purchase rather uncanny is that they were available to pick up in Exeter, and a member of my family regularly drives through that city, so no charge for postage! 

The figures numbered five, but two would require some repair work on horses legs. Strangely, all must have been left for some time in direct sunlight as the original paintwork still remained on both sides, but on one side it had gone totally matt. Still, that can be remedied with a varnish spray, but I will wish to tidy up some of the paintwork first....... if a figure is cast with a chin strap surely it deserves to be painted?

The spare officer on a white horse will be easily converted into a bugler.

Collectors will be pleased to know that I will be keeping the box.

Well, this gives me seven cuirassiers, daft not to recruit at least one more.

Went to work on repairing the three broken horse legs, I also gave the figures a wash to remove any dirt and dust. On the positive side, no need to paint strip, the original is in good condition and will permit additional detail to be simply applied.

Having completed the milliput repairs I started on restoring the paintwork. My original two cuirassiers had clearly been repainted when compared to those from the box. I also felt all the castings deserved to have their saddle furniture correctly brought out. I then gave them all a gloss varnish spray. I am very pleased with these!

THE SPAHIS SOUDANAIS

HISTORY

No plans to raise this unit but worth noting here. If you look up French colonial units you rarely find this one listed, but its history is an interesting story. My discovery of this unit came about by pure chance, the print below being the instigator. It actually showed the uniform for TWO military units, one of which is easily missed. 

In the 1890s the French Empire was seeking to occupy much of North Africa. The Spahis Soudanais were recruited in what is today called Mali, although the squadron was later attached to the Senegalais squadron, before eventually regaining autonomy once more. And the unit is still on active service in Mali to this day!

Reproduced for purposes of education, no profit made.

I have seen one print in which this unit also used tropical helmets, the same uniform as the Senegalais squadron I have recreated.

CHARITY SHOP BICYCLE

A nice little find in a charity shop. This cycle is a bit large for scale, more suitable for 60mm toy soldiers, but very well made. It is metal, and the wheels, gears, and steering all turn. A fun civilian addition, it reminds me of the one my grandmother had in her garage that dated back to the 1930s. It too had a front cage and was also painted black.

A NEW TOWN FIGURE

Decided to convert an unpainted postwoman into a town lady. Milliput was used to extend the coat.

And a sitting down figure, kindly furnished by my good friend Graham Apperley. I was able to construct the missing arm, and then primed and painted.

THE FRIESIAN HERD

The two very old lead cows acquired recently have been paint stripped and repainted.

And to work with the above, here are the three repaired Charbens milk churns.

Recommended Viewing

Excellent Video on the History of Airfix 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRLzq3kHkx0

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PLEASE NOTE

This post was compiled in March. It is quite likely I will be moving house during April.

Please expect a fair delay in my next post. 

Cheers for Now.

MGB

EXETER TOY FAIR (new acquisitions)

Here are the items picked up at the Exeter Toy Fair

A member of my family was travelling near Exeter and kindly provided a lift to the Matford Centre. The entrance fee is £4 after 10.30am but as I arrived rather early I took the 'Early Bird' entry of £10. To be honest, I was keen to have a morale boost and the idea of waiting outside for over an hour was something I could do without. 

I had prepared a small pack lunch, and compiled a list of wants. I wish I could report having successfully cleared all of them but ..... not quite. Nevertheless, it was a useful and enjoyable outing. OK, the number of toy soldier traders was not large, I would suggest five or six, but a careful rummaging furnished some nice items.

I would like to particularly mention the trader Kevin Duggan. I have purchased and swapped with this fellow on several occasions (and he does view this blog). On this meeting he really made an effort to support my 'gunboat diplomacy'. I was able to pick up an admiral and a midshipman for £3 each, and a contingent of naval ratings for £2 each. Thanks Kevin! My plan was to recruit two mid-19th century gunboat crews suitable to represent Prussian or Danish navies. I know some of you will be horrified to read this but I plan to paint the sennet hats black.

Another trader had a pack of two archaic lead artillery pieces which I've been wanting to acquire for some time. I think they look great. They cost £4 each. I suspect these were penny toys, but have only ever seen a handful, some wheeled while others are without. Any more information readers have on them would be most welcome.

That same trader also furnished three Charbens milk churns needing some repair work for £2, and a recast town civilian for £2.50.

A third trader furnished one of the above naval ratings and this William Grant's Whisky freebie for £2 each. This was actually the only firearm carrying figure I purchased that day.

Now another trader has regularly brought boxes of £1 damaged lead, which I search through with great anticipation. But this time the boxes were rather diminished. He acknowledged, his sales were mainly plastic these days. Nevertheless, he allowed me these four items for £5. I have been searching for a swan ever since viewing some Apperley Towers holiday snaps. 

On a second perusal of his stall I spotted this damaged chimney sweep's hand cart. Not sure who made it but I picked it up for £4, which seemed fair. Just needs the wheels and suspension sorted, and a suitable chimney sweep

Finally, I spotted a box of Scalectric figures for sale. 50p a figure. Lets see what we can do with them.

WORKING ON THE NEW ACQUISITIONS

First job was to remove any remaining paint from the lead items. Next step was to file away any untidy flash. A quick prime exposed any casting holes or damage needing some Milliput work.

The chimney sweep's handcart required more time than I expected to repair. A fine model, full of detail, it had collapsed on its intricate suspension. I want models which can take handling so I decided to reduce the suspensions and then superglue them back.  I then drilled both the wheels and the axil holders to take a thicker piece of metal wire...... and then added hubcaps, much better! I decided to repaint in a clean black, and could not resist some yellow ornamentation. Will have to seek out a chimney sweep, they normally wore black clothing!

The small but rather splendid garrison-naval guns have been sorted. As much as I would have liked them in bright colours, I feel black just looks more appropriate. Would love to know who manufactured them. Only one of the two had drilled holes for wheels, and this matches a pair I'd seen on Ebay several years back. The two guns are actually slightly different castings too.

This Britains admiral required some hat repair work. I've repainted him as a Danish naval officer. Interestingly, they continued to utilise red in their naval officers' uniform facings.

(For purposes of education, no profit made below.)

And here are my two new naval crews. The black hat and shorter sailor shirt looks much more continental. These can now serve as Prussian, Danish, or even small Italian states.

Papal Navy

Two Sicilies Navy

My simplistic German gunboat with a new crew.

And here is a Danish paddle-steamer fully manned.

I was finally able to include a Britains midshipman in my three Royal Navy gunboat crews. A very nice casting.

Manning the gunboat HMS Spitfire

Those Scalelectric figures are not to be mocked, I think they will work rather well in WW2 games.

This is the town figure painted, and have also completed a seated figure and bench.

And finally, here are the four items purchased for £5, now reduced to three. I already had a complete stile, so this broken one was perfect to use with the elegant gate. I drilled metal rods to secure it.

MORE LIVESTOCK ARRIVE

Spotted a W.Britains and a Johillco lead cow in a clearance store for £1 each. Will have to repaint but nice to see their horns are undamaged. This will increase my Friesian herd to six.

SOME SEATED CIVILIANS

Working on two seated civilians. The farm lady casting in overalls was donated by Graham Apperley. The other I picked up some time back is painted to look like Sergeant Jones in Dad's army.

                                                                              MGB

PS. Kind supporter of this blog Donnie McGibbon entered Hospital in January. I know I'm not the only one wanting to wish him well, and with God's grace.