Seven Royal Navy figures arrived on October 7. All but one had been repainted but, while the standard was quite fair, they had not been primed, and the gloss paint had started to flake. I also noticed that one figure (unknown make) had actually lost much of its facial detail. Decided to paint strip all of them and start again, with the damaged figure getting a replacement head. On a very useful site, http://www.militarysunhelmets.com, they pointed out that a photo of a RN gunner(?) serving in the Zulu War, can be seen wearing a blue pith helmet, that will do nicely. I have mentioned one casting still had some original paint, it would serve as a guide for the colours and shades I should be aiming for. Well, I now have a full gun crew for my 4.7 W.Britains Naval Gun, and the start of a rifle-armed section.
MGB
Lovely work and a terrific campfire scene.
ReplyDeleteThanks Allan, I hope to increase the armed section, nothing large, just a few figures more.
DeleteMichael
A fine set of Jolly Jack Tars - excellent work Michael.
ReplyDeleteCheers Mark, to see them without paint flaking, clean and tidy. And with a warm glow from the varnish. Thats my pleasure.
DeleteMichael
Nothing like a refit and a bit of polish to cheer Jack's heart.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking shore party already.
(Ps without having seen it, I suspect the pith helmeted sailor in the photo MIGHT have been an officer or PO but in any case, it would be interesting to know the story behind the picture.
Hi Ross, I initially thought the same. The photo had four naval officers wearing two types of blue pith helmet. However, the site actually wanted to draw our attention to a single figure very much to the rear of this group photo, a common sailor in naval rig was indeed wearing a blue pith helmet. To be fair, all the other sailors were wearing caps, but this fellow does appear in working dress, with a black knot, just like the others.
DeleteMichael
Intriguing! I wonder if he'd recently been posted on shore or was part of a....interesting anyway
DeleteRoss, I have seen naval ratings with pith helmets, but they are post-1900 (Wolesley), and forming part of an established garrison in the far east. But this photo is very early and, like the officer's, it is blue. I suspect its no more than a special allowance/one-off for a peculiar duty? So I will follow that liberty with only one figure in my collection.
DeleteMichael
Makes me wish I still had access to the bound copies of the Army & Navy Illustrated magazines from the 19thC that were in the library at college!
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