DANISH WARSHIP ARRIVES (1863), also LEAD ROT!

                                ANOTHER 19TH CENTURY SHIP, HDMS ROLF KRAKE

A powerful warship has just joined my collection of toy gunboats. Very loosely based on the Danish vessel 'Rolf Krake', it is to serve in my Schleswig wargames, and other 19th century conflicts.

I'm not pretending the model is in anyway accurate, that would be pretty tricky in 54mm scale. I have purposely exaggerated the twin turrets, how much of the gun barrels are exposed, and also the funnel. I wanted it to be fairly compact, but also powerful looking. And it is meant to recreate a toy of the 19th-early 20th century. Mine is made of wood and card. The three masts are detachable. Most of my 'traditional-tin-toy' looking gunboats are about 12inches long, this latest addition is 16inches. 

I must mention just how sinister this black ship looks!

The original Rolf Krake was built in Scotland for the Danish navy in May 1863. I liked the fact it combined something of the steam ironclad monitors, and also sailing ships. This vessel was originally armed with four Swedish 68pdr smoothbore guns. And the first in Europe to rely principally on turret guns. The two turrets required a crew of eighteen to make a full turn in one minute. The ship was engaged in the Second Schleswig-Holstein War, and continued in service until scrapped in 1907. 

Why masts and steam? I read an article about a fairly contemporary German ship, it explained that coal might not always be available on long voyages to colonies, so they kept a backup system.

 

More information on this ship can be found on this very useful website..... .http://www.navalhistory.dk/English/TheShips/R/RolfKrake%281863%29.htm

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MORE NAVAL OFFICERS HAVE ARRIVED

I had mentioned to Chris that my collection could use some suitable captain figures for ships. When these were spotted on Ebay, he negotiated a very fair price. They only cost £5, including their delivery. The four railway station figures make perfect 19th century captains, and for most nationalities. I already had one in my collection, and I am able to home cast replacement arms. My thanks to Chris for sorting this out, another problem solved. They arrived on Feb. 7.

Danish officers.

Here are the figures after paint stripping. The seated figure looked very bad, covered in thick white paint and diminished hands and feet. I have now seen another, and it is the same, so clearly manufactured in this manner. I now believe it is a W. Britains civilian truck driver and dates back to the 1920s. The figure missing a base is an officer with sword belonging to a rifle unit. Have now discovered the railway  porter can also be painted as a 19th century midshipman.

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LEAD ROT, or a case of SCURVY?

Having never found a figure hit with lead rot in my collection, I have discovered my first example. And I'm in a good position to provide some info on this rare but much feared hobby disease.

1. The casting was discovered in one of my cardboard boxes containing over thirty Royal Navy figures, some plastic, but most were metal.

2. The figure was purchased secondhand in September 2020. Already painted, it was noticeable that the facial features were flattened, and the bayonet was practically broken.

3. A few weeks later it was paint stripped, and a home-cast head and rifle were added. It was then well primed, repainted, and given a coat of yacht varnish. The figure was then superglued to a piece of painted thick card.

4. The base of the figure was unaffected as it was made of thin steel. The casting was very soft, so I'm assuming a high level of lead. No sign of the manufacture. I am tempted to think it was a smaller manufacturer, or a home-cast.

5. This strange system of basing may help identify the manufacturer?

6. My own home cast extras are made from 80 to 100% pewter, which is very high in tin. Not surprisingly, the rot had failed to spread to my additions on this figure.

I have long thought that lead rot was caused by a mixture of factors, including climate. I still believe this can speed up the process, but the real issue is always the quality of the metal. I do now wonder if pure lead is more susceptible when covered in paint and varnish? I only suggest this because a member of my family has a pure lead tobacco box, dated to c.1750.

It has no signs of lead rot. But when I first viewed it in 2014,  after some time in storage, it had some very slight lead oxide (white) in a few places. A duster easily wiped it off, and it has not reoccured in ten years of displaying in a warm room.

Concerning the rotten figure, it was actually surplus to my collection as my landing party battalion had recently gained an officer. Thirteen is unlucky for some. I threw it away. You win some, you lose some, and it's just a poor quality trinket!

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US NAVY OFFICER FOR WW2

At a toy fair a trader kindly gave me a plastic figure. It was only 50mm high, and we concluded it was probably a police officer that had formed part of a toy car set. I decided to convert it into a US Navy officer. 

With a sharp knife, I removed the waistbelt.

And here it is, to be attached to my Seabees unit.

MGB

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RESTORING THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON

Last year I picked up a broken Iron Duke for £3. A splendid casting, and suitable with most 54mm figures (unlike Del Prado castings). But the figure was missing a sword and telescope. The paintwork was quite good, but some tidying was still required. I also wanted to replace the white cockade, necktie and waist-belt with black. I now feel it could serve as a foreign officer, including naval.

The photos don't do justice as the gold really stands out.

Originally....

MGB

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REPLYING TO COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS

Hi MJT. I was working with very cheap materials so I spent some money on a black spray and some tacks. It was definitely worthwhile. The spray paint cost £5.99, but I haven't used 25% of it. The whole model cost less than £10. I am very pleased with the result, I almost expect to see a tripod appear in the distance, lol.

Hello Roger. Yes, that website is very useful, and the fellow is to be congratulated on his efforts in creating it. Interestingly, one of the articles states the British were the bad guys to have attacked neutral Denmark during the Napoleonic Wars, and capturing practically their entire fleet. While I understand their position, which does have justification, you have only to see what happened to the Dutch and Spanish navies to understand the British position. If Napoleon marched into Denmark (which his armies later did, in preparation to invade Sweden). The French could have crossed the English Channel, or to Sweden, using skilled Danish sailors and ships. The British attack was unfortunate, but necessary, we could not put our trust in Danish politicians!

 Roger. Concerning wargames, my ships are totally linked to my toy soldier collection, and battles. The ships have added so much to my scenarios, campaigns, etc. Did not know there was a corresponding issue on some Zinc toys.... interesting!

Hello Hugh. I too have come across that treatment, using vinegar. To be honest, I never thought much of the figure to begin with, and having to replace the flat facial features did not help matters. I think the vinegar treatment would have solved the problem for a period of time, but that lead rot would eventually return. It does make you wonder what Britains put in their early castings as few of them get lead rot, I have never had one, it is always the home-cast stuff made out of church roof lead, lol.

Hi Donnie. That figure arrived in a box with six (genuine) Britains. I remembered there was something very different about the casting when I restored it, the metal was strange, and very soft. I'm not surprised at all to discover this is the first to acquire lead rot. You know I like a bargain, but restoring this figure did not seem worthwhile. I think my home-cast head and rifle were the only good bits, lol. Donnie, that ship is a welcome addition to my fleet....... it looks frightening!