TWO SICILIES INFANTRY 1840s
In a box of cheap plastic figures I picked up sometime back were a handful of Airfix British Napoleonic soldiers. With no plans to raise armies for this period, I still wanted to find some interesting service for them. I thought it possible to convert them into Neapolitan infantry of the 1840s. Have formed them into two companies, or firing sections under my house rules. I think they will pass muster as opposition to my small collection of early Garibaldi followers, and their generic appearance will allow me to draft them into other mid-19th century games. 
THE THIRD CARPATHIAN RIFLES, WW2
Some months back Mark of https://manoftinblogtwo.wordpress.com/ kindly sent me a horde of old Airfix WW2 soldiers. Six figures belonging to the 8th Army Desert Rats had damaged Tommy helmets. No matter, with some spare metal pith helmets they now represent a Polish unit which initially served with the French Army, but later transferred to the British. 
A HANDFUL OF LEAD CASTINGS
Patch Emblem
Just a few items to mention. First up is a repaired W.Britains milkman, being able to cast up the missing head. And, pleased to have completed another railway figure. I've been wanting to obtain this casting for some time. Just had to drill and fix a replacement flag.
There was also a broken farmer, which I have repaired and repainted as a town worker.
Acquired a second goose, this one was in fair condition. And I picked up this 1950s Timpo bulldog for 20p in the collectables shop. With most of its paint still present, decided to just lightly sand and repaint any chips in the paintwork.
Another farm addition, a Berkshire pig....
Another visit to the collectables shop was required. I wanted some cheap metal wheels towards repairing a W.Britains farmer with plough. These two vintage cars only cost 50p each, and one or the other will do the job. The strange thing is the plough requires two different sized wheels on its two-level axil.
I would like to thank Graham Apperley of https://talesfromthetoyroom.blogspot.com/. Once again a parcel arrived with some original lead castings that were surplus to his requirements. Well they were certainly not surplus here, many of the items were on my list of wants to improve my old-style terrain, while others will complete several twelve-figure battalions! I include a photo of the recent delivery. Thanks again, Graham, those Zouaves were vital, and I very much appreciate the help to fill in some gaps.
Returning to the box of broken lead figures that recently arrived (see previous upload) another two farm items have been put together.
First is this 'scraped' together farmer with plough. An original W.Britains model has much longer handles but as mine were missing, something more modest was more practical. Britains made two such models, with either a single draught horse, or a pair. I was able to muster a pair of metal wheels that seem to work, and I will attach horses to the model as required.
Broken plough
The second is a repaired wheelbarrow, once more kindly supplied by Graham, and the appropriate figure from the broken box. Miliput and wire was used to replace the missing legs.
Original state
MGB
Another cracking post with plenty to pore over. The Napoleonics look great in their new uniform and period, they work really well. Noce work on the desert rats to repurpose them nicely. Some super figures in your haul of goodies and some top notch repair work on them, they all look super and great to see them of use once more.
ReplyDeleteCheers Donnie. An occasional few hours for hobbies at least once a week is still furnishing some completed projects....... many were in various states of completion anyhow so making them less of a workload. Would love to stage a garden wargame with all this good weather, but yesterday we took down a thirty foot palm tree, before it made its own decision when to come down, and on what, lol.
DeleteMichael
Your Neapolitan troops look great Michael, and will prove very useful I'm sure! Your Polish unit looks just right and your civilians will all work perfectly on your table! The plough and wheelbarrow look so realistic and your repairs are invisible! All very wonderful indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks Brad. I decided early on not to wargame some periods in 54mm, particularly if I already had collections in 28mm. So my 54mm were going to be dominated by 19th-20th century armies. But I wasn't expecting to end up with some mid-19th century Neapolitans, and the same for Danish too. Just could not resist the 'Ruritanian' uniforms.
DeleteMichael
Some great repurposing and rebuilding with some effective shiny paintwork. Those repurposed Airfix British Napoleonic infantry have a real Neapolitan swagger.
ReplyDeleteCheers Mark. I guess I'm looking for smaller scale conflicts involving 'Napoleonic' type uniforms. For me, the Napoleonic period warrants large-scale games, so best left to smaller scales. But the lesser known conflicts of the mid-19th century work splendidly for 54mm representation. With no more than one hundred figures a side, you still feel the conflict is being represented on the wargames table.
DeleteMichael
I really like the way you turned regular Airfix figures into units which is not very common. Interesting that you find the backstory for such unfamiliar units as well. I find it most educational. I'll hope your new units will bring much fun and enjoyment to your tabletop.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Roger. I have always found it exciting to discover a military unit which was considered 'distinct' in a particular conflicts. Particularly if their uniforms varied from the norm, or the recruits joined because of peculiar loyalties or convictions. I already have several British battalions in desert uniforms so the Carpathian Rifles was something distinct, and some smaller units help create that irregularity in strengths which battles, or even smaller actions, often muster.
DeleteMichael
More lovely restoration work MGB - the plough is a great addition to your civilian collection
ReplyDeleteCheers MJT. When I picked up that box of mainly broken farm animals I wasn't really expecting to fabricate three rural extras; the rake, plough, and wheelbarrow sets. I'm really looking forward to setting out the rural landscape for a wargame, perhaps linked to the Schleswig-Danish wars.
DeleteMichael
Great work Michael.I think the Bulldog was an absolute bargain as they are often £5 upwards when sold individually. I love the plough and by sheer coincidence I acquired the same model a couple of months back (condition pretty good...no damage other than shabby paint), but haven't got around to repainting it yet. I shall consider leaving the horses separate to facilitate storage and flexibility. Glad the Zouaves have gone to a good home. I am afraid the English Civil War collection has sidetracked me for a few weeks, but I have just shelved them for a break and will be looking at more hollowcast matters shortly.
ReplyDeleteHello Graham. Yes, as a wargamer, I don't won't to place very large figure ornaments on the table. So I have no problem reducing the number of draught and limber horses. It's about striking a balance, and 54mm is already the larger choice to begin with. Having expressed that, I want my terrain to still stimulate me into looking closer at the terrain and the scenario...... I blame Camberwick Green and Captain Scarlet, lol.
DeleteMichael
Camberwick Green and Captain Scarlet have a lot to answer for! Mind you Fireball XL5 and more importantly, Space Patrol, had big influences on me lol!
DeleteI would have to say first was Thunderbirds, then Stingray, then the Trumptonshire trilogy, then Captain Scarlet (still my favourite), but I would not rule out Michael Bentine's Potty Time..... he even fought sand table battles from history. These were the shows that impacted my love for miniature terrain.
Delete`I blame watching the red-coated cadets from Pippin Fort jumping into a lorry, sorry Army Truck, for my somewhat historically confused wargames. Great TV.
DeleteOK, MJT, with no disrespect to the flower lady on Trumpton Square, or the shopkeepers of Camberwick Green the best episodes from Trumptonshire involved Pippin Fort or the Fire Engine..... it just was! I could seriously consider casting up a mould of a Pippin Redcoat, with a ponytail. I almost shed a tear when Brian Cant passed away in 2017.
DeleteMichael
Indeed, Brian Cant is a voice from my childhood, along with Oliver Postgate (d.2008).
DeleteIt's hard to believe that they only made 13 of each of the Trumptonshire programmes - they must have just aired them over and over as my recollection was of many more episodes!! I guess stop-motion animation just took so long to make
My late 1960s memories, MJT, is that the time slot, Watch with Mother, would have involved very different programmes according to the weekday, and an episode from Trumptonshire might only appear once or twice a week. Any chance of seeing an episode would be further restricted to school holidays. By the way, the original puppets were destroyed, with one exception, one of the redcoats. It had been given away as a gift, and still survives.
DeleteMichael
Very Nice indeed.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the Two Sicilies figures.I've harboured a hankering to game that period ever since I managed to get a copy of "Viva L'Italia" (aka "Garibaldi" for the English release) with English subs. If you haven't seen that 60s Italian movie (directed by Roberto Rossellini) it's well worth a watch.
Also, the Leopard with Burt Lancaster is another great movie.
Hi there. I'm rather a newcomer to wargaming mid-19th century conflicts, but I have very much enjoyed researching the First Schleswig-Holstein War, and also my initial excursions into the Italian Unification wars. Thank you for the movie references, I will definitely make a point of seeking them out. It makes you wonder how much more there is beyond Hollywood which would provide some 'new' inspiration. I recently watched two Japanese movies about the Russo-Japanese War, one naval, one concerning a siege, and they were both very well made and fascinating to watch.
DeleteMichael