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| The 1st Regiment of the Vistula Legion |
After the rather lengthy hiatus with Cancon, the preparations for Cancon and the entire Franco-Prussian War demo game thing, other projects like my Poles progressed by fits and starts at best so the first thing I did after Cancon was finish the 2nd Bttn of the 1st Vistula Regiment (or rather 1st Regiment of the Vistula Legion). These of course are the beautiful Paul Hicks sculpted Poles I got from
Roger Murrow ('Murrowski Miniatures' for this venture!) They confirmed in my mind that Hicks is one of the finest figure sculptors working in the UK at present - his figures rival those of the Perrys (I'm thinking of Alan Perry's Napoleonic figure range in particular). I note also that Nic of Eureka Miniatures is now also casting and supplying some of the Paul Hicks Poles here in Australia.
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| 1st Regt of the Vistula Legion in attack column |
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| Command of the 2nd Battalion |
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| Detail, 2nd bttn command stand |
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| Voltigeur companies |
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| Grenadier companies |
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| Detail, rear of 1st Regiment |
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| Tete d'colon 1st Regiment |
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| 1st Regiment, march column |
Its great to finish the regiment but the project calls for a full brigade with accompanying artillery battery. Roger recently sent the figures I needed for the second regiment and a three gun battery, with a mounted brigade general and ADC to come. Plenty more to do!
The other thing I just finished was a bit out of left field. Just before Cancon the good folk at
War and Peace Games sent me some bits and pieces I needed to finish (sort of) my German paras, namely a pair of Kettenrads, anti-tank gun,
flamenwerfer etc, etc. After starting putting these together I noticed amongst my WWII German stuff was a Tamiya 1/48 scale Hanomag half-track model that had been sitting on the shelf for well over a year. I had two half-tracks but was having the devil of a time matching them with a third vehicle for a full squad. The equivalent such as that produced by Warlord is actually 1/56 scale - way too small for the ones I had, as I discovered after buying what I thought was a matching model. By sheer luck I happened on a 1/48th scale model in a hobby shop that usually only stocks either 1/72nd or 1/35 models. Just the one but exactly what I was after - expensive little bugger too - but I thought 'how hard could it be?' Well, once I decided to make it I was gobsmacked at the amazing detail in the model. My hat goes off to model makers as this one really tested my very, very rusty model-making skills.
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| The Tamiya model contains fantastic detail |
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| The Tamiya model is the same size but appears to be a different vehicle make |
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| The finished model! |
The half-tracks were known as 'Hanomags' for the very good reason of it taking too long to pronounce the full title: Mtl.SPW.Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. D. Interestingly, the differences between the Tamiya model and my others are noticeable - particularly at the back. The model info tells me that the final version of the Ausf. D was made in 1943 to include fewer panels - thus making it easier to manufacture. That and the air intake at the front being located under the armoured panels rather than on top have me thinking its the later version. A minor annoyance given the earlier versions I already have but that said, I'm quite happy with the way it turned out. Room for 12 men and their kit (very squeezy in there tho) and two MGs for a bit of added firepower.
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| Rear of the Ausf. D - note the green case hanging on the back side panel - its full of grenades! That and the Jerrycan on the other side would be great targets! I'm sure they removed them going into action. |
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| More rear detail of the Ausf. D |
Well that was certainly a diverse two weeks - also done was the building and base coating of about 150 Perry's and Warlord Austrians and Russians. The new Perry's plastic Austrians are fantastic. The detail is amazing - as sharp as the Tamiya model I just built - but mercifully a helluva lot easier to put together! The only disappointing aspect was the Warlord plastic Russians that come with a metal command. The plastic figures are OK and easy to assemble but the metal ones are pretty ordinary and badly cast. The officer figure is animated but in an awkward pose that does not match that of the marching flag bearer's and drummer. But that is all by-the-by as I now have over 200 figures base-coated on painting sticks awaiting me! And its back to work Monday... [sigh] I guess I'll just have to retire to get them done!
Cheers,
Doc
Fantastic work all round Doc... I love that halftrack.
ReplyDeleteGreat Poles but a damn lovely Hanomag!
ReplyDeleteChoice work all-around, Doc. Good to see the famous Vistula Legion joining your ever growing Napoleonic armies. That Hanomag is also well done - lucky find at the hobby store - it must've been there just for you. Aloha, Dean
ReplyDeleteYes, it practically lept off the shelf shouting 'Buy Me! Buy Me!' I won't tell you what the two 1/48 JU87 Stukas I also spotted were saying to me... ;-)
DeleteWOW! This is splendid work. The vibrancy of the colour on those troops really makes them stand out. And you're right those are some nice sculpts.
ReplyDeleteGreat work on the Poles, and thanks for all the different shots.
ReplyDeleteThese are terrific, Doc! I've just today finished reading Lieutenant Brandt's memoirs of life in the Vistula Legion, and he'd be very pleased with these figures!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Giles
Fantastic work all round!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind comments all - I actually enjoyed doing the Hanomag even though it was challenging, which is good as I have an Italian armoured car to do next! The Poles are beautiful and a delight to paint which is also good as I have another 60 - odd and 3 guns to paint as well! Now all I have to do is find the time from my household duties to do 'em!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Doc
brilliant job, Doc, but we already know you're a true master of paint :) What I also love is the lighting in the photos, everything looks so very realistic with the sunlight in the pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks Chika Dezi - I always try to use natural lighting. Outdoors on a slightly overcast day works best but in the shade on a sunny day can also work - the dappled shade of the trees creates a unique lighting effect on the models being photographed. I prefer it when photographing my figures etc as I think the natural light really brings out deeper colour and sharper contrast.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Doc
Hello Doc
ReplyDeleteYou've got yourself some very nice Poles. Congratulations.
I have a cunning plan to raise Dombrowski's 27th Independent Division of 1813 vintage. To this end I have already have two of the required four battalions and commanders safely tucked away under the gaming table awaiting some love, attention and paint. I'm not sure that getting Murrowski Miniatures for the remaining two battalions is a good idea and will probably stick with Front Rank.
Salute
von Peter himself
Hi von P - . I put up a comparison shot of a Hicks Pole with a Perry's and a Victrix in an earlier post so you can see how well they fit in with other makes - that said FR are a little more TeleTubbyish compared to the svelt Perrys or Victrix plastic giants but the height difference isn't as noticeable as say that between FR and Foundry (as I found out with my Bavarians). I like your cunning plan but you really should give the Hick's figures a try - unless of course you prefer the conformity of the having same figures for a unit. I know a solution - raise another division of just Murrowski/Hicks Poles! ;-)
DeleteEven better - if you're raising Dombrowski's division, you'll need about 3,000 Krakus cossacks to go with them! Have a look at Roger's blog and the Krakus cossacks he's just resleased - beautiful figures and just the thing to match your 1813 Poles. Oh, you'll need an artillery battery to go with them too. Dare I say Murrowski also make a very nice little line of Polish guns... [grin]
DeleteHello Doc. I'm back for more therapy! 8O)
DeleteFirstly re the size difference between Foundry & Front Rank Bavarians. Unless I'm much mistaken the Foundry Bavarians (& Austrians and at least the early French) were sculpted to more of a 25mm size. At some stage Foundry moved to 28mm so you'll find the the Foundry Russians are not a bad match with their Front Rank equivalents ... at least for the infantry.
At this stage I think it unlikely I'll move from Front Rank for the infantry. I like my armies to be homogenous!
I've yet to see an order of battle that has any Krakus around Dombrowski's division during the later Dennewitz - Leipzig period of 1813. Not that I'm an expert and will no doubt be quickly proved to be wrong! So no Krakus for me. But I see that Murrowski have some uhlans on the way and there are two regiments of them with Dombrowski so they may be the most likely Murrowski purchases for me.
The artillery is a bit up in the air. I'll probably want my Polish guns - the cannon themselves - to match my French ones which will most likely be from Calpe Miniatures. The crew will need to be able to work around them. If buying Murrowski means getting the Sash & Sabre guns then there will be some wasted money in their purchase.
Enough raving ... for now. You'll have to tease me with more of the Poles of your choice. That would be great! 8O)
Salute
von Peter himself
Of course you are right about Dombrowski's division but I do have a reference in Elting's excellent 'Swords Around the Throne' about Flaubert & Dombrowski organising the Crakus [sic] 'excellent horsemen and thieves' mounted on tough little horses towards the end of the 1813 campaign. But yes, I'd wait for the Uhlans too. BTW Roger tells me the redoubtable Nic at Eureka in Victoria will be the manufacturer and distributor for these beautiful figures in our neck of the woods. And I've just got the latest - a mounted general & ADC to do up - so more Polish goodness to tempt you with soon I hope!
DeleteLovely, both of the but especially the poles.
ReplyDeleteOne comment though... I am not sure if you can still remove it, but the long rectangular numberplate is meant for the front. On the rear the only ever used the square or trapezoid ones during the period depicted.
Thanks for the advice re the Hanomag rear plate. I stuck the long one on there following the instruction in the box - so I guess Tamiya got that bit wrong? As scraping it off might make more of a mess than just leaving it I may have to give some thought about removing it!
DeleteWonderful painting of a favourite Napoleonic unit!
ReplyDelete