Saturday 24 December 2022

Regimental Sir John

It's Christmas Eve and I've been hard at it for the last few days working on the 52nd (Christmas chores allowing, that is).

Progress on the 52nd has been a rather glacial business, I'm sorry to say, but at long last they're finally coming together.  I've even managed to finish painting a commander for them. He is none other than Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Colborne, who commanded the 52nd at Waterloo.

The figure chosen for this gig was an Alberken BN 35: British light infantry officer, pictured here next to a Hinton Hunt FNH 10: French general officer's horse.


Cutting him off his base, fixing his sword and bending his legs, etc., so that he could sit on the horse were all quite easy. Less simple, however, was the major leg surgery he needed to shorten his unreasonably lengthy calves. Other changes were a new left arm, courtesy of a Lamming Scots Gray trooper, and some epaulettes suitable for a field officer.

The horse still needs a bit of work, but there's a fair prospect of getting Colborne and the rest of the 52nd finished this week.

In other news, I was very chuffed to see that my flag design for the Russo-German Legion has caught on a bit. You can see it here: The Hinton Spieler.: Green Jarmins

Pictured below is the absolutely exquisite version painted by Aly Morrison:


And not be outdone is the very pretty version made by the mysterious Count Goya, which he somehow managed to create directly from one of my photographs:



Seeing these flying above such beautifully painted regiments has been a really lovely way to round off the year.

Merry Christmas everyone!
WM

14 comments :

  1. A Merry Christmas to you and yours , Tony

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  2. That is an interesting conversion and looks good. I am planning to return to my classic Napoleonics next year and will start by completing 6 Scots Greys which I started over 12 months ago.

    Merry Christmas

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    1. The best regiments take the longest Mark. They'll be a New Years Treat.

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  3. Lovely work Matthew, the 52nd will be a joy to behold! A Merry Christmas to you too.

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    1. Redcoats are only right and proper at Christmas Ian!

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  4. Nicely done conversion. Merry Christmas.

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    1. Cheers Rob. If he comes off as hoped I may have a go at mounting a few more foot officers in the New Year. I've built up a small stash of fairly ropy Der Kriegspielers for this very pupose!

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  5. You realise you've set yourself up to finish them now? We shall all be watching with bated breath to see this semi-legendary unit emerge from the painting bench and no doubt fail their first morale test - the hex on newly-painted units is alive and well. Of course I expect nothing other than an early bath for my Dons so never disappointed.
    Merry Christmas.
    PS - how about a New Year's resolution to stay away from ladders?

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    1. I wouldn't have promised anything if they weren't very nearly finished! As for their morale, Colborne's leg surgery ensures they can never run away.

      Staying away from ladders is Every Year's resolution.

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  6. Sir John will be amazing. I would never have thought you could make a successful conversion without doing a complete leg transplant, but I believe you have positioned him very well. How nicely does he sit the horse? I'm eager to see how the staggered leg positions work for him.

    Hope you have had an indulgent Christmas Eve with generous helpings of trifle leading into a lovely Christmas day. So nice to see some new troops on the horizon for the Hinton Spieler! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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    1. Cheers David. The trifle remains intact as we all ate too much salmon en croute at lunchtime!

      I'm glad you like Sir John. He seems to sit very well, but as you say we need to see the final proof.

      My other New Year's resolution is to post a lot more frequently on the Hinton Spieler!

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  7. Lovely work on Sir John Matthew…
    You’ve started a trend with your flag… I think another one makes it an official design 😁

    All the best and happy Christmas… Aly

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    1. If it really catches on I think it'll be down you Aly! Best regards for the New Year.

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