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JournalNo 82 August 2006

The British Flat Figure Society

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BFFS Journal No 82 - August 2006

of The British Flat Figure

SocietyJournal No 82 August 2006

Journal

Society ContactsPlease send all information to be published in the Journal to Jerry Mortimore. All other correspondence with the Society should be addressed to Michael Creese. Society Sales are handled by Michael Creese, to whom any inserts for the Journal should also be sent. Orders or questions about the Bulk Ordering Service should be sent to Ed Humphreys and membership applications and renewals go to Colin Baines. All ad-dresses can be found on this page.

The next JournalThe copy deadline for the next Journal is 10 October 2006 for publication in November.Contributions to the Journal can be typed, handwritten or digital. If supplying scanned images, these should be 300dpi. For digital pictures the higher the number of pixels the better.

Annual SubscriptionsU.K. members: £12.00, European mem-bers: £14.00 Overseas members: £17.00 (by air mail). Subscriptions are due for renewal in January every year.

Payment of Subscriptions can be made by cheque, Postal Order or International Money Order made out in Sterling and payable at a named UK bank. Under no circumstances can we accept foreign cur-rency cheques. We can, however, accept payment in paper currency e.g. Dollars or Euros from the EEC, etc., but please add the equivalent of One Pound Sterling to cover conversion costs. Cheques etc should be made payable to the British Flat Fig-ure Society and sent to the Membership Secretary.

Contact The committee and Area Representatives of the Society

Hon. Secretary:Michael Creese, ‘Nutwood’,Great Glemham Road, Stratford St Andrew,Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 1LLTel: 01728 602746

Membership:Colin Baines, 123 Old Park Road, Clevedon, North Somerset, BS21 7EY.Tel: 01275 875010e-mail: [email protected]

Treasurer:Dr Bob Williams, 2a Old Bury Road, Thetford, Suf-folk, IP24 3AN.

Editor:Jeremy Mortimore, 17 Redwood Drive, Wing, Leighton Buzzard, Beds LU7 0TATel: 01296 688455e-mail: [email protected]

Bulk Orders:Ed Humphreys, 11 Oakeley Terrace,Talwaenydd, Blaenau Ffestiniog,Gwynedd LL41 3LYTel: 01766 830031email: [email protected]

Distribution & Printing:Mike Taylor, Stonechat House,8 Ferndell Close, Cannock, StaffsWS11 1HR

Joe Melvin, 21 Ridgeway, Aldridge,Walsall, WS9 0HL

Malcolm MacDonald, 279 Blackberry Lane, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield,West Midlands B74 4JS

Archivist:Richard Hyne, 23 Letchworth Road,Baldock, Herts. SG7 6AA

Society Sales:Michael Creese, ‘Nutwood’,Great Glemham Road, Stratford St Andrew,Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 1LLTel: 01728 602746

Webmaster:Simon Hoggett, 23 Parkhurst Road,Hertford SG14 3AZTel: 01992 586568E-mail:[email protected]

Area Representatives

LONDON: Phil Redman, Georgian House,50 Games Road, Cockfosters,Herts. EN4 9HW. Tel: 02084 408475

HAMPSHIRE: Chris Parkin,17 Constable Close, Black Dam,Basingstoke, Hants, RG21 3QY

SOUTH‑WEST: Tony Du-Vall,4 Pixie Dell, Braunton,North Devon EX33 1DP

SOUTH‑EAST: Situation vacant.

BRISTOL & AVON: Situation vacant.

MIDLANDS: Jon Redley, 64 York Avenue, Finch-field, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV3 9BU. Tel: 01902 423732

NORTH‑EAST: M.G.Wardle, 96 WestEnd Drive, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5JXTel: 0113 258 1508

NORTH‑WEST: Malcolm Collins,16 Tithe Barn Street, Currock, Carlisle,Cumbria CA2 4EL. Tel: 01228 46444

WALES: S.G.Rutherford, 5 Coleridge Road, Beech-wood, Newport, Gwent. NP9 8HYTel: 01633 273014

EAST ANGLIA: Michael Creese, ‘Nutwood’, Great Glemham Road,Stratford St Andrew, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 1LL Tel: 01728 602746

SCOTLAND: John Russell,2 Marcus Crescent, Aberdeen AB21 0SZTel: 01224 790680

EUROPE & OVERSEAS: John Cox,6 Anderson Close, Woodley, Romsey,Hants., UK

NORTHERN IRELAND:C.W.Robinson, 25 Princetown Road,Bangor, Co. Down,Northern Ireland BT20 3TA

CANADA & USA:Kevin W.Dunne, 1854 Stone Avenue,East Meadow, NY 11554, USA.Tel:516-567-8195 Email: [email protected]

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND:John Brewer, 18 Selby Avenue,Dee Why 2099, Australia

ITALY:Gianpaolo Bistulfi, Via Alberti 10,20149 Milano, ItalyTel: 02 33106690E-mail: [email protected]

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Front Cover: War of Spanish SuccessionIllustrations for the article by Gianpaolo Bistulfi on page 4

3. Diary Dates & Odds and Ends.

4. The War of Spanish Succession.Gianpaolo Bistulfi looks at the the armies of the contesting nations.

8. What's New.New figures from Kovar, Blum and Dangschat.

9. Knowle 2006.Report from Michael Creese.

11. Mules and Mountain Batteries.Screw Guns by Mike (Cannock) Taylor.

14. The Last Bulk OrderEd Humphreys reviews the bulk orders and we look at Glorious Empires, the last bulk order.

18. What's New Too.Historisches Zinn.

20. Cardboard Flats.A brief introduction from David Mackay.

22. Aviation News.Latest flat aircraft news from our Aviation Correspondant, Mike (Cannock) Taylor.

24. Gallery.Pictures from Knowle 2006.

The opinions expressed within this Journal are not necessarily those of the

Editor, the Committee, other officials, or the British Flat Figure Society.

I am sorry to have missed the Knowle meeting, and sorry numbers seem to have been down this year, see Michael Creese' report. It was just unfortunate that the only dates I could get for the place we wanted to go on holiday coincided.

This Journal has gone together well, I hope you find something interest-ing in it.

The celebrations of 250 years since Mozarts birth certainly seem to be generat-ing some interesting figures. I particularly like Kovar's 80mm Magic Flute figures.

I like the new Screw Gun set from Western Miniatures and I shall definately be placing an order for that.

In this Journal we see the last

Many apologies to those readers expecting to find the next part of the “Weekend in Munich” series. Unfortunately, pressure of work from the ‘day job’ has prevented me from completing it on time. At the same time, I have received a lot of additional information that needs translating and assessing. So I will get on with it soon and will have it ready for the next issue. Simon Hoggett

Letchworth Scale Model Club ‘Showcase 2006’. This annual show will be held on Sunday the 29th October 2006 at ‘Plinston Hall’ Letchworth. 10.00-4.00. 5 min walk from Letchworth Station or by car from junct.9 on A1(M). Prices;Adult £2/ under 15 & seniors £1.Show Organiser; Tony Bottazzi 01438 358903. Traders-clubs-competition-refreshments and more.

Euromilitaire will be held on 23rd-24th Sptember at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone. Ed Humphreys is organising a table and would welcome offers of help and flats to display.

Bulk Order. The need for this service has tailed off over the last few years but Ed is determined to go out with a bang. I was very grateful to Ed in the early days of the service, we certainly owe him a round of thanks.

Once again, my thanks to all con-tributors, without you there would be no Journal. I am short of articles for the next Journal, so all contributions welcome. It will be a monochrome Journal, so no need to get colour pictures sorted out.

Regards,

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The inspiration came to me from the purchase of the two booklets: The Armies and Uniforms of Marlborough’s Wars-by C.S. Grant - Partizan Press, Volumes 1 and 2.

The fascinating colour illustrations by Bob Marrion tempted me to paint a series of flat figures showing the various armies involved in this war at the beginning of the 18th century.

This conflict, like the Thirty Years War of the previous century, involved all the main European states, with an intrigue of causes and interests rather difficult to explain clearly with few words.

The origin of the contest is clearly evident. The King of Spain, Charles II, was childless and when he died many contenders for the throne arose: Austria with Archduke Charles, France with the Duke of Anjou, Bavaria with the Electoral Prince Joseph Ferdinand.

Many countries supported the various candidates, trying to gain advantage from this situation of uncertainty.

After a period of great confusion, two alliances took form: on one side England, Holland, Prussia, Austria, Portugal, Denmark and some minor German States. On the other side: France, Spain, Savoy (which after a while switched to the opposite front), the Duchy of Mantua, Köln and then Bavaria.

After these short historical notes, let’s go to figures.

I reviewed my conspicuous stock of blank figures looking for those suitable for showing the various uniforms depicted in the images of Bob Marrion: most of the selected figures were already good for my scope (even if with the necessity of some little change obtained by file or by painting). For some figures a more heavy intervention was necessary.

The “removing” modifications are surely easier and they require only a careful use of cutter or file. Even better if you can use a minidrill with dentist cutters.

The “adding” modifications are a little more difficult. In fact, due to the figure thinness, I do not recommend any kind of gluing; instead, a soldering action is necessary. Do not use standard tin soldering irons, because it is very easy to destroy the figure. I advice the use of low temperature (about 80°C) melting alloy together with a temperature regulated soldering iron: in this

way, you never risk melting the figure (the tin figures alloy melts over 200°C).

As for figures and Editors:Many figures come from the

fine Neckel series “Das Heer des Blaue König”, inspired to the same title book with drawings by Anton Hoffmann. The figures are mainly engraved by Ludwig Frank.

Also in the Maier catalogue we may find interesting figures of the XVIII century, again signed by L. Frank.

Another source for figures in this historical period is the Bretegnier catalogue, with figures engraved by R. Pepin after drawings by L.Rousselot (the drawings are far better than the engravings, however, after careful painting, the figures may give an excellent result).

The Bretegnier figures, like the Gottstein series “ Louis XIV Staff “ may be purchased from Mr. Terana, Paris.Great Britain:Fig.1: Life Guards 2nd Troops, Lord Marlborough, Officer, gun and gunner

The dragoon comes from the Maier catalogue; Lord Malborough comes out from the Gottstein series “Louis XIV Staff”, the remaining figures are Neckel (series: die Blaue König).France:Fig.2: Listenois Dragoon, Cuirassier, Rgt. Piedmont Officer, Officer and General

The Listenois Dragoon is a Bretegnier figure (Terana); Piedmont Officer is by Wagner, the two officers on the right belong to the already mentioned series Blaue Konig.

As for the Cuirassier, I could have used one figure from the Mignot range, which provides a series of Louis XIV charging Cuirassiers, but I preferred a standing position: therefore, I modified a Bavarian cuirassier (see fig. 10) replacing the head, using cutter and low temperature soldering.Fig.3: coach with French Marshal, troop and servants

All the figures are from a Mignot series.Duchy of Savoy: Fig.4: Piedmont Dragoon, Eugene of Savoy, “yellow” Dragoon”

I used Loy (Maier) figures for both the dragoons.

Eugene of Savoy: in reality, this great general was mainly at the service of

Austria, but we can say his country were the barracks, whichever the banner.

The figure comes from the series “Louis XIV Staff”, with a slight modification at the pistol holsters (enlarged) and the sleeve (reduced amplitude)Fig.5: grenadier, Rgt. La Marina NCO, Rgt. Monferrato drummer, Rgt. Aigoin foot, Rgt. Reding Officer

All the figures are from the Neckel series “Blaue König”.Spain:Fig.6: Rgt.Campredon Dragoon, Rgt. Napoli Officer, Royal Body Guard, Tercio Verdes Viejos, Tercio Colorados Viejos, Rgt. Napoli drummer.

The dragoon is a Maier figure with head replacement; the rgt. Napoli officer (a Scheibert figure) had the external sash filed away and a belt was painted under the vest; the Royal Body Guard is a Segom figure; the two-foot figures are of unknown maker; the drummer is a Neckel figure, with the hat duly reshaped.Papal State:Fig.7: Serlupi Rgt. Grenadier, Officer of Autanne Cuirassier Rgt, Albani Dragoon

The grenadier and Officer are from Neckel, the dragoon comes from Terana cataloguePortugal:Fig.8: foot, standard-bearer and officer

The foot figure is engraved by S. Maier but I do not remember the Editor; the remaining figures are NeckelBavaria:Fig.9: Bavarian officers; the third figure from left is Maximilian II, called “the Blue King” “(Blaue König)

All are Neckel figuresFig.10: Cuirassier officer and Cuirassier, Monasterol Dragoon

Here again all figures are Neckel from the series “Blaue König”

At the end, all the painted figures could be shown in a frame to be hung on a wall, grouped according to the various States, in order to illustrate this dark page of history: what do you think?

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Figures from the pages of Die Zinnfigur. All figures 30mm unless otherwise stated.

Die Zinnfigur seems to have gone Mozart -mad at the moment, thanks to the celebrations around the 250th anniversary of his birth. In particular Peter Ewald Kovar, Liechtensteinstrasse 66/5, 1090 Vienna, Austria.

Among his new figures are 30mm figures of Mozart with his sister Nannerl and his father performing, an orchestra from Mozart's period and an 80mm figure of Mozart composing.

In addition, he offers some beauti-ful 80mm figures from Mozart operas. I have illustrated the set from the Magic Flute, and there is a set of figures from The Escape from the Seraglio and a figure of Don Giovanni. The Magic Flute figures are also illustrated in colour and look re-ally good.

Rudolf Grünewald, Lärchenweg 28, 30900 Wedemark, has produced a set of Mozart performing for the Empress Maria Theresa.

Just to be different, Wolfgang Unger has produced a figure of Johannes Brahms playing the Piano.

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There are, however, some other nice new figures about.

Top right is a set of French Mus-ketiers of the Guard, 1700-1757. These are designed and engraved by Vladimir Nuzhdin. Available from Wolfgang Blum, Ahlener Weg 13f, 12207 Berlin.

Below is a new set from Peter Dangschat, Schäferteich 4a, 38302 Wolfen-büttel-Salzdahlum. This is from a series called Sommernachtstraum im Englischen Garten. These are typical Dangschat fig-ures, full of character.

Below that a 30mm set of the public lavatory at the Café Achteck in Berlin edited by Klio Berlin.

Other figures in Die Zinnfigur recently include some very nice Greek mythology figures from Wolfgang Hafer - Perseus and Andromeda, Achilles and Penthesilia and Hercules and the Lernean Hydra.

An attractive small set of a stolen kiss from Wolfgang Unger.

Some Prussian Hussars of 1750 charging and at the trot from Bunzel.

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First of all, a very big ‘THANK YOU’ to the twenty five members who took the trouble to turn up! Several members sent apologies but was it the heat, the World Cup, or the Grand Prix that kept others away? What ever it was, the meeting was made less interesting than it might have been for those who were there because there were fewer models to see and fewer people to talk to. That said, there were some excellent and very interesting items on the tables and those who were present enjoyed the day. As usual, in addition to the bring-and-buy table, we had a range of members offering figures for sale; Dick Jenkins of Western Miniatures, Ed Humphreys with a range of Glorious Empires types, John Russell (who each year travels down from Aberdeen) with the Fredericus Rex range and finally Rod Johnson with the Japanese figures from ‘Shogun’ and we are grateful to them once again for their support.

On the tables Ed had four of his dioramas. ‘Abensburg’ features 54mmm Glorious Empires Hussars painted up as the 5th Regiment while in another scene 30mm French line chasseurs attack the Gordons at Quatre Bras. Crecy and Custer’s Last Stand extended the historical range. Another Napoleonic diorama made by the Hon Secretary depicts Murat leading the Hussars against Russian infantry in the snow at Eylau. The hussars are by Segom and Glorious Empires and the French infan-try are Ochel and Frauendorf. Still on the Napoleonic theme, Joe Melvin produced a beautifully painted and framed group of Napoleonic Staff officers — again 54mm types from Glorious Empires. The RTAF was on display at one end of the table; members will have read Mike Taylor’s articles on the aircraft which Dick Jenkins is producing and it was delightful to be able to study them in the flesh or rather ‘in the metal’. Mike’s contribution to the Light Cavalry theme of the day was a set of Chasseurs d’Afrique (see his article in the last Journal) and we all look forward to seeing the completed diorama.

A recently joined member, Douglas Johnson, is an expert on the history and

production of Ochel figures (see his article in the Journal) and he brought along the catalogue which is a mammoth volume together with representative figures of Persians, Huns, Turks, Poles and Prussians. Ian Parkinson produced some items he had bought in auction; some ancient looking Heinrichsen figures of French Cuirassiers, some Ochel Thirty Years War arquebusiers in the original box (and we all know from the Antiques Road Show how that increases their value!) together with a very interesting little diorama of Prussian Napoleonic for-tress artillery. However, the most original item of the day came from a non-member of the Society. David MacKay lives just down the road from Knowle and found out about the meeting from our Website. He produced a little pill-box containing 30mm Napoleonic figures which he had cut and laminated from thin card before painting them to a very high standard indeed. He once made an artillery team with traces made of thin paper but alas that has gone to the great Park in the Sky! A pity- it really must have looked splendid.

At 2.30 pm we had a short busi-ness meeting and discussed various ideas connected to the future of the Society. The sad news is that our printer has run into severe financial difficulties but hopes to be able to continue to produce our Journal for us. However, it will almost certainly be more expensive to print but we have enjoyed exceptionally favourable terms for many years. Hopefully, the recent rise in subscription rates will be sufficient to cover the increase. Distribution of Journal Number 81 was unfortunately later than we would have wished. The Hon Editor was unavoidably absent but members will have seen his desperate plea for more articles. It is not enough to leave it to someone else – the Journal depends on the efforts of ALL members! The bulk-ordering service will end shortly – it has simply come to the end of its useful life. Circumstances have changed; members travel to Kulmbach themselves or financially embarrass their friends by asking them to get figures for them (sorry Mike!) while purchase through

the Internet is easy and currency readily obtainable. However, a very big THANK YOU to Ed for all his work running this operation over many years. He hopes to go out in a blaze of glory with his final bulk order from Glorious Empires but needs to make arrangements with Jacques Vullinghs re catalogues. The Committee will explore the possible greater use of e-mail eg for subscription reminders. More might be done to publicise the Society and the An-nual Meeting in order to increase attend-ance. The re-introduction of talks and/or demonstrations at the meeting might also increase interest.

Finally, another THANK YOU to all the members of your Committee who have all generously volunteered to continue with their sterling efforts on your behalf. However, Hon Secretary has stood down feeling that it is high time for a younger face with fresh ideas (not to mention better computer skills) to carry the Society for-ward into the next decade. Simon Hoggett has volunteered to take over as Secretary while Andrew Nickeas will be responsible for the routine organisation of the Annual Show. Andrew manned the canteen again this year and his efforts were much ap-preciated.

Photographs from Knowle are courtesy of Graham Dixey.

Back page, clockwise from top:

Saxon Jagers and Turcos at Bois Chevallier near Sedan, Sept 1st 1870 by Mike Taylor

Musicians by Graham Dixey

Prince Sobieski and General Chouard by John Russell

The Red Baron and Albatros D.V 1917 and Capt. James McCudden and S.E.5a 1917 by Mike Taylor

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Now no one could accuse Dick Jenkins of putting all his eggs in one basket. Of course I had noticed an imperceptible decrease in his phenomenal output of flat aeroplanes (already fifty plus). There was a reason, naturally, and this was that he had other fish to fry. He has returned once more to his special interest in India and the Great Mutiny.

Here illustrated is his new set of an Indian Mountain Gun Team. He tells me that the figures are based on photographs he found in bound copies of the Illustrated London News that he found in his local library. Anyway, as far as I can see this is an excellent new set of flats that could well be the sort to cause the specialist collector to stray from his narrow path. (As you may guess, your simple-minded writer will not be able to resist the temptation!)

I feel like Daniel stepping into the lions’ den as I begin to pen a few lines about Mountain Batteries in India in the nineteenth century. I know there are a number of experts on the Indian Army and its doings among our readers. I imagine smoke coming out of their ears as I blunder on with my limited knowledge and not that much information to refer to. I am sure I shall leave myself wide open to those who really do know a lot about the subject. But perhaps those good people will put pen to paper with more accurate and interesting information that I am sure our editor will be delighted to receive.

Many of the Colonial Campaigns of the Victorian Era were not large-scale events and were often fought in difficult terrain, where the movement of standard equipment and artillery was onerous to say the least. One of the solutions was to use lighter guns, which could be quickly disassembled and reassembled, the various parts being carried by pack animals includ-ing elephants and camels. However, for this article I shall stick to mules. In 1841 a mountain train of six 3-pounder guns was formed to serve in Afghanistan. (Strange how often history repeats itself and the names of perennial trouble spots crop up

time after time.) This battery moved to Kabul but in the retreat from that city half of them were wiped out. The remainder were besieged in Jellallabad where they proved how effective they could be.

During 1850 the first entirely mule born mountain train battery was created. It was so successful that soon other similar batteries were formed. To begin with a battery consisted of six guns, which were usually three 3-pounders and three 4.4" howitzers. Both types of gun could cer-

tainly make their presence felt in various situations, the howitzers being capable of breaking down stone breastworks, etc.

It was in 1880 that a certain Colonel C.B. le Mesurier, Royal Artillery, devised a gun that weighed a total of 400 pounds. It had a barrel of 2.5" calibre that could project a seven pound shell up to 4000 yards. This heavy gun barrel was carried in two pieces and was fastened together for use by a trunnion hoop into which each part was screwed. This extremely potent

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piece of artillery was called the “Screw Gun” and was immortalised by Rudyard Kipling’s poem of that name. Here are a few lines of the poem showing how Kipling captures in his inimitable style the scene on the Northwest Frontier, the British artillery man, the teams of laden mules and the gun crews about to trek off along some precari-ous mountain trail. Smokin’ my pipe on the mountings, sniffin’ the mornin’ cool,I walks in my old brown gaiters along o’ my old brown mule,With seventy gunners be’ind me an’ never a beggar forgetsIt’s only the pick of the Army that handles the dear little pets – ‘Tss! ‘Tss!

For you all love the screw-guns – the

screw-guns they all love you!So when we call round with a few

guns, o’ course you will know what to do – Hoo! Hoo!

Jest send in your Chief and surrender – it’s worse if you fights or you runs:

You can go where you please, you can skid up the trees, but you don’t get away from the guns!

They sends us along where the roads are, but mostly we goes they ain’t:We’d climb up the side of a sign-board an’ trust to the stick o’ the paint:We’ve chivvied the Naga an’ Looshai, we’ve give the Afreedeman fits,For we fancies ourselves at thousand, we guns that are built in two bits – ‘Tss! ‘Tss!

Mountain batteries served most no-tably on the Afghan Frontier, but the Royal Artillery had a battery in the Gordon Relief column in 1884. In 1868 two batteries were employed in Abyssinia.

One thing I read that I found interest-ing was that Mountain Battery Gunners had to be men of really good physique and at least six feet tall. Obviously the gun parts were very heavy (poor mules) and it would have been useless to have someone of short stature to try and lift off these parts. The mule pack saddles were specially designed for carrying each section and there were lift-ing bars which fitted into loops, hooks and holes for quick removal of each piece. Each gun required six first line mules to carry it plus some ammunition. Other mules were used for carrying tools, spare pieces and

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extra shells, also there were relief animals in case of casualties. Apparently a team of nine men could bring a Screw Gun into action in 35 seconds! Unbelievable?

Mountain batteries were manned sometimes by Royal Artillerymen and sometimes by Indian Regi-ments. I have coloured illustrations of gunners of the Bombay Moun-tain Artillery of the late eighteen hundreds when puttees seemed to be universally worn. They are wearing a dark blue uniform with a prominent red stripe on the trouser seam. The jacket is single breasted with red collar edged in yellow/gold. Rank badges are yellow/gold edged in red, and on the cuff is a single yellow/gold cord with one loop. The belt and cross-belt are of brown leather as is the footwear. Best of all, the gunner wears a bright red turban. This of course is dress uniform but by this time service dress was a light muddy/sandy brown from which we derive the word khaki* (but which in two World Wars came to mean

a much darker and denser colour.) Most photographs of the period show both Indian and British troops in ubiquitous true Khaki uniforms (with Scottish regiments of course wearing their dark tartan kilts).

Mountain Artillerymen were given, for self-defence, a curved single edged sword. These were carried in reverse in

the Russian style. It looks a bit odd but no doubt there was some reason for it. Both British and Indian gunners wore them this way.

Now to get back to Dick’s Peshawar Mountain artillery. What about their uniforms? Well so far, I have been unable to contact the one person I know, Alastair Bantock, who could unlock the door for us. The bad news is that Jerry is pressing me to get this article to him. The good news is that only six of the set have yet been produced so, in a sense, we’ve got time to sort out the information we need. Dick’s idea is to get the whole group complete by next Kulmbach. (That is just twelve months away!!!)

In the end I did turn up quite a bit of material on the Mountain Batteries from my fairly

extensive military library. I hope the reader will forgive the hodge podge way I have thrown it together. The following books were particularly useful.

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1. “Weapons and Equipment of the Victorian Soldier” by D Featherstone and with illustrations by J.Mollo, Blandford 1978.2. “North West Frontier 1837-1947” by R. Wilkinson Latham, Osprey Men at Arms, 1978.3. “Kipling’s Soldiers” compiled by G&C Newark and illustrated by Brian Fosten,

Pompadour Gallery 1993.4. “Victorian Colonial Wars” by P.J.Haythornthwaite, Arms and Armour Press 1988.5. “Tradition” No27. (which has an article with excellent diagrams of a screw gun and six pack mules.

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Reflections on the Bulk Ordering SystemIn the twenty years since we began ordering figures from abroad for our members, the world has changed immensely. The continent of Europe, whence we draw so much of our inspiration has changed politically out of all recognition. Our members have gained confidence and wisdom, and are much more prepared to travel to Kulmbach in search of their little silvery treasures, and the Internet has made buying so much easier. All this means that our bulk ordering system has had very little support in recent years. On occasion, not a single member has ordered from a given catalogue, while more often only one or two are tempted by our offer.

In the early days, a large number of members ordered figures, and the often substantial bank charges were shared out between them, and many of our Offizin friends offered us substantial discounts, which were always passed on to the members. Many of these early orders came to significantly more than a thousand pounds!

Now, with so little interest, these bulk orders are no longer economically vi-

able. It seems to me that we must, however reluctantly, bring the system to a close. In this case, we must go out in a blaze of glory, or to be more precise, a blaze of Glorious Empires. Our old friend and co-founder, Jacques Vullinghs, who persuaded me all those years ago to attempt a bulk purchase of SEGOM figures for our members, has been working hard at producing exquisite figures in both 30 and 54mm scales,using only the highest quality designs, many by Rousselot from the old Mignot archives, and the most talented engravers.

In 54mm, while there is a high proportion of Napoleonic subjects, mostly French but including a variety of British cavalry, there are also Landsknechte, Gauls, Teutons, Aztecs, Egyptians, Thirty Years’ War Musketeers and the sack of Troy. Several have a hunting theme, Egyptian Hippos, Burgundian deer, African lions and Germanic boar all in imminent danger.

His 30mm catalogue also contains a wealth of Napoleonic subjects, with some beautifully animated charging cavalry, but there are also Francois I and his knights, a royal coach and muketeer escort from the time of Louis XIV and a Wild West stagecoach under attack, in full John

Wayne mode!To offer these as a bulk order (no

order being too large or too small) requires a departure from our usual system. Rather than our usual monochrome photocopies of the catalogues, it is proposed we offer copies of the Glorious Empires catalogues. These are produced to a professional standard, with full-colour photographs of the painted figures, and are an excellent painting guide. This means that the bulk order must be a two-stage procedure. Firstly, catalogues may be ordered through me, Ed Humphreys at a cost (including postage) of £9.95 for the 30mm, £6.95 for the 54mm, or £15 for both. Please make cheques for these catalogues payable to “M.E.Humphreys”. After a reasonable interval, I will collate these orders, send our bulk order to Jacques, and distribute the figures as usual.

In the meantime, I will make every effort to fulfil any outstanding orders, and if there is any way in which I can help mem-bers obtain figures, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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Illustrations from the Glorious Empires 54mm catalogue.

Gauls, Landsknechts, Cossacks and French Hussars in combat, Marching Line Infantry band and charging French Hussars. Over-leaf, marching Egyptians and the Emporers Coronation Coach.

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Some wonderful new figures from Hanno Schupp. These are all medieval period figures based on illustrated manuscripts of the time. The figures are superbly engraved by Vladamir Nuzhdin.

They can be combined into various scenes, for example:• Reception of a delegation at the court of Edward IV.

• Dedication of a book to Edward IV by Earl Rivers.• The Earl of Pembroke asks permission from Edward IV to wed.• Charles the Bold commisions a Tournament.

I have received the first three sets and I am very impressed.

Available from:Historisches Zinn Hanno Schupp23 Wanganui AvenueHerne BayAucklandNew Zealand

email: [email protected] Website: www.historischeszinn.com

Hanno accepts payment by Paypal

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Cardboard or paper figures have a long history1, but my own first encounter with the medium was with cut-out cowboys on Kellog’s Corn-Flake cartons. I also remember some larger-scale coloured figures, double-sided at that, on Weetabix boxes. That was in the distant frugal Fifties. However, a later and more direct inspiration was a photograph, in one of the late René North’s books2, of card flat figures comprising a colour-party of the Imperial Guard Horse Chasseurs drawn in his distinctive style. I would imagine that these interesting figures were to a fairly large scale, but the idea I had was to create a cheap and cheerful alternative to the expensive and then hard-to-obtain ‘30mm’ (more of this anon) zinnfiguren as a way of indulging my interest. René did produce a limited range of smaller cut-out figures, but these looked a little too comic-strip for my taste

My own prototypes were simply Rapidograph and felt-pen sketches on stiff paper, cut out with a lancet and glued to a cardboard base. The very first figure of this new era was an advancing French fusilier, cribbed from: yes, a René North drawing3, but I also drew the rear view of the figure: no single-sided figures for me. A group of Waterloo-period Highland infantrymen and a fairly dramatic group of Cuirassiers followed (notice a theme?) plus others I forget. The effect however was still not what I was after.

The only figures in this style to have survived the years are the Imperial Guard standard-bearer and his voltigeur comrade shown top left opposite.

The next development was to abandon the pen and colour technique in favour of gouache coated with a gloss varnish. This gave a better depth and greater scope of colour. To have anything like this facility with felt pens would have meant a significant investment in Pantone markers (or some serious scrounging from my father, a professional artist).

Again, there are only two figures of this type surviving: the officer and rifleman of the 95th. They are actually two separate figures, combined here for effect.

Although the gouache technique was a great improvement, I still felt that there was something missing: depth that was it! At some point it occurred to me that the figures could be built up in layers. Arms and equipment could be glued4 to the basic figure to add a degree of modelling to the surface, assist the painting and also stiffen the figure. This was the finalised technique I adopted. The figures in the group below were all produced in this way.

I prefer a casual static pose, as if the figure could move if he chose to, as opposed to a snapped-in-motion attitude.

My technique was quite straight-forward. I drew the complete front view of the figure between scale guidelines directly onto the card, using a medium-hard pencil, say an H, having first lightly sketched out the basic form in a softer lead. Incidentally, I now recall that the card was ordinary white scholastic card, fairfaced both sides, requisitioned from the packs of the material my wife used to make flash-cards and other classroom aids1. A pack for our purposes should last forever, at least. Having then decided how to model the figure I traced off the relevant bits, using thin tracing paper, and transferred that image to a free space on the card. I then cut out the residual figure and the associated bits, turned over the cut-out figure and drew the reverse view, repeating the tracing and transfer procedure. It is a good idea to leave a good bit of card at the base of the figure, when cutting out to be able to fix the figure down for drawing the rear view. This can be trimmed off when painting is complete. If this sounds confusing, a description of some of the completed figures should help.

Starting from the left of the group: the basic figure (a Prussian Landwehr in-fantryman) comprises the head, body legs and arms. The right hand and musket, left hand and hatchet and the blanket roll are separate pieces, glued to the basic figure. On the reverse view the blanket roll and knapsack and cartridge pouch are the sepa-rate items. Incidentally, the hand/musket component was cut from thin plastic sheet. The bayonet would be hopelessly fragile

in card: to Hell with Purism! The Austrian grenadier’s right hand

and musket and the Prussian Garde du Corps trumpeter’s left hand-in –the -hilt-guard and scabbard is the separate item on the front view, the grenadier’s pack etc. and the trumpeter’s slung trumpet on the rear.

The Russian grenadier’s right arm, hand, musket, the lower part of his greatcoat roll and the cartridge pouch are a single piece. On the rear view, his greatcoat roll, left arm, hand and bayonet (in plastic sheet) are one piece, his side-arm/bayonet scab-bard another. His long plume, in card, has unsurprisingly not survived. I should have made the pompom and plume in plastic.

The aide-de camp’s hands and map are a single separate piece. On the rear view his sabre and cartouchière are separate pieces.

The rear view of the Imperial Guard grenadier, shows his pack, cartridge pouch and sabre-briquet/bayonet as separately applied parts. The fingers of his left hand and the musket are a single piece, glued to the front of the figure.

A few hints on cutting-out might be of help for readers not used to this sort of thing. A very sharp blade is required for best results so common sense is essential. For example, I strongly recommend hold-ing the work down with something other than your fingers! A surgical handle and lancet blade (Swann Morton 10A, since you ask) was my weapon of choice. I would recommend first cutting the rough outline with fine scissors, then forming the final outlines with short cuts from the figure or component outwards, rather than follow-ing the outline with a single cut. This is a matter of personal preference however. Whatever the method, the drag of the blade does tend to create a slight distortion of the rear edge, much more so with a dull blade. Boning the edge can reduce the impact of this. A rounded plastic implement of some sort is useful here. I have some old Gestetner tools fortunately, but all sorts of things could be pressed into service. I used thick scrap card as a cutting base, but nowadays self-healing cutting mats

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are readily available, quite cheaply and are much preferable ( I now have several). An A4 size is quite adequate for our purposes and with the use of draughting tape to stick the card down, can also function as a drawing board of sorts.

As regards the drawing and paint-ing I can offer no useful advice that you probably do not already know, other than the snippets above. As Lena Horne might have sung, ‘You just kinda sit there and just kinda do it’. However, I would like to make a point about scale.

In my opinion the layered technique is most suitable for figures of the traditional zinnfigur size i.e. about 30mm high. My own figures were 30mm from sole to crown. When I adopted this standard, I misunderstood the convention which I now understand to be a more sensible 30mm from eye-line to sole. Assuming average height (of a modern European male, admit-tedly), this translates to a scale of 1/54. One of my pet hates is referring to ‘xmm scale’. This is nonsense: a scale is a ratio.

It is now nearly thirty years since

this Prussian Hussar2 was produced: one of the last figures I made (and recently restored, but he is still minus his thin paper reins). Card figures are actually quite durable with reasonable care, and probably even more so with acrylic not the Humbrol enamel varnish I used and which has become a bit brittle with age. They will always be the poor relations of their metal figure comrades, but could still have a place among them, as one-off specials in the background of a diorama perhaps. I make no great claims for my own figures: they were never intended for public display, but I do hope that they will at least serve to encourage others to cre-

ate their own designs. There is plenty of scope for experimentation: with flags and banners; artillery and transport for example. My figures were exclusively military, but

there also are plenty of possibilities with civilian subjects, with the whole of history to choose from after all. Come to think of it we still have a lot of that card….1 Model Soldiers: A Collector’s Guide- John G. Garratt2 Soldiers of the Peninsular War3 Regiments at Waterloo4 DGM recommends UHU exclusively.5 I earlier and erroneously remembered it as Bristol Board.

6 A later Historex catalogue spookily showed a figure remarkably similar to this one (but not, I think, riding a black horse, which is an unlikely mount for an hussar. Actually horses generally were not my strong point I have to say. More practice here I think.

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There are three new aircraft flats to be reviewed for this Journal. They are not flying in quite so fast and furious just lately. The reason for this will be found elsewhere in this edition. Never mind, three good subjects for flats on offer.

Number one is a WW1 fighter, the Pfalz DIII. This is a good-looking biplane. Apparently it was well built and the wings were arranged so that the pilot would have pretty good all round vision. The twin Spandau machine guns were covered in with only their muzzles showing. In the DIIIa version the guns were mounted more conventionally for the period, on top of the fuselage. This no doubt would make them much easier to service and maintain.

August 1917 was the date when the Pfalz DIII came into service. Somehow it was not popular with German pilots. They felt it had not that touch of extra speed or quite good enough manoeuvrability at high altitude that other aircraft of the time could provide. In the end it was used extensively in balloon bursting operations. About one thousand of the two variants were built.

Blandford Fighters 1914-1919 provided me with my only coloured il-lustration of the Pfalz DIII which painted up beautifully.

Next we have the Republic P47 Thunderbolt. Certainly an important aircraft from the American aviation armoury. Altogether 15,660 Thunderbolts were built. They were tough powerful fighters with a maximum speed of 433mph. They entered service with the U.S.A.A.F. in Europe in 1943. Many were used in the Pacific theatre and sixteen RAF squadrons were eventually equipped with them. Several variants were developed including one that achieved 504mph and which was used against V1 Flying Bombs.

Dick's Thunderbolt is the early 'Razorback' version. Later versions had the teardrop cockpit as shown in the photograph above right (taken by the editor at a Duxford Air Display in July this year).

Thunderbolts were normally armed with six 0.5" machine guns. In addition, they could be fitted with rockets or could carry 2000lbs weight of bombs. They were frequently used with great success as ground attack aircraft. With extra fuel tanks they could be employed as long-range escort fighters. These sturdy fighters could survive a considerable amount of battle damage and still fly home. To me they look tubby and ungainly. Nothing sleek or streamlined about them. In fact, they weighed twice as much as a Spitfire. But

their contribution to the Allied victory was very considerable. After the war numerous air forces acquired Thunderbolts. Some were still being used in the late 1960’s. Yes, an aeroplane that deserves a place in American history.

Plane number three is the Hawker Hunter. I know precious little about jets so when I learned that the Hunter was our editors favourite aircraft I thought he could do the write-up – over to you, Jerry!

Well, yes it is true I am a great fan of the Hunter and it is a favourite - first among equals perhaps. I always feel the Hunter, more than any other aircraft, looks as though it is doing 500mph when it is just standing on the tarmac.

It was a remarkably successful aircraft. 383 Hunter 6s were built for the RAF and they began to enter service in 1956. They also equipped Air Forces in several other countries, some being built under licence by Fokker and Avions Fairey. India bought 160 and Switzerland 100 in 1957. Some of these were supplied from RAF stocks. More Hunters were presented to Middle Eastern governments: Iraq had 15; Lebanon and Jordan also had some. Peru, Chile, Kenya, Rhodesia - plenty of scope for some alternative colour schemes and markings!

The Iraqi Hunters were probably the first to see action, being used by rebel pilots against government forces in the coup that overthrew King Feisal.

The last of the Swiss Hunters were still flying in 1994. I photographed four of a flight of six Swiss Hunters giving one of their last displays at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in that year before they were replaced by American F5 aircraft. They had the under surfaces painted in a red and white design incorporating the Swiss insignia.

The Hunter was never a true super-sonic aircraft. Some developments were

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under way, but the arrival of the English Electric Lightning brought an end to that. (Yes please, Dick, a Lightning would be a welcome addition to the range.)

The Hunter was regarded more as an all-round aircraft, with ground support and attack as its main role. It was popular with the aircrew because of its excellent flying qualities and manoeuvrability.

It was a popular display aircraft; The RAF Black Arrows of 111 Squadron and Blue Diamonds of 92 Squadron are still remembered. The culmination of the Black Arrows performances was probably when another squadron joined them to perform a formation roll with 22 Hunters, still a world record. The Fleet Air Arm Blue Herons team was another; they were still flying in 1984 at the Greenham Common RIAT. Even today there are a number flying in private hands.

One disreputable feat occurred in 1968. The Wilson government was under pressure, there were even fears in the Gov-ernment of an attempted coup. As a result there were to be no flying celebrations of the RAFs 50th anniversary, it could only be celebrated with parades on the ground. This caused a lot of embitterment in the RAF and one pilot, Flt Lt Alan Pollock, decided to make his own protest. He flew at minimum height along the Thames past the Houses of Parliament and under the top span of Tower Bridge. With the political situation as it was he was lucky he was only cashiered.

The photo middle right shows some variations on a Hunter theme. At the rear are a Hunter carrying 24 3" rockets and another with drop tanks and 500lb bombs. At the front is a 2-seat trainer in 'Raspberry Ripple' colours and nearest a develop-ment Firestreak missile Hunter with nose lengthened for the radar. The Hunter middle rear also has a long nose but the strange objects it is carrying are Fairey Fireflash missiles. This peculiar weapon had a central unpowered missile with rockets above and below. When fired it accelerated to Mach 2, the power packs fell away and the missile coasted to its target.

Time to get the Milliput out ......

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Gallery: Knowle 2006

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