Almost a year has passed since the last Plastic Warrior toy Soldier Show in London and as this year's event approaches I realise that I never posted my finds from last year, this was the highlight for me:
This Maratha gun mounted on an ox wagon was made by modeler Ian Walden who has been converting figures to this period for many years now and only offers them for sale once a year at the PW show.
The cart should be pulled by a pair (or more) of Gaur but Ian couldn't find any so these oxen had to step in. The cart itself was a tourist souvenir of a jaunting car, the gunners are made from the crew of the Britains RNLI lifeboat, the boy leading the cart is from the farm series and the chap running behind the cart with a barrel of powder and bucket of balls was a cheapo China pirate.
The first year that Ian brought his Maratha figures to the show he had camel mounted gunners and I shied away from buying them because of the price and I've regretted that ever since, so now I don't ask the price I just hand over the cash and take everything he's got. Over the years I have been steadily building up a force of infantry, cavalry and elephant troops, I now have reasonable numbers for a small game, still regret not getting those camels though!
Sadly I learned a few weeks ago that Ian had passed away suddenly and those of us that knew him are still thrown by the loss, he was a great character and one of the most imaginative people I've had the pleasure to know.
The 2016 Plastic Warrior Toy Soldier Show will be held on Saturday 14th May at the usual venue
here: Plastic Warrior Show
Words fail me. What a wonderful, wonderful piece. Just magnificent. Do you have any others?
ReplyDeleteThere are infantry, cavalry and elephants, Ian put a lot of work into his research so there was always a lot of interesting detail in his work. I shall endeavor to get some more pics up at the weekend.
DeleteI too would love to see the others you own.
ReplyDeleteAlan
If the weather holds I will try to get some outdoor pics at the weekend
DeleteI dread to think what that cost - there's clearly a lot of work in it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I may need some financial advice before the next PW show!
DeleteAlas, at such time financial probity deserts even me!
DeleteMagnificent! Now about those camels..... Bactrian or Dromidary? Jingal on top? Got any pictures of something similar?
ReplyDeleteMade from the Britains camel with two humps, I get confused over which is Bactrian and Dromidary in the same that I get confused over which is left and right. Yes, jingal on top, never got a photo....Doh!
DeleteHow they load their cannon?
ReplyDeleteIt recoils to the back of the wagon and they load it through the muzzle.
DeleteI don't use any rammer in that picture or gunpowder charge. Maratha didn't use this in loading cannon?? Or their loading technique is different than european?
DeleteThe man in red jacket on the wagon has the rammer and the man running alongside carries the barrel of gunpowder and a bucket of shot.
DeleteThey directly put gunpowder in to cannon muzzle or they follow napeleon drill??
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