Today the sun finally shone on London so I took the opportunity to get out in the garden and take some pics of the rest of my Maratha collection as promised in the previous post. All of these figures were converted by an old friend, Ian Walden, who sadly passed away recently and I thought it would be nice to share them with a wider audience to show my appreciation for his great skill and imagination.
I couldn't decide which of the pics to show so I just put up everything I took, hence this post is long on images and short on text!
The collection as a whole less the artillery wagon shown in previous post, they are all based on the Maratha army at the time of the Battle of Assaye though in my world they also double as Mughal troops for the Carnatic Wars.
The cavalry are made from Jean Hoefler Napoleonics, the shields were made from decorative buttons and earrings. Ian was very keen on these Hoefler figures, he'd been a career soldier and spent much time posted in West Germany where he acquired a mountain of them.
Spearmen made form Jean Hoefler cowboys with turbans and tunics made from milliput.
These musketmen and the swordsmen below are all converted from Hing Fat pirates made in China.
More buttons and earrings pressed into service as oriental shields, I sometimes think Ian must have had shares in Milliput.
Ian couldn't always get models of the Britains Indian elephant so he would just cut down the ears on the African elephants and use them instead. Here bowmen are sitting in the howdah.
More mobile artillery, the gunner is made from a Britains/Herald medieval knight.
For the backdrop I used the rockery in my garden with every palm tree I could find.
In the third howdah the nearest figure wields a long spear with a counterweight on the end to aid balance, the two bowmen are made from Britains/Deetail Wild West series Indians.
The vegetation looks quite lush in the bright sunlight.
Mrs C sneaks into the back of the shot.
A reasonable number of pieces for a skirmish game, now I just have to knock out some East India Company troops for the opposition
And finally........... the Sepoy General deploys his Burmese to bring down the Maratha elephants!
Those are amazing - just wonderfully colourful and lively.
ReplyDeleteYou can't beat a bit of colour in the garden!
DeleteBeautiful figures so expertly converted. I look forward to seeing a skirmish in the garden. Thanks for sharing these with us.
ReplyDeleteAlan
It may be a while, the Brits and Sepoys are rather buried in the painting pile!
DeleteBeautiful figures so expertly converted. I look forward to seeing a skirmish in the garden. Thanks for sharing these with us.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Google is making me see double!
DeleteMarvelous figures and wonderful pictures. Those turbans are all milliput aren't they? Very consistent work.
ReplyDeleteAre you going for round hats or shakos? Loose trousers? The sepoys may be a challenge!
Thank you, yes the turbans are all milliput and the figures were converted over a period of about 15 years so i guess style of modelling and painting has been pretty consistent.
DeleteI'm thinking a mix of headgear and equipment to make them look a bit shabby like veterans that have been up country too long. The Sepoys are Airfix Brit Nap bodies on Airfix footballers legs with metal turban heads from Dorset Soldiers.
Marvelous figures and wonderful pictures. Those turbans are all milliput aren't they? Very consistent work.
ReplyDeleteAre you going for round hats or shakos? Loose trousers? The sepoys may be a challenge!
Mr. Walden was skilled indeed and you are lucky to take 'em into your care. Your sunshine pictures are nice to watch and together it makes a colorful scene. I i'm myself a Jean Hoefler fan too, because they're relatively cheat and versatile. The same goes for the Hing Fats. Thanx for putting up! Great inspiration again.
ReplyDeleteFantastic figures and really creative conversions, he made so much out of so little. I remember seeing some of theses at a PW Show some yers back, when I returned to the stall they had gone, hopefully in your direction Brian!.
ReplyDeleteEric
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ReplyDeleteWow! What beautiful photos! And such wonderful looking troops! You honour your friend well by such a fine display/presentation of his fantastic work! Thanks for sharing these pictures.
ReplyDeleteWhat a magnificent army! All the add-ons and modifications done are most praiseworthy and reflect a true artist's eye.
ReplyDeleteThat is a real riot of colour. They are very beautiful and clever conversions. It is an inspiration, especially the elephants. I have also cut down ears of African elephants to make Indian ones. James from Quantrill's Toy Soldiers.
ReplyDeleteFor Indian Mutiny or Sikh War Brits I used Timpo Action Pack Confederates with FFL heads. I only ever made one sepoy and I used a BMC Alamo Mexican with Marx African native bottom. I was thinking of making some more from the BMC but leaving trousers and just cutting down shoes to sandals and cutting peaks off shakoes.
ReplyDeleteBrian,
ReplyDeleteYour friend Ian was indeed an artist and true craftsman - a most creative and innovative Project- and unique. A real treasure. have you started the British in India Brian? Certainly would like to see your progress. It would indeed make for a great little Skirmish game. Best Wishes. KEV.
Absolutely beautiful troops! I love the color and the character of 18th/early 19th century Indian armies. And who doesn't want elephants in their army!
ReplyDelete