'A comforting hand'- Mitches Military Models

[Grod]

Folks
The very latest release from MMM in 120mm scale resin, beautifully sculpted by Pete Morton, is this british napoleonic vignette representing an officer giving reassurance to a drummer boy in the face of impending danger. Many british line infantry regiments can be represented. The kits are complete with stovepipe/belgic shakos and a cocked hat for the officer.
No painted version available at the moment but will post on completion.
Presently on offer to PF members whilst stocks last priced at £55 + £3.25 postage UK, £4.50 Europe and £6.75 rest of the world .
Available direct from [email protected]
Cheers
Gordon
View attachment 93827 View attachment 93827

 

[Jim]

From what I can see, that is nice!
The poses work together and give the viewer the impending storm of battle.
Excellent!

 

[bagelman1952]

This one looks really nice

ken

 

[Figurenfreund66]

Absolutely vibrant scene, you can feel the fear really.


Cheers

Hendryk

 

[IIICorps]

Great subject. Nice work.

 

[MCPWilk]

A lovely piece. Up to Pete's usual high standard.

Mike

 

[megroot]

Great work. Like this very much.

marc

 

[PhilinYuma]

These are getting better and better! The sculpting is crisp, lifelike and accurate in detail (my only very minor quibble, that when the Belgic shako was issued in 1812, officers stopped wearing the bicorne, is easily overcome by giving the boy a stovepipe shako). What is particularly delightful about the drummer boy is that he is wearing a regulation cap on a non-regulation sized head, so that he can hardly see out from under it. For those in interested in such things, a 14 year old boy at this time was, on average, 4'8" tall, and weighed 77lbs.
Congratulations! Hold onto that special offer for a couple of weeks, and I'll be writing you!

 

[diamond cutter]

Thank you all for the favourable comments re sculpting!
I did put a post on the forum regarding drummer boy shakos a while back and it seems that the norm was to cut down a regular sized one to accomodate the lads head.
The Officer has seperate headgear as does the drummer boy so that a variety of combinations/periods could be modelled. This is across the board for Gordons figures.
Sort of 'Multi-pose'
Thanks once again
Pete

 

[PhilinYuma]

That' very interesting, Pete. I tried your reference in your earlier post on the shako, but couldn't get anything specific, though http://brtdesignportfolio.com/88th/website/drummersBRITindex.htm was very interesting.
We do have a fair amount of information about the headgear of drummer boys and original trials of the stovepipe shako, most readily accessible in The British Infantry Shako 1800-1897 by Fosten and Gibbs. Horse Guards' General Orders of 27 Jan 1698 and 1891 specifically state that the new cap will be worn by "NCO's, Drummers, Fifers and Privates of the Guards and every description of the corps of infantry" though the grenadier companies retained their bearskins for parade use. Although it is well known that the 5th battalion (newly formed) of the 60th regt tried out the new pattern cap, a number of other regiments used for trials were the Child Regiments, the 16th, 22nd, 34th, and 65th. Thousands were recruited under the child enlistment scheme, drawn mostly from poorhouses and some as young as 10. So off went the boys of the 22nd and 34th to the Cape where most were "too weak to hold a musket" on arrival and saw garrison duty for the next several years -- http://books.google.com/books?id=Ly...ALLusiZCg&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false pp 157 & 165.
The experiment involved thousands of kids and it seems highly unlikely that their caps were "cut down". The inside of the cap did have a cloth cap that could be sized with a drawstring and I imagine that if a head was still too small, the cap could be padded with "small clothes!" I hope that this is of interest.

 

[Grod]

That' very interesting, Pete. I tried your reference in your earlier post on the shako, but couldn't get anything specific, though http://brtdesignportfolio.com/88th/website/drummersBRITindex.htm was very interesting.
We do have a fair amount of information about the headgear of drummer boys and original trials of the stovepipe shako, most readily accessible in The British Infantry Shako 1800-1897 by Fosten and Gibbs. Horse Guards' General Orders of 27 Jan 1698 and 1891 specifically state that the new cap will be worn by "NCO's, Drummers, Fifers and Privates of the Guards and every description of the corps of infantry" though the grenadier companies retained their bearskins for parade use. Although it is well known that the 5th battalion (newly formed) of the 60th regt tried out the new pattern cap, a number of other regiments used for trials were the Child Regiments, the 16th, 22nd, 34th, and 65th. Thousands were recruited under the child enlistment scheme, drawn mostly from poorhouses and some as young as 10. So off went the boys of the 22nd and 34th to the Cape where most were "too weak to hold a musket" on arrival and saw garrison duty for the next several years -- http://books.google.com/books?id=Ly11AAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA165&lpg=RA1-PA165&dq=boy regiments 1797&source=bl&ots=MnCQBxy0cm&sig=YwnXpdpd1uuHx9oM1njYB-tb42o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hjSWT4qzJY3SiALLusiZCg&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false pp 157 & 165.
The experiment involved thousands of kids and it seems highly unlikely that their caps were "cut down". The inside of the cap did have a cloth cap that could be sized with a drawstring and I imagine that if a head was still too small, the cap could be padded with "small clothes!" I hope that this is of interest.

Very interesting post Phil. I never realised we recruited so many boy soldiers. With regard to the drummer boys headgear and equipment I think Petes sculpt emphasises the youth and small stature of the boy. I believe the only criteria for them being recruited for the job was their ability to carry the standard snare drum.
To clarify the headgear included in the kits I have posted some photographs of the contents.
Drummers and fifers also wore the bearskin cap which is not included in this kit but is illustrated on some photos of the Diehard Drummers set based on Lady Butlers painting 'Steady the Drums and Fifes'.
Cheers
Gordon

 

[Helm]

This is a great little grouping and from an unusual P.O.V. as well

 

[Dimmu Borgir]

Very emotional and very nice sculpting.

 

[Tecumsea]

This is your best yet Gordon, a superb sculpt with tremendous emotion, I'll be ordering tomorrow!

Keith

 

[polyphemus]

I've just received these two figures from Gordon & can confirm how wonderful they are. I can see many of these turning up painted at shows as a standalone pair. That's me going to be busy for a while.

Geoff

 

[Grod]

Hello Folks
I have painted a set of these figures which represent the 50th Regiment of Foot in the Peninsular war period. This regiment was known as 'the dirty half century' due to the fact that their faces became dirty,whilst sweating, as the men wiped their faces with their black coloured cuffs. The photos show the drummer wearing a stovepipe shako but both kits are provided with alternative headgear.
I have almost run out of the current batch of these kits but if any other Forum members would like to take advantage of the initial offer then please drop me a line on [email protected] and I will make a set available for you.
Cheers
Gordon

 

[diamond cutter]

Looks great Gordon. Very colourfull!

 

[BlackWarrior]

Very nice... Maybe, boy felts really comforting mind.