Completed French Dragoon Lancer 1914

[Dan Morton]

A few months back I posted a WIP for this Dragoon. I think I'm finished now. This is the first of the group of 1/16th scale Great War Lancers I'm building.

As you can see I've primed the horse, figure and base in white. I'm using several colors of 2 part putty to help me to see details and the resulting harlequin colored figures are a little hard on the eyes. I thought the primed version would be better.

Pre-cut reins and stirrup straps (lead foil) have to be added later during painting. The rider is removable for painting.

The horse is a Verlinden Napoleonic kit, hollowed out to save weight and reinforced with metal tube or wire. I removed all the Napoleonic saddle and kit and replaced it with appropriate pre-war French saddle, bridle, etc. Various pieces of such equipment were cast by Bob Stein for this Dragoon and for other Lancers. A word of thanks for Bob - he did a fine job and was very patient with me.

The figure's head came from a Verlinden Napoleonic Dragoon but the helmet was altered and the dull cloth cover was added. The lance was scratch-built from plastic tube, bits of lead strip, bits of plastic, etc.

The base is just temporary. Once I finish with one of the Central Powers lancers, I'll change it so the French and Central Powers lancers fit together properly.

Hope you like it!

All the best,
Dan

 

[ChaosCossack]

Really nice work Dan. I recall the original post... I really like the concept. The horse looks excellent and the rider is very dynamic.

If I saw one thing, the left thigh looks a little squished from the front of the quad to the back of the hamstring (if that makes sense). Build it up a bit on both sides and I think it'll be golden.

I look forward to seeing more additions to this group.

Colin

 

[Dan Morton]

Thanks Colin - I'll take a look at that. As you can maybe see both thighs pressed up against and partly covered by the large leather saddle wallets.

All the best,
Dan

 

[ChaosCossack]

Could just be the angle of the pictures.

 

[Kevin D.]

That's wonderful!! What a great conversion!!!

Kevin D.

 

[Richard Baxter]

A powerful and dynamic figure, well done. Interesting that the French still called them dragoons even though they were armed with the lance. I note that the plan is to pair him with a German uhlan; just out of curiosity, were there any lance-to-lance combats in WW1?

 

[Dan Morton]

Kevin and Richard - Many thanks! I believe there were very few lance-to-lance combats early in the war. I seem to remember reading about a brief skirmish between some troops of 9th Queens Royal Lancers and some scouting Uhlans. Lots of wartime photos showing prisoners being escorted by French Dragoon Lancers.

To give you a flavor for the uniform and equipment colors of the Dragoon, I've posted four photos.

I made a revision to the right thigh per Colin's recommendation. So here are a couple of quick and dirty photos showing that. Please forgive the cacophony of my work bench. The first photo shows a close up of the thigh. In the second photo, on the bench, you can see the Australian Light Horseman figure waiting to be completed in the background and the beginnings of the Spahi Algerien' sitting in his unusual and luxurious-looking saddle (see two photos) on a thoroughly disreputable-looking horse. I'm going to alternate working on the Spahi and a Turkish lancer next.

All the best,
Dan

 

[Richard Baxter]

Thanks for your response Dan, this is a great project. There's something romantic about lancers, perhaps because they carry such a mediaeval weapon, makes us think of notions of the old supposedly chivalric combat, plus the anachronism of the lance versus modern firearms. I recall a photo from WW1 of a German uhlan mounted with full kit and wearing a gas mask, which someone once printed alongside a painting or drawing, I think it was by Durer, of a mounted lancer from the middle ages, the idea being to show how similar they looked. Very interesting!

 

[Dan Morton]

Cheers Richard! The anachronism of the lancers in the age of the machine gun and combat aircraft is the impetus behind all the lancer sculpts.

All the best,
Dan

 

[eas6644]

Love it!!
Great job Dan.!!!!
Ed

 

[Dan Morton]

Cheers Ed!

All the best,
Dan

 

[megroot]

Excellent job Dan.

Marc

 

[Dan Morton]

Thanks Marc! Very nice to hear you say that!

All the best,
Dan