Great War Web Site

[Dan Morton]

The abundance of really terrific web pages dealing with the First World War just continues to astound me.

Try www.greatwardifferent.com. Period illustrated newspapers, magazines, illustrations and photos - many in color. I was surprised how few of them I'd seen on other web pages.

Enjoy!

all the best,
dan

 

[btavis]

Very cool.

 

[daredevil]

I spent quite a bit of time looking around this interesting WWI site--one of the best I've seen on the subject. It occurred to me as I was looking at the photos that, here we are, all safe in our dens working on model soldiers--while the real ones were out there fighting and dying all through history. We make a hobby of war and it was sobering to think about what that means.
It also made me realize that we somehow honor all those men in uniform by memorializing them with the models we build. There were so many that died alone and often forgotten (unless you were some important muckity muck) I suppose it is a way of remembering the nameless by building and painting the generic figures that we do...
just ruminating...
--linda

 

[Robin]

Linda

I have to disagree with one sattement,we do make a hobby of War though I do agree the squaddies fighting it are the real focus of what we do honour them and what they do or did for us.

Robin

 

[quang]

Originally posted by daredevil@Dec 15 2004, 09:25 PM
We make a hobby of war

Not all of us, mind you.

Also keep in mind that for each fighting man who dies, there's at least one hundred others, men, women and children who do the same for no other reason than to be there at the wrong time.

Don't you think that civilian casualties deserve a thought too? Or are they not worthy because they don't have a uniform and a gun?

Quang

 

[Bluesking]

Surely we don't make figures as some act of remembrance.
However, we are drawn by the drama, colour and excitement that the military can portray?
On 1st July 1916 the 36th Ulster Division took 6000 casualties at the Somme, virtuallly every street in Belfast had a family effected by loss, but when I model a figure of the period it is not as some act of remembrance - I am more concerned with getting the shading right.
I may think of these men and their families afterwards - but it is a model figure I am working on - that's all.

 

[Guy]

When I paint a soldier it is solely for the sculpting and pose of the figure. I primarily do Native Americans and Mountain Men when I can find them so I would have to say that the hobby to me is another way to explore and enjoy their culture. But the figure is just a model of a person from that particular time and culture.

 

[yeo_64]

Very Nice site,Dan;thanks for posting it ! In fact,I've already gotten some ideas for my next project just surfing it ! Cheers.
Kenneth.

 

[garyjd]

I found that site some time ago and started building files and saving pictures for reference. Though I thought of doing WW1 pieces before, this site has pushed me over the edge. Maybe some of us have gotten the same idea(s) that would be interesting.~Gary

 

[daredevil]

Originally posted by quang@Dec 16 2004, 06:54 AM
Not all of us, mind you.

Also keep in mind that for each fighting man who dies, there's at least one hundred others, men, women and children who do the same for no other reason than to be there at the wrong time.

Don't you think that civilian casualties deserve a thought too? Or are they not worthy because they don't have a uniform and a gun?

Quang

Well, I didn't realize I'd touch so many nerves--I shall watch myself in the future and keep my 'ruminating' to myself...
--linda

 

[quang]

Hello Linda,

After reading my post again, I admit that I could have upset you (and others) by my rather abrupt tone.

But to sum it up, you have your view and I have mine. All views don't need to be the same and it's precisely the purpose of forums such as this one to confront the differences.

Please don't feel obliged to watch yourself and keep on ruminating . It's called free speech.

Again, I'm sorry if I've upset you.

Quang

 

[Dan Morton]

Hmmm. It IS a great web page, but I think the discussion it somehow evoked is equally interesting. Ain't it positively wierd the directions some threads go??

If you're keeping score, put me down on the side of the modelers doing homage to those who've fought and sacrified. In my extremely humble way...

Sounds like a couple of you got figure ideas out of looking at the web pages. Ah ha - my evil plot has worked!!! More Great War figures!!!

:lol:

 

[Jason W.]

Originally posted by Bluesking@Dec 16 2004, 09:13 AM
when I model a figure of the period it is not as some act of remembrance - I am more concerned with getting the shading right.
I may think of these men and their families afterwards - but it is a model figure I am working on - that's all.

Well put my friend! If we SOLELY paint MODEL figures as some sort of remembrance than I feel it cheapen's their sacrafices to their cause and country.
I build and paint military figures because they look "cool"-thats it! War's material culture fascinates me-always has-always will. At the same token, war is... hell. Innocent people die and young men and women, in uniform, die for causes they believe in. Let us all except that. There will ALWAYS be war, so lets get on with life!
Break out the putty and paint my friends and have fun! This is what this HOBBY is all about, right?

I may have just touched a nerve somewhere in someone.....goooood. :lol: Ain't free speech great!

Jason "Ruminating Openly" Whitman