Greek Evzone Officer, 1850s

[valiant]

Hi guys,

I'm calling this done now, apart from a nameplate. Completed just in time for my mum's birthday tomorrow!

All painted in Vallejo acrylics, conversion from YS Masterpieces Greek Revolutionary Fighter, more details posted on previous posts.

Hope you like it!

Steve

 

[peedee]

When you flagged you were doing this steve I thought ,
'That's safe in his hands
wow
great stuff
paul

 

[valiant]

Thanks mate, much appreciated!

 

[Trex]

Very nice, your mom will love it

 

[Nap]

Steve ,

That's come out really well like the changes you have made ...great version

Thanks for sharing

Nap

 

[arj]

Very nicely painted.
I particularly like the understated shading of the whites.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Jimbo]

Hi Steve
You've done a real sharp job on the painting here mate, I like the choice of blue & white (Greek Flag) on the waistcoat, looks good.
Cheers
Jim

 

[John Bowery]

What a handsome fellow he is. Well done.
Cheers
John

 

[Theodoros]

Steve, your version looks nice, representing an evzon officer of the late 19th c. (if he had n't the coat of arms pinned in his cop, he could be an outlaw of the time...). Taking in mind that at this period the evzonic suit was very similar to the civilian costumes of the people of the greek countryside, the chromatic combinations you could use are numerous. Well done !

 

[Wayneb]

Great conversion and paint on this piece.
Wayne

 

[red tom]

Excellent Steve

 

[Oda]

Their clothes were identical to male civilian clothes of many of Greece's regions as well as to the clothes of the bands of irregulars that fought out the war of independence.In 1850 Greece was a newly formed state that had just won it's independence from the Ottoman empire.It was a kingdom under King Otto I (pronounced Othon in Greek) of the Bavarian Vittelsbach dynasty.A great controversy had arose during the first years of the kingdom as the warriors who had fought the war expected to be compensated with appointments in the newly formed Greek army(its first members being Bavarian riff-raff hastily recruited in Bavaria and sent to accompany the adolescent king and the temporary regency as virtual praetorians -thus becoming greatly despised by the Greeks).Being brave but in essence guerillas they all wanted an officer's commision and salary and they refused(the majority at least) to drill as regulars.The regency in the beginning and later the monarchy on the other hand wanted to create a regular national standing army according to international standards.The clash was inevitable and tragic,creating much political discord and strife.Most of the heroes of the independence died in extreme poverty,not recognised by the state they helped create until years later.
One of the first units to be created and staffed exclusively by Greeks was a unit of light infantry(later to be called evzones).Instead of getting a regulation uniform they were the first to utilize Greek national clothing.The only distinction being that those who served in the battalion that recruited from central Greece (the region was called Roumeli by the Greeks of the time) wore a blue doulama(the word has the same turkish origin as the more widely known dolman) a sort of traditional coatee,while those who served in the battalion that recruited from the region of Mani(in Pelloponese)wore a red doulama.Both had white lacing and piping in the traditional Greek style and possibly the officers had it in silver.
Valiant your conversion and painting are superb.But a gift to yor mother?Is she by any chance Greek?Maybe you too?If not your research is excellent.This is a rare and difficult subject not easily accessible to non-Greeks.Well done.

Oda.

 

[valiant]

Hi Oda - many thanks for your input, fantastic information. I had almost forgotten this one, it seems such a long time ago I did it. No, I am not Greek, nor is my mother, but she has always had an intense interest in all things Greek, as far back as I can remember. This was a birthday present for her 80th birthday, last year and I chose this as she had always asked me to make an Evzone to add to my collection of figures. It now takes pride of place in my parents' display case!

 

[Oda]

And rightfully so for you have done an excellent job.I wish all the best to your lovely mother and I would be happy to talk again with you on the subject of 19th-early 20th cent Greek army.

Oda.

 

[MalcC]

Hi guys,

I'm calling this done now, apart from a nameplate. Completed just in time for my mum's birthday tomorrow!

All painted in Vallejo acrylics, conversion from YS Masterpieces Greek Revolutionary Fighter, more details posted on previous posts.

Hope you like it!

Steve

Excellent conversion and paint job.
Thank you for posting this.

Malc

 

[snik]

Beautiful work!!! Great conversion!! Love it!!

 

[húsar14]

Quite nice! I really like it a lot

 

[marco14]

very very beautiful paintwork ,colors are very nice,and the flesh

Mario