The die-hard drummers set#2

[Grod]

HELLO FOLKS

THESE ARE THE SECOND PAIR OF 120MM RESIN FIGURES IN THE DIE-HARD DRUMMERS SET WHICH IS BASED ON THE LADY BUTLER PAINTING 'STEADY THE DRUMS AND FIFES'. THIS PAINTING DEPICTS THE 57TH FOOT DURING THE PENINSULAR WAR AT THE BATTLE OF ALBUERA.

THE FIGURES HAVE BEEN BEAUTIFULLY SCULPTED FOR ME BY MAURICE CORRY AND REPRESENT A SERGEANT AND DRUMMER BOY. AN ALTERNATIVE VERSION OF THE DRUMMER IS AVAILABLE SEPERATELY IN THE FORM OF A FIFER. THE SERGEANT IS SUPPLIED WITH A MUSKET AND AN ALTERNATE BELGIC SHAKO.

THE FULL SET WILL COMPRISE OF AT LEAST NINE FIGURES WHICH CAN BE DISPLAYED INDIVIDUALLY OR GROUPED TOGETHER TO FORM VARIOUS VIGNETTES. THEY ARE VERY COLOURFUL AND CAN BE PAINTED TO REPRESENT MANY OTHER BRITISH UNITS OF THE NAPOLEONIC PERIOD.

I POSTED THE DETAILS OF SET#1 A FEW WEEKS AGO WHICH TOMMI HAS VERY KINDLY TAKEN TIME OUT TO REVIEW.

SET#3 WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON AND I WILL POST DETAILS OF THIS AND THE FIFER.

I HAVE A FEW KITS OF BOTH SETS AVAILABLE AND SHOULD ANYONE BE INTERESTED PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ON [email protected]
SET#2 IS AVAILABLE AT £60 + p&p. Individual kits are priced at £32.50 each p&p.

CHEERS

Gordon

 

[DaveG]

These are great. The whole line up is going to look fantastic.

DG

 

[clubcat]

Sorry to be critical of a good pair of figures but the sergeant is wearing light company wings so his plume should be green and I believe he should have stripes on both arms as he's from a flank company.
None the less, excellent work.

Melanie

 

[polyphemus]

The sergeant is wearing flank company wings so could be a grenadier company sergeant. That would also be more consistent with the alternate musket supplied, light company sergeants carried fusils. Sergeants of flank companies did have the stripes on both arms, battalion company sergeants only on the right arm. In the original painting he appears to have centre company shoulder straps.
Maybe there is some distinction concerning sergeants of musicians, if there is such a rank?


The Lady Butler picture itself has the sergeant incorrectly, for 1811, wearing a Belgic shako. The manufacturer correctly supplies a stovepipe shako and an alternate Belgic shako for those who wish to use the figure in a different context. The original painting also shows the drummers wearing bearskins, unlikely on campaign, but essential if the original painting is to be followed.
Also the original painting has the sergeant with his right hand on the boy's head offering reassuring support perhaps? If that was to be depicted then the sergeant figure might need slight conversion of the right arm.

The drummer boy figure kit includes two drums of differing diameter although the larger adult drum was correct even for young drummer boys. (Thanks Gordon for the information).

This really is an exceptional series of figures & I for one do intend to purchase the complete set. It does also offer the options for those who baulk at the full project to obtain single figures or small vignettes.

Excellent!

Geoff

 

[polyphemus]

A little more digging reveals that Drum majors usually ranked as sergeants. (Wellington's Army, text by Haythornthwaite, plates Charles Hamilton Smith, published by Greenhill Books, 2002)
So it might be feasible that a Drum Major on campaign might wear the uniform of a Battalion Centre Company Sergeant with the distinctions of musician's shoulder wings.
That's a whole lot of speculation. Does anyone have any more detailed information?

Geoff

 

[Tommi]

Soon to be reviewed here on PF

Tommi