22nd Regiment N.G S.N.Y dress uniform

 Made a start on some figures for Army Stars Spangled by adding metal heads to some plastic figures

which started life as Guards but will take on a new identity in the army of a very close neighbour to Maple Leaf Country. Dorset Miniatures Danish Cavalry kepi was the head used to depict these National Guardsmen. Off to add some paint..

Tradgardland Colonial Troops: New uniforms. Please vote for the uniform of your choice...

The Duchy of Tradgardland maintains some colonies overseas. The Duke is currently looking at three designs for new uniforms for the Colonial infantry.

An old print of  Fort Karl Frederick on the Spice  Islands

The original  new uniform drawings produced for the Duke to view.

Here are three soldiers dressed in the prototype uniforms- one in the blue uniform,one in the white uniform and one in the khaki one. Please aid the Duke by casting your vote for the uniform of your choice ( by Sunday) by leaving a comment. Your help is greatly appreciated by the Duke.

Figures again are conversions from Crescent Guards with Dorset Toy Soldier heads added.

Simple conversions painted

I finished the first unit of Tradgardlanders yesterday and was pleased with the result. Here they are on manoeuvres near Tradgardstadt -

Simple conversions

Ages ago I bought a shoebox full of plastic toy soldier guardsmen, many were made by the company Crescent. They have lain in the shed for some time. Here are examples of them, good plastic toy soldiers awaiting a purpose in their shoe box barracks

I eventually got a hand pin drill but lacking a vice found it hard going to get them to stay still as I drilled. An early attempt involved sellotaping to a chair leg but that was too clumsy. Yesterday I managed to perfect a primitive technique involving jamming them in the corner of a drawer as a vice 

and drilling out the necks having cut their heads off first. It worked but there must be a better way... 

Replacement heads were added,undercoat of pva applied and painting begun. They are an approximation of 1910 Danish/ Tradgardland Infantry, close enough to keep me happy if not the purist. I will post pictures of the finished twelve man unit. All in all an enjoyable hobby session.

Albion’s neighbours - The Kingdom of Sweden

Across the sea to the East is the Kingdom of Sweden. Here are some Swedish troops in their 1906 test uniform-

Two infantry on manoeuvre in a built up area.

One of the  original concept drawings prepared at the time.

Eleven years ago I got an interesting book called “Report on Foreign Manoeuvres in 1912” which is filled with insights and comments on different armies as observed that year.

The above is the cover.It contains some fascinating glimpses of the time as evident in the pages below. Click on the photos to enlarge them for easier reading-

Note interesting section on the German civilian from the company who was the only one who could operate the equipment.

Fascinating comments on the role of cavalry,cyclists and an evaluation of the horsemanship of the officers.