Britains Website (1 Viewer)

[jomartvr]

Hello Richard,

What ever happened to the proposed overhaul of the Britains website? The Britains website is in dire need of change. For example, the pictures of the figures that come with membership to the collector's club are too small.


Cheers,
Benjamin

 

[WBritain]

Hi Benjamin - thanks for the post - the website is being updated as we speak and is slated to go live in late April/early May. Hang in there - sorry for the wait.

All the best,

Richard

 

[The Lt.]

Hi Benjamin - thanks for the post - the website is being updated as we speak and is slated to go live in late April/early May. Hang in there - sorry for the wait.

All the best,

Richard

Richard as my Italian Brothers say Rome wasn't built in a day and I'm sure it'll be worth the wait..........The Lt. Help needed at The Drift Gloss highly acceptable.......from the guys defending the barricades. Best regards....Joe

 

[jrsteel]

Richard as my Italian Brothers say Rome wasn't built in a day and I'm sure it'll be worth the wait..........The Lt. Help needed at The Drift Gloss highly acceptable.......from the guys defending the barricades. Best regards....Joe

How many recipients of the Victoria's Cross were there at Rorke's Drift? It would make a nice VC series.

 

[The Lt.]

How many recipients of the Victoria's Cross were there at Rorke's Drift? It would make a nice VC series.

They were 11 awarded as follows Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard, Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, Coporal William Wilson Allen, Coporal Ferdnand Christian Schiess, Private Frederick Hitch, Private Henry (Harry) Hook, Private Robert Jones, Private William Jones, John William Fielding, James Henry Reynolds and James Langley Dalton.

What I would like to see from William Britain are figures depicting Chard, Bromhead, Dalton, and Colour Sergeant Bourne firing rifles. No one's done them to date and would be a first for Britain. I'd also like to see Coporal Schiess stabing with his rifle with both hands he's been done a number of times with his crutch...............Richard you've got to admit none of our Trophy, Little Legion, or Frontline figures consist of thes poses. Hint Hint Hint Hint.............The Lt.

 

[Eazy]

I read somewhere that Colour Sgt Bourne was offered a VC but declined it in favour of receiving an Officer's Commision.

 

[Eazy]

At a show in Birmingham on Sunday I was talking to an interesting guy from Britains. Not sure what his name is unfortunately.
He was telling me how they are in discussion right now about their future Zulu range but are divided over whether they should be glossy or matte.
He did say they would be redoing their Rorke's Drift diorama though with some improvements.

I reckon matte might be the way to go personally even though it would mean me starting a collection of Brits and Zulus all over again.

It's a tough call though as there are a lot of collectors out there already established with glossy who would like some Britains new glossy stuff.

On the other hand matte might drag in a whole batch of the newer collectors.

I wonder if it might be worth doing a few dual releases. Matte and Glossy versions of the same figures to see which sell best?

 

[The Lt.]

I read somewhere that Colour Sgt Bourne was offered a VC but declined it in favour of receiving an Officer's Commision.

Eazy Bourne was awarded The Silver Medal for Distinguished Conduct. It was a commission he refused and not the VC for at the time he could not afford the expenses involved of being an officer. He was promoted honorary lieutenant and quater master on the 21st of May 1890. He later in his career achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel and was awarded the OBE in recognition of his service.

I'm not a fan of Britains Rorke's Drift that was done earlier and if they decide to do it I hope they'll create the buildings using guide lines from Chard's Map and not to the specs from the Movie Zulu with no burned out buildings involved. I've got a hunch Richard may agree with me. I stated earlier that I'd like to see Chard, Bromhead and others firing rifles. I'd be happy with any figures showing the poses of an officer in a red tunic, dark blue patrol jacket, a colour sgt. along with a coporal from the Natal Native Contingent stabing with his rifle as hand to hand sets.

The Heros of the Drift have been done over and over again and it would be nice to see action figures representing others who took part in the conflict. A list gladly provided on request and Richard gloss is fine with me but will be just as happy to see them done in matte. I've found that I've gotten to favoring my gloss figures since playing with them . I know from experience that it a major project and cost in developing a new product line but for what my two cents is worth I believe it would be a winner for Britain at this time.........The Lt.

 

[jrsteel]

Eazy Bourne was awarded The Silver Medal for Distinguished Conduct. It was a commission he refused and not the VC for at the time he could not afford the expenses involved of being an officer. He was promoted honorary lieutenant and quater master on the 21st of May 1890. He later in his career achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel and was awarded the OBE in recognition of his service.

I'm not a fan of Britains Rorke's Drift that was done earlier and if they decide to do it I hope they'll create the buildings using guide lines from Chard's Map and not to the specs from the Movie Zulu with no burned out buildings involved. I've got a hunch Richard may agree with me. I stated earlier that I'd like to see Chard, Bromhead and others firing rifles. I'd be happy with any figures showing the poses of an officer in a red tunic, dark blue patrol jacket, a colour sgt. along with a coporal from the Natal Native Contingent stabing with his rifle as hand to hand sets.

The Heros of the Drift have been done over and over again and it would be nice to see action figures representing others who took part in the conflict. A list gladly provided on request and Richard gloss is fine with me but will be just as happy to see them done in matte. I've found that I've gotten to favoring my gloss figures since playing with them . I know from experience that it a major project and cost in developing a new product line but for what my two cents is worth I believe it would be a winner for Britain at this time.........The Lt.

It would be interesting in matte. But I think those British uniforms and that era look best in gloss. The new gloss figures Britains are doing are great. Check out the pictures of the new Indian Mutiny set that will be coming out.

 

[Eazy]

Eazy Bourne was awarded The Silver Medal for Distinguished Conduct. It was a commission he refused and not the VC for at the time he could not afford the expenses involved of being an officer. He was promoted honorary lieutenant and quater master on the 21st of May 1890. He later in his career achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel and was awarded the OBE in recognition of his service.

I'm not a fan of Britains Rorke's Drift that was done earlier and if they decide to do it I hope they'll create the buildings using guide lines from Chard's Map and not to the specs from the Movie Zulu with no burned out buildings involved. I've got a hunch Richard may agree with me. I stated earlier that I'd like to see Chard, Bromhead and others firing rifles. I'd be happy with any figures showing the poses of an officer in a red tunic, dark blue patrol jacket, a colour sgt. along with a coporal from the Natal Native Contingent stabing with his rifle as hand to hand sets.

The Heros of the Drift have been done over and over again and it would be nice to see action figures representing others who took part in the conflict. A list gladly provided on request and Richard gloss is fine with me but will be just as happy to see them done in matte. I've found that I've gotten to favoring my gloss figures since playing with them . I know from experience that it a major project and cost in developing a new product line but for what my two cents is worth I believe it would be a winner for Britain at this time.........The Lt.

Thanks for the information LT. That's the trouble with picking up information here and there you tend to get it mixed up a bit.
The film gives Bourne such a starring role that it seems strange he never got the VC. Your info makes it a bit clearer.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

Interesting discussion on two fronts, the cost of being an officer and the lack of a VC for Colour SGT Bourne, I could talk at length about the cost of becoming an officer but I think I'll leave it as I totally understand his decision at that point and move on. The other area was The Britains person you spoke to I wonder if it was Andrew Stadden. He is the sculpter for them and I have seen photos of him at various events and shows. But moving on to the issue at hand I hope they will stay with glossy for the zulu range and maybe offer them in matte as an alternative but Glossy is my favorite.

Great detail on your sets Lt Would love to see it in person someday.

All the best

Dave

 

[The Lt.]

Eazy Nigel Green was the actor who played Colour Sergeant Bourne in the movie Zulu depicting him a seasoned NCO. In reality Bourne was only 24 at the time and not in his late 30's to early 40's. Thanks for the kind words Dave.........The Lt.

 

[Eazy]

Its amazing really that a film can have such an impact and change the way that a historical event is seen.

When you look at photographs of the actual people involved it's still hard not to think of Michael Caine and Stanley Baker and the rest.

 

[WBritain]

Hi Guys:

I must admit I agree with the Lt. - if we do it - it would be done right - regarding the buildings, and also agree that some action figures of the key players would also be a nice departure. As for gloss and matt...close to a decision here.

Mark Avery, the manager of the club, was who you met at the Birmingham show.

Ken and I met Monday and sketched out some interesting ideas.

Be good,

Richard

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

I cast my vote with Dave and Jrsteel. I prefer glossy Zulu War figures. Like Jrsteel, I think the British uniforms of that era look best in a glossy finish.

If the new figures are produced in matte finish, I will probably not purchase them as it would essentially mean starting a new line in my collection. Whatever happens, it is certainly a difficult choice for the Britains people to make. I wish them the best of luck with the line!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[aujj65]

Could the range be painted in matt and then sprayed with a gloss varnish for those who would prefer the more traditional look?

Jeff

 

[The Lt.]

Could the range be painted in matt and then sprayed with a gloss varnish for those who would prefer the more traditional look?

Jeff

Jeff yes it can be done. All of my painted figures have been painted in matte and finished using a gloss varnish of the ones I wanted to blend in with Trophy and LL ...The Lt.

 

[kilted vampire]

You guys would be surprised at how the gloss coat really brings out the colors.

 

[hhenry]

I like the idea of the officers with rifles. However, would officers at that time have used rifles or just their sidearms/swords, since it showed they were officers? The movie shows them just using both but is it historically accurate? Would that have been "permitted" under regulations, although in the heat of battle who cares. On the other hand, some people are sticklers for regulations even under the worst stress. Take the episode about the cartridge rounds containers initially only being opened by the Commissary people and being distributed in limited quantities, despite the men running low on ammo.

 

[The Lt.]

I like the idea of the officers with rifles. However, would officers at that time have used rifles or just their sidearms/swords, since it showed they were officers? The movie shows them just using both but is it historically accurate? Would that have been "permitted" under regulations, although in the heat of battle who cares. On the other hand, some people are sticklers for regulations even under the worst stress. Take the episode about the cartridge rounds containers initially only being opened by the Commissary people and being distributed in limited quantities, despite the men running low on ammo.

Chard is known to have used a rifle as well as his pistol and sword during the fighting at the Drift as well as Dalton, Dunne, Adendorff, and Bromhead using rifles........The Lt