GWB-15 WWI Mobile Pigeon Loft (1 Viewer)

[mestell]

I received the WWI "Mobile Pigeon Loft" (GWB-015) this morning in the mail. This is a very nicely detailed model. It is all one piece, the pigeon loft is not removeable from the wagon. The wheels turn and it is rigged to harness horses to it. It does come with an extra separate ladder. Here are some photos . . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[ivanmoe]

Hi Mike,

That's absolutely exquisite. I doubt that it's ever appeared on anyone's wishlist, which makes it all the more remarkable. Jenkins deserves great credit for the kind of audacity and ease of inspiration that it displays with creations such as this.

-Moe

 

[lancer]

Don't know if you all noticed but TGM, in the December release announcement, has released a pair of Poilu that are pigeon handlers, preparing a message to attach to a pigeon that one of the figures is holding. Even though the figures are prone, as if under fire or in the front line, I imagine they will go very well with the JJD loft. I know JJD has announced a British handler for the loft, but not a French one, yet. I hope JJD releases French figures for the loft and doesn't let the TGM release delay them because JJD does the behind the lines stuff so well and can add dimensions to his loft with them. -- Al

 

[Cyber Field Marshall]

These kinds of releases I really like. They are so unusual/unique. I am very tempted to pick up this pigeon wagon! Thanks for sharing your pics.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Great addition to your collection Mike. It certainly is a unique piece. Are you getting any horses to go with it?

 

[villagehorse]

Hoping the wagon would separate to save buying the wagon again as the upcoming one appears identical, but this is not to be. Agree, need some French handlers as well. Robin.

 

[PolarBear]

Don't know if you all noticed but TGM, in the December release announcement, has released a pair of Poilu that are pigeon handlers, preparing a message to attach to a pigeon that one of the figures is holding. Even though the figures are prone, as if under fire or in the front line, I imagine they will go very well with the JJD loft. I know JJD has announced a British handler for the loft, but not a French one, yet. I hope JJD releases French figures for the loft and doesn't let the TGM release delay them because JJD does the behind the lines stuff so well and can add dimensions to his loft with them. -- Al

Al
I researched the Royal Engineers Signal Service for an article I wrote for John's 2014 Collector's Club Annual. This included reading the definitive history of the unit written by one of its participants. The only connection I found between the French and British use of pigeons during the war was in 1915 when the French gifted 15 pigeons to the British Intelligence service prior to the RESS picking up the usage. I do not know of any use of the British mobile horse-drawn lofts by the Frencn. They had their own, mostly a motorized version. I went through the photo collection of the IWM (London) and they all show only British pigeoneers with the Brit wagons. During the war, the Germans captured some of the RESS lofts and either used or destroyed them. Al, I know you are very knowlegable about the Poilu and would welcome any pictorial or textual examples you have found in your reading.

I have both the wagon and pigeoneer that I used for a diorama photo that will be part of the article.
They are as has been said outstanding. I am looking forward to the team of horses and the additional pigeon handlers that will be coming.

Randy

 

[PolarBear]

Hoping the wagon would separate to save buying the wagon again as the upcoming one appears identical, but this is not to be. Agree, need some French handlers as well. Robin.

Robin
What other loft is the "upcoming one" you are referring to? Is this from TGM or another from John?
Randy

 

[lancer]

Al
I researched the Royal Engineers Signal Service for an article I wrote for John's 2014 Collector's Club Annual. This included reading the definitive history of the unit written by one of its participants. The only connection I found between the French and British use of pigeons during the war was in 1915 when the French gifted 15 pigeons to the British Intelligence service prior to the RESS picking up the usage. I do not know of any use of the British mobile horse-drawn lofts by the Frencn. They had their own, mostly a motorized version. I went through the photo collection of the IWM (London) and they all show only British pigeoneers with the Brit wagons. During the war, the Germans captured some of the RESS lofts and either used or destroyed them. Al, I know you are very knowlegable about the Poilu and would welcome any pictorial or textual examples you have found in your reading.

I have both the wagon and pigeoneer that I used for a diorama photo that will be part of the article.
They are as has been said outstanding. I am looking forward to the team of horses and the additional pigeon handlers that will be coming.

Randy

Randy, as much as I like to think I know about the French Army, there is a lot more I don't know and the use of pigeons and related equipment falls into this latter catagory. I should have realized that each army would have equipment specialized to it's own army/needs and probably wouldn't have shared much with each other, national vanaties being what they are and all. I was assuming that pigeon lofts/wagons would be kind of universal but since that does not appear to be so, I guess I will have to start campaigning for JJD to produce a French version of the pigeon loft.:wink2: I must admit, that although I find the whole pigeon communication thing very interesting, I have not done any specific reading on it other than incidents such as Raynal at Ft. Vaux or the Lost Battalion which encompassed pigeon use. I know even less about British use of the birds. I will have to rectify my weakness in this area. -- Al

 

[PolarBear]

Randy, as much as I like to think I know about the French Army, there is a lot more I don't know and the use of pigeons and related equipment falls into this latter catagory. I should have realized that each army would have equipment specialized to it's own army/needs and probably wouldn't have shared much with each other, national vanaties being what they are and all. I was assuming that pigeon lofts/wagons would be kind of universal but since that does not appear to be so, I guess I will have to start campaigning for JJD to produce a French version of the pigeon loft.:wink2: I must admit, that although I find the whole pigeon communication thing very interesting, I have not done any specific reading on it other than incidents such as Raynal at Ft. Vaux or the Lost Battalion which encompassed pigeon use. I know even less about British use of the birds. I will have to rectify my weakness in this area. -- Al

Hi Al
Your knowledge on the war is always impressive, especially on the air war and it's planes.You had me worried I had missed something on the topic. We can, however,have Germans with pigeons using these as captured lofts. I don't think I will go as far as blowing one up, however.^&grin

Perhaps a motorized loft would be nice. Many of these were converted busses.
I always love your enthusiasm and excitement about new WWI releases. It is very contagious.
We are certainly lucky to be living in this time of the war's anniversary. The two highlights of our Britain trip this Fall were the 800,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London and the Exhibtion on the Great War at the Imperial War Museum. It was overwhelming. There was a multimedia presentation on the Battle of the Somme that brought tears to my eyes. I fully realized the horrors of the conflict for the first time. I went back a second time to see the exhibit.
Randy

 

[lancer]

Hi Al
Your knowledge on the war is always impressive, especially on the air war and it's planes.You had me worried I had missed something on the topic. We can, however,have Germans with pigeons using these as captured lofts. I don't think I will go as far as blowing one up, however.^&grin

Perhaps a motorized loft would be nice. Many of these were converted busses.
I always love your enthusiasm and excitement about new WWI releases. It is very contagious.
We are certainly lucky to be living in this time of the war's anniversary. The two highlights of our Britain trip this Fall were the 800,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London and the Exhibtion on the Great War at the Imperial War Museum. It was overwhelming. There was a multimedia presentation on the Battle of the Somme that brought tears to my eyes. I fully realized the horrors of the conflict for the first time. I went back a second time to see the exhibit.
Randy

Randy, as has been true my whole life, I know just enough about certain subjects to get myself in trouble.:wink2: A motorized loft would be quite neat. As I've said on many occasions, anything WW1 French and I'm in.^&grin
Cool that you got to see the poppies and museum. My brother is in London for his job over the next couple of years so I hope he gets the chance to see all the exhibitions and just doesn't get bogged down in work.
-- Al

 

[mestell]

Great addition to your collection Mike. It certainly is a unique piece. Are you getting any horses to go with it?

Thanks Scott, and yes I will be getting the team of horses when they are released.

Robin
What other loft is the "upcoming one" you are referring to? Is this from TGM or another from John?
Randy

Randy, I believe that Robin was referring to the general service wagon that can be seen in some of the promotional release photos for December. It was speculated by some that it was the Mobile Pigeon Wagon without the loft on it.
Mike

 

[PolarBear]

Thanks Scott, and yes I will be getting the team of horses when they are released.



Randy, I believe that Robin was referring to the general service wagon that can be seen in some of the promotional release photos for December. It was speculated by some that it was the Mobile Pigeon Wagon without the loft on it.
Mike

Mike

The base for the loft used in the actual Brit wagons was the general service wagon so that makes sense.

Randy

 

[Terp152]

Received my pigeon wagon as a Christmas gift from my wife. :smile2: Looking fwd to the handler and horse team. Had an uncle and cousins who used to race pigeons when I was a boy. They had two coops and dozens of birds. Unusual sport. Chris

 

[villagehorse]

JJD could do quite a theme around this aspect of communication. Lots of pigeons with handlers working from baskets and releasing etc. One image I saw was a soldier carrying a basket as a back pack. This should keep John busy for most of 2015. Robin.

 

[Terp152]

Received a belated Christmas present from my wife. The pigeon handler. Great looking fig. Sorry about the red colored base. Chris

 

[jazzeum]

The only thing with the red tablecloth is that it will show the droppings more ^&grin

 

[camel corps]

The pigeons will be able to find their way back