HIRIART Force Publique, Belgian Congo, Paint Variations (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

Last year, I ordered a special commission set of the Force Publique for me and six other collectors. Hiriart subsequently added the set to its catalog as No. 1357 FORCE PUBLIQUE, BELGIAN CONGO, 1914 which has them wearing their parade dress uniforms. As an aside, of the last 30 sets Hiriart has added to its regular catalog, ten were originally special commissions that I had ordered.

 

[ucla1967]

Randy (PolarBear) and I have subsequently ordered the Force Publique set wearing their 1914 field uniforms, as shown by Osprey. We expect to receive these sets in about a month.

 

[Mirof]

Hello
On the drawing, note figure 3 decribed as an Askari ?? this is an Arab word for Soldier
The word was used by colonial forces, at large, in East Afrika and Middle East . At that time there were German on the East border of Belgian Congo and they called their native soldiers Askari, the name was used in Swahili . West and central langage in Congo was/is Lingala
Look at a map, Belgian Congo was West/Central Afrika

 

[ucla1967]

Hello
On the drawing, note figure 3 decribed as an Askari ?? this is an Arab word for Soldier
The word was used by colonial forces, at large, in East Afrika and Middle East . At that time there were German on the East border of Belgian Congo and they called their native soldiers Askari, the name was used in Swahili . West and central langage in Congo was/is Lingala
Look at a map, Belgian Congo was West/Central Afrika

Several years ago, I looked up the word Askari and did discover that it was Arabic in origin. The Italians referred to their native troops as Ascari using the Italian spelling; I assume that the other European powers used the Askari spelling. I have known where the Belgian Congo is ever since 1952 or 1953 when Mr. Snyder, my 5th grade teacher, gave me his stamp collection. I use to spend hours studying the maps and matching the countries with their stamps. That was back in the days before we had television. I would be surprised if most American students today could even find Belgium on a map.

 

[ucla1967]

This is a third paint variation on set No. 1357 which I have not ordered. If these sculpts had roll puttees, they could also be painted like Osprey's figure 3, Askari 1915-16 in post #2 wearing khaki tunics and blue roll puttees. I may ask Hiriart to make them for me in the future.

 

[lancer]

These are a very handsome group of sets. I really like the light blue over dark blue color combo. Nice sets. -- Al

 

[ucla1967]

These are a very handsome group of sets. I really like the light blue over dark blue color combo. Nice sets. -- Al

Thanks Al, I agree. When I receive those sets, I'll post better photos.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

Here are photos of the paint variation of the Force Publique sets that Randy and I ordered and that I just received an hour or so ago.