Horse Marines (2 Viewers)

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The seahorse unit - a mounted unit of US marines guarding the US embassy in China. I came across a great book on this unit and liked the idea of modelling a tall US marine mounted on a small pony.

The horse was modified from a 1/32 scale Masterbox horse, in reality a 1/35 scale beast. I substituted the head and built up the limbs and proportions on the horse. The saddle blanket is a metal sheet. The figure was made up from a Scalelink head, an Airfix torso and a couple of Historex boots. I have a large inventory of these parts and can have fun picking and choosing the right parts for all my conversions. The stone lion statue is a cheap resin souvenir.

 

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Hi All,

I am now scrutinising the overall proportions for improvement. The horse neck will be trimmed down. The legs of the rider are too far from the saddle so this will also be rectified.

 

[blaster]

I had a great Xmas time and managed to get in some modelling in between the revelries.

I redid the horse head and neck, downsizing both parts. The rump was built up. The hooves were improved in stages. The saddle blanket was made from metal sheet. A saddle part resembling the McClellan saddle was used. Saddle bags are being sculpted. The horse mane was sculpted. Tail and ears were added.

The figure legs were re-pinned and all gaps were filled. The legs were carved and sanded down to improve the overall proportions. The torso was then added to the legs and readjusted. Jodhpurs were added and the tunic lapels were sculpted over the legs.

The sequence of pics show the gradual stages of sculpting for this period.

 

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More pics

 

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More pics

 

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So I am now getting back to my mounted marine. Following a careful examination, I decided to improve on the horse's neck as well as the rider's seat. These areas were resculpted. The saddle was shaped to resemble the McClellan saddle 1885.

 

[blaster]

After reviewing my references, it would seem that the troopers and many officers wore laced leggings, not cavalry boots. Whilst looking around for a solution to represent the lacings by sculpting, it occurred to me to use the Airfix Afrika Korps set of legs which had these laced leggings. This set of smaller legs was substituted for the boots, but modified by extending the feet with wire inserts. The lower thighs were built up with putty.

 

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I added a sword (Historex spare) to the offside and a rifle (Airfix spare) to the onside. The pictures show their relative positions on the saddle and when the trooper is mounted in the saddle. Note that the leggings have been bulked up.

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Hi Victor,
once again a nice and uncommon conversion on your work desk. Wonder how it will look like when finished and painted.
Kind Regards
Wolfgang

 

[Mirof]

I was misinformed
I thought this was a horse marine



:tongue:

 

[blaster]

Hello Mirof,

Just reviving this threadfin....

I found this piece and added some coat skirts after trimming the jodhpurs. Also reshaped the torso. I removed the saddle bags as I will substitute these with Airfix G Washington bags. Notice that I have also covered the rifle with a cover and the stirrups would have some cover for the rider's feet.

 

[blaster]

The Airfix bags were modified and added to the horse. The saddle was shaped. The rifle holster was shaped and added. The rider stirrups were completed. Some details were added to the tunic. The trousers and jodhpurs were modified. I broke up and extended the legs to fit the rider snugly to the saddle.

 

[theBaron]

How did I miss this thread, all this time? This is an excellent build, Vic!

The positions of the saber and rifle I find interesting, because they're reversed from the usual positions. Usually, the saber is worn or hung on the left side, to be drawn with the right. Later, when firearms were added, the carbine or rifle was slung on the opposite side. I wonder, if the negative wasn't reversed when the photo was made, if that particular individual was a lefty.

I look forward to your next installment!

Prost!
Brad

 

[Artillery_crazy]

This is an interesting project!
The horse looks the stature of a pony! So would be a nice trooper in an African Rifles Troop......For the European theater it would seem odd...
A picture of a full cavalry horse for comparison...:salute::
Cheers
A_C

 

[blaster]

Hello Brad and AC,

Thanks for your inputs. The reason that I picked up this theme was a beautiful book on Horse Marines that I had purchased. I'll post the details over the weekend.

There was this US Marine detachment guarding the US Embassy in China, all mounted on small ponies and with saddlery and accoutrements as being modeled. All the pics show the rifle on the left side and the saber on the right side. The pics are not reversed as can be inferred from the tunic front.

Rgds Victor

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Hi Victor,
Thanks a lot for the note and additional explanation to this one kind model!
I would love to hear more about this US Marine detachment mounted on ponies.....Was that during the Boxer Rebellion or after?
Look forward to the projects progress....
Cheers
A_C

Hello Brad and AC,

Thanks for your inputs. The reason that I picked up this theme was a beautiful book on Horse Marines that I had purchased. I'll post the details over the weekend.

There was this US Marine detachment guarding the US Embassy in China, all mounted on small ponies and with saddlery and accoutrements as being modeled. All the pics show the rifle on the left side and the saber on the right side. The pics are not reversed as can be inferred from the tunic front.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Hi AC,

Here's a website which gives an idea on these HM. The mounted unit in Peking appears to be post Boxer rebellion, circa 1927. I'll have to locate my book and post details next week.
http://chinamarine.org/Peking/MountedDetachment.aspx

Plenty of material there for a US Marine detachment with artillery and bands, eh?


Rgds Victor

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Hi Victor,
Thanks a lot! This is totally new stuff for me....need to start reading the material very nice indeed...
Cheers
A_C

Hi AC,

Here's a website which gives an idea on these HM. The mounted unit in Peking appears to be post Boxer rebellion, circa 1927. I'll have to locate my book and post details next week.
http://chinamarine.org/Peking/MountedDetachment.aspx

Plenty of material there for a US Marine detachment with artillery and bands, eh?


Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Hi AC,

Here is the book. Easier for me to post the link to Amazon.com, Author John Bonham

https://www.amazon.com/China-Horse-...82117793&sr=8-1&keywords=john+bonham+schiffer


Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I extended the torso of the figure. The torso was reshaped. This is to represent a tall yank on a small pony.