MY FL Chicago OTSN Purchases (1 Viewer)

[mestell]

Got back from Chicago last evening. Had a fabulous time as always. Visited George Guerriero's (Warrior) room several times. All of the FL figures from the different ranges just made me druel . . . not a pretty sight {eek3}:wink2:. Of course I concentrated most of my attention on the AWI range and on the ACW range. However, I must say I was extremely impressed with the FL Roman figures that George displayed . . . . talk about "eye candy". I even went back for a second look at the Romans seriously thinking about buying several of them. In the end though I stayed the course and maintained my "spending discipline" to just AWI and ACW figures . . . Also in these photos is a log Smokehouse which I also acquired at the show. This structure is part of the "Hatchet Creek Early American Homestead" series manufactured by Traverse Dioramics (Dave Bonick owner/artist) . . . . Dave has some very nice items avilable currently, including a farmhouse copied from a western Pennsylvania log house built prior to 1850. He will be expanding the Hatchet Creek offerings going into 2012 . . .
Mike

AWI British figures L-R #AWI025, #AWI024, AWI023, AWI027

AWI Colonial Militia figures L-R #AWI017, AWI013, AWI009, AWI010

ACW Unionn Dismounted (Buford's) Cavalry figures L-R #ACW033, #ACW026

ACW Confederate Infanttry figures L-R #ACW001, #ACW016, #ACW018, #ACW012,
and dead Confederate, #ACW022, in foreground

 

[thebritfarmer]

A nice little haul there Mike. Looks like you had a good time at the show.

 

[6th Wisconsin]

Nice bunch of figures you picked up. The firing cavalry trooper you bought was one of the first two sets I bought as well. Also got the two-piece set. Your photo of the British flag bearers is the first I have seen other than on the FL site. I can't wait to see how it looks in your dioramas. I love flags and have been trying to decide whether to get those two. And you are right about the Romans. I got one and would love to get more some day. FL figures are addictive. There are just so many choices out there these days, and the money adds up in hurry.

 

[Andanna]

Thank you, Mike, for the report and the photos. It appears you bought some excellent figures, all of which i would select as well.

I also admire your discipline in sticking to your budget and shopping list.

 

[Fusilier]

Mike, enjoy your new purchases. Glad to see you are reinforcing those militia ranks, as they need it to face off against the Grenadiers! The two British flag-bearers are nice, but I had one issue with them. I had a tough time incorporating them into an exsisting two-rank line, due to the tilt of the flag. It requires a larger gap between the two ranks if you use them that way. I still love the flag-bearers, but I may wind up displaying them as stand alone pieces.

Also, I really like the Traverse Dioramics piece. That appears to have the potential for a great early America line.

Noah

 

[GICOP]

Very nice new additions you have there Mike :salute::

Cheers

Martyn

 

[marco55]

Nice additions Mike.I just ordered my first 2 pieces of FL.I got a couple of Crusaders as I want to have a dio of the Fall of Acre.
Mark

 

[mestell]

Thanks everyone; Scot, Dan, Andreas, Noah, Martyn, and Mark

Mike, enjoy your new purchases. Glad to see you are reinforcing those militia ranks, as they need it to face off against the Grenadiers! The two British flag-bearers are nice, but I had one issue with them. I had a tough time incorporating them into an exsisting two-rank line, due to the tilt of the flag. It requires a larger gap between the two ranks if you use them that way. I still love the flag-bearers, but I may wind up displaying them as stand alone pieces.

Also, I really like the Traverse Dioramics piece. That appears to have the potential for a great early America line.

Noah

I know exactly what you mean about the flags Noah. Found this out this morning when I was setting them into the line as pictured on the FL website. However, I believe during a frontal attack such as at Breed's Hill, the colours were moved to the rear of the formation along with the muscians. I have decided that's how I am going to portray them . . . behind the two ranks with the drummers on either side of the ensigns and the officer carrying a sword in between them. I believe I will put the mounted officer behind the ranks also.




I also purchased the Traverse Dioramics farmhouse which is a copy of the Hupp/Cox farmhouse that was buit prior to 1851 and was located in western Pennsylvania prior to it being disassembled and moved to an outdoor museum in Ireland. The museum has an area showing Irish imigrant life on the American frontier (Hupp was German, Cox was Irish).

 

[Fusilier]

Mike, I think that is a good display idea, placing the flagbearers as you have them. It looks pretty good behind such an impressive line of grenadiers!

I have a source about the British Army in the Revolution that states they didn't always carry their colours with them. Part of this is attributed to the broken terrain, in that it was harder to protect the colours since a regiment might have their formation disrupted in such terrain. Also, the author discusses that fact that many engagements involved composite battaltion of grenadiers and light infantry. As you know, the composite battalions would not have any inherent colours anyway. The basis for this argument is a number of primary sources that speak of the British not carrying their colours as a matter of habit. Most of these accounts are from Hessian officers and men, who noticed the lack of colours and compared it to their own practice of always carrying them in the field.

Now, whether the 5th Foot always carried their colours, I can't say for sure. This book does speak of the 5th Foot as one specific example of a time when a regiment did carry their colours. During the expedition to St. Lucia, British General Medows is recorded as attempting to rally the men around the colours during a French counterattack. Whether this meant that the 5th had always previously carried their colours, or just happened to on this expedition, is unclear.

This is not an exhaustive source, but one that seems authoritative nonetheless. I am continuing to look into it......

Noah

 

[mestell]

Mike, I think that is a good display idea, placing the flagbearers as you have them. It looks pretty good behind such an impressive line of grenadiers!

I have a source about the British Army in the Revolution that states they didn't always carry their colours with them. Part of this is attributed to the broken terrain, in that it was harder to protect the colours since a regiment might have their formation disrupted in such terrain. Also, the author discusses that fact that many engagements involved composite battaltion of grenadiers and light infantry. As you know, the composite battalions would not have any inherent colours anyway. The basis for this argument is a number of primary sources that speak of the British not carrying their colours as a matter of habit. Most of these accounts are from Hessian officers and men, who noticed the lack of colours and compared it to their own practice of always carrying them in the field.

Now, whether the 5th Foot always carried their colours, I can't say for sure. This book does speak of the 5th Foot as one specific example of a time when a regiment did carry their colours. During the expedition to St. Lucia, British General Medows is recorded as attempting to rally the men around the colours during a French counterattack. Whether this meant that the 5th had always previously carried their colours, or just happened to on this expedition, is unclear.

This is not an exhaustive source, but one that seems authoritative nonetheless. I am continuing to look into it......

Noah

I would agree with everything you said Noah. In reality, as I understand it, the center Hat Company was usually the Colour Company if the Colonel so chose to have one. As a flank company, the Grenadiers would more than likely not have been a colour company, especailly since it was a common practice to pull the Grenadier and the Light Infantry flank companies away from their regiments and use them instead with other flank companies as Grenadier Battalions or Light Infantry Battalions. I initially thought about passing altogether on the Flag Bearers, the mounted Colonel and both Hat officers for this reason. However I had a change in heart because they are so nicely done. I still don't think I will be getting the pioneer figure. Again, as I understand, a British regiment back then had 6 or so pioneers assigned to it, and were also used quite often in a Battalion of Pioneers away from their regiment. Also, the mitre hat that the pioneers wore, as in the FL figure, was different than the Grenadier mitre . . a very separate distinction. Lots to learn and lots more fun to have . . . .
Mike

 

[Fusilier]

I would agree with everything you said Noah. In reality, as I understand it, the center Hat Company was usually the Colour Company if the Colonel so chose to have one. As a flank company, the Grenadiers would more than likely not have been a colour company, especailly since it was a common practice to pull the Grenadier and the Light Infantry flank companies away from their regiments and use them instead with other flank companies as Grenadier Battalions or Light Infantry Battalions. I initially thought about passing altogether on the Flag Bearers, the mounted Colonel and both Hat officers for this reason. However I had a change in heart because they are so nicely done. I still don't think I will be getting the pioneer figure. Again, as I understand, a British regiment back then had 6 or so pioneers assigned to it, and were also used quite often in a Battalion of Pioneers away from their regiment. Also, the mitre hat that the pioneers wore, as in the FL figure, was different than the Grenadier mitre . . a very separate distinction. Lots to learn and lots more fun to have . . . .
Mike

Mike, you spot on in regards to the hat companies and composite battalions. And you are correct, the pioneers were often used away from the regiment. In regards to the 5th Foot release specifically, I read recently that the pioneers for all the regiments were left in Boston on the morning of the Battle at Bunker Hill. Hence, part of the reason the regiments had such trouble getting through the numerous fences that criss-crossed the Charlestown peninsula.

Also, I had passed on the officer and flag-bearer figures for the same reason you mentioned. I since have picked up the two flag-bearers, but I think I will still keep them as stand alone pieces. Assuming each AWI release from FL has a regimental colour, then I hope to have a display just the colours on pedastal bases. Just a thought though, still ironing that out....

Noah

 

[fmethorst]

Mike,

Glad to see you made it safely home with your loot. It was great to finally meet you in person. I look forward to seeing these new items in scenes in the near future.

 

[mestell]

Mike,

Glad to see you made it safely home with your loot. It was great to finally meet you in person. I look forward to seeing these new items in scenes in the near future.

The pleasure was all mine Frank . . . it was wonderful meeting both you and your wife . . . . . I hope you both had a wonderful time . . .
All the very best . . .
Mike

 

[joesgis]

Thanks for sharing pics of your FL haul from the big show Frank! Don't worry about the drooling thing, it's actually quite common. It's how I gauge whether or not I should buy something that I see at a show. I usually put on a bib prior to room trading!:tongue: Enjoy your new FL figures; great score!{bravo}}

 

[Jagdpanther]

Very nice figures Mike. Looks like you had a good time.

 

[wds0855]

Those look great.

Walt