'Shock and Awe' at the OTSN Chicago Show (1 Viewer)

[Arnhemjim]

This may or may not be the most appropriate area of the forum for this subject. However if the moderators deem it necessary, please feel free to move it.

A week or so ago I was ready to spring for three sets of Collector’s Showcase 92nd Gordon Highlanders at Waterloo. Magnificently sculpted and painted figures. Then all of a sudden my knowledge of historical detail (trivia or rivet counting) cut in. Ensigns (commissioned officers) carried the colours, be they King’s or Queen’s, and the Regimental colours as well. They carried them as they advanced or within a defensive square. Unfortunately it would be a VERY RARE occurrence for a private soldier to be carrying either flag, as portrayed in the CS rendition. W. Britains got it right with their Gordons at Waterloo.

Then this week I saw pictures of Figarti’s superlative 1:32 scale model of HMS Victory. You can call it artistic license (or perhaps value engineering) but it was with ‘Shock and Awe’ that I saw each and every gun port was detailed with only one, not the correct two lines to open and close, the port. Nelson and Collingswood would not be pleased. Again W. Britains Nelson series had it correct in their single 32 pdr and deck section of HMS Victory.

As I’m sure is the case with many other collector’s, my acquisitions are luxuries, particularly on a fixed retirement income (paying taxes while almost half of our population pays nothing). I don’t know about anyone else, but in the current international economic environment I would to be d..med discerning in either case. Just my personal opinion.

Arnhemjim
Liberated Arizona Territory

 

[Mitch]

Arnhemjim...

Maybe, CS captured that 'very rare' moment when the flags were carried by the very chaps you speak about. Have not seen the pic that would allow an answer on the victory maybe its historical and creative artistry??
Mitch

 

[Arnhemjim]

Mitch,
Am providing the link to a photograph detailing the outboard side of one of HMS Victory's gun ports. I'm not positive, but I think it is one of the 24 pdrs carried on her second gun deck. Sorry for the inconvenience, I was able to download the jpg to my computer, but unable to upload to the forum, or to transfer the URL directly as a link. The link is;
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/photolib/transport/Warship Gunport (HMS Victory).htm.
Regards,
Jim

 

[jazzeum]

Have you contacted Figarti about your concerns. I can do so if you like.

 

[Spitfrnd]

This may or may not be the most appropriate area of the forum for this subject. However if the moderators deem it necessary, please feel free to move it.

A week or so ago I was ready to spring for three sets of Collector’s Showcase 92nd Gordon Highlanders at Waterloo. Magnificently sculpted and painted figures. Then all of a sudden my knowledge of historical detail (trivia or rivet counting) cut in. Ensigns (commissioned officers) carried the colours, be they King’s or Queen’s, and the Regimental colours as well. They carried them as they advanced or within a defensive square. Unfortunately it would be a VERY RARE occurrence for a private soldier to be carrying either flag, as portrayed in the CS rendition. W. Britains got it right with their Gordons at Waterloo.

Then this week I saw pictures of Figarti’s superlative 1:32 scale model of HMS Victory. You can call it artistic license (or perhaps value engineering) but it was with ‘Shock and Awe’ that I saw each and every gun port was detailed with only one, not the correct two lines to open and close, the port. Nelson and Collingswood would not be pleased. Again W. Britains Nelson series had it correct in their single 32 pdr and deck section of HMS Victory.

As I’m sure is the case with many other collector’s, my acquisitions are luxuries, particularly on a fixed retirement income (paying taxes while almost half of our population pays nothing). I don’t know about anyone else, but in the current international economic environment I would to be d..med discerning in either case. Just my personal opinion.

Arnhemjim
Liberated Arizona Territory

Well I quite agree with you on the CS Highlanders. No question that the colors were an Ensigns duty but of course they were frequently picked up by others if the Ensigns were killed or incapacitated. Personally, I am waiting for Highlanders that better suit my taste for sculpting and painting so that detail didn't bother me much.

No doubt you are right on the Victory as well but there I think it is more likely value engineering than oversight. A gun port line my seem trivial but adding another 100 lines and hardware might not be so. But hey, maybe for another few $100 it can be arranged. If I were going to buy one, I think it would be within my rights to ask but since it is only going to be something for me to envy from afar, it also matters little to me as well.

 

[Arnhemjim]

Have you contacted Figarti about your concerns. I can do so if you like.

jazzeum,
I didn't intend to detract from a magnificent effort. Model ship building is an art form unto itself. However, at the quoted price ($6,500 USD), and with the scale of the model and requisite research I know must have been entailed, would have thought the extra labor would have been incorporated.

I personally could not even begin to contemplate acquiring such a masterpiece, let alone actually making the purchase given the financial where with all. As it is my wife is already very tolerant of two full sized mannequins in the house, let alone the library full of the 'little guys' .

What I was trying to show with the two examples, CS Gordon Highlanders at the relatively 'lower end' of of the price line, and Figarti's HMS Victory, a 'little bit' further up, was that discerning knowledge might enter the overall equation of the market place. I know, the forum has already very recently been through this entire issue in the thread 'Quality vs Cost', but I feel that this is a slightly different variant on the subject.

Arnhemjim
Liberated Arizona Territory

 

[Combat]

I would give them a pass on that one. It is expensive and should be done right, but I don't believe collectors can expect 100% accuracy in something like this. There are probably hundreds of minor errors in such a complex reproduction as the Victory. Most of us are not expert enough to recognize them. It's interesting to note them, but there is a big difference between that type of error and something like giving Hitler '44 a map written in English from WWI which is just a careless and lazy mistake.

 

[Arnhemjim]

As an aside to those who might be interested in more information on HMS Victory, the following site is excellent and includes great color photography in a 'virtual tour' of the ship;
http://www.stvincent.ac.uk/Heritage/1797/Victory/index.html

Arnhemjim

 

[Gideon]

It's interesting to note them, but there is a big difference between that type of error and something like giving Hitler '44 a map written in English from WWI which is just a careless and lazy mistake.

ok, who did that?

 

[Combat]

ok, who did that?

& the Sunshine Band

 

[marco55]

I was reading an article about modeling the Victory a while back and I guess there many variants of the ship with different blueprints.Does anyone know how many orders were taken for the ship in Chicago?
Mark

 

[Gideon]

& the Sunshine Band

That is really surprising. I was thinking another maker.