The Nek / Gallipoli / 8th & 10th Light Horse (1 Viewer)

[Isandlwana]

A Gallipoli Range

A range is coming – that’s all I can say!

I think for this range to have a wider appeal and to encourage those that have hitherto had little interest in the subject to collect, is to initially go down the road of mirroring the action depicted in the Peter Weir film.

The Nek was, in the very literal sense, Australia’s darkest eight minutes. However, I think if this is to be done then it should be the 8th Light Horse that is depicted going over in the very first wave of men rather than the 10th’s equally doomed advances in the third and fourth waves.

It sounds utterly crass when reading this back but in TS terms dead bodies don’t sell that well. Therefore, if the second, third and fourth waves were to be depicted then there would need to be a lot of horribly contorted bodies.
I have no doubt that there is a lot of historical research that goes into creating a range but one must adhere to that old idiomatic notion of the ‘devil is in the detail’.

Therefore, when the range does make its long overdue appearance, I will be looking for little things that make a very good range a great range. Each carried a small rolled up field dressing pinned to the inside of their shirts, each wore a sewn white armband on each shirt sleeve and also had a white a patch sewn to the back. All their tunics and superfluous field gear had been taken away or stacked in heaps prior to their moment of destiny and they had had their usual leather ammunition pouches replaced with the standard infantry webbing. Sun helmets were worn as well as slouch hats with the wire removed with some officers in caps. If the little things are taken care of then I'm sure the sales will take care of themselves.

I will await with great anticipation the new range and keep my beady eye on the detail!

 

[waynepoo]

A Gallipoli Range

A range is coming – that’s all I can say!

I think for this range to have a wider appeal and to encourage those that have hitherto had little interest in the subject to collect, is to initially go down the road of mirroring the action depicted in the Peter Weir film.

The Nek was, in the very literal sense, Australia’s darkest eight minutes. However, I think if this is to be done then it should be the 8th Light Horse that is depicted going over in the very first wave of men rather than the 10th’s equally doomed advances in the third and fourth waves.

It sounds utterly crass when reading this back but in TS terms dead bodies don’t sell that well. Therefore, if the second, third and fourth waves were to be depicted then there would need to be a lot of horribly contorted bodies.
I have no doubt that there is a lot of historical research that goes into creating a range but one must adhere to that old idiomatic notion of the ‘devil is in the detail’.

Therefore, when the range does make its long overdue appearance, I will be looking for little things that make a very good range a great range. Each carried a small rolled up field dressing pinned to the inside of their shirts, each wore a sewn white armband on each shirt sleeve and also had a white a patch sewn to the back. All their tunics and superfluous field gear had been taken away or stacked in heaps prior to their moment of destiny and they had had their usual leather ammunition pouches replaced with the standard infantry webbing. Sun helmets were worn as well as slouch hats with the wire removed with some officers in caps. If the little things are taken care of then I'm sure the sales will take care of themselves.

I will await with great anticipation the new range and keep my beady eye on the detail!

Mate as an Australian I would of course like to see a Gallipoli range and I believe we have some figures in the pipe line (K&C Mid east Brits for one) Having grown up with the Gallipoli legend here for many decades it almost becomes second nature to consider it the be all and end all of Australian Military history, but I want more than that from manufactures a Western Front range of the A.I.F is what is needed as it was in France and Belgium where the A.I.F really did forged its true legend, earned it's battle honours and the greatest bulk of Australians served, hopefully we will see both as a range soon.
Wayne.

 

[Isandlwana]

Mate as an Australian I would of course like to see a Gallipoli range and I believe we have some figures in the pipe line (K&C Mid east Brits for one) Having grown up with the Gallipoli legend here for many decades it almost becomes second nature to consider it the be all and end all of Australian Military history, but I want more than that from manufactures a Western Front range of the A.I.F is what is needed as it was in France and Belgium where the A.I.F really did forged its true legend, earned it's battle honours and the greatest bulk of Australians served, hopefully we will see both as a range soon.
Wayne.

I think this is where TG are going to go isn't it? They're going to do a WF 'Digger' series. I seem to immerse myself in military disasters so the initial attack on Bullecourt would suit me, with some broken down and some soon to be destroyed tanks.

 

[waynepoo]

I think this is where TG are going to go isn't it? They're going to do a WF 'Digger' series. I seem to immerse myself in military disasters so the initial attack on Bullecourt would suit me, with some broken down and some soon to be destroyed tanks.

TG has indeed said they will do some WF Australians and I look foward to what they come up with, and with the 100 year anniversary of the Great War soon upon us lets hope that the manufactures see the light and produce many more figures of that era as they are long over due.
Wayne.

 

[lancer]

The toy soldier company, Soldiers of the World (New Zealand) has a pretty extensive WW1 line that includes Australians and New Zealanders for Gallipoli, along with the opposition, Johnny Turk. I think they are available in either glossy or matte finish. -- Al

 

[larso]

The Nek has some promise as a range given it is the subject of the excellent 1980s movie - BUT it has significant limitations. There is no hand-to-hand combat and as such a limit to the poses. All the Australian's are charging/being shot, all the Turks are firing. The other thing that might impact on its appeal, is that uniforms were pretty rough and ready at this point with a great lack of uniformity. I think a Lone Pine range would have greater appeal. There was lots of trench fighting, in particular bombing duels - and Australia won! Maybe something that focused on the six VCs that were won?

 

[Isandlwana]

The Nek has some promise as a range given it is the subject of the excellent 1980s movie - BUT it has significant limitations. There is no hand-to-hand combat and as such a limit to the poses. All the Australian's are charging/being shot, all the Turks are firing. The other thing that might impact on its appeal, is that uniforms were pretty rough and ready at this point with a great lack of uniformity. I think a Lone Pine range would have greater appeal. There was lots of trench fighting, in particular bombing duels - and Australia won! Maybe something that focused on the six VCs that were won?

Well, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair is what I would personally like (it would be nice if the NZ in ANZAC could be represented at some point) but I know there is a 100th anniversary range planned by at least one manufacturer. I thought that the charging 8th would be the call but could well be wrong.

I'd love a little diorama of some jam tin bomb makers.

I'm English/Irish but I have always found Australia's part in the war equally if not more fascinating. I just love their attitude towards everything, especially authority. Gotta love 'em!

 

[TomB]

Mate as an Australian I would of course like to see a Gallipoli range and I believe we have some figures in the pipe line (K&C Mid east Brits for one) Having grown up with the Gallipoli legend here for many decades it almost becomes second nature to consider it the be all and end all of Australian Military history, but I want more than that from manufactures a Western Front range of the A.I.F is what is needed as it was in France and Belgium where the A.I.F really did forged its true legend, earned it's battle honours and the greatest bulk of Australians served, hopefully we will see both as a range soon.
Wayne.

WETS had an excellent Gallipoli range....that has all been lost now....I believe all Craig"s moulds etc are being offered for sale....with a bit of luck someone might start up on the beaut aussie figures he had...TomB