U-boat crew (1 Viewer)

[graycap]

There is a real surprise on Britains Facebook page showing pictures of two forthcoming figures - two U-Boat crewmen - a officer and a rating! Look forward to seeing Das Boot in due course!

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Those are great looking figures. The head sculpts are amazing. Would love to see them up close in Gettysburg

 

[camel corps]

They are also on Britains site , Jack Tars & Leathernecks range, I also like the new WW1 Royal Navy Landing Party 1914-15

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Looking at the bases on these figures I would bet that Mr Osen has plans for the future release of a cool U-Boat diorama piece.

 

[wayne556517]

These look great and agree hopefully more to follow.

 

[villagehorse]

Yep, think these are a winner Ken. Robin.

 

[Oberstinhaber]

They are also on Britains site , Jack Tars & Leathernecks range, I also like the new WW1 Royal Navy Landing Party 1914-15

Dear Camel Corps,

Thank you for directing me to the Britains site, so I could see the other new releases. As a "Toy Sailor Collector" I was at first very excited, then I started to look deeper into each figure.

Like you, I was taken by the Landing Party set (13019), but there are a few disquieting aspects: !. The RN "Flannel" or "White front" (what landlubbers would call a shirt) is NOT a "Tee Shirt" it is "square" around the neck [got it right in 13005, Sailor with Rum Ration], 2. There are no creases in the Bell Bottoms, 3. Blue Collar is too large and too light in colour.

Turning to 13005, the very nicely posed Sailor with Rum Ration, 1. the cap is incorrect, 2, there are 7 very distinctive creases in the legs of a pair of bell bottoms, we get only 4!, and 3. The "Rank Device" and "Good Conduct Badge" on the left sleeve appear to be silver, they can only be "Gold" or "Red" (depending on the Order of Dress), Further, I cannot make out what the "Rank Device" is? It can only be a "Kellick" anchor. It certainly doesn't look like one.

But the figure which has me most confused is 13021 "British Royal Navy Petty Officer 1914-15"

I don't recall an order of dress for a PO which has a single breasted jacket with "patch" pockets? 2. There is a correct "crossed anchors" Rank Device on the left sleeve denoting a Petty Officer. But, no "Good Conduct Badges"? This rank device is in Red, perfectly acceptable, but, 3, What are the gold "Rating or Catagory" Badges doing on the lapels? Two things here: (a) Catagory Badges on the Lapels denotes a Chief Petty Officer!, notwithstanding that, (b) the colours should be consistant, i.e. all Gold or all Red.

Arrrrh, but the crowning glory is the "Facial Hair" on his top lip. In the Royal Navy, one can only be either clean shaven or have a "Full Set", i.e. a complete set of facial hair.

I don't want to discourage Britains from making sailors, as examples are few and far between, but I may have to pass on the RN Petty Officer.

I have the sailor with rum ration, I will get the Landing Party (and I look forward to a few more figures to join that band) and I will get the U Boot men, they look terrific!

Lets hope that the 2 U Boot men are a taste of more to come, including a complete boat.

Happy Collecting!

Bob

 

[WBritain]

Sorry for the typo...the figure should read:
Petty Officer Royal Naval Air Service 1914-15. He would be part of the armored car detachment and I believe the details are correct.

As far as facial hair, we felt that for the period it was acceptable...perhaps not eh? Still not sure, but I would be interested to know more.

Ken

 

[Oberstinhaber]

Sorry for the typo...the figure should read:
Petty Officer Royal Naval Air Service 1914-15. He would be part of the armored car detachment and I believe the details are correct.

As far as facial hair, we felt that for the period it was acceptable...perhaps not eh? Still not sure, but I would be interested to know more.

Ken

Dear Ken,

Thanks for the prompt reply and explanation.

I would make no serious comments about the 2 photos until I knew exactly where and when, and the circumstances in which they were taken.

What I believe I can say about the first photo (with 7 guys in it) is that the five guys who are not dressed as Sailors, are certainly NOT Petty Officers. They may be Cooks, Stewards, Writers, Stores Assistants or Sick Berth Attendants

HMS CANOPUS was commissioned in 1897 and served beyond WWII. So there is a large window of time here, during which standards may have moved up and down. The 2 guys in the back row clearly have what would pass muster as a "full set", I would like to hear the story about the guy front right.

Three of these lads are clearly "Petty Officers, Second Class" (still dressed in "Round Rig" i.e. "Sailors" uniform) Each of them has 3 "Good Conduct Badges" (Chevrons) Each badge denotes 4 years good service, so they are 12+ year veterans. In 1914-5 I would suggest that it would be impossible for a man to hold the rank of Petty Officer without having at least one Good Conduct Badge.

Ken, these are all great figures, which are helping to fill a sizeable void. If you can iron out some of the glitches, they would superlative figures. Keep up the good work.

Regards,

Bob

 

[Martin Tabony]

Sorry for the typo...the figure should read:
Petty Officer Royal Naval Air Service 1914-15. He would be part of the armored car detachment and I believe the details are correct.

As far as facial hair, we felt that for the period it was acceptable...perhaps not eh? Still not sure, but I would be interested to know more.

Ken

Interesting pictures, also showing the evolution of the headdress, from the very soft top of the 1880s to the stiff topped WW2 version.
By the way, I'd recommend "Rank and Rate" by E.C. Coleman. It helped this "Landlubber" to understand the R.N. rank system (a bit)

Martin

 

[WBritain]

Thanks so much for the comments...and thanks for the reference suggestion Martin.
It is interesting how similar many of the great powers naval uniforms became by the mid nineteenth century.
By the late 1890s many forms are adopted and become the 'traditional' dress until post WWII.
The huge change for modern fleets became the transition to steam, followed by other technological changes in communication, electronics and weapons systems. It is certainly a different world than most of us are familiar with.
Ken

 

[Martin Tabony]

Thanks so much for the comments...and thanks for the reference suggestion Martin.
It is interesting how similar many of the great powers naval uniforms became by the mid nineteenth century.
By the late 1890s many forms are adopted and become the 'traditional' dress until post WWII.
The huge change for modern fleets became the transition to steam, followed by other technological changes in communication, electronics and weapons systems. It is certainly a different world than most of us are familiar with.
Ken

I believe it wasn't until 1857 that the Royal Navy adopted a standard uniform for other ranks (ratings) which was copied around the world due to the influance of the British Empires "Senior Service". Before that each ships captain set the dress of the crew. The dress of H.M.S. Blazer set a trend that is still worn!

Martin

 

[braddinpa]

Stop these outstanding sculpts! I am going broke! Just kidding. These are amazing sculpts. Some of the best facial sculpts I have ever seen.

 

[Wraith]

Saw these at the show yesterday and the figures live up to the photos, they're very licely sculpted and painted. I'll get some photos up on the show thread when they've finished uploading.
Cheers
Simon

 

[JPB]

Nice!

 

[Peiper007]

Still trying to figure this range out? Like the U Boat Crew but not Jack Tar or Leatherneck, but never mind.

the range is all over the place in time and structure, with some single era sets and them others are small potential diorama sets......