WB ACW #31051 The Chosen Ground set #1 (1 Viewer)

[mestell]

My rainy day activities continue with photographs of WB #31051 "The Chosen Ground" set #1 Command Set #1.

Gettysburg, July 1, 1862​

This set is based on the painting "The Chosen Ground" by Keith Rocco which depicts Major General John Fulton Reynolds ordering the 2nd Wisconsin of the famed Iron Brigade into McPhearson's Woods in support of Cutler's Brigade, saying "Forward men, forward, and for God's sake drive those fellows out of those woods!"

As the 2nd made contact with the Confederates in the woods, Reynolds turned in his saddle to look for more reinforcements, at that moment he was struck behind the ear by a shot from the Confederates of Archer's brigade. In spite of Reynold's death, the Iron Brigade would continue to fight that day holding off the Confederate advance just long enough for the rest of the Union Army of the Potomac to take up the strong defensive positions southwest of town.

Seven Piece Set

Excellent detail on drummer

Close up of National Flag w/2nd Wisconsin identity

Close up of Regimental Flag

Close up of backpack lettering

John Reynolds, "Forward Men!"

 

[mikemiller1955]

Beautiful set Mike...I especially like the flags.

 

[mestell]

Beautiful set Mike...I especially like the flags.

Thank you Michael. The detail in this set is very very nice on all the pieces. When I first got involved in ACW re-enacting I joined Company K, 2nd Wisconsin Infantry and quickly immersed myself in the history and legend of the Iron Brigade. Based on that knowledge and my involvement in its history I really think this set is extremely well done and researched. Ken Osen "hit a home run" with this one. By the way, here is a photo of me as a member of the 2nd WI. I was in camp and wearing my fatigue cap and not my Hardee "Black Hat"

Being in Wisconsin, we didn't have too many Confederates to shoot at so there were times when some of us were asked to portray Confederates - those that volunteered for that task were called "cross dressers" . Well it got to a point where I enjoyed life as a Johnny Reb so much (and I was tired of being harrassed by my "Southern Roots" family of wearing the "blue coat") that I switched over altogether - after all I did live in "southern" Wisconsin. Here's a photo of me as a Confederate in Company D 10th Tenn Inf:

 

[mikemiller1955]

Aaaaaaaaaaah...

the "good old day"...

when we were young and the word "urologist" was just a big word...

hehehehe...

 

[thebritfarmer]

Mike,

What a beautifully set and I have to agree Ken's skills are amazing. Thanks also for th ehistory you provided regarding your reenactments. Great photos. That last one especially could be of the period !!!

 

[mestell]

Aaaaaaaaaaah...

the "good old day"...

when we were young and the word "urologist" was just a big word...

hehehehe...

Ah to be young and foolish again and not have to worry about the "pains" of growing older.

Mike,

What a beautifully set and I have to agree Ken's skills are amazing. Thanks also for th ehistory you provided regarding your reenactments. Great photos. That last one especially could be of the period !!!

Thanks - I did have a lot of fun "back in the day"

 

[glossman]

Hi,

This is an excellent set. Thanks very much for illustrating it with your well selected photographs.

Regards, Raymond.

**************

 

[wds0855]

That is a great set!

Walt

 

[Mister Dave]

Thank you Michael. The detail in this set is very very nice on all the pieces. When I first got involved in ACW re-enacting I joined Company K, 2nd Wisconsin Infantry and quickly immersed myself in the history and legend of the Iron Brigade. Based on that knowledge and my involvement in its history I really think this set is extremely well done and researched. Ken Osen "hit a home run" with this one. By the way, here is a photo of me as a member of the 2nd WI. I was in camp and wearing my fatigue cap and not my Hardee "Black Hat"

Being in Wisconsin, we didn't have too many Confederates to shoot at so there were times when some of us were asked to portray Confederates - those that volunteered for that task were called "cross dressers" . Well it got to a point where I enjoyed life as a Johnny Reb so much (and I was tired of being harrassed by my "Southern Roots" family of wearing the "blue coat") that I switched over altogether - after all I did live in "southern" Wisconsin. Here's a photo of me as a Confederate in Company D 10th Tenn Inf:

Really enjoyed the reenacting photos Mike. I suspected that avatar photo might have been you all along. Are you still active with this or did you hang it up altogether?

I am hoping to make it to one of the 1st Minnesota Vols muster nights at Fort Snelling this summer, along with all my other time obligations that is. I did WWI reenacting for a couple of years, but never ACW, so hoping to get involved as I miss it very much.

Thanks again for the photos.

MD

 

[mestell]

Really enjoyed the reenacting photos Mike. I suspected that avatar photo might have been you all along. Are you still active with this or did you hang it up altogether?
I am hoping to make it to one of the 1st Minnesota Vols muster nights at Fort Snelling this summer, along with all my other time obligations that is. I did WWI reenacting for a couple of years, but never ACW, so hoping to get involved as I miss it very much.

Thanks again for the photos.

MD

I am afraid I had to give it up MD. Age caught up with me and the rigors of campaign style re-enacting just began to "hurt" too much . Anyway, I sold all my gear for a good price and started collecting toy soldiers - the closing of one hobby door opened another hobby door.
Mike

 

[Mister Dave]

I am afraid I had to give it up MD. Age caught up with me and the rigors of campaign style re-enacting just began to "hurt" too much . Anyway, I sold all my gear for a good price and started collecting toy soldiers - the closing of one hobby door opened another hobby door.
Mike

Funny thing is Mike, selling my WWI Black Watch kit furnished the seed money for my TS collecting efforts as well.

If I am successful getting on board with the locals here I may pick your brains on where the insiders get the best kit at the best prices and all....

MD

 

[mestell]

I just realized that I did not take pictures of both sides of the 2nd Wi Regimental Flag. To further show the detail and historical accuracy that WB has put into set #31051, the actual regimental flag used by the 2nd Wi had an obverse and a reverse side to it - this has been accurately duplicated by WB . . . . . . . Mike

OBVERSE SIDE: 2nd REGT. WISCONSIN VOLUNTEERS

REVERSE SIDE: Wisconsin State Motto, FORWARD

 

[spartan71]

I was wondering (since I am truly a new recruit, In the ACW Collection), How many different Pieces/sets has been made?. Of the Iron Brigade collection.
Thanks for the reply!!

 

[mestell]

I was wondering (since I am truly a new recruit, In the ACW Collection), How many different Pieces/sets has been made?. Of the Iron Brigade collection.
Thanks for the reply!!

Hi Spartan. I only collect the WB ACW sets that have been made since Wm Britain merged with First Gear. WB/1st Gear has made the following sets that have Iron Brigade/Black Hat figures:

Already Released: 17743, 17662, 17913, 17833, 17935, 17888, 17897, 31001, 31002, 31003, 31007, 31051,

Yet To Be Released in 2010: 31073, 31074, 31055, 31058, 31059, 31054

All of the #17XXX sets are retired as well as some of the earlier #31XXX sets but with diligent searching can still be found.

Wm Britain/ERTL/RC2 also made some Iron Brigade/Black Hat sets but IMHO these are poorly sculpted and painted and so therefore I do not collect them. Althoogh all retired, these can still be found on the secondary market at very reasonavle prices.

Hope this helps . . . . . . Mike

 

[6th Wisconsin]

If you want even more, Conte also made sets that go well with the Britains figures. Conte's dead Iron Brigade set is an especially good addition.

 

[Nooooo9]

Yeah, those Contes are nice too. I'm still trying to play catch up because I've only been collecting a short time. I've been thinking about buying the earlier Iron Brigade Command Set with the Officer and Flag Bearer, but if I have the new Chosen Ground Set that would leave me with two National Flags. I think that you are only supposed to have one Regimental and one US Flag per Regiment. So if I buy the earlier set then I'll get a great officer figure, and a Flag Bearer that I can't properly use in my diorama while remaining historically correct.

 

[Dragoon]

Yeah, those Contes are nice too. I'm still trying to play catch up because I've only been collecting a short time. I've been thinking about buying the earlier Iron Brigade Command Set with the Officer and Flag Bearer, but if I have the new Chosen Ground Set that would leave me with two National Flags. I think that you are only supposed to have one Regimental and one US Flag per Regiment. So if I buy the earlier set then I'll get a great officer figure, and a Flag Bearer that I can't properly use in my diorama while remaining historically correct.

Well if you're planning on a big display, there are the other regiments of the brigade (7th Wisc. 19th Ind. & 24th Mich.) which followed close behind the 2nd Wisc. and lined up on its left flank in Herbst woods. The 6th Wisc. was the last to arrive on the field and fought along side units of the 1st. Division's 2nd Brigade.

 

[mestell]

Yeah, those Contes are nice too. I'm still trying to play catch up because I've only been collecting a short time. I've been thinking about buying the earlier Iron Brigade Command Set with the Officer and Flag Bearer, but if I have the new Chosen Ground Set that would leave me with two National Flags. I think that you are only supposed to have one Regimental and one US Flag per Regiment. So if I buy the earlier set then I'll get a great officer figure, and a Flag Bearer that I can't properly use in my diorama while remaining historically correct.

Well if you're planning on a big display, there are the other regiments of the brigade (7th Wisc. 19th Ind. & 24th Mich.) which followed close behind the 2nd Wisc. and lined up on its left flank in Herbst woods. The 6th Wisc. was the last to arrive on the field and fought along side units of the 1st. Division's 2nd Brigade.

I have #31011 Iron Brigade Command set (forgot to add this to the list in previous post) and its very nice. The officer is very nicely detailed and is a Captain. The foot officer in #31051 Chosen Ground is a Colonel. So you could have a Company officer and a regimental officer. You are right about the National Flag and I haven't used my "spare" in any of the photos I have shared recently. However, I do agree with Dragoon - Use it as another Black Hat regiment's national flag - Keep in mind this flag also has "2nd Wis" on it but that lettering would be hard to see in a mass display.

Mike

 

[Nooooo9]

I may use it for another regiment, but then I'm short the regimental flag too. I hope that Britains/First Gear will come out with some more Union Regimental Flags. They did a really nice job on the 2nd Wisconsin. I'd like to see a generic one that you could use for almost any Infantry Regiment to supliment the standing flagbearer sets like 31040, or the standing Black Hat figure. I'd also like to see a Heavy Artillery yellow regimental. I don't think that they used company guidons, did they?

 

[spartan71]

Hi Spartan. I only collect the WB ACW sets that have been made since Wm Britain merged with First Gear. WB/1st Gear has made the following sets that have Iron Brigade/Black Hat figures:

Already Released: 17743, 17662, 17913, 17833, 17935, 17888, 17897, 31001, 31002, 31003, 31007, 31051,

Yet To Be Released in 2010: 31073, 31074, 31055, 31058, 31059, 31054

All of the #17XXX sets are retired as well as some of the earlier #31XXX sets but with diligent searching can still be found.

Wm Britain/ERTL/RC2 also made some Iron Brigade/Black Hat sets but IMHO these are poorly sculpted and painted and so therefore I do not collect them. Althoogh all retired, these can still be found on the secondary market at very reasonavle prices.

Hope this helps . . . . . . Mike

Thanks Once again!!, Mike. It helps a lot. I got the Captain and another flag bearer. So that is really great. and now I know there are a lot more .
And I am with you. The poorly sculpted ones I will stay away from.