Private Sloper, Army Service Corps, and H.M. Tractor "Rosie".

While scavenging for materials in an abandoned farm near Poperinghe, Private "Knocker" Sloper of the Army Service Corps came across an abandoned tractor. "Knocker" was part of the A.S.C. Forward Repair Depot based just outside "Pop" and, with the permission of an indulgent C.O., he requisitioned the tractor, got it running, brought it back to the depot, gave it a coat of regulation khaki-green paint and called it "Rosie" after his Mum.

"Knocker" and "Rosie" spent the next two years hauling wagons and loads around the depot and both became famous for pulling Staff Cars out of the mire when they slithered off the road.

"Rosie" was returned to the farm near Poperinghe when the depot moved forward in the final 100 days of the Great War. "Knocker" drove her there, parked her up in the remains of the barn where he found her and covered her with a tarpaulin. He left three cans of fuel, a quart of engine oil and a brand new set of sparkplugs on the seat along with a letter apologising for the green paint and the dents and scratches on "Rosie's" bodywork.

"Knocker" returned to the Salient in 1928. He found the farm where he and "Rosie" had met some twelve years earlier. In the distance a small green tractor was pulling a harrow over a field.....

All this, of course, is pure fantasy but fun. "Knocker" is a Dixon Miniatures WW1 British cyclist figure with a Woodbine Designs head-swap. "Rosie" is a 1/43 1919 Citroen tractor produced by Hachette.

Painting Guides Update.

Today, a slightly extended guide to painting WW1 Turks has been added. This new edition includes the Arab Camel Mounted unit featured on this blog over the previous two posts.

NEW NEW NEW

Painting the Great War: The Indian Army in Egypt Mesopotamia and Palestine.

Just email me and request a copy.

Abdul, Jacko and Johnny were well chuffed to have been added to the painting guide. They could barely repress their excitement.

WW1 Ottoman Arab Camel Mounted Troops 2. The Completed Unit.

Coming soon to a Suez Canal, 1915, demonstration game in York.

Perry Miniatures Sudan Camel Corps figures with Woodbine heads and added Greenstuff.

What next, I have been asked... well a bit of a break as I have been painting flat out for a few weeks, but here's a clue.

WW1 Ottoman Arab Camel Mounted Troops 1. The test piece.

More fun with camels! A Perry Miniatures Sudan British Camel Corps bugler chopped about a bit, given a Woodbine bare head and some greenstuff to create an Ottoman Arab Camel mounted trooper fit for crossing Sinai to raid the Suez Canal.

There may well be more before too long.

Queens Own Dorset Yeomanry. Musketeer Miniatures (Footsore Miniatures) Conversions 4.

The next five dismounted figures and an image of the full unit of ten. 

Ganga Risala Bikaner (The Bikaner Camel Corps) 3. The complete unit.

By Jove! Three weeks from concept to completion. That must be a record for me. Thanks to Steve Langan for providing me with the opportunity to do these figures. I think that these and painting up the new Mutton Chop WW1 figures have to be the highlights of 2014. 

What next? Well, I have a number of Camels to do ready for the same display game where the Bikaner Camel Corps will make their debut and then I'm going to try to move forward with the Queen's Own Dosrset Yeomanry project that has been gathering dust. They too may ride out to defend the Canal in February, but I'm not confident that they will make the deadline. It is a good job I'm on holiday!

Seasonal Greetings.

Wishing all who drop by a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2015.

The Ganga Risala Bikaner (The Bikaner Camel Corps) 2.

I have been painting rather intensively over the past week to try to make in-roads into the BCC before the Christmas commitments start to demand time away from the painting table. Half way through! Thanks to both Woodbine (Gripping Beast) and Perry Mins. for turning the orders for the raw material around so quickly to allow me to do this.

The Ganga Risala Bikaner (The Bikaner Camel Corps) 1.

The test pieces for an interesting "little" project to be completed as soon as possible in preparation for a planned display game at York in February. Perry Sudan Camel Corps figure with a Woodbine head, a Woodbine WW1 Indian Army figure, both with greenstuff additions to the head dress. These chaps are off to defend the Suez Canal against the Ottoman threat. We could have given them the standard Indian Army khaki paint scheme, but the chap who will use these said he wanted them "to look smart" as they engage the Turk. Inspiration for the white uniform came from a German propaganda postcard. They will add a bit of colour on a sandy tabletop.

 

 

 

WW1 Mutton Chop British Rifle Section

Four figures in marching order complete this group of twelve.