Monday, March 12, 2018

Les bicycletes de Belmont

Don't worry, I'm not going to sing, but the Bicycle Scouts are done.

Converted Zinnbrigade Prussians with 3d printed bicycles courtesy of e_tenbris_lux.

The uniforms are a tiny bit darker than intended, an unfortunate side effect of mixing colours in a casual fashion. Since some colours dry darker, it can be easy to misjudge slightly when mixing a rarely used colour. An organized sort of person would probably make a careful note of exact paints used and exact proportions but where's the sense of adventure in that?

There should also be a number on the shako cover but I need to figure out if they should wear the number of the Jaeger regiment they are part of or something else.

The black leather is questionable but I was getting tired of the brown and Nash's Almark book shows one Jaeger in his grey-green uniform with black leather and that was good enough for me!


I was rather unsure what to do about the missing handlebars since the stand needs to be rugged enough to travel to conventions. Luckily I found a picture of German cyclists with their blanket and great coat rolled up and strapped to the handle bars. A close inspection would reveal that the Officer's bike has invisible handlebars underneath the blanket roll.

Next up is, well, a Mystery, even to me at this point.

28 comments:

  1. They do look good! Very "toy soldierly" (in a good way, of course).

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    1. Thanks, its been years from initial, vague concept to execution.

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  2. Excellent work Ross,they look great!

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    1. Can I ask for a little more detail as to where you got the bikes from ?

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    2. A friend with a 3d printer ran them off for me a few years a go. They've been waiting for me to figure out how to fit them in.

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  3. Great conversions there Ross- well done indeed.

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  4. "Très beau travail sur les bicyclettes", well done Ross!

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  5. Splendid looking models and bicycles. Along with Imaginative use of blankets, it all looks very convincing.

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  6. Shiny and proper. Just what the Dr. ordered.

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    1. They've been in the drawer for a few years now waiting for a prescription.

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  7. Agreed! Understatedly gorgeous.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  8. What an excellent addition to your forces and the trick with the blanket rolls is very clever!

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  9. Those look great - I am keen to add bicycle troops to my Boer War range at some point

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    1. Thanks Mike, I suspect that they would be a popular addition to either the Boer War or home service ranges, Volunteer Cyclists in fanciful uniforms were a popular choice for illustrations

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  10. I am quite taken with these prototypes:

    http://ridevintage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Donald-Menzies-Cycles-Boer-War.jpg

    Mike

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    1. A bicyle built for four! Don't recall seeing that before! I have a lithograph of a 4 wheeled machine gun cycle supposedly in use during the defence of Ladysmith but I suspect it is an imaginative portrayal of an actual prototype that didn't see action. Would make a great model though.

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