A couple of Gatling Guns for a Last Samurai scenario. The guns are from Black Tree Design's Zulu War range. The sitting figures have their heads replaced with those from Old Glory's Boxer Rebellion range. The rest of the figures are also from Old Glory - spares from the Artillery Crew set.
The magazines on top of the gun are the Broadwell Drum type introduced in 1872. However, the type shown in the movie are vertical box magazines.
Hollywood" accuracy" aside, these BTD guns were 25% off, so I couldn't pass them up. They arrived surprisingly fast too - only about 3 days after I ordered them from Texas.
Perry makes some nice Gatling Guns too, but they are a bit more expensive, and I wasn't too stuck on high-quality as the OG figures are a bit crude anyway. They were painted up very quickly and given a Minwax stain, followed by a finish of Testors Dullcote.
Although Black Powder would work very well for this period, I don't have too many figures, so plan on trying Bolt Action for it. There will be about 12 units per side - which is how many dice I have for each side. More to follow on this.
Interestingly, two Gatling Guns were used by Tokugawa forces against Imperial troops at the
Battle of Hokuetsu in 1868. The guns had been purchased from Prussian businessmen by the Daimyo of Nagaoka, Makino Tadakuni. These can also be used against my Choson Korean guys for the
Donghak Peasant Revolution in 1894-95.
Nifty conversion work! What will you be using for a Tom Cruise figure?
ReplyDeleteI will be watching this project with great interest.
Thanks, Jonathan! Eventually I may get an ACW figure for an Algren, but for this scenario, based on the final battle scene old Tom will be a Perry samurai ;) Best, Dean
DeleteNice work Dean! It's something you don't see every day, and quite a fascinating period in many ways. Interested to hear how this plays out.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Paul. Although the movie is a very fictionalized version of events, it does pay tribute to historical personages fairly nicely IMO. Best, Dean
DeleteAlways liked this movie, very sad ending final battle... 'I will miss our conversations'!
ReplyDeleteScott:
DeleteThe actual "Last Samurai," Saigo Takamori, met his end at the Battle of Shiroyama in 1877, in a far less "glamorous" end. His small band of loyal samurai facing overwhelming Imperial forces on the sides of a mountain. He died either by committing seppuku or succumbing to bullet wounds. An heroic figure nonetheless - and eventually pardoned posthumously by the emperor. Best Regards, Dean
Impressive work as always, Dean!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Aaron. Regards, Dean
DeleteVery nice job Dean...and Gatlin guns are so useful on a table!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Phil. Since I didn't want to paint up more rifle armed Imperial troops, figured a couple of Gatling Guns would have the same - or possibly more - fire power against the more numerous samurai and ashigaru troops. Best, Dean
DeleteThats is great work! cool Little models :)
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the visit and nice words. Warm regards, Dean
DeleteYou know I've never thought of head swaps with lead figures before now. After seeing what a superb job you've made of these I can see they work a treat. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteI'll be watching closely for a Bolt Action Batrep in the near future.
I use a hobby saw, and then use a pin vise drill and brass rod to secure the head. The last step is optional, but give a sturdy connection. Best, Dean
DeleteI like those- most unusual!
ReplyDeleteThank you much, Simon. If it hadn't been for the movie, I'd likely never get these guns, but glad I did. Best, Dean
DeleteGreat gattling guns and crew Dean!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mike! Appreciate the visit and comments. Regards, Dean
DeleteGreat period!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is, Jose! Especially with your excellent range sculpted by Paul Hicks. I think I may watch Band of Assassins (Shinsengumi) again :)! Regards Dean
DeleteAstounding work on the guns - the metal details look crisp and clear!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Soren. I appreciate your kind words - the staining really helped to define a lot of the details. Regards, Dean
DeleteDean, you beat me to them! The same Black Tree gatling has been sitting patiently waiting for me to do the same conversion work BUT it would mean painting the samurai (the movie version style?)...ugg...AND trying to figure out the uniform/maufacturer/conversions to use AND relatedly whether historical OR movie version?
ReplyDeleteI may just follow your lead! :-)))
Good job,
DougH
Thanks Doug! You could always one-up me on the guns by giving them the Hollywood "correct" box magazines. For troops, I'm sticking with the movie version - far more interesting and aesthetically pleasing. You wouldn't want to see samurai in Western garb toting Western firearms now would you? Leave that sacrilegious stuff for the lowly conscripted peasants :) Warm Regards, Dean
DeleteVery nicely done! I really need to do some Gatling guns someday!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thanks, Christopher. Besides these from BTD, I think the Perry ones are really nice too. Best, Dean
DeleteSuperb job Dean. The guns metal work stands out really nicely.
ReplyDelete