Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: OB on February 21, 2020, 10:48:07 AM
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I’m pretty much ready to make a proper start on my Greek War of Independence project. By which I mean I’ve got the first two units done. As I’m working with 15mm I realise I’m going to have to do some conversions. Fortunately, most of them will be fairly simple. I’ll post them here as I go.
I hoping that people who know the GWI well can help me with information as I have drawn a blank so far.
What was the composition of Ibrahim Pasha’s expedition? I know he had French trained Egyptian regulars who seemed to have performed well. He also seems to have had some Arab troops, were they Bedouin? Some contemporary paintings seem to indicate they were. I’m not sure if that was artistic license or not? Any information will be gratefully received.
I’m also wondering how to rate the various units on both sides. I’ll be using Rebels and Patriots so it’s a question of fitting forces into prescribed categories. As an example, I could characterise the Maniotes as Aggressive, Veteran, Skirmishers. Any information on the morale and capabilities of any of the troops involved in the GWI will be most welcome.
No doubt I will have many more questions.
Thanks in advance for any assistance. Here’s my first conversion based on one of the women fighters shown in the well-known painting of the Siege of Missolonghi.
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Great idea for a project. Not a war I know anything about really, but I'll follow with interest.
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I'm still assimilating info' at the moment and hopefully learning as I go. I've got or have ordered most of the figures and I'll post the first couple of units shortly. The Philhellenes are going to be an eclectic looking bunch.
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My first unit of Egyptian regulars. Nice figures from Minifigs 15mm Napoleonic range. I've read that they made a poor impression on the Greeks when the first arrived. Apparently they were thought to be over skinny and many of them had lost an eye to disease. As it turned out they proved to be good soldiers well trained in modern methods and disciplined in combat. I'll field them as Line Infantry in Rebels and Patriots.
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I'm looking forward to more of your work on this subject.
Thank you for sharing!
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You're welcome Jeffrey. I think I'm going to do the Ottoman units first as painting the Greeks is going to take longer to get the look I want.
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I'm reading diverse descriptions of Greek regulars. Sometimes they appear to have worn a black fez adorned with the skull and cross bones motif. Other times they appear to have worn a classical helmet of standard Napoleonic type. In the end I went with something to match Steve Barber's Greek regular sculpt and I followed his uniform details too.
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Lovely ! I find this war interesting, but will try it in Steve Barber's 28mm. Please keep up the posting: every picture is inspiring !
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Thanks, I'll post more soon. The Steve Barber figures are lovely.
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I'm making steady progress now.
Another unit of Egyptian regulars in a slightly different uniform and three conversions for Greek mounted fighters.
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A unit of Ottoman irregulars. I used a couple of these as fighting Greek Priests with a simple black paint conversion-it worked well enough. They are more flamboyant as provincial Sekhans.
I'm just about ready to start on the Greeks. This means converting some Minifigs into Maniotes. It's hard to resist doing the Maniotes. The lived extensively by brigandage and piracy and had resisted foreign authority since the days of the Crusades. When Ibrahim Pasha threatened to invade their peninsular with 7,000 troops they sent a reply.
"From the few Greeks of Mani and the rest of Greeks who live there to Ibrahim Pasha. We received your letter in which you try to frighten us saying that if we don't surrender, you'll kill the Maniots and plunder Mani. That's why we are waiting for you and your army. We, the inhabitants of Mani, sign and await you."
They hammered Ibrahim's army. The conversion will mean adding long hair, sashes and swords. Luckily for me Ancient and Modern Miniatures do 15mm curved swords and I've ordered some.
Anyhow, here are the Provincial Sekhans.
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These are gorgeous 15mm, as one of the original commissioners of the Steve Barber range...for anyone interested in 28mm I would also suggest looking at Matchlock miniatures as this has useful figs
http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/Catalogue.aspx?ScaleID=14&CategoryID=36&SubCategoryID=328
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Thanks Shipka, they are a pleasure to paint. I didn't know about the Matchlock line they look pretty good too.
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I've identified some figures for the Philhellenes and made a start on the Greeks. The latter are coming up nicely though it's pains taking work to get the right effect. One more unit of Egyptian regulars and the Turks are done, horse, foot and gun.
Fitting what I've got into Rebels and Patriots troop types is going to be interesting. I'll have suck it and see as I can claim no great expertise.
Meantime here are some Turkish skirmishers.
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Here is shown the number of Philhellenes that took part by country.
Sorry, it is in Greek, but it is a document from the Encyclopedia of the History of the Hellenic Nation
The first column, how many took part. The second, how many of them died.
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Italian colonel Andrea Dania, Philhellene commander at the disastrous battle of Peta.
Philhellenes could be wearing whatever you may imagine, partly uniform items, headgear or insignia of their mother country, part civilian dress. Depicting them with some fixed formal uniform could be wrong...
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Yes, I think that too. The round cap shown there seems to have been popular.
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The first of the Greeks.
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Nice movement and you caught the dress colors! Keep them coming!
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Thanks Din. Here are some more.
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In order to create a bit more variety among my Greeks I'm doing some minor conversions. Mainly this means adding sashes,swords,sleeves and hair with the odd tassel here and there.
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You are doing an enviable job, I like your conversions!
Should be good if you decide to present Philhellenes, to mass them in separate units.
You could field a leader of them from the Napoleonic range wearing some winter dress. Cape or manteaux.
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Looking good... you'll be all set for the bicentenary next year! :D
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Thank you both. Yes, I will do the Philhellenes in a separate unit. I'm currently assembling the figures.
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One of the most famous battles was Dervenakia, where the Dramali Pasha's expedition met a disaster.
Out of the army of more than 23,000 with which he entered the Morea, barely 6,000 had survived.
The extent of the Ottoman defeat became proverbial in Greece, where a great defeat is still referred to as a "καταστροφή του Δράμαλη", i.e. "Dramali's disaster".
The Revolution was saved in 1822 due to the strategic mind of Theodore Kolokotronis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expedition_of_Dramali
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Thanks for that Din. I have a Crimean Russian officer that I think I can convert into a model of Andrea Dania.
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The Battle of Maniaki was fought on May 20, 1825 in Maniaki, Peloponnisos, Greece between Ottoman Egyptian forces led by Ibrahim Pasha and Greek forces led by Papaflessas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Maniaki
1971 movie "Papaflessas", a decent production and a quite good presentation of Papaflessa's last stand at Maniaki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9fHhmUe2EE&t=453s
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The Peta monument, where Andrea Dania fell. Battle of Peta 4/7/1822
The disastrous battle of Peta, where many Philhellenes were lost
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Peta
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Alexander Ypsilantis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Ypsilantis
Sacred Band 1821
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Band_(1821)
Battle of Dragashani
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dragashani
Alexander Ypsilantis crosses the Pruth
Sacred Band at the battle of Dragashani
So, the black dress in mirliton, quite similar with the Brunswick uniforms is associated with the volunteers of the Sacred Band who never fought in mainland Greece, they fought in an uprising in Wallachia, a prelude to the GWI and were dissolved after the disastrous battle of Dragashani.
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Today we complete the 199th Anniversary from the day of the GWI.
I would like to mention some important personalities and battles that influenced the Revolution
Ioannis Kapodistrias
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ioannis_Kapodistrias
Theodoros Kolokotronis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodoros_Kolokotronis
Yannis Makriyiannis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yannis_Makriyannis
Georgios Karaiskakis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgios_Karaiskakis
Odysseas Androutsos
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseas_Androutsos
Battle of Gravia Inn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gravia_Inn
Athanasios Diakos
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasios_Diakos
Battle of Alamana
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Alamana
Nikitaras
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikitaras
Third Siege of Missolonghi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Siege_of_Missolonghi
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Naval warfare
Constantine Kanaris
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_Kanaris
Andreas Miaoulis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Miaoulis
Laskarina Bouboulina
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laskarina_Bouboulina
Battle of Navarino
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Navarino
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The Grek Indpendence Day! Theodoros Kolokotronis
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Great stuff! Thank you both. I'm currently working on a conversion of Theodorus Kolokotronis along with some others. I should have pics to post in a couple of days.
In the meantime I have finished Ibrahim Pasha's army you will shortly see a post elsewhere on this board.
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I've been working away on the Greek conversions. I think they are coming together quite nicely.
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Greek warrior headgear:
Red fez, small or bigger. Sometimes a turban wrapped around.
In some places you could see them wearing a black bandana.
Wearing a white fez would be rather unusual.
White fezzes could be probably worn by Albanian warriors.
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That's helpful and easy to put right.
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Talking about the black bandana headdress, which was met in some areas as Northern and Central Greece, here is the movie
"Exodus 1826" where you may have an additional study on Greek warrior dress.
Most of the people featuring are amateur reenactors who cared for the authenticity of their dress.
It is the story of 120 men from Samarina, Grevena, Northern Greece, who went to help the besieged in Messolonghi.
The movie is based on a popular folk song, sung until nowadays, "The children of Samarina"
Edit: As I inserted the link, I noticed that the creator has forbidden the reproduction of the movie to other sites, so you will have to go to YouTube and search for
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=IribvK5TvrI
(broke it in two, cause it can't be played here, sorry)
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That's a great film. I saw it once before and it was pretty much the inspiration for this project.
My representation of Theodorus Kolokotronis is coming along.
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That's a great film. I saw it once before and it was pretty much the inspiration for this project.
My representation of Theodorus Kolokotronis is coming along.
I'm glad you have seen it! A production with poor means, but came out very well and conveyed the meaning of the famous popular song!
Kolokotronis is a very nice try! I appreciate your efforts to convert figures to GWI warriors, congrats!
One little point: His ornamental epaulettes look very bulky, they should be smaller and from thin etched metal.
Might look pedantic my sticking in little details, forgive me!
If it is not too late, you could replace the putty epaulettes with a smaller piece of tin foil (slightly etched at the back with the tip of a pencil)
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Kolokotroni's helmet, National Historical Museum
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Items belonging to Theodoros Kolokotronis
Here we can see the epaulettes as well.
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I'll try the tin foil. It's an interesting idea. Thanks for posting the pics. I've completed a few more conversions.
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They look very good! Congratulations!
Keep them coming!
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I have 12 of your late friend's Greek figures that I will paint in black and white as shown in your pic above. Then I'll be waiting for some more figures from Naismith to arrive.
The project is coming together nicely and your help is much appreciated.
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I have 12 of your late friend's Greek figures that I will paint in black and white as shown in your pic above. Then I'll be waiting for some more figures from Naismith to arrive.
The project is coming together nicely and your help is much appreciated.
I'm really happy to hear that!
I will be only too glad to answer any question!
Keep up the good job!
Cheers!
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I think the simple black and white costume works well with these figures. Once complete they will form 2 units of good quality skirmishers-6 figures in a unit.
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Nice they are! I like them! Good job!
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I'm pleased you like them. I wanted to do them justice. One more unit to do and I can post a complete Greek side for Rebels and Patriots.
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Perfect! Eagerly waiting to admire your work! Cheers!
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I've finished the last of the figures made by Spyros. They make a nice unit, or two of skirmishers as the case may be. The last of the Minifigs have been converted. Not too much more to do before I can post the whole force.
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They look the part! I continue following this project with great interest! Cheers!