28mm Wargames Atlantic Great War Brits assembled and ready for paint

[anton ryzbak]

It took a while but I finally got these guys off the sprue and assembled and ready to paint. As so often happens I fell victim to my habit of modifying the minis (it's just soooo easy with plastics) which means this took a while to get finished. I do like them as they are all individuals, I just have to hope that my painting skills will do them justice. More here  https://antonswargame.blogspot.com/2023/11/wargames-atlanric-28mm-great-war.html

[carlos marighela]

Very nice and good to see what can be done with these. Minor point, the 'Hotchkiss' guns are actually Lewis guns.

[anton ryzbak]

Right that, it will be fixed (what was I thinking?)

[monk2002uk]

May have been thinking about the British cavalry, who used Hotchkiss automatic rifles rather than Lewis guns.

Robert

[fred]

Great stuff - and good work on depicting the distinct roles of British late war infantry.

[Baron von Wreckedoften]

Looking good - eager to see how these turn out. 

If you are interested in equipping your chaps with appropriate rifles for the rifle grenadier section, the Perry 8th Army box has at least three SMLEs - one per sprue, but you actually need four - with the cup at the end of the barrel.  These rifles also come without any hands attached so can be inserted into any of the "open hand" options.  Obviously that's a lot of expense to go to just for three rifles, but most folk I know with WW2 Perry 8th Army collections don't actually use them (or, indeed, often know what they are supposed to be!) so if you put a call out on here in the "Wanted" section of the Bazaar page, you may get enough.  Come to think of it, I might actually have some lying around myself......

[anton ryzbak]

Baron von Wreckedoften,  As I am painting these minis right now it occurred to me that my scratchbuilt launcher cups were probably too small. I was contemplating enlarging them. However, if you have rifles already so equipped I would greatly appreciate it if you would so kind as to send them to me. The situation isn't helped by the large number of grenades, and launchers, that the Brits had for launching from a rifle (somewhere in the mid-twenties, IIRC). Please contact me at daftrica89 @ yahoo.com

[carlos marighela]

I made some EY dischargers for my WW2 Australians by simply adding a bit of appropriately sized plastic rod to the end. In reality the cup attached to the bayonet boss on the rifle.

I suspect that by the end of the war these were the predominate type of grenade discharger. If you model these, it's worth noting that they usually had copper wire wound around the fore stock to help prevent barrel burst (the rifles themselves had worn out rifling and were fit only as grenade launchers). They were intended to be fired with the butt resting on the ground and the rifle inverted some that the trigger group was facing upwards.

[Baron von Wreckedoften]

Yes, why was the rifle "inverted" for grenade use?

[Baron von Wreckedoften]

Baron von Wreckedoften,  As I am painting these minis right now it occurred to me that my scratchbuilt launcher cups were probably too small. I was contemplating enlarging them. However, if you have rifles already so equipped I would greatly appreciate it if you would so kind as to send them to me. The situation isn't helped by the large number of grenades, and launchers, that the Brits had for launching from a rifle (somewhere in the mid-twenties, IIRC). Please contact me at daftrica89 @ yahoo.com

Anton - email sent.

[carlos marighela]

Yes, why was the rifle "inverted" for grenade use?

Presumably because it was easier to access the trigger with the butt on the ground.

[Dubar]

Yes, why was the rifle "inverted" for grenade use?

I found this explanation (4 minute mark):

[carlos marighela]

That makes sense.

Alas, not every bugger got the memo. (Yes, I know it's a different grenade but it's the same principle)

[Baron von Wreckedoften]

Dubar - thanks very much for that.  Perfect explanation.

Carlos - Yes, there's always one guy who just has to be different, isn't there?

[Basementboy]

He certainly looks very comfy, though