Black Army - First THREE Sculpts for 1933: A Nation Divided!

[commissarmoody]

Nice, a 1903 would look just fine.

[section 8]

Great looking miniatures! It seems to me that the guy on the right has a rather large hat when compared to the picture it is based on. Also, what's the deal with the French helmet?

[commissarmoody]

There were lots of Adrian helmets in production and use in the interwar period, and its to separate them from regular government troops. I am sure I will convert a few with the 1917 helmet myself when I get them.

[Arlequín]

Also - FYI, we've asked to have the militia woman's rifle changed to more closely resemble a 1903 Springfield.  Will post new pics as soon as we get them!

I'm no expert, but it's almost certainly likely to be the most common military bolt-action rifle in the States at that time. Obviously the original inspiration for the figure wields a artistic representation of a Mauser... but then being Spanish she would.

Look forwards to seeing it.  

Also, what's the deal with the French helmet?

I can't speak for the designers, but think about it. If you have both sides in the same helmet, it gives the same silhouette, so your 'friendly fire' casualties become an issue (for both sides). In the SCW the Nationalists stuck with the 'Spanish' helmet, or Italian ones, while the Republicans imported many of theirs, although still used some domestic ones. Mexico used the Adrian helmet, so it's not like Americans had to bring them any major distance, or lacked the means to make their own copies. Spain went as far afield as Czechoslovakia for theirs.

[commissarmoody]

Comrade! The 1917 is the helmet of the nationalist, do not wear it for you might be mistaken for one of there number. 

[commissarmoody]

And some updates from the kick starter, There is a write up about the USMC. A Report on the battle of Sleepy hallow and a small Q&A about the Greens.
Also...from Alex
1. Krag-Jorgensen rifles were manufactured and purchased in huge numbers by the US. They remained in the arsenals of most National Guard units at least through 1941, at which point 1903 Springfields began to replace them, being themselves replaced with Regular Army and Marine units with M1 Garands. The Norwegian Army, of course, was also using them throughout the period.  With a huge surplus of ammunition and weapons designed to fire that ammunition (the Marlin and Colt-Browning Machine gun, for example), they represent a cheap, easily attainable source of modern firepower. (More mechanically reliable and with a faster rate of fire than the standard German Army KAR98 at the time, incidentally.)

2. Adrian helmets, same deal. Huge surplus, produced in the hundreds of thousands, shipped to virtually every continent. Available to Police and FIremen in the United States immediately after the Great War, used by several State Militia units. Easier and cheaper to produce than "Brodie" style helmets.

3. The United States Army stopped using Forage Caps in 1870. There would be no logical way to include them without attempting to explain an attempt to harken back to the Civil War of the 1860s, which is not our intent.

Keep in mind that the Minutemen and their Sons of Liberty were a Paramilitary Organization with a limited budget and a reliance upon purchasing surplus equipment anywhere it could be acquired. These are not regular US Army troops (indeed, the US Army had such a shortage of weapons upon expansion in the late 1930s that they were actually training with wooden dummy weapons.)
Future sculpts will include more variation - civilian headgear, ammo bandoliers, crusher caps, etc.

And to Mr. Section 8 The Militiaman is wearing an appropriately sized "Pork Pie" hat of the era.

[Mina]

Here she is - rifle's been redone!

[commissarmoody]

nicely done.

[Arlequín]

Here she is - rifle's been redone!

That really is so much better... I felt fairly petty mentioning it in the first place, but it seems worth it now.  

While I think on, Lluis of Minairons is after suggestions for decals, to fill up the sheet coming with the M1 Armoured Car they are producing... so if you have any specific requests for '1933' factions, now's the time to speak up on that thread!

 

[commissarmoody]

I think I might just do that. So US army crossed rifles for infantry and sabers for cavalry. The Gear and sickle of the American communist. A red L for lindys legion in a  typeface similar to the present-day Rockwell Extra Bold. A bundle of sticks with an Axe. I would say skull and cross bones for the black legion but I think that is already covered.
Not sure what to use for the constitutionalist Maybe the torch of liberty in a sold color, or make it into a roundel with the torch in the center. Also Maybe the tree of liberty. A coiled snake with "Don't tread on me" underneath it.

[Mahanfan]

I'd go with the torch symbolism; it's (somewhat) less complicated than the Gadsden flag. 

[commissarmoody]

Sounds good then

[bob and his dog]

Really great looking figures.    I look forward to seeing the standard pose for the rest of the female figures.  I cannot imagine an entire unit in that pose, but she makes a great leader or standard bearer.  The rifle is spot on now, thanks to the reader who spoke up on it.  Good to see that she has ammo pouches as many designers forget that touch.  Besides ammo, where is a girl expected to keep her lipstick and female items.

The lead pipe man can be converted to a standard bearer, but again I cannot see a whole unit in this pose.  The poor guy should at least get a pistol tucked in his belt.  Well, that is an easy after purchase addition.  I assume there will be a set of "engineer" types for anti-tank work.

Looking forward to more of this new range for my VBCW collection.  Keep up the good work

[commissarmoody]

Don't worry bob, these are just the test sculpts to get the feel for the units. There will be more and varied poses and if this really kicks off. There will be more factions and support weapons and units.