Mexican Revolution - Odds & Ends

[Major Weenie]

First, 3 Federales.  The one on the left is a Brigade Games 1914 French Chasseur, with the puttees covered up in a mixture of thinned down vinyl wall patching compound. The close up photograph reveals this to be a less than successful method of creating long trousers.  The 3 figures on the right are Copplestone Chinese from the BOB line.  In this case the puttees were coverd up with automobile glazing putty.  This seems to work better than the vinyl stuff, but we'll see how long it lasts through repeated gaming.


Now, 2 downtrodden farmers, with Mauser rifles.  A pair of Old Glory 'Civilian Bystanders' with things cut out of their hands - I think it was a bucket and.... ?? a bag of cigars ?? - and given some delightful Mausers that I acquired from Australia.


A photo of a US National Guard armored car, circa 1914.  Here on the forum I read an entry about unique armored vehicles, and remember that I had this photo.  The National Guard was sent to patrol the US/Mexico border in 1914.  All the units were pretty much standard infantry, but some of the New York state units were composed of some pretty affluent, indeed toffee-nosed, members. So they started purchasing their own equipment.  This was a Mack Truck enhanced with steel plates.  I believe that the machine guns can only fire off to the sides, and not directy ahead.


A photo of 'The Ochoaplane.'  Victor Ochoa was a Mexican American revolutionary who participated in one of the first efforts to topple President Porifirio Diaz in 1893.  For his trouble the US government decided to keep him as a guest in federal prison until 1897.  After that he began inventing things, but was never quite able to acquire a patent on his aircraft design.  The plan was to create a portable ornithoper, that could be parked in the owners garage.  Ochoa scheduled several public test flights, but was never able to get the thing off the ground.  I believe that this model is from 1909.   Subsequent versions became heavier, eventually reaching 800 pounds.  Looks like a scratch building project for someone.

[Geudens]

Looks like a scratch building project for someone.

What's holding you back, my friend?

Rudi 

[Saya]

Nice figures!!!! and very interesting proyect!!!!!