Howitzers and Elephants

[Ignatieff]

Does anyone know if any manufacturer produces 28mm models of the British 3.7" howitzer (1919) or the WWI 4.5" model?

Also, does anyone produce Elephants in the same scale capable of pulling late 19th century field guns (and by the way who does these as well)?

Thanks in advance

[argsilverson]

Does anyone know if any manufacturer produces 28mm models of the British 3.7" howitzer (1919) or the WWI 4.5" model?

Also, does anyone produce Elephants in the same scale capable of pulling late 19th century field guns (and by the way who does these as well)?

Thanks in advance

1.- I don't know
2.- Foundry (I think) used to have one. Is not listed in their website and I do not remember anyone else doing this.
Anyhow, I think it is easy to convert some elephant with mahout to pull a late 19th c. gun.
BTW Foundry has an elephant used as troop carrier with seated figures. This could also be used as a conversion basis, while some seated figures might be used -converted- as seated artillerists!

[argsilverson]

I was right.
Foundry has one:

Here is the link:
http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/INDIA/6/index.asp

(it is in their Indian range.)
Although a little early for the period you ask, I think it is a simple conversion, by adding the proper limber and gun!

Ah, and you can use the elephant with howdah in the same page as an alternative trop carrier.
BTW, since I have a (slight) idea on where you will use it, please [although I am not in any way an expert in animal physiology] note:
.- elephants are very slow walking. Oxen driven artillery/wagons might match their speed. So, a man on foot can accompany them at ease step.
.- elephants are tropical beasts and like warm weather. I believe that they cannot easily survive at the cold and high altitudes and thin air of The High Pamirs. And they need lots of fodder! Yes hannibal crossed the Alps with elephants, but I think with great loss.
The heights that Hannibal crossed the Alps are much lower than any of the Pamirs!
[see also the link abot Hannibal crossing the  Alps:
http://www.livius.org/ha-hd/hannibal/alps.html  ]

maybe mule driven artillery (the Indian army mountain gun by brigade games might be a better choice??)

Or change the animals: use bactrian camels or Yaks!!! (convert the bactrian camels or yaks produced by Copplestone or Irregular miniatures to carry your Indian Army mountain gun.)!

[Ignatieff]

Fantastic Argsilverson!  Many thanks


Now just got to find those guns.........

[Emir of Askaristan]

Battlehonours do a howitzer with an Indian crew in their WW1 range with both spoked and tyred wheels.

I'm not sure if this is the exact model, but its the correct period. If you cant find a pic let me know and I'll pm one to you.

[Hammers]

I guess you know of the HLBSC howitzer...?

Ebob makes a Indian elephant, very nice one, which converts easily to a hauling animal.

[argsilverson]

Battlehonours do a howitzer with an Indian crew in their WW1 range with both spoked and tyred wheels.

I'm not sure if this is the exact model, but its the correct period. If you cant find a pic let me know and I'll pm one to you.

if you can find it use the spoke wheels. rubber will brittle at very low temperatures like tose of high pamirs at night!

[argsilverson]

Ignatieff,

here is a link that might be used as inspiration:

http://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/charasiab.htm

You must check all links about the Afghan wars. Lots of elephant driven guns, camel driven  supply trains and uniforms in colour
(earlier than BoB but very inspirational!)

[Ignatieff]

Great suggestions all guys, many thanks!  Does anyone have a link for the battlehonours site?  Google is throwing up a blank

[sukhe_bator]

Although I agree elephant-hauled artillery would be a rather cool modelling project, for all the logistical and operational reasons cited above, you'd be much better off with a 3.7" hwz. hauled by pack mules/camels/yaks. I came to the same conclusion and included it as an option for my (15mm) Chinese BoB. This is the best I came up with using a combination of Screw Gun & mule team, 3.7" hwz from a WWII range (substituted with spoked wheels - although I understand some Br. 3.7" QFs in Burma had spoked wheels), and Irregular/Peter Pig Russian/Chinese gun crew. You may well find it easier to create in 28mm

[Plynkes]

You have to get Battle Honors from Old Glory 15s now. The old UK Battle Honors source no longer exists.

http://oldglory15s.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=1_221_706&sort=3a

[sukhe_bator]

Alternatively you could soup up a camel like this...
http://media.photobucket.com/image/camel%20gun/TheCamelDS/CE%20Username%20Pics/Camel-Gun--3344.jpg?o=1

[Ignatieff]

Alternatively you could soup up a camel like this...
http://media.photobucket.com/image/camel%20gun/TheCamelDS/CE%20Username%20Pics/Camel-Gun--3344.jpg?o=1

Brilliant!!!  I can see whole regiments sweeping down on unsuspecting Ferenghi!

Sadly not quite right for 192? though..... I am going to have the Afghans pulling some old late 19th century field guns (Foundry Franco prussian war models look nice), with the Brits and others with howitzers.  Come to think of it, I'll need some Afghan regulars from the time of the 3rd Afghan war (1919).  They wore khaki with a black lambskin cap.  Anybody know if any reputable figure manufacturer does these?

[Will Bailie]

Just to throw a couple more options into the mix:

Rafm has an elephant rigged to transport a Gatling gun:
http://www.rafm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RAF&Product_Code=RAF1824&Category_Code=S1889

Should be a good start point for converting to a howitzer transport.

Brigade Games and Askari Miniatures both have mule trains for mountain guns:
http://www.askari-minis.com/webstore/index.php?cPath=23_49
http://www.brigadegames.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=BG-WIAB40&Category_Code=BGHMGWIA&Product_Count=17

Those last two aren't exactly what you asked for (Brigade's gun is the 2.75", and Askari guns are French and Italian), but they could be a basis for conversion if you follow Sukhe Bator's recommendation.

w

[Plynkes]

Tiger Miniatures do Afghan regulars, without specifying an exact time period for them. The uniform at the time of the Third Afghan war isn't a million miles from what it was in the Victorian period.

My sources say they should have puttees in 1919 but I fear these are as close as you are going to get...

http://www.tigerminiatures.co.uk/page9.htm