Miniatures News

British infantry shoulder arms + banjo

Posted by marc zijp on 06 Mar 2019, 21:58

Strelets British infantry standing shoulder arms.
Can’t make out what one is carrying on his right shoulder, other than a banjo? :eh:

http://www.strelets-r.com/Pages/Set.aspx?SetID=333&M=M
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Posted by Beano Boy on 06 Mar 2019, 23:06

Real nice looking stout fellows to be sure.BB
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Posted by Graeme on 07 Mar 2019, 01:41

It certainly looks like a banjo, unless he's carrying around a bedwarming pan or a giant bath brush.
To be plausible I think you'd need to paint this figure as a West Indian. Wikipedia says the first white banjo player was Robert Mcalpin Williamson, born about 1804 (link below). That the banjo was first played on stage in the 1830's, and that the instrument was introduced to Britain by a minstrel group in the 1840's. But it was a Carribean slave instrument dating back to the 17th Century.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McAlpin_Williamson

I think a feature that identifies a figure as being a West Indian recruit is pretty cool, even if it's not wholly accurate.

Banjo aside, these are very nice looking figures. Standing figures are notr my favourite thing but still, verry nice and usable.
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Graeme  Australia
 
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Posted by Graeme on 07 Mar 2019, 02:15

Portugese Banza??? (but I can't find any information on these):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banjo#/media/File:Manuel%2BMoreira.jpg
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Posted by Ochoin on 07 Mar 2019, 02:24

Clearly either a large fly swatter or perhaps a target.

if the former, you must realise how many flies there are in the Peninsular.

If the latter, used for target practice whilst marching. This makes the chap carrying it easily the most unpopular member of the unit.

donald
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Ochoin  Scotland
 
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Posted by Susofrick on 07 Mar 2019, 11:34

I prefer the banjo-version. :-D Still regret that I sold mine.
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Posted by Bluefalchion on 07 Mar 2019, 15:24

It definitely looks like a banjo. For those men and all involved in military, even in the hottest war time, there is a great deal of waiting around. A chap who could entertain the platoon with a little ditty or five would likely be a popular man indeed.
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Bluefalchion  United States of America
 
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Posted by marc zijp on 07 Mar 2019, 17:48

And with four of them in one set they can form a band.
Like the Weavers and sing Pete Seeger songs.
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Posted by vellek on 07 Mar 2019, 17:55

Happy to see Strelets produce these with the shoulder-tufts of a centre company.
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Posted by Paul on 07 Mar 2019, 21:03

Image
Image
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Posted by FredG on 07 Mar 2019, 21:54

Image

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