A Peter Laing Coronation Parade

 The coronation of King Charles  calls for a parade of Peter Laing Victorian Parade figures as a tribute to this historic  event.

The cavalry decides to make a grand entrance!

I only need about 6,900 more figures to do it right.

An Unexpected Christmas Gift from Ian Dury

   I took a week's vacation to keep an eye on my wife; this being the first Christmas that she wasn't able to spend with her mother, after her mother's passing. We have been keeping busy cleaning years of junk from the basement. 

   We returned from a dump run, and checking the mail, found a small package from England. As I haven't bought anything from overseas in several months, I was somewhat confused. However, reading the return address found that it was from Ian Dury, who for the last several years always sends me a Christmas card.

   Once inside, I found his Christmas card (by the way, the BEST Christmas card we got this year), and two Peter Laing "coach outriders" from the Queen Victoria's coach.  In my post about buying the lot that I got the coach in, I mentioned that there was two lots that had Peter Laing Victorian Parade figures, but that I  could only afford one. I chose the lot with infantry and bands. It turned out that Ian won the other lot; which is good to know. Ian is one person who seems to know Peter Laing figures and have answered most of my questions about the figures.

   Ian told me that they were figures that he would never use them, as his coach belongs to the Emperor Wilhelm I! I am hoping they will inspire me to get out the Victorian figures and get a game in soon.

   Once again, I wish to thank Ian for his kindness. I wonder how many other hobbies have such generous members.  Hopefully I can  do the same for him, or other members of the hobby.

The coach with the new outriders. By the way, the "new" blog  page generator is terrible, especially for posting the photographs. They never appear in the order I want them in.

The Outriders, generously given to me by Ian. By the way, this was to be the first picture.

"New" Peter Laing Victorian Figures

    I have been trying to stay away from Ebay with my current shortage of cash. However, I just happened to look one day, only to notice a lot of Peter Laing Victorian Parade mounted band figures. I must admit, I wanted to bid right away on them. I looked at the seller's other items and saw another lot. This particular lot had a large number of Napoleonic 1st generation Minifigs, with Peter Laing figures mixed in. There was also a Peter Laing carriage with a general figure and female figure in a yellow dress. I assumed that this was the carriage that went with the Victorian Parade line. It seemed that it was missing the Queen Victoria figure. On closer examination, I noticed some Peter Laing musicians in the mix.
   I found myself in a difficult situation; the auction was almost over and had to decide wither to bid on the lots. I realized that I couldn't bid on both; the foot figures would be more useful to me.  I decided to bid on the foot figures. I bidded on them, only to be outbid. I was going to give up as the price was more than I could afford. At the last minute, I did rise my bid, and to my surprise won. One problem with collecting out of production figures is you can wait years to find figures you want, and if you don't buy them when you get the chance, you can find yourself waiting more years for another opportunity.

The Royal Coach with Queen Victoria. It is missing one wheel, but I do have extra wheels that should fit.

The lot of foot figures.

There were enough regular infantry for 4 units  in my Little Wars Army, along with two Guards flag bearers. The regulars will now bring my Brigade of regulars up to 6 infantry units.

Close up of the Regular infantry figures.

The Highland band.

The Regulars band.

Close up of the Regular band.

The New Peter Laing "Little Wars" Army

       With the recent infusion of Peter Laing Victorian Parade Highlanders and Guards, I have come to the realization that I no longer really need to use my home cast infantry figures for my current wargames. I found that I can now form at least 3 Peter Laing Little War legions. Both the Guards and Highlanders will be able to muster 6 infantry units, with attached cavalry and artillery. Currently my "Regular Infantry" will consist of 2 infantry units and 1 sapper unit.  Thus, my home casts will be put into reserves.
    I do have several single Victorian Parade figures. Among them are a single Rifles Officer  and Rifles Bugler figure. I am thinking of using these figures the same way Sharpe is used in the Sharpe's series of books; having him take command of regulars for special missions.

4 Guards and 3 Highlander units, along with the Colonel of the Guards and bicycle unit.

The Colonel of the Highlanders receiving new paint.

1 unit of Guards, among with the 2 units of regulars and unit of sappers.

New Peter Laing Victorian Parade Figures; A Tale of Two Extremes

    A couple of posts ago I wrote of working on my Peter Laing "Little Wars" army. In the comments Derek Moore made an offer I could not refuse. He wrote that he had Peter Laing Victorian Parade Guards and Highlanders that he would send me. I sent him a couple of emails to try to set up the details. I didn't hear back from him, and I'm wasn't even sure if I was sending the emails to where he would get them.  When someone makes kind offers like this to me, I will try to contact them a couple of times. If I don't hear back, I will back off; I don't want to start harassing people when they are just trying to help me. I then suddenly had a burst of interest in "Backyard Wars", and put "Little Wars" on the back burner.

   This Thursday before going to work, I started work on a second mold for Backyard Wars. I intended to finish the mold after work. When I get home from work, I only have time to grab the mail, and when I walk through the door, my dog starts his jumping on me to go out and play. He gives me just enough time to put my keys and lunchbox down, then expects to go out to play ball.
This day when I got the mail, I noticed a small parcel from the UK. As I only was expecting a package from the USA, I was confused, until I saw the customs declaration label with Derek Moore's signature on it! I put the parcel down, with the intention of opening it after playing with the dog. I found myself so excited I violated one of my rules; opening a package outside. As I have really wanted some Peter Laing Victorian Guards, I wasn't disappointed  with the figures. First I saw two bags of figures; Guards marching and Highlanders advancing. There were several bundles of paper towels. In the paper towels, there were probably the best painted Peter Laings I have seen; definitely the best painted figures in my collection.

  For the painted figures, I will use them as painted. To destroy such fine figures would be a crime. Unfortunately, the unpainted figures are doomed to be painted by me! And that means the basic "toy soldier" paint job. I have already painted one unit of Guards, which you can see below.

I want to thank Derek once again for his kind gift of these figures. One thing I truly love about the hobby is the willingness to freely give unused figures to other enthusiasts. Hopefully I can "pay it forward" to Derek, or another hobbyist.

The Derek Moore painted Highlanders.

The Derek Moore painted Guards. My photographs don't do the figures justice!

The Peter Laing marching Guards. They are doomed to one of my paint jobs!

Peter Laing advancing Highlanders.

My first unit of Peter Laing "toy soldier" Guards.

The extreme between two different paint jobs. When I see Derek's paint job of these figures, I believe if critics of Peter Laing figures saw these figures, they might reconsider their criticism. When painted by a competent painter, there are little works of art.

Two Steps Back

    It seems that I have taken a big step back in my mold making. Of the last 4, only two seem to make usable figures.  I am preparing for another week of camping.  Perhaps time to rethink how I'm making the molds.

    I am also planning to bring a couple of Byron Farwells' books with me. I have started reading MR. KIPLING's ARMY ( this will be for the third time) and will try to start ARMIES OF THE RAJ. Perhaps that will be motivation to work on the PL colonial Indian troops in my collection.

Two of my casting of Egyptian Camel Corps. Unfortunately I broke the rifle off the master. I am thinking of getting a small drill that I could add rifle barrels to the figures.

ECW standard bearer. The space between both set of legs is solid metal. I was thinking that this figure could be used as an ACW guidon bearer. Not a great success but can be used in a pinch. I also made a mold of an ACW flag bearer on foot; again, the space between the legs are solid, but still the figure breaks at the legs. 

My FOURTH  attempt at the Victorian Parade marching figure in a spiked helmet. Another figure that is a disappointment  but could be used.

Peter Laing Machine Gun Cyclsts

      At the Duchy of Tradgardland blog, tradgardland.blogspot.com the most recent posting had a post card and several illustrations of the 26th Middlesex cyclists. What really caught my eye was that in two of the pictures were that the cyclists had a machine gun deployed ready for action. The machine gun was on a carriage with what looks like bicycle wheels. And while searching for more pictures, I did come across a picture of a machine gun being towed behind a bicycle (unfortunately I didn't bookmark the page).

   As I have mentioned in the past among my favorite Peter Laing figures is the Victorian Parade cyclist figure. I have tried to mold these figures in the past, and after seeing the Tradgardland blog,  another attempt at this mold might be in order.  I also thought of a Peter Laing machine gun model which I really had never had much use for; until now.  I do believe this machine gun and the cyclist figure could make a reasonable war-game unit.  It also reminded me of another Peter Laing bicycle figure that Ian Dury gave me of a WW1 Belgium cyclist. These figures would be well suited for Little Wars type of games.

Peter Laing Homecast Victorian Parade Rifles

Here are a couple of shots of homecast Victorian Parade Rifles officers and buglers. Unfortunately, no riflemen! These figures got me on a casting and painting kick, leading up to a war-game using the recently cast and painted Peter Laings. The rifles took part and didn't disappoint. Their part in the battle is one of the actions which made the game so enjoyable.

The company  who makes the gloss enamel paints don't make a dark green in high gloss. Instead, hobby acrylics were used and then coated with a high gloss lacquer, which seemed to work ok.

New Semi Round Cavalry and Painted Peter Laing Homecasts

     Besides Peter Laing figures, another interest of mine are 30mm semi round figures from the late 1800s-early 1900s.  Recently there were two lots on Ebay, one of three lancers and the other of three what appears to be mounted infantry. They came in the mail yesterday and was money well spent.

    While deciding to paint recent homecasts in the toy soldier style, it became obvious that my original search for Peter Laings has gone off course.  My main interest was to get a collection of Victorian Parade figures to have table top battles which would look like the pictures in "Little Wars", even if the rules themselves weren't used. With the help of Ian Dury I have acquired several of the parade figures (more than I expected to ever get once the search started) and what's more, he gave or traded many of these figures to me; a most kind act. One of the figures I haven't been able to get was a marching guardsmen figure. For now I will try to convert a home cast British Infantryman with spiked helmet into a guardsman. Below is a shot of an experimental figure. It still needs some work but it will fill a gap for now.  I also completed a mold of the Victorian Parade Rifleman Officer and Bugler in one day; hopefully it will be put to the test today.

    Last is some Marching Germans painted as New York State Militia from the 1880s. Inspiration for these figures wwas a company call McLoughlin Bros. who produced toy soldiers and used German style toy soldiers and painted them as American soldiers. Of course American spiked helmets of the time were more of the British style than Germanic. Still, I think they make good looking "toy soldiers", not military miniatures.

Peter Laing New York State Militia

Another Militia unit forming, marching in review by a formed unit.

Two of the semi round figures recently purchased. The figures I believe are a little smaller than 30mm but of course look the part to support 30mm infantry.

Another shot, showing the mounted infantryman. 

The first sample of a converted Guardsman. For my needs they will have to do.

Homecast Plans

By using more rubber in each molds, it seems the success rate of figures have gone up considerably. I believe by making heavier molds, they contort less when clamps are applied. It also helps that the masters used have been stockier than some other figures used.

I have been planning to mold only figures when needed for a project. However, it is hard to pass unmaking molds of figures such as the Aztecs Ian Dury sent. Even if there is no immediate plans to use them, the opportunity to having the mold on hand is hard to pass up.

Aztec warrior. Homecast on right (obviously!)

French Chasseur d/Afrique

New Peter Laing Homecasts

As mentioned in an earlier posting, Ian Dury forwarded some Peter Laing Aztecs. My intention was to make molds of them. In fact, I made one mold before getting distracted. While on Youtube, I found a video of the Chilian army on parade. If one wants to see what the Imperial German army must have looked like on parade, look up "Radetzky March Military Parade 2013".  After watching this video and coming across some of the Peter Laing marching Germans from the Victorian Parade line while labeling, I found myself making a new mold of them.  The results is much more successful than the first mold.

A tray of newly cast figures.

Snipping off the pouring spout.

Filing off the excess from the spout.

Future toy soldiers.

Recruits awaiting white base coat. I originally planned to use the APW Austrians for American Civil War militia.

The first figures with their base coat. The others are waiting to be prepped.