This one had to come. General Custer, Captain Benteen and Major Reno are made together with three companies of dismounted troopers. Some dead horses, useful for markers, were added and from now on only numbers are necessary as most of the different types of stands are made.
Once again the big contributor for this one are the rescaled 1/32nd Airfix figures from the cowboys set together with a few Italeri dismounted cavalrymen and Revell cowboys.
General Custer´s figure is the Revell Confederate cavalry officer. He got some extra GreenStuff hair and pistol holster, many cuts of the uniform and a side bent hat.
All officer´s saddles got a shortened rifle for it to look like the Springfield carbines. The flag is the Headquarter´s flag of the 7th cavalry made by Custer´s wife.
Major Benteen had long hair in 1876 and he is looking a bit like Louis XIV but also close to the real one. On his shoulders there is no hair but the distinctive shoulder straps. The same Italeri figure was used for the more fragile Major Reno with a different painted straw hat and moustache.
The dismounted figures got many new hats for variety but also to replace hatless heads. The rescaled cowboys become great troopers after trimming the boots and cutting the second pistol and holster. Also you can get some troopers in sack coats by using the Revell firing cowboys.
The ranks are a bit ragged with some troopers without their Springfield carbines which tended to jam after a few rounds. Like this Reno´s and Benteen´s actions can be portrayed together with Custer´s last stand as all of this had some degree of chaos.
The dead Airfix and Italeri dead horses got hit by arrows mostly and two drilled holes and a piece of plastic squashed at the top plays the part.
Next: numbers for LBH or a return to another campaign.
More brilliant painting and conversions. George Armstrong looks great! The arrows added to the dead horses is a clever idea and adds greatly to the effect—increases the emotional impact of the scene...
ReplyDeleteRegards, James
Thanks James. The dead horses around Last Stand Hill or Custer´s stand were 39 and most were killed by the troopers themselves in order to get protection. Even so with some arrows stuck (which probably also happened) they add the emotional impact you mention. Very well said!!
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