Some more painter examples

The following are from the James Cockburn via Mark Lodge at jacklexminiatures.com

A trip down memory lane - The Harrow Model Model Shop

In the day in London there was Under Two Flags in St Christopher's Place; the Miniatures Wargame Shop in Gillingham Street, Tradition in Piccadilly; Hinton Hunt in Camden Passage and the Harrow Model Shop in Harrow, North  London.  Unlike the others, it never specialised in just figures but it was the only shop to sell Jacklex figures.

In my last blog I am appealed for any pictures of the the dioramas which used to in be shop windows and the displays cabinets in inside the shop.  Some canny customers bought the displays when the shop finally and some have survived.  

I want to take those who have got in touch and will hopefully provoke a memory, particularly John Cunningham and Roy Boss.

Most if not all the dioramas  were painted are Stuart Asquith who worked in the shop at the weekends!

If you have any more pictures you can send than via Mark Lodge at jacklexminiatures.com

I have to apologise my cancer has come back with avengeance and had an my ICU with bleeds on the brain so spelling and some English isn't what it should it.  I have some great pictures of the work wargamers have been doing with Jack's figures and I will posted them soon.  Managed to get over to see Jack before falling prey to the brain seizures and he was very pleased and humbled to see the all the work people had done.  Thank you from two old wargamers!

Jacklex Indian Gunners 'rediscovered'

As you know I have converted some Indian gunners for Jack's Madhists forces.  These were essentially the Jacklex Indian Mountain Gun crew.  When I did the conversions for the Sudanese Standard bearer I went back to some pictures I had taken of Jack's Colonial army that Bob had laid out on his table to have a look at the Sudanese figures.  By chance Bob had set up an Indian Gun crew next to them and these were standing around a field gun.  

The more I looked at the pictures I had taken and others I had taken a couple of years ago I couldn't find the Indian Mountain Gun crew in Jack's collection.  I then went to the jacklexminiatures.com website and discovered that Mark Lodge didn't have the set of 'standing'  Indian Gunners that Jack had in his army.  Really odd! 

I contacted Mark and sent him the set of figures which after cleaning turned out to be a set of 4 conversions that Jack had made.  The heads don't match any of the other figures in the Indian army range so they are not simple head swaps. These conversions must have been made over 40 years ago and have never been part of the Jacklex range till now.

I pleased to say that Mark has now recast them and they are available from jacklexminiatures.com

I like the addition of the 'tassle?' from the centre of the turban.  It gives them a certain flair.

It makes you wonder are there any other missing Jacklex figures out there?  Do you have anything, if so please get in touch.  We are also looking for the list of Jacklex figures which was produced by the Harrow Model Shop in the 1980s.  Finally, any pictures of the dioramas which were in the model shop and that were sold when the shop closed.

New ACW additions

Alongside a set of new colonial figures, jacklexminiatures.com have released 2 new ACW figures.

New Union infantry 

 Confederate addition

Jacklex Japanese as Mexican regulars More conversions with a paint brush

Many years ago Bob, Jack and I played a game with Jack's Japanese infantry being given Mexican flags on the basis that the uniforms were similar to the Mexican regular army.

In the final of these 'conversion with a paint brush blogs'  here's another brilliant set.  Talking to Mark Lodge of jacklexminiatures.com about how figures could be used from different ranges, he sent me these pictures which show just how versatile the Jacklex figures can be with a simple paint job.  When I first saw these pictures, I genuinely thought they were a new range.  So now regular Mexicans taking on Pershing's force or Mexican revolutionaries can come to life by mixing the ranges. 

French 75mm and Mexican gun crew

 

Japanese Command group

Having made a mounted officer for the Egyptian infantry by simply putting the Cavalry Officer on a stationary horse and filing away his pistol, I thought that some of Jack's other armies could benefit from similar command figures.  

I had already made a little command group for the 1904 Russians - but with 'moving horses', I decided that the Japanese ought to have a command base as well.  Since Jack made a cavalry standard bearer for the Japanese, I thought it would be nice to combine an officer and standard bearer. I asked Mark Lodge of jacklexminiatures.com for the two cavalry figures on standing horses, rather than the galloping horse the figures are normally provided with and I am pleased with the results.

 These are on a temporary base, I think they will look better on a round base with a bit more space between the figures. Which is exactly what Bob did with them what an improvement.

Jacklex American painted for Spanish American War

One of the really great things about our hobby is being able to use your imagination to re-purpose figures from within a ranges to create a different period or nation.  So what follows for the next few blogs is a reworking of Jacklex figures in just this way.  No conversions, just different colours of paint although if you want to try I have had a few thoughts which I will share but haven't made.

When Jack made his Americans, he only had in mind using them for 'Black Jack Pershing's' adventure into Mexico.  To be honest because that is what he made them for and only what we used them for, it never crossed my our minds to use them for anything else or to paint them in anything other than Khaki.

Greg Potter however has looked at them with a different eye and used figures from across the Jacklex ranges for the Spanish American War. Greg has provided some pictures and some text which he has agreed I can share and perhaps inspire you.

Greg writes:

'The Conflict has always held a fascination for me.  It is a real transition between the warfare of the late late 1800s and early 1900s, with one US General (Wheeler) having been a Confederate Officer in the Civil War, and his Captain being Pershing who will go on to lead the US Army in World War One.  The Americans had Gatling guns, in the same battle as modern Colt Machine Guns.  The Spanish had trenches, barbed war and the Americans still went forward with Flags waving.

In some ways the Uniforms are also in transition.  The American Army uniform is virtually identical to the Civil War, but khaki is already appearing.  The Spanish have discarded their colourful European Uniforms and taken on a plain 'Utility Uniform', comfortable and practicable.  It has only one drawback it's white!

The Jacklex range has ideal figures for both armies that just require a re-paint.  The Americans from the Pershing Expedition range are absolutely perfect, being in the same basic shirt sleeve order worn in Cuba.  All you need to do is paint them in pale blue trousers and dark blue shirts of the period.

I also put some in khaki trousers that were beginning to be worn by some units in Roosevelt's 'Rough Riders'.

The gunners also have the Arm of Service red distinctions still being worn.  The artillery is the British Colonial Gun without the seats attached, [rather than the Krupps gun in the Pershing Range].

The Spanish Infantry come from the Confederate ACW range and again are perfect with their un-tucked trousers; bedrolls and with their floppy hats painted as straw hats.  The white uniform actually had thin blue strips, which meant it took on a blue hue, so I added so I added a little light blue to my white.

The gunners are the British Naval Gun crew, who already have straw hats I found one reference suggesting red facings so added them.  The Officer is again ideal as some Spanish Officers wore the the same style of helmet, and the mountain gun is out of the Colonial range.

I have since realised that the Spanish had some cavalry and the Confederate Cavalryman again looks perfect so my order is already with Mark [jacklexminiatures.com] .

I would recommend this conflict to you.  It has much colour and variety, and the Jacklex figures will give you all the troops types you need.  For once Osprey have a title I would highly recommend. @San Juan Hill 1898' has some excellent colour plates which show details of uniforms of both sides; evocative photos; good maps and information on the battlefields.  It is a great place to start.'

This is a great re-purposing of figures and really shows what you can do.  'Black Jack' Pershing's' Buffalo soldiers is another simple paint job. I have no idea how accurate it is but, if you have seen the 'Rough Riders' 2 part TV mini series on Netflix [ CORRECTION. IT IS A 2 PART SERIES ON YOU TUBE] the Spanish on San Juan Hill are shown with Maxim guns. Jacklex make a WW1 Maxim gun and could have a different crew and the 'German advisors shown in the film could be lifted from the Japanese range.

Many thanks for the article Greg.  It got me thinking In terms of conversions, the film shows the American overall commander in a white pith helmet Blue Jacket and white trousers.  He is fat and riding what looks like a mule, but a diet, removing his pistol and a bit of sanding of the pith helmet and you could use a British Officer cavalry officer on a standing horse to make a commander.  Alternatively, the American Cavalry Officer and Cavalry Standard  bearer again on standing horses single base to make an alternative command.

New releases - Colonial German Infantry and dismounted British Cavalry

Jacklex Miniatures have announced the release of a number of new figures.  The figures show their Jacklex origins allowing them to fit in and alongside the existing ranges.

First up, the new Colonial figures; The German Colonial Infantry range.  

 and Askaris

Next British Colonial Dismounted cavalry, kneeling and standing firing.

The figures are available from jacklexminiatures.com