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

White Coated Egyptian infantry and standard bearers

I know that Mark at jacklexminiatures.com says that he will be offering a marching version of the white coated Egyptian infantry in the future as an extension to the range but I sort of wanted some now.  I used the existing Sudanese/Egyptian infantry advancing figure as it was what I had to hand and spent ages cutting, sanding and filing the belt straps on this figure, The painting was so simple once it was done.

This is the first 'half' of the unit.

 The mounted officer is the Egyptian mounted officer but on a stationary horse with his pistol cut off and the arm bent with a pair of pliers.

I started by making a standard bearer conversion using the advancing pose and cutting away the rifle bending the arm and drilling and fixing a rod in place. 

Whilst this is okay he looks like what he is an infantryman with a flag instead of a rifle.  I wasn't happy and decided to convert the British Standard bearer instead, having had some success with a Russian conversion I found after many years.  This figure has some odd packs on the back.

I cut the bulk of this away with a pair of snips and then cut, filed and sanded the remainder away.  A quick head swap and I think this is a much better figure and is more in keeping with Jack's original concept of a 'Standard bearer'.

I painted the figure in a variety of different uniforms. 

Now with the second unit of Egyptians complete with flag and a Sudanese standard bearer with the national flag to go with the existing force in Jack's colonial army

Alternative Russian Standard bearer found after years of looking

Many years ago when Bob and I were trying to convince Jack to make a Russian Infantry Standard Bearer with not much success, so I started to have a go myself by converting the British Standard bearer. 

I cut away the packs on the back of the British figure and added a blanket roll with 'green stuff' to match Jack's infantryman.   I never finished the figure and I then lost it in my loft.  I knew it was about somewhere but I looked everywhere to no avail and as the years passed by I gave up on it.

Eventually, as a result of the cancer diagnosis I decided to pack away my table in the loft and bring my paints down a floor.  In the process of moving furniture around, my wife found the figure which must have fallen down the back of a cupboard.

I decided to finish the job and give him a coat of paint.  I think he looks rather nice and the years haven't aged him.  The brilliant flag is from the 1966 and all that blogsite.

Jack is home

Following his fall, I am pleased to say Jack is out of hospital and home.  He came out on Wednesday and I spoke to him on Thursday.  Not sure he has caught up on the new regulations as he asked when I was coming round for a game!

Madhist artillery outriders

In the film Khatoum it shows a field piece being drawn into position by a limber team with Madhist outriders.   This in the final battle scene and you can watch this bit of the film on You Tube.  If you blink you will miss it but I thought it would be fun to have a limber team.  The figures in the film have the Muslim Kufi prayer skull cap, rather than a turban. 

However my version have turbans.  To call this a 'conversion' is a bit of a misnomer. and if it is a conversion, it is probably the simplest one I have ever done.  

Firstly, I chose the Dervish mounted standard bearer.  You do not need the horse.  This figure has an open hand.  Using a pair of pliers bend the arm on one or two either up or down slightly in relation to the original figure  to give a sense of movement (it depends on whether you have a four or six horse limber team - or leave it alone if you only have a 2 horse team).  

Glue a length of paper clip; the rod that comes with the figure or a bit of florist wire in the hand.  Leave to dry. Cut it down to make a 'whip stick'.  It is much easier to put more wire than you need in and cut it down afterwards than to try to glue a small piece the right length in place.  You can stop there. or wrap a length of 5 amp fuse wire around the top of the stick to make the 'whip' and super glue in place - again use more than you need and cut it down afterwards. Finished.  It takes longer for the glue to dry than to convert the figure(s).   Now all you have to do is paint it/them.

Four and six horse team versions.

.

Jacklex Egyptian gunners conversions

As I mentioned in earlier posts, I have had a go at making a white coated artillery unit for Jack's colonial army Egyptian force.  I am also making and infantry unit in white these to follow, along with standard bearers.  

In theory, this is relatively simple since it is just a matter of a head swap.   I used the Sudanese/Egyptian advancing figure for the head on the Indian gunner body because I had a set (i think they would look better on the British gun crew designed for the field gun, but I used what I had).  I decided to cut away the havelock which the figure is wearing whilst it was on the original figure, this was fairly simple.

Once I did this life became that much more difficult once I removed the head, as I drill into the head and body and attach them with wire and superglue.  The area of 'neck/head' I had to drill into and hold was very small.  Managed to drill my figure as the drill bit slid then it seem to take forever.  Eventually, I got there but not without doubting my own sanity for trying this in the first place. Probably the secret is a soldering iron or even some green stuff to join the head and body!!

Anyway, they work or pass the distance test.  I have to make an officer.  I am going to use the Naval Officer from the Gatling gun team as he isn't looking though binoculars.  Found it almost impossible to get a head of one of the standard Gunnery officer.  Ruined two figures trying it as the arms broke away.

The Naval Officer is less animated than the infantry officer with pistol.  This time I left the havelock on this gave me much bigger (but still small) area to hold and drill into once I removed the head.  THIS WAS MUCH SIMPLER - why did I cut the havelocks off first I ask myself.  Once in place and the glue had dried, cutting the havelock away was just as easy.  Sometimes stupid doesn't cover it!

The Naval Officer conversion.

I thought the uniform a little too white so I did a little bit of lining using brown ink.