Saturday, 26 April 2025

Something A Bit Different

 I bought this 3d printed 28mm British Napoleonic Rocket crew over a year ago (along with another one) from JJG in France. I really like the animation of the pose, with a crewman halfway up the frame, reaching out for the next rocket to slide into place.








Just a short post today, but it would be remiss of me not to mention that yesterday was Anzac Day, the national commemoration of all those who have served in defending Australia and New Zealand. It is now 110 years since the landings at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. Here is part of the speech the New Zealand Prime Minister gave there yesterday morning.

"When Lieutenant Colonel William Malone led the Wellington Battalion to seize this summit before dawn on the 8th of August 1915, days of horror followed.

Under a scorching sun, they clashed with waves of charging Ottoman Turks. William Malone was killed that afternoon.



The Wellington Battalion was joined by men from the Auckland Mounted Rifles, before being replaced by the Otago Battalion and the Wellington Mounted Rifles.

For two days, they clung to this summit before being overwhelmed early on the 10th of August.

The losses on both sides were immense.

An Australian war correspondent wrote, "of the 760 of the Wellington Infantry Battalion who had captured the height that morning, there came out only 70 unwounded or slightly wounded men."

"Not one had dreamed of leaving his post."

"They could only talk in whispers. Their eyes were sunken. Their knees trembled."

The other battalions faced similar losses. Only 22 of the 288 Auckland Mounted Rifles remained."





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30 comments:

  1. That is a lovely model Keith, with great animation. A big ANZAC day here yesterday. Our house must have been flown over half a dozen times by jets.

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    1. Thanks Lawrence, I think so too. We (NZ) of course, have no jets - but we did have three WW1 biplanes fly over around 11am!

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  2. This is quite a fine looking model that you painted up splendidly.

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    1. Thank you, Jon, - it is a nice model, for sure!

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  3. Lovely looking models and really well painted Keith, the gunner half way up the ladder is cracking, very well thought out from the model maker.

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    1. Cheers Donnie - as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to get it - took about 18 months though, them another 14 to get it painted up!

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  4. Fantastic work on the model Keith. The rocket troops always seem to get the fancy uniforms.

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    1. Thanks ben - them, and the Royal Horse Artillery!

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  5. That's a really great set Keith, very animated like you said.
    Lest we forget.

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  6. That's a great looking model Keith and painted well.

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    1. Cheers Richard, very pleased with how it came out.

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  7. Nice kit well done up. Time for a Nappy game.

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    1. Thanks Joe - WW2 Blitzkrieg game tomorrow though!

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  8. Nice work Keith, I still haven’t picked up a rocket crew but it is on the list for the future !

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    1. Thanks Matt...I have accumulated a few rockets over the years, mainly the Old Glory ones, where you get about 4 or 6 frames and crews in the pack.

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  9. A brilliant set of figures there Keith and very nicely animated too. Great work on the painting front too. As for ANZAC Day, my friend lives in a village where there are some Commonwealth War Graves of ANZAC pilots from WWI, who died whilst in training at a local base. Tomorrow they will as always hold a service or rememberance for them and they maintain the graves too.

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    1. Thank you Steve. The ANZAC Day tradition in your friends village is a very nice touch!

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    2. Steve, is that Leighterton? There was a big article the in Sydney Morning Herald* about the village and its very kind tradition of remembering the pilots of the 7th & 8th training squadrons.

      *one of the two large newspapers in Sydney.

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    3. As Leighterton appears to be in Gloucestershire, it may well be, Ben - that's pretty handy for Bristol. I think there are several traditions of this sort in different small towns and villages of England, where the ANZAC's were stationed etc.

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    4. It is Ben and I'll let my mate know that they featured in your major newspaper. The pub has got a new print of all the planes that flew from the base, which is pretty cool.

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    5. Steve, here is a link to the story.
      https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/the-year-the-anzacs-came-the-little-known-story-one-english-village-still-tells-its-children-20250415-p5lrqx.html
      I think you should be able to read it.

      Keith, it is always very nice to hear of these remembrances even though the war was so long ago.

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  10. A lovely Rocket unit. We certainly love these units a lot more than the Duke did, LOL! Sobering reminder of how awful WW1 was re ANZAC day.

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  11. Splendid looking rocket troops!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks Iain, so pleased you like 'em!!

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