The Royal Navy ratings were magnificent

As Queen Elizabeth II is laid to rest amidst the kind of pageantry at which Britain excels, the role of the Royal Navy was fascinating to observe.

Drawing the gun carriage with the Queen’s coffin draped in the Royal Standard, topped by the Imperial State Crown, Orb and Sceptre, their discipline and strength took me back to the descriptions of their antecedent’s travails in the Sudan:

I have never witnessed such a sight as the sailors drawing their machine guns. The pluck they showed and the work and labour required to drag those guns along for more than twenty miles was very great. I am sure if I had not seen it, I would not have believed it.

Royal Marine Artillery Gunner JT Wilkinson quoted in Richard Brooks’ The Long Arm of Empire: Naval Brigades from the Crimea to the Boxer Rebellion

Jack Tars hard at work 138 years ago.

Naval Brigade towed Gatling gun and limber

Finishing the towed limber and gun brings to completion my Royal Navy contingent, compising two companies of ratings, a Gatling gun battery, a company of Royal Marine Light Infantry, and Vice Admiral Hewett’s command group.

I first suggested that I might make a towed limber twenty-one months ago [link], to represent the entire battery on the move in the manner described in Richard Brooks’ The Long Arm of Empire: Naval Brigades from the Crimea to the Boxer Rebellion, where he quotes Royal Marine Artillery Gunner JT Wilkinson (p185):

I have never witnessed such a sight as the sailors drawing their machine guns. The pluck they showed and the work and labour required to drag those guns along for more than twenty miles was very great. I am sure if I had not seen it, I would not have believed it.

Blue jackets labour to bring up a Gatling gun, while a couple of additions to Hewett’s HQ look on … suitably impressed, one imagines.

Painting and varnishing during the heatwave

The current heatwave hasn’t been condusive to painting, so I have tended to do a couple of hours before the sun comes around on the south side, while my wet palette has been an essential companion.

I am now ready to apply the final coat of varnish (Daler Rowney Acrylic mediums soluable matt varnish – the nearest to Testors Dullcote available, I reckon), then it will be ready for assembly, and the tricky task of threading the drag ropes.

The Gatling gun, limber and the Jack Tars destined to tow the ensemble, with a couple of extra figures and an additional officer for the brigade HQ. That’s an unpainted Broadwell magazine in the middle, which will hang from the limber’s axel tree, and the completed deployed limber.

Private Thomas Edwards and Naval Brigade Gatling gun battery

Private Thomas Edwards was seconded from his unit, 1 battalion The Black Watch, to the Naval Brigade as a mule driver. From the moment I read an account of his actions at Tamai I had a vignette in mind.

During the furious fight he defended the Gatling guns after members of the naval crew had been killed or wounded. Despite being wounded himself he remained with the guns throughout the action. Edwards was awarded a Victoria Cross, and here is his citation in The London Gazette.

Top to bottom: a period post card celebrating Edwards’ actions at Tamai; my vignette of a Perry Miniatures’ Black Watch figure and Empress Miniatures’ ammunition mules; Edwards with the Naval Brigade battery; and finally, more progress with the towed Gatling gun and limber.

Towed Gatling gun limber ready for priming

I’ve been thinking about modelling a Gatling gun and limber hauled by Jack Tars since the beginning of this project. I finished the deployed limber just over a year ago [link] and I’ve been itching to model the towed version ever since.

I’ve now prepared the main components and made minor modifications to the crew figures. These were the addition of right hands for four of the running at trail figures (which are cast with separate hands holding rifles), with those on the outside drilled to receive wire drag ropes during final assembly. I have made some small changes to a couple of figures which will push on the horizontal pole, making it a six-figure effort to shift the limber and gun. Two further figures running alongside will complete the vignette.

All the components of the towed Gatling gun and limber.

New recruits, progress with painting, and the towed Gatling gun and limber

I’ve managed to get quite a bit done over the last few weeks, and now I hope to maintain the momentum.

My latest Perry Miniatures order arrived, and I wasted no time getting the new Beja into the painting work flow. I wanted some slightly more aggressive swordsmen, and more spirited command figures to acompany the khalifa on a rearing horse.

The bulk of the order comprised Empire figures, including Black Watch, 19th Hussars, 9th Bengal Cavalry, a couple of 7pdr screw guns, various command figures, and, finally, Naval Brigade figures for the towed limber and Gatling gun piece. Easily enough to keep me occupied beyond Christmas.

I also added Brian Robson’s Fuzzy Wuzzy to my references (second hand but in excellent condition), which is dedicated to the campaigns in eastern Sudan.

Top to bottom: Fuzzy Wuzzy is spot-on for my interests; the second Hadendowa rub with some figures ready for varnishing while the new recruits are only just started; an Emprire infantry unit in mêlée, which also received a handful of new recruits; a couple of minor Naval Brigade officer conversions – just enough to make them different to the ones I already have; the main components of the towed limber and Gatling gun.

Towed Gatling gun limber: Jack Tar test

I had a few moments to clean up and slightly modify the Gardner gunner into a pose more suitable for pushing on the horizontal bar attached to the limber.

Two such fellows will be needed, with another four figures hauling on the tow ropes. As I mentioned before, I think I can convert the Perry Miniatures’ Naval Brigade running at trail figures (SB15) for the remainder, with a couple of Jack Tars running at the rear. I think that this will be substantial enough to suggest an entire battery coming in to action.

The slightly modified Gardner gunner putting his back into it … it’s just so much harder without wheels.

The towed Gatling gun limber

Taking a break from varnishing I began assembly of the second Gatling gun limber, which is much less complicated than the first one, and took about an hour.

I will have to order a set of Perry Miniatures’ Naval Brigade figures running at trail for conversion to the Jack Tars hauling the limber, a Gardner for the wheels and a Gatling gun to be towed. The tricky part is likely to be the two figures pushing at the crossbar … I shall see what I can achieve with the Gardner gunner that I have. The surplus figures will provide crew for the Armstrong RBL 40pdr in due course.

The model of the towed limber, converted from the plastic ACW limber, next to the finished deployed version.

Naval Brigade Gatling gun battery

This little project has taken way way longer than it should have done, but it is, I am pleased to say, finished, and it’s not too shabby.

It seemed to me that at every stage I was struggling with what to do and how to do it. It took me a long time to research the limber, constantly hoping for a more detailed source of information, or, maybe, just maybe, that the Perry Twins would release a model for their Sudan range. Once assembled the final challenge was the tow ropes, their placement and fixing to the base in a natural manner. The finished model isn’t completely accurate but the ensemble looks convincing, and makes a nice addition to my burgeoning collection.

I am considering making a second limber being towed by Jack Tars to represent the battery prior to deployment.

While one rating removes an ammunition box from the limber, another brings up a Broadwell magazine. The crew is composed of a mix of Perry Miniatures’s Gatling gun and Gardner gun crews.

Medical Staff Corps, Naval Brigade Gatling gun battery, and 40pdr Armstrong

I made quite a bit of progress today, so I’ll let the photos do the talking.

Gatling guns and limber, Mahdist flag bearer, and Medical Staff Corps, all shaded and tinted and ready for varnishing, with field hospital flag.

First of the Naval Brigade – Gatling gun crews. After some thought I decided not to attempt to paint the multiple blue lines around the flap collars … wait see how a simple white boarder looks.

I made a test rig for the gun carriage using cotton. I think it will be easier to achieve the desired result using scale wire rope than scale rope.

Progress on the painting bench

In addition to a number of finished or nearly finished terrain pieces, I have a handful of figures and equipment ready for shading and varnishing.

Bases are 2mm MDF affixed to thin magnetic sheet, and will be prepared with Vellajo sandy paste before painting.

It’s taken me far longer than it should have to get to this stage, but I now have some momentum, which is just as well because I have a large number of figures primed.

Gatling guns, limber, Hadendowa flag bearer, and the staff of my field hospital, with a couple of casualties.

Clockwise: Melton Prior sketching, Captain Arthur Wilson, and Colonel Frederick Burnaby. Bases have been prepared with Vallejo sandy paste, and are ready for painting.

Mahdist brass 7pdr mountain gun battery, with crew members converted from metal and plastic Perry Miniatures’ figures.

Half of the first Hadendowa rifle-armed band, with leader based separately …

… and the remainder. These are a mix of metal and plastic figures.

A little progress: 40pdr and Gatling gun limber

Most of today’s effort has gone into applying the first coat of varnish to twenty-odd Hadendowa rifle-armed and gun crew figures, along with Burnaby, Wilson and Prior.

I also spent about five minutes on the Gatling gun limber and a couple of hours on the 40pdr.

Yesterday I did most of the cutting and trimming to narrow the two carriages for the smaller weapon. It’s the first time I have worked with resin, and it’s brittle stuff, requiring slow careful work to avoid disastrous chips and breakages. I had one of the former, but a bit of filling was required in any case.

I added larger diameter trunions to the barrel, drilled the gun carriage for the wire rope, and added a pair of leavers, one each side. I need to add small wheels to the rear of the carriage, and model the elevation mechanism. The latter needs some investigation. I also need to source some blocks of a suitable size for the tackle … so quite a bit still to do.

The limber is nearly ready for priming, while the 40pdr is going to take a while longer.

Gatling gun limber: assembly

I had a bit of time this morning so I was able to make some progress with assembling the limber.

Cutting and assembling the sides and interior was a methodical process of measurement, cutting, and adjustment, but I now have all the measurements I need for the towed version. The Broadwell magazines need their centres drilling, and I want to add a cross bar to the shaft. I’ll add rope to the chain once the model is painted.

It’s certainly not 100% accurate, but I think it will look the part.

Most of the assembly is done, the hook for the hauling chain is not yet fixed since this will be best done once the model is painted.

Two Victorian heroes and a Gatling gun battery

I haven’t painted anything smaller than a house for about three years, so it’s taken me a while to get my eye in. It also takes a while to familiarise oneself with the castings and mouldings, guides to uniform and attire, and develop a work flow.

Apart form the Beja riflemen and gun crews I’ve been working on a few British personalities, the British Field Hospital, and the Gatling gun battery. I have a Naval Brigade detachment and RMLI company primed, and have got the base coat on a Hadendowa camel band.

Colonel Frederick Burnaby was almost a metaphor for the British Empire’s might, a giant for his times at 6' 4" and 20 stone, a classic Victorian heroic adventurer. Having trekked solo through a Russian Asian war zone, he made a crossing of the English Channel by balloon, and endevoured to get himself attached to whichever military expedition was going. Famously he took on the Mahdist warriors with a shot gun at the second battle of El Teb.

Here’s a an article about Burnaby, and some details of the shot gun, in Guards Magazine:

Link

Captain Arthur Wilson, RN, of HMS Hecla, was in the thick of it at the second battle of El Teb too, protecting a Naval Brigade gun detachment by holding off the Fuzzy Wuzzys with the hilt of his broken sword, a feat for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Melton Prior was an artist and war correspondent who covered many of the British Empire’s military adventures. Also always in the thick of it, his detailed sketches appeared in the Illustrated London News. I am reading his memoir at the moment.

Colonel Frederick Burnaby and Captain Arthur Wilson … both need a bit of dust adding to their boots.

Melton Prior sketching. I added reins from foil to his mount, since I plan to repurpose his servant to be an ammunition mule driver.

A Gatling gun limber on the right, showing that the lid was a single piece. A useful photographic confirmation of information I have gathered.

I have added hooks for fine chain to the gun carriages, added the handles to the Broadwell magazines, and prepared the hauling chains for the static and towed limbers.

Gatling gun and limber: more detailing

Having given some thought to the nature of the limber model, I have decided to model more equipment, including Broadwell drum magazines.

Six magazines could be stowed within the limber box, with another two hanging from the axel tree. The six black discs grouped together in the image below give an idea of the size of the limber box. It will have less height than the ACW limber though, so those components will need to be trimmed.

I used a paper hole punch to make the tops and bottoms of the drum magazines from plastic card, with the body from wooden dowel. I have fashioned the drum handles from 15 amp fuse wire. I plan to detail the vertical hopper rails with thin card or paper.

Next … assembly!

   

The main components for the Gatling guns and limber models, clockwise: ACW limber components; gun barrels; gun carriages and wheels; hooks, towing eyes, chains, and magazine handles; limber wheels; magazine tops and bottoms; magazine bodies.

Gatling gun and limber details

I have begun making the details that will be needed for the two Gatling guns and the limber. The single photo accompanying this post does not give away the amount of time that went into making the the first set.

The limber will have chains attached to each wheel, and tow ropes will be attached to the chains, all arranged at either side of the model. The guns will have towing eyes attached to the wheel hubs, and lengths of chain attached to the carriage.

I fashioned the hooks and eyes from 15 amp fuse wire, which is a little over-scale, but workable I think.

The first of the details for the guns and limber. The towing eyes with chain will be fitted to the limber’s wheel hubs. The wheel hubs have been drilled to receive the wire.

Nails and wire

I am going to attempt to detail the Gatling guns and limbers with various hooks and chain, so I bought some fuse wire to fashion the hooks from.

I always seems to be running out of nails to mount the figures to prior to painting. I like felt nails for their large flat heads, so I bought a couple of packs.

Now it’s time to get some momentum back into this project.

Felt nails and fuse wire.

Chain

Just when I thought I had eveything I needed for the limber conversion, I realised I would need some very fine chain for detailing.

It wasn’t as easy to find a UK supplier as I thought it would be; there are lots of Chinese suppliers on ebay, but, apart from the risk that the consignment will take ages to arrive, I wasn’t filled with confidence by disclaimers which suggested the stated measurements may not be accurate.

Langley Models came to the rescue with incredibly fine chain with forty links per inch / 16 links per cm, although I felt their postage and packing charge of £4 was a bit steep for such a small item. The package did arrive the next day though, so I’ll get over it. Probably.

I had two gauges of chain in stock, but neither was fine enough for detailing the Gatling guns and limbers. The Langley Models ultra fine chain will be perfect.

Gatling gun limber components

On deciding that I want my batteries to look a bit more substantial, I ordered another Gatling gun. I took the opportunity to obtain a couple of the American Civil War artillery limbers too.

As expected the wheels are too large, but the chassis and other parts look as if they will provide a good basis for the model. Importantly, the track is about right. I have a spare set of wheels from a Gardner that is destined for an armed train or gun boat.

Initially I plan to make one deployed limber, which should look like quite enough with the two gun battery. If it works out I’ll make a second limber being hauled by Jack Tars. I’ll order a second Gardner for the wheels. As I mentioned I’ll need two Gardners – one for an armed train and the other for a gunboat.

Two Perry Miniatures’ ACW limber frames with the wheels from the cannibalised Gardner for comparison.

Gatling gun limber: progress with research

I posted a request for information about limbers on the Egypt and Sudan Campaigns, 1882–1898 Facebook forum, and received a fascinating reply.

The correspondent posted extracts from a contemporary report by a US naval officer, Report of the British Naval and Military Operations in Egypt, 1882. It’s an absolute gold mine of detailed records and descriptions of pretty much everything one might wish to know about, water bottles to warships:

Link: Report of the British Naval and Military Operations in Egypt, 1882

Therein is also the clearest rendering of a limber I have seen, and certainly helps me with developing a drawing for my model.

I also discovered that W Britain used to make a limber, one modified for drawing by mules. The detail corroborates the drawing except for twin ammunition boxes. I do not know which source the Britain’s piece may be based on, but the single ammunition box tallies with eyewitness drawings and the description in the manual cited in an earlier post.

Gatling gun and limber

Left: limber prepared for drawing by mules.
Right: W Britain’s model.