The fascines were definitely as they were used to fill in trenches etc but lie on the side not upright the gambion also were they often used them to make artillery batteries a bit more protected kind of huge sandbags really

Ha ha, Keith!
You keep staying one or two steps ahead of me! First, I saw that you had mentioned the book that I recommended in your first post. Then, as I was thinking about yr dilemma while walking my dog, it occurred to me that you could replace the 7th's drum with a French one and jotted down the two sizes of the drums as a reminder for when I got home, since I am getting older and more forgetful by the year. It occurred to me that you could have a generic blue and gold drum with a huge sabre gash in the front to show the bright brass, and then I remembered that you live in France and your house might accidentally get burned down. But you were ahead of me on both counts! However, I can give you the dimensions of the "French" watering bucket of the period, which was used by the British, so your house should be safe, from Franklin's British Napoleonic Field Artillery, pp. 61-2 and 64 The "French" version was 10" tall made of 10 3 x 1/2" staves bound together by three iron hoops. The bottom diameter was 10 1/4" and a little wider than the top, so your fusilier is unlikely to knock it over with his weight. You may well own or have access to this book, but I am having trouble with my scanner, so if you are stuck, I'll photograph the page and Email it to you. It would include a pic of the "British: version, but Hamilton doesn't give the dimensions for that. This is about 6" shorter than the drum, of course, but as God, you can always put it on a small hillock ("monticule"?).
Cheers. Phil

Thanks Phil,
Good research again.
I do like the thought of a battered French Drum but as you say I want to keep my house intact.
The dimensions of the French bucket will be very useful but as you say it will need to be on a very very small monticule.
I do have a couple of the very useful Franklin books but not the British Napoleonic Field Artillery. I do not want to put you to any trouble but if you can find time I would appreciate a copy of the British version.
Cheers,
Keith

Cheers Steve
Good information.
All the best,
Keith

WOW!!! Mate what a great thought.
I am not sure that I am up to manufacturing a 200mm scale part cannon and the size of the base might prove a little restrictive. That said if I could lay my hands on a half decent lathe I would probably take it on.
All the best,
Keith

The gabions are normally too tall to be resting the foot on it, great idea,but i think it will have to be a torn down gabion or something like that, maybe the foot resting on an ammunition box.
Just a thought.
Cheers

For some reason, I have imagined that your officer was resting after Albuera, where, of course, there were no gabions. Of the many notable battles in which the 7th fought, though, from Busaco to Badajoz, Salamanca, and Vittoria, and the Pyrenees, the only battle that I can think of where they were likely to meet these devices would have been Badajoz. There is one in a pic by Wollen in Ian Fletcher's Badajoz (p.17). Even so, it is unlikely that this lucky fellow would have taken a break while his companions in the 4th division were being massacred in the breech; that would not have happened until the fort was taken. Great fun, research, and so much easier than actually sculpting and painting figures!
I'll have that pic for you by tomorrow or Thursday, Keith
Cheers, Phil

Body of a Frenchman?....What.....Only a suggestion...Lol

British Napoleonic Field Artillery:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Nap...6521/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362551303&sr=8-1

British Napoleonic Uniforms:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Nap...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362551391&sr=1-1

Good luck,

Mike

Hi Mike,
I have the British Napoleonic Uniforms but as is my luck I paid £40 for this revised issue it.
My scope thus far has not stretched to the Royal Artillery. Again great prices from Amazon UK.
Thank you for the links Sir.
All the best,
Keith

I would simplify it to the max - short segment of cannon - may be a mortar, back end of it, tilted and buried in soil, as if after explosion - and scattered woodwork. Place the cannon so it heads " away " from main view angle - so you could just "chop" the excess off.
Might not need a lathe - a dremel or a fixed drill may be enough, make a miliput cylinder to harden on a nail, fix in the drill and voila. Must be very carefull with cutting angles, as with real lathe, and be warned - the amount of flakes and debris is crazy.

Another option - copper tube and make all the trimmings in clay

Or completely lazy solution - buy a cannon toy of ebay close to needed size, pencil sharpener or some crap souvenir and convert.
Just found this in 2 sec - cheap as mud, as big as your figure.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRASS-MOD...eAntiques_Collectables_EH&hash=item3f22988d33

The barrel looks good enough and at 9" would be fine for scale.
Well spotted Mate, I will bid for it.
I made a 200 mm set of bag pipe drones and chanter with a Black and Decker squeezed between my knees. I think that is about as big as I would go without the risk of loosing vital body parts.
Cheers,
Keith

Just in case you were outbid on the barrel!
https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...362763660170&sads=hy3LJP2eHO7pKv8x6mubNq_2o6c
C.E.Franklin: British Napoleonic Field Artillery p.64
https://mail-attachment.googleuserc...362762627346&sads=0mzJlgUInNFGMtRkEgwf0ULXiZQ
Chris McNab: Armies of the Napoleonic Wars p.68 I dont know which Osprey book this comes from, but it isn't Napoleon's Artillery
And for those who enjoy research for its own sake, this style of bucket was being used in Italy in 1750 to carry powder.
Cheers,
Phil

Hi Guys,
Finally back on to this one after an interesting time sculpting and marketing Colour Sergeant Bourne (Nigel Green) Zulu War busts.
It is with more than a little sadness that I have picked up where I left this this this Royal Fusilier following the sad loss of it's sculpter and great friend Pete Morton and the murder of Royal Fusilier Drummer, Lee Rigby.
Finally I have made the choise to put the rope tension drum on a drummer that I am cerrently sculpting and added a small barrel under the foot of the Officer.
All new additions are made from milliput and are constantly being detailed to bring the group closer to the paint brushes.
I hope that you like the additions and can where this is going.
All the very best,
Keith

Looking very good so far. I like the idea of the drummer boy looking up at the officer.

Happy sculpting,

Mike

Great stuff Keith.

Roger.

That is a very clever idea, this is going to be a hit!
Good job!

Awesome!!!
Love the addition of the drummer boy rather than the officer putting his grubby boots on the regimental drum

Following with great interest

Colin

Thank you for looking in Guys.
Your favourable comments are always a boost.
Mike, I am trying to compliment Petes defiant stance of the officer with a drummer that is not quite so sure and is looking to the boss just to check.
Roger, Cheers Mate. I have been 'dressing' the drummer today. I do enjoy putting some detail in to the piece. Will post later.
Daniel, I am pleased you like the idea. As you will have seen from the previous posts; I was a little stuck for a good layout and the drummer meant that I did not have to shelve the drum.
Colin, If anyone can cen put things in to the shell of a nut it is you Mate. I absolutely agree.....grubby boots and Regimental drums do not go together.

Just a quick question, Does anyone have a good reference for a British drummers/musicians sword for 1812 please. I have seen a crucifix short sword with a lions head but I am not totally conviced that this is correct.
Thanks again and all the very best,
Keith

Good morning one and all,
A few photos of this weekends work. The most work has been on the jacket and shoulder straps. The shako has been in the making for while.....just a tiny fired proper grenade on the cockade that holds the hackle.
I hope that it meets with your approval Guys.
All the best,
Keith