Dan Morton
A Fixture
Of all the anachronisms of the First World War, surely one of the strangest was the persistence of cavalry use of lances early in the war. In 1914 Britain, France, Germany, Austro-Hungary, Turkey and Russia all fielded cavalry using the lance.
This very early WIP of a French Dragoon Lancer is the first of six planned horses and riders. All the horses are Verlinden. They come from two Napoleonic kits. All of them are rearing. To reduce the weight of each horse, I've hollowed the bodies out and to better support the weight of the horse on the back legs only, I've drilled the legs and put rod in some of the straight pieces. I've removed all the Napoleonic saddles and horse tackle and started replacing them with the appropriate types. In the case of the Dragoon, I've replaced the bridle, changed the saddle and am working on various other parts of horse tackle.
The WIP photos of the Dragoon are not very good, but hopefully viewers much better acquainted with and skilled in horse-riding than myself will be able to provide critique to improve the rider placement. Elsewhere I've been picking Keith and Martin's brains about the techniques used by the rider to stay aboard a rearing horse. Since I'm doing six of these, all in roughly the same poses, I'd like to get the first spot on if I can.
I've included photos of a Dragoon re-enactor and equipment if you are unfamiliar with the 1914 uniforms, weapons and equipment. Besides the lance, the Dragoon will be armed with a carbine, which I've already made and put in a rifle bucket which will be slung on the horse.
I used a reddish brown putty to stick the brass rod which will become the lance to the rider's right hand. The left hand will hold the reins and the reins will be tight.
Your comments and critique are invited.
All the best,
Dan
This very early WIP of a French Dragoon Lancer is the first of six planned horses and riders. All the horses are Verlinden. They come from two Napoleonic kits. All of them are rearing. To reduce the weight of each horse, I've hollowed the bodies out and to better support the weight of the horse on the back legs only, I've drilled the legs and put rod in some of the straight pieces. I've removed all the Napoleonic saddles and horse tackle and started replacing them with the appropriate types. In the case of the Dragoon, I've replaced the bridle, changed the saddle and am working on various other parts of horse tackle.
The WIP photos of the Dragoon are not very good, but hopefully viewers much better acquainted with and skilled in horse-riding than myself will be able to provide critique to improve the rider placement. Elsewhere I've been picking Keith and Martin's brains about the techniques used by the rider to stay aboard a rearing horse. Since I'm doing six of these, all in roughly the same poses, I'd like to get the first spot on if I can.
I've included photos of a Dragoon re-enactor and equipment if you are unfamiliar with the 1914 uniforms, weapons and equipment. Besides the lance, the Dragoon will be armed with a carbine, which I've already made and put in a rifle bucket which will be slung on the horse.
I used a reddish brown putty to stick the brass rod which will become the lance to the rider's right hand. The left hand will hold the reins and the reins will be tight.
Your comments and critique are invited.
All the best,
Dan
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