Hi All,
I picked this up at the Leeds Christmas bash from Gordon on Saturday and so pleased I did. When I first saw the release by Ross - Mitches Military Models it reminded me instantly of a Boer war memorial that used to stand in Ward Jackson Park Hartlepool. Sadly the statue is no longer there only the plinth remains. Good news is there is a fund raising campaign to raise money for another statue.
https://www.facebook.com/boerwarstatuehartlepool/?ref=br_rs

This new 120mm version model kit has been long over due and it's a very nicely sculpted by Moz and the casting is crisp and sharp. The photo's of the piece have come straight from the box.

Good Boer war figures are few and far between and Mitches have produced the two best to date in my opinion. This one and the new mounted trumpeter which is also lovely figure, I viewed this on Saturday too and was so nearly tempted.

I've always wanted to make the Boer war memorial, whether I do it as the stock figure or modify it is yet to be determined. I will at some point go to the park and photograph the plinth so I can have the names engraved on a plaque in order to replicate the plinth.
Please enjoy.
cheers
Richie

Cracking looking figure, thanks for the review Richie....
cheers
Jim

Hi Nap,
The bayonet is separate I think! Don't think I broke it.
cheers
Richie

Super breakdown of parts pics Richie, think I will have a go at one.

Will follow with interest.

Cheers
Geoff

The statue looks more like a Mounted Infantry or cavalryman, Richie, due to the bandolier, carbine and lack of valise equipment....? Just an observation.... I may be wrong, of course!!

Damn. That is one dandy of a kit. Nice review Richie.

Thanks a lot Richie. Great sculpt by Moz as always, & really crisp casting by MMM. It's nice to see the early entrenching tool included, one piece of kit you don't see that often.

This is my first post. I'm slowly returning to painting figures after a long break. I remember painting this figure at a much smaller scale way way back probably early eighties... It lost more than the bayonet when it went from the top of the stairs to the bottom along with several others... and that's one reason why my painting hobby/habit has been on hold for so many years... Lovely to be reminded of being young and sorely tempted to re-purchase, would anyone remember the original manufacturer... Or availability. Would have originally have been bought... In a shop!
Tim

If I recall right I think Ritchie said it happened in the 60s, so good old fashioned thievery
Steve

is the helmet missing a bit from the top?

There should be a flat-ish button with vents on top.....

Great review very detailed and informative.

Gary

I assume this one?
https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/ne...s-stolen-scrap-thieves-hartlepool-park-392174

They mooted replacing it with a 3D printed resin copy

... but it's clearly not happened
https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/113950

Also happened more recently (as no claims were made it looks like it was again for the metal?)
https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/ne...s-stolen-scrap-thieves-hartlepool-park-392174

Now restored: https://www.securityinfowatch.com/government/news/10501411/historic-uk-statue-gets-security-upgrades

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/17720170020/in/photostream/

Yes. memorials can be interesting... if not too jingoistic.

Compare Malaysia's oversized, gung-ho National Monument*, complete with heroic action-men Malays and dead Japanese/Chinese Communists, with the inter-war British cenotaph and those in many a town/village square.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Monument_(Malaysia)

*designed by the same guy that did the US Marines memorial... but in my view it's all rather clumsy and contrived

A selection of interesting UK ones:

Above: WW1 Oldham; WW1 Heaton Moor; WW1/2 Sikhs, Huddersfield; PTSD, RAMC, 'Shot at Dawn' all at the Nat'l Memorial Arboretum, Staffs; WW2 Southsea;W Owen memorial, Birkenhead; Horse memorial Romsey; Black Watch, Dundee)

So, plenty to go at (and there's loads more), though I feel that the old blitzed Coventry Cathedral is the most powerful (I shiver every time I stand in it). It's appropriate that it's twinned with Dresden. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_Blitz

The National Memorial Arberetum looks interesting:
http://www.thenma.org.uk/
http://www.thenma.org.uk/whats-here/the-memorials/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Memorial_Arboretum