In the late 19th century in Canada, there existed a paramilitary organization called the Legion of Frontiersmen. It was an organization that would have been very much like the militia, or part time soldiers, but weren't necessarily soldiers in the strictest sense of the term. (I've heard them described as scouts, for adults, but that seems a little disrespectful) Some of them served with Canada's expeditionary force during the boer war of 1898-1903.

When the First World War broke out in 1914, many of the Frontiersmen units were absorbed into Canada's military, as they had the necessary military background the government was looking for in the initial draft of volunteers. For example, a good portion of the original members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Canada's last privately raised regiment, and one of three permanent force regiments in today's Canadian Army) were members of the Frontiersmen.


This gentleman here is Captain (later Colonel) Walter Fredric Rendell pictured in the uniform of the Newfoundland Frontiersmen in 1914. At this time, Captain Wendell was the adjutant of the Newfoundland Regiment, and had the distinction of being the first officer of the Regiment to be wounded at Gallipoli. It is noteworthy from a uniform perspective to mention that Capt. Wendell was one of three officers at the time who chose to wear the famous blue puttees that would become in iconic part of the Newfoundland Regiments uniform.

The history lesson is necessary because you don't see to many of these fellows being portrayed as a figure. Because I love Canadian subjects, and the more obscure the better, I have decided to address this egregious void in the subject matter of the hobby by undertaking a conversion project to represent an Officer of the Newfoundland Frontiersmen, 1914.

As a starting point, I am using Fortes Miniatures WWI Prussian Officer, and the alternate head from Bent Bristles rare kit of The Royal Canadian Regiment Yukon Expedition. I did painted up the RCR kit a few years ago to some acclaim at the World Expo in Chicago in 2017, but lost the spare head which featured a slouch hat! But fellow Canadian and owner of the Bent Bristle name, Alex McCutcheon came to the rescue with a replacement for me!
the starting point.

So after some minor surgery where the Prussian uniform detail is removed, especially the lower part of the tunic, and with the addition of the new head, I am off to a pretty good start. I used Tamiya yellow tape for the puttees. Magicsculpt is the medium of choice here.

More WIP to come! Thanks for having a look and for indulging me in my history lecture. Since retiring from teaching, I don't get much chance to do that anymore. And yes, there will be a quiz.

Today's progress. I've added the officer's sash, which would most likely have been the standard British red officer's sash. Although my friend and proud Newfoundlander, Ray Welshman has done a tremendous amount of research on the Newfoundland Frontiersmen, and many of them were actually Irish Catholic immigrants. So he posited that a green sash may not have been out of the question. I'll save that controversy for when I start painting. I've also added the belt, and worked on some of the shirt and front pockets. Tomorrow, I hope to finish up on the collar, the sword frog, sword, cross belt strap and gauntlets for the gloves. Last detail will be the chain mail shoulder scales. That should almost finish the sculpting phase.

I have just caught up with your project, excellent progress. I had heard of this unit as in the mid 1980s they attended the Remberance parade at the Cenotaph. They were the last unit to parade pass.
Following your take on this unit.

Looking good... a novel and imaginative conversion.

Pity about losing your head though...

BTW: found your Yukon fig here... nice

Very nice and accurate rework. I hope more updates....

Never heard of this unit before your post.
Will follow your conversion with interest.
Regards
Kirk

I have finished the sculpting process. I just need to allow the putty to set up and dry so that I can do a little bit of clean up, and then I will be able to prime the figure prior to painting.

This is exactly what I call historical modelling.Historical accuracy combined with artistic creativity.I loved every part of your presentation and will be following this.Please feel free to share as much history lecture as you like.

Oda.

Super work Glen. Great background info and a truly individual piece. Look forward to seeing you add some colour to this.

Neal

That's an interesting subject and piece, nice work !!!
Steve

Thanks to everyone for their encouragement. I am pleased to say that the hard part for me is now completed, and the figure is primed up and ready for paint. I hope to get a start on that this afternoon.

Painting is all done, so I took a few pictures with my iphone. Once I have the ground work done I'll try to take some better pictures with my camera and post under the "finished" forum
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