Looking forward to this Mick. It’s going to be nice seeing the potential different variations people make of this figure. Had a quick look at mine when I got back and it certainly looks like another top offering.
Neal
Got back safely thanks Mick. He left me a bit of pocket change! Nice to get a chance to chat.Thanks Neal,
I will be doing the other one in French Gray Tunic, Pleased you got home ok had visions of you walking back as young Theo spent all the fare home. M.
Chair pulled up and brew on. Best to see how the master does it before i take a bash at mine
If I might chip in, as one who wore the caubeen for more than 30 years, the texture of this one is far too pronounced. The caubeens reintroduced in 38 (Irish) Brigade during the Italian campaign were cut from the greatcoats of Italian prisoners, but later were made either from rough serge (working dress) or fine felt (Service/Number 2 Dress); pipers would almost certainly have worn the latter. Furthermore, anyone who has ever had to shape his caubeen (And this piper's has clearly been shaped) will know that it takes a great deal of pummeling and stroking to tame it - all of which will flatten any pile.
Having said that, what a magnificent figure and where do I get one?
Thanks Mick. I'll get in touch.
I think your sculptor has fallen a little foul of the distinctions between the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and its associated militia/territorial battalions. The figure looks like a pretty good representation of an Inniskillings piper c1900 with the exception of the plume and the pompom on his caubeen. The Skins wore feathered hackles and a caubeen without a pompom. The pipers of the Royal Tyrone Fusiliers (Which became the 3rd Battalion) wore a single feather plume and pompoms. Simkins produced quite a large collection of gouache paintings of the Tyrones and I think that this has provided one of the references, but you will note if you look at them that the capbadge on the Tyrone Fusiliers paintings and that of the Inniskillings depicted on the figure are very different.
Great picture of Inniskilling Fusilier pipers dolling out the gunfire at Anzio, wearing their Italian Greatcoats.
Here's an idea of the colours worn albeit from a recruiting poster of the 1950s
Doing mine as we speak. Great figure, will be using the Simpkins print as my direction. Dark blue tunic and saffron skirt.