Good morning to all on PF ,

120mm busts are very popular and having seen this release from Model Cellar its easy to see why ..what has Paul tempted us with :



As always lets have a bit of information and background details on the Turkish Army in the Crimea

Ottoman Imperial Army, infantry and artillery uniforms in the 1850s go through a period of rapid change. General Vanson in the Crimea illustrates these. Broadly, the Ottoman Army in 1854-55 wore four different series of uniforms:

• Older shell-jackets.
• Two versions of long skirted tunics. Basically, a universal pattern, for all Army ranks, which itself had begun service from the 1850s, identical to the Napoleonic period Prussian Landwher 'Litewka'.
• Introduced in 1856 a 'smart' looking new pattern tunic, with short skirts following British and French tunic patterns.

Three Crimean War Turkish Soldiers, from a period illustration representing:

• Foot Artillery, and note in particular the cross-cannon badge on the cross-belt, as well as the buckle. The red collar, cuffs and shoulder boards, worn on an 1840s wool shell jacket.
• Infantry soldier, with long blue frockcoat (being introduced for general service wear throughout the Army) with red tape edging to the cuffs, collar and along the button holes.
• Infantry junior officer, whose rank-band is identified by the red tape chevron on the collar. Often referred to as NCOs, these were the ‘Bascavus’ (Sergeant-major), ‘Bascavus Muavini’ (Assistant Sergeant-major), and Cavus (Sergeant), and all three ranks wore the exact same collar distinction.

Only the ‘Onbasi’ (normally translated as Corporal) whom held a rank in Army but was not regarded as a junior officer, in fact he was the only actual NCO in the whole Imperial Army, in this period. He may have been identified as well with the red tape chevron on the collar as well.


Plate 20: Illustrates this transition between the end of 1853 with the abolition of 'orders' and the adoption in 1861 of the new rank system using gold and silver cuff chevrons.

• This led to an 'eight-year' gap, where officers are still in service holding the older orders, which are withdrawn as individuals were promoted, retired or died.
• During the Crimean War period, a temporary/experimental system was in place that operated as a set of basic rank-bands where officers wore the same uniform/rank insignia.

Ottoman officers almost invariably wore a 'passant' or epaulette loop of gold lace on either shoulder near the sleeve seam, which seems to have served as a mark of officer status (there are no indications that epaulets were ever attached to these, except possibly in some Guard units).

• Apart from these simple devices there is no indication of any system of officer's rank insignia in use in the Ottoman army; both Vanson and Constantin Guys commented on the apparent lack of any form of rank insignia among the Ottoman officers [1].
• Typically, the epaulettes were only fitted for ceremonial roles. However, the Ottoman practice of not wearing rank is well documented

• Vanson described a number of figures as wearing 'light' or 'lightish blue' tunics, with 'darker blue' trousers.
• This could mean the tunics were simply faded, which would be much more likely with a plain indigo dye than with the mixed shade.
• The term 'Prussian blue' is generally taken to refer to a very dark shade with a bit of black added to the dye to retard fading and discolouration, a practice which had become normal in most western armies by this period. By contrast, most sources would seem to suggest that the Ottoman army continued to use a plain unmixed indigo dye for their uniforms till quite late in the century (the contemporary Spanish army, which followed the same practice, referred to the shade as 'Turkish blue').
• As a note of interest, the officers were depicted leading troops wearing the 'old' uniform, while the description quotes the other ranks as wearing the 'new' uniform in 'plain blue', with seven brass buttons down the front of the tunic, flapped cuffs, no rear pocket flaps, no trim on the trouser seams, and white crossbelts (the latter apparently rather unusual with the 'new' uniform).
• C.A Norman notes, that the officer's uniforms in both cases being virtually identical despite what their men might be wearing.
• Infantry Offices are depicted with almost identical uniforms:
  • Tunic and trousers Prussian Blue, generally nine gilt buttons down the front;
  • Red tape edging the front opening, bottom of collar, (rear) pocket flaps, cuffs and trousers;
  • Straight-bladed swords for subaltern officers'.
• Some figures differs only in carrying a scimitar instead of a straight-bladed sword.
• As well, have no piping on the trouser seams.
• Collar and cuffs would be dark blue.
• Shoulder 'passants' gold.
• Boots black.
• The fez red with a dark blue (less commonly, black) tassel.
• The waistbelt depicted appears so commonly in the GEN. Vanson's sketches of officers it might almost be considered a 'standard' model; he described it as of gold lace with a red centre line and red Morrocco lining.

Officers were grouped according to the traditional titles of nobility, which also corresponded to various military ranks. Thus, ‘PASHAS’ (Generals), ranked above ‘BEYS’ (Colonels), and the ‘AGHAS’ (certain civil and military functionaries in the Ottoman empire), but below ‘KHEDIVES’ (the Royal King of Egypt), and ‘VIZIERS’ (the Ottoman Sultan’s ministers – who were frequently senior generals in the army









Turkish Infantryman (of the 1st Division Debarking at Kamiesch, 7 April 1855), were discribed as wearing the 'new' uniform.

• The tunic and trousers would be dark blue.
• The bottom of the collar, shoulderstraps, top of the cuffs and cuff flaps edged with red tape, brass buttons, black belts with brass plate.
• The boots are unshaded but appear to be of 'Western' type, presumably black.
• A unit number is occasionally depicted on the shoulderstraps,(which should be in red cloth cut out numerals applique sewn to the board).
• Infantry other ranks trousers were generally worn loose over the boots, seldom with any trim on the outer seam.
• The same variations of trim might occur on the tunic collar as worn on the 'old' uniform, though cuffs tend to be more standardized.
• The rear of the other ranks tunic was generally plain, with two buttons at the back of the waist, a slit up the centre seam of the skirts to the waist, rarely with pocket flaps or coloured trim.

Infantryman, were noted by GEN. Vanson wearing more-or-less standard 'old' uniform, consisting of a dark blue jacket and trousers, the bottom of the collar, shoulder straps and top of the cuffs edged with red tape; the cuffs are dearly open up the rear seem.

• While this would seem to have been the most common pattern, variations in trim occurred, most notably on the collar, which might be edged on all sides with red tape, or on the top and front only, sometimes with variations in the width of the tape.
• What appears to be a cap pouch is worn on the right front of the waistbelt, flanked by a second pouch of unknown function.
• A small 'squiggley' line is depicted on the right breast; conceivably a touch-hole needle on a chain or cord?
• The lower legs are covered by stockings with native shoes

The Ottoman soldiers depicted are wearing garments not unlike the traditional men’s costumes found in Bulgaria and the other regional Slavic cultures, which the Ottomans shared some common cultural characteristics. The garments being described are actually a form of pants, which can still be seen used in traditional folk men’s costumes from Bulgaria. These appear in two variants:

• The “Benevretsi”: A woollen long and narrow set of pants, which incorporate a tightly fitting “Nogavitsi” (legging) that partly covers the slippers.
• A type of pants called a ‘Dimii’: These are broader in the upper areas, and have short legs. This is often worn with a pair of slip-on wool felt boot-socks. The wearer then puts on slippers, and may wind black tap around the boot-socks in order to secure these more.

Of course as with any campaign supply , practicality and comfort came to the fore when wearing uniforms ...

but the one thing that distinguished the Turkish contingent was the Fez headwear

.....deadly Tommy Cooper impressions..."just like that"

(Picture by Chris Flaherty)

Fez: The fe z is about the only thing uniform about every Ottoman unit and even then there are exceptions to this rplace by cardboard. The tassels were either pinned down by a brass button or a red wool button.

Continued in next post:

Nap

On now to the actual model :

As with the from Frys (long gone) this model is full of eastern promise , received with the normal excellent rapid service (even allowing for our British Postal system!!!)

Packed in a cardboard box with a colour picture of the finished model on the front for reference if you so desire , the contents were wrapped with care in a small piece of bubble wrap which was held in place by polystyrene chippings

Consisting of just 3 pieces , the torso with the fez tassel and the same base as in others from the range

Details of the model are :

Title: Turkish Infantry Officer Crimea

Reference: MC120 B03

Scale: 120mm

Material: Resin

No of pieces: 3

Sculptor: Steve Leadley (Valiant on PF)

Casting: Paul at Model Cellar

Box Art: Dan Capuano

As said there are 3 pieces and the first thing that stood out to me is the simplicity of the piece and whats more noticable the TOTAL need for NO PREP ..this is casting at its best , all edges are super smooth , not a casting line or remnant to be seen ..nice one Paul

Starting with the main piece this consists of the Torso cut down at an angle at the waist the undersides angled to receive the base cleanly , the head is also sculpted with the body .

Our subject wears the fez (tall type) , looking to the left he has the look of a Turk (indeed I would see him in some bazaar selling goods!!!) this has the top of the tassel on it ready to receive the hanging piece , the headwear is conical and angular and he is wearing it .

Facial features are really nice he has a beard , well kept (as expected in an officer) nice details in the eye area and also on the beard itself , the moustache is styled .

He has a high double breasted tunic with a sash at the wiast , the undercuts are good and tightly sculpted and cast , epaulettes are being worn again with nice details at the buttons as are those on the tunic .

Across his chest he has a broad belt , really nice details on the buckle especially. and well sculpte dat the back as well

on now to the tassel end ..this fits very well to the top of the fez and hangs naturally as well ..it looks the business as we say .

The base is the distinctive one used in the series , small but perfectly formed , providing a good addition to the piece and looking good .

Books are available a good couple include:

Final thoughts:

"Small and perfectly formed" describes this bust and indeed others in the range from Model Cellar .

The bust is a piece with both sculpting and casting of a very high order , simple but very effective to look at and will give you hours of fun and enjoyment .

...and a good companion to the others in the range.

For more information why not visit the website (have the Credit card ready!!!)

www.modelcellar.com

Thanks to Paul at Model Cellar for the Review model and to you all for looking in

Nap

Hi Dance cap ,

Could you post the colour plates please ...

Thanks for the input appreciated

Nap