FRANCE 1706 - REGIMENT NORMANDIE. FIRST BATTALION ON A SINGLE PLATE

 After a long wait, I have finally received 30 metal plates (provided by REVIS acciai and cut by CTL) that allow me to deploy one battalion on a single base, with a great saving of time; I started with the first battalion of the Normandie Regiment. At the Battle of Turin in 1706 it took part with 1,310 men, that is about 436 men per battalion (a total of 3 battalions); in fact, from these figures one must subtract the regimental staff, which consisted of 1 commander, a deputy, and so on for about 10 men (I would add another 10 NCOs); in any case, for the first battalion I kept the number fixed at 436 men, of whom:

86 in the first line 103 in the second line, 93 in the third line, 93 in the fourth line for a total of 375 men (including lieutenants and second lieutenants among them); 15 men in the flag group (3 flags); 12 drummers, 11 NCOs and 11 captains behind the lines, and the staff, consisting of 1 battalion commander, 3 officers and 6 NCOs.

This is the visual effect of the first battalion of the Regiment Normandie.

Metal plates

Metal plates with (paper) grass

The First Battalion deployed for marching forwards

I would like to rimind that this soldiers are totally amovable even though they are well anchred with a magnet to the metal plate (see the 3 soldiers moved in the foreground)

A MIDDLE EAST TOWN IN THE XI-XIII CENTURY

Although my original intention was to depict the Third Battle of Ramla at a 1:1 scale, I eventually got carried away. Some time ago, I began reconstructing—entirely out of paper—a Fatimid city, or at least a coastal one. The walls had already been completed earlier, and from there I moved on to the inner buildings. Now I have reached the stage of constructing the minaret. This is the first one.

I started with two toilet paper rolls stacked on top of each other and a medicine box. I made a small cut at the base of the roll so it would fit more securely into the structure (picture 1).

Picture 1

I then glued the two elements together and reinforced them (picture 2).

Picture 2

I then prepared a base for the octagonal terrace and glued (picture 3).

Picture 3

Here is the final result. The dome was made by twisting blue sheets of paper; however, the overall look and proportions did not fully convince me (picture 4)

Picture 4

I then proceeded to cut it in half, creating a joint in order to make the minaret higher.

Picture 5

I added and glued the joint (picture 6)

Picture 6

I then added the cut section back, wrapped everything in a nice blue color, and added a second balcony, giving the minaret a more realistic appearance (picture 7)

Picture 7

This is the final result. Nonetheless I did not like the colours of the side building and so I had to change it as well (what a job!) (Picture 8)

Picure 8

This is the (new) renoved final result: better colours (picture 9)

Picture 9

Please note the detail on the top (picture 10)

Picture 10

THE FIRST PAPERSOLDIER CUT BY MY SON MAXIMILIAN

 BRAVO MAX!

It’s always a special feeling when your child walks the same path as you. The result doesn’t matter; what counts is the effort and the willingness to spend an afternoon with his dad playing with little soldiers. Sometimes dreams really do come true. Mine – a lifelong one – came true today. 

Thank you, Maximilian!

This is the first paper soldier he’s cut out with real skill. He chose a Swedish Yellow Brigade arquebusier from the Battle of Lützen. We had fun setting it up and taking photographs. A rainy, cold day outside—what could be better? Nothing!

(Not just any name: he was named after an ancestor who, interestingly, was once against these Swedes of the Yellow Brigade.)