FeR Miniatures: Neue Releases

Neue (beinahe) historische Modelle von FeR für den September.

FeR Miniatures bringen für den September 3 neue historische Modelle. Okay im Fall von Rob Roy eine Mischung aus Historik und Literatur.

Drummer Boy, 77th East Middlesex, 1808, 28€

The British Army was present in many fronts of the Napoleonic Wars, from the arid and rough fields of Spain and Portugal to the final phases of the war in Flanders and France. Among those forces was the 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot, raised in 1787 for service in India. This regiment saw action on many campaigns, from Walcheren to the Peninsula and France.

Our miniature portrays one of the drummer boys of the regiment. The position of drummer was quite important, as they had to transmit the orders to the ranks through drum signals. Some were even used as couriers in diplomatic roles, as some of the drum signals could be used to call for a meeting or truce between enemy sides.

Even if the popular romantic depiction of them was about very young boys who fled from home in order to enlist and fight for their country, the fact is that they used to be just younger soldiers or even middle aged men.

This classic from miniatures’ history was released in the late 90’s by Elite Miniaturas and the original boxart was painted by Raúl García Latorre himself.

Rob Roy, 40€

Robert Roy MacGregor is one of those legendary characters in which history intertwines with folklore and facts get mixed with myth.

The historical character was born at Glengyle, Scotland in 1670 or 1671. When he was only eighteen years old, he joined his father and other clans of the Highlands in the Jacobite revolt of 1688. Some years after, he again participated on the revolt of 1715, being severely wounded on the Battle of Glen Shiel of 1719. After that, he became a well-known and respected cattleman, but peace was not going to last too much. He borrowed money to expand his cattle herd and was scammed by the overseer in charge of it, who fled with the money. He lost his properties and defaulted the payment to his debtor, the Duke of Montrose, situation that branded him as an outlaw. He finally got imprisoned, later was pardoned in 1727 and finally died in 1734. Some sources indicate that the origin of his feud with the Duke started when he bought in open purchase Rob Roy’s properties, which had been seized because of his participation on the 1715 revolt.

Interest in this fascinating character started quite early, actually while the historical Rob Roy was still alive, with the publishing of an account of his life in 1723 titled “The Highland Rogue: or, the memorable actions of the celebrated Robert Mac-gregor, commonly called Rob-Roy”. Soon, other authors started to write about the subject, which became enormously famous with “Rob Roy”, published by Sir Walter Scott in 1817. Today, Rob Roy is the quintessential romantic character that rebels against superior forces after being wronged.

Our figure is inspired on the main character from Walter Scott’s story, using actual reference from the historical character and period, like the MacGregor tartan, a plain leather sporran based on actual surviving examples, or some classic weapons of the Jacobites of the period, a basket hilt broadsword and an all-metal Highland pistol.

Gallic Warrior, 52 B. C, 28€

The Gallic Wars were a series of military campaigns waged by Julius Cesar against the Celtic tribes of the Gaul from 58 B. C. to 50 B. C. Even if Roman historians portrayed these wars as a defensive conflict, the truth is that Cesar decided to conduct them to boost his military and political career. This move proved useful, as he ended up being the only ruler of the Roman Republic.

The Gauls lived in loose confederation of tribes and, even if their military power was equal to the one of the Romans, their organization, politics and the constant quarries between rival tribes allowed Cesar to conquer them bit by bit, allying himself with some tribes against others and waging war to them according to the most favorable circumstances.

The turning point of the conflict was the Battle of Alessia, on 52 B. C. when the leader of the Gallic Confederation, the Arvernian Vercingetorix, was finally defeated by Cesar.

Our figure portrays one of those fierce Gallic warriors that fought alongside Vercingetorix on those fateful battles that marked the twilight of the Celts as a main culture in continental Europe.

Quelle: FeR Miniatures