Friday 10 December 2021

Pavlovian response

Like many wargamers of a certain age the Pavlovski Grenadiers are right up there in my affection with the 95th Rifles and the Grumblers of the Old Guard so it’s no surprise that I have felt the urge to paint some at last, although I must add that I have been careful not to drool on them in the process.

RN/7 Pavlovski Guard, marching.

I’ve had these figures in the lead pile for well over 10 years but I’m not entirely sure of their provenance. The castings seem too light and crisp to be vintage ones but too well defined to be Clayton’s, I can only assume they are recasts but if they are, they are very good ones.

I've painted the rolled up greatcoat on top of the pack black in an effort to disguise it.

One curiosity is that the marching figure not only has a greatcoat rolled around his body but also one rolled above his pack. This is an odd mistake for Marcus Hinton to have made but I do have a few Clayton’s as well, and they have the same error. It’s just the marching figure which is like this as I have samples of the other positions and they don’t have the second greatcoat.

If any of you have bona fide (should that be bona fido?) vintage castings of same, then please let me know how many greatcoats they have by leaving a comment – perhaps they have been issued with two because they are Guard?

18 comments:

Rob said...

He's gorgeous, when does he report along with his mates for duty with the army?
Sorry, but the greatcoat conundrum is beyond me.

the Archduke said...

Did not Suvorov boast that his soldiers were so tough that they did not need greatcoats in the depths of winter? now , my Pavlovs are hidden in one of those boxes but I’m sure they did not have the xtra coat. Curious.

Stryker said...

Rob, if you keep your troops wasting their time marching along the north bank of the Danube long enough it might just give me enough time to finish the whole unit!

Stryker said...

Nigel, no great coats at all eh? Now where did I put my file?

Matt said...

Very smart looking fellow indeed, rolled greatcoats or not.

Would be interesting to see his heritage.

Stryker said...

Cheers Matt hopefully someone will fill us in!

Norm said...

Lovely.

'Lee. said...

Ian, I always thought the greatcoat was rolled on top of the pack and it was a blanket roll across the chest, certainly was in the ACW at least and often a rubberised blanket for warmth. I can't see a greatcoat being rolled in that neat fashion. Maybe different in the Napoleonic period of course. Anyway, he looks very smart and of course well painted.

Stryker said...

Thanks Norm!

Stryker said...

Lee, Marcus Hinton describes it as a greatcoat rolled around the body in the HH painting instructions so not quite like the ACW. I agree though its hard to see how you could make a neat job of that!

KEV. Robertson. said...

A very nice figure and brilliantly painted too- well done IAN. A Regiment will look very nice.

Stryker said...

Cheers Kev!

'Lee. said...

Well I'm certainly not going to argue with Marcus Hinton where it comes to uniform research Ian! I guess a rolled greatcoat would just about go round the body like that but it would be a snug fit.

Wellington Man said...

I think it's a little leather carrying case of some sort. I've got examples of all three of the Pavlov poses, and they've all got one. If you look really caarefully there's a row of tiny little buttons on them. I've sent you photos be email!
Best regards
WM

Aly Morrison said...

Very nice indeed… I’m looking forward to seeing the whole unit…

Double greatcoats seem to be a thing with some vintage figures… I’ve got a French unit in greatcoats that also had one on their packs… now removed…😁

All the best. Aly

Stryker said...

WM, thanks for the info, very interesting - there will be another post on this topic!

Stryker said...

Aly, its seeming likely that this was not a mistake by Marcus but something intentionally sculpted - problem is what is it?

David said...

I just took a look at my poor DK castings for comparison, figuring that they were probably sired by an original HH. Mine are in the advancing pose, but as Matthew states, very clearly a row of buttons on top, so unlikely to be a rolled greatcoat on top of the backpack. I love the way you have painted the Mitre plate. Nicely done!