New Zouave conversion

They've been around since 2006, but this is the first I've heard of them.

Danila Souvenirs of Estonia makes some pretty nice 54mm metal toy soldiers.  They have a couple of infantrymen - Union and Confederate, a couple foot officers, Lincoln, Grant, Lee, and some mounted figures.

They are the quality that W. Britians were twenty years ago.

They're half the price of current Britains, so  I bought a foot officer to repaint as a major for the 114th PA zouave regiment that I'm raising.

I'm happy with the way he came out.

Zouaves are cool.

Soldier on!

Mannie

Zouaves!

 Sidetracked again.

Regular followers of this blog know that I frequently make big noise about doing one thing, and then I get distracted by something else.  Well, here I go again.

Over the past few weeks I've been raising a regiment of  55-60mm zouaves to comprise the 114th PA regiment  (Collis' zouaves).  I'm gathering not just the W. Britains 114 zouaves, but others as well, all makes and models, including home-cast.  As a result, I have much painting to do to make them all uniform. 

I have to turn these guys...

into these guys...

 I've started on the painting, and it will take some time, but I think it will be done by winter.  It will be my seventh (and final) regiment of 51 men.

Stay tuned and...

Soldier on!

Mannie

 

Retirement project. I've written a book

 Dear friends,

One of the reasons that I have been so delinquent in posting to this blog over the last year, is that I have been writing a book: Lie, Cheat, and Steal: one boy's Navy adventure.

It will be available on Amazon in August of 2026, but you can read it for free, in its entirety right here:

Lie, Cheat, and Steal: one boy's Navy adventure

Happy reading, and...

Soldier on!

Mannie

Marx: The Battle of Antietam

Today I've begun the long and tedious set-up for my next toy soldier scenario, which will be vignettes from the Sept 17, 1862 battle of Antietam.

I was a park ranger at Antietam National Battlefield for many years, and it will be a nice homecoming to revisit this story.

It will be an ongoing process that will feature Marx figures exclusively, and many of the scenics will be Marx, but I'll also be utilizing many of my homemade terrain elements as well to fill-out the battlefield.

Pictured here is a test of the action in the West Woods.  Experienced toy soldier enthusiasts will recognize the danger of the dreaded "domino effect" represented by these long lines of soldiers.  I hope that I don't bump the table.

Thank you for your patience during these many months of inactivity, but do check in occasionally to see how things are progressing.

And as always, click on the photo for a larger and more pleasing view.

Until next time,

Soldier on!

Mannie