Here are couple works in progress. One is a New Zealand Camelier from the 5th Bn, NZMR (Otago Hussars) and a German Sudwest Afrika Camel Scout. The figures of the soldiers themselves are barely started, but I've been working on the camels and their various paraphernalia for over a month of weekends. Lots more to do.

The NZ soldier will be posed rolling a cigarette with his SMLE over his lap. The German will have an open map and compass on his lap. He's holding binoculars in one hand and will have the camel reins in the other.

Hope you like them.

Because of the attachment size limits, it may take me a couple posts to put up the photos.
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

All the best,
Dan

And more photos.

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

Thanks Dan

Wonderful detail and definition. I look forward to the finished works. I was looking through the Culture Pages last night and was suitably impressed with what I found.

I do like
Al

Thank you so much, Al!

All the best,
Dan

Hi Dan


They look great.
Just a few questions , Why did you pick 5th Otago? as after Gallipoli they were all sent to France for the rest of the war.
Also to note is they were issued with 03 pattern equipment not 08 webbing, the NZMR in Sinai Palestine.
Do you make the camels or are they a Kit Set or mould? with alterations?
After having another look at some of my drawings I thought I would point this out maybe to late.
The apron strap should be attached to the apron or be under it as in this pic I spent months researching it making sure all of my drawings were correct.
Also to note no bit was used for the ICC camels No rifle buckets were used.

This is a small section of a Illustration Australian ICC that I drew. I have about 8 in total of different loads saddles used by the ICC still a few more to do.
JP

JP - The camels are Verlinden - both heavily modified. One was originally from a Roman kit and the other some kind of Arab raider. I can and will fix the "bit" and the apron strap. Pretty easy really. Too bad about the rifle bucket. That was fun to make. But I'll take it off and save it for later use. Wonder why they didn't use them? As far as the Otago Hussars, I had little reference material to go by. What unit would be correct? 6th Manawatu or 12th Otago maybe? I knew about the 03 leather equipment and ammo containers. The figure needs to be a little further along before I even start on those.

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

All the best,
Dan

Hi Dan

Any of the Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury Mounted Rifles are Correct
The For King and Country is 12th Otago with 7th Southland Mounted rifles and the 5th Otago all ended up in France.
The Rifle bucket of that type was designed for the up saddle so it would not work with the camel saddle.
The smle was held in the right hand and the left hand was used to steer the camel.
Here is a close up of the girth strapping and attachment it may be of help it looks like you have it to close together
I saw the 08 Water bottle so was referring to that on the camel in reference to 03 pat
Hope this is of help to you
What type of saddle did you base it all on for the ICC?
The normal riding saddles have a 4 Pad design with a frame of wood and steel and leather seat.
Is yours two big pads one on each side?




Regards JP

You're right about that 08 water bottle. I can fix that pretty easily. As to the saddle, only the cantle shows because of the way everything was covered up with blankets and rugs and so forth. All the photos I could find showed most of the saddle covered. Some showed the use of stirrups and others did not, so I chose not to show stirrups. I came up with one photo of a camel saddle from the web - wood, metal and leather, as you say. Basically I imagined how that would fit and built up layers until I thought it would be high enough and fit the rider figure. I may need to move the girth straps a bit closer. I'll have to look at that. I'll replace the Otago cap badge with the Auckland Mounted Rifles cap badge. I have a very good photo of an AMR re-enactor, good close-up of the badge, etc. and I'll use the layout of the 03 ammo containers that the re-enactor is wearing. In the photo, the 03 ammo containers have more rounded edges on the leather covers. I seem to remember reading that this was a variation peculiar to the Australian and New Zealand manufacturers.

All the best,
Dan

Hi Dan

You will find any with stirrups will not be as used by the ICC in Australia for training and some Indian saddles.
The crossed leg idea seemed to disappear after WW1.
I would not take much notice of the saddle in the Auckalnd Museum display, it is not correct, they have some real fudged items on display.
Also The NZMR leather equipment was used only early stages and for training after that.
A NZ ICC would just be wearing standard British O3 equipment the same as the Australians and British and Indians.
It did take me a long time to track down all my info and find the best photos to reference from.
One saddle had the two wooden cantles were as the later had a bucket seat both had the 4 pads

The spacing of the girth strap on the German example is more correct as how the ICC should be

Fifty pounds of durra, a kind of millet was carried on the right side on the left is the The fantassi was a zinc vessel, oval in cross-section and about thirty inches long to carry water five gallons for five days

Here is a well known pic of 2 NZ ICC showing 03 pat being worn, the man standing is CYC Canterbury

Click to view attachment

JP - Many thanks for the added info and the photo - it's excellent! I have several photos of soldiers seated on camels but in not one is the upper part of the girth strap shown.

I'm surprised that you're recommending that I should widen the girth straps and move them a bit to the rear of the camel. Is that right? I must have misunderstood what you said in an earlier post.

For the figure, I think I will do something like the ammo bandoleer and belt in this photo of Cpl. Sinclair Reed of the Auckland Mounted Rifles.

Click to view attachment

Hi Dan glad to be of help
The width of the web girth is fine it was just the gap spacing seemed a litle narrow.
I added the drawing of the girth strap to show how it attaches as in the photograph.
Yes I no that photograph the norm would be a NZ on tunic rather than the KD the KD seems to have been more of a walking out item although some did wear it in the field. although it must have got very cold in the desert at night.
Regards Jonathan

I plan to have the figure in a KD shirt but cav trousers. I thought I would show the service jacket lying over equipment behind the figure.

All the best,
Dan