When I was in school in the early 1970s, in what is probably called Year 6 today, I can remember a school-wide test set by the principal. The test started with the instruction to read through the paper first then complete the test. Like probably 80% of the school I failed. It wasn’t the fact that the test was hard, quite the opposite in fact because these were the easiest questions you could think of and I probably answered every singe one correctly. The kicker was that the last line of the paper told everyone that now they had read through the paper, put your name at the top of the page and go no further. The objective was, of course, to teach us to read instructions thoroughly. I wish I had applied that idea before I started this unit.
Commanded by the Comte de Saint Maisme, brother-in-law to the Marquis de Lafayette, the Régiment de Soissonnais was one of four that Rochambeau brought with him to America. This force was to act as reinforcement to Washington's Continental forces during operations around New York City. The combined force was quickly diverted to the southern theatre to bottle up Cornwallis at Yorktown. Additional French troops under the Marquis de Saint-Simon joined them there.
 |
| The battalion showing off their incorrect turnbacks |
The French flags on the whole are wonderfully geometric and simple to recreate on the PC. This one took a whole five minutes.
Funny story, good looking unit, great job on flag. I agree that having started, one must finish. Change your story to 'late receipt of orders' had the unit in the old colors longer than would be expected.
ReplyDeleteThat’s the story I was considering…annoying all the same!
DeleteYes have had both experiences Mark - I have been through the "test" treading scenario more than once over the years! As I mentioned to David of GHQ recently - I have six battalions of Napoleonic Highland infantry in my collection. What's wrong with that, you ask? Well nothing really, except only three of them were in Europe between 1800 and 1815 - the others were in India!
ReplyDeleteWell at least the six battalions DID exist, unlike my old friend Jim who built up six battalions old Pavlovski Guards when only two existed, or the great error made by Minifigs in their early days by making Napoleonic British Guards in bearskins.
ReplyDeleteI think these look great just as they are!
ReplyDeleteIt was actually Marcus Hinton who produced the British Guards with Bearskins and the mistake was then copied by Minifigs (who had a bit of a habit of copying his work!).
Thanks. There is a touch of irony here: back about 30 years ago our company (Military Minatures) was sued by Minifigs for breach of copyright because our figures looked too close to their designs.
DeleteA good anecdote from your school days and one that I'm sure we've all been guilty of failing to do at some point in our lives. It reminds me of the old Airfix kits with the "If in doubt, read the instructions"!
ReplyDeleteThe unit may be in the wrong colour, but these days I try not to let these things worry me too much. Annoying yes but after a while I for one would forget that they were wrong!
I guess that at least I know for the next battalion!
DeleteBeautiful work regardless of turnbacks! We have all been in your situation, Mark. I mark this error down to supply chain issues. The manufacturer did not read the requirements thoroughly either!
ReplyDeleteThe poor supply chain is getting blamed for a lot these days. That said, I have been keeping my stocks up because of extended delays in shipping, but my recent order to the Perrys that I expected to take eight to ten weeks (based on recent experiences) arrived exactly seven days after placement. That is my best ever turnaround from the UK.
DeleteIt's been a bit like that recently Mark...I had some Border Reivers arrive from the Uk in six days! Long may it continue!
DeleteMakes you wonder where the hold ups were, given that the air traffic into NZ has not changed much in the last six months.
DeleteGreat story and beautiful painted regiment.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark. They are really nice figures to work with.
DeleteThey look much better with crimson turnbacks Mark, and I'm sure the Comte de Saint Maisme would agree. Perhaps you were channeling Austrians or Spanish? I have heard of that story of the school test before, and wonder whether it was from you? Reminds me of the entrance exam I had to sit for secondary school which involved the only IQ test I have ever done, comprised of 100 multi-choice questions. I raced into it thinking it was easy until I got to the end and realised that I had four answer spaces left over, having missed pages 2 and 3 of the test booklet due to their being stuck together. Having an official IQ of 11 hasn't held me back in life however, although I avoid shoes with laces.
ReplyDeleteI think they look better too. I was really pleased with the way the fusiliers looked based, but imagine my shock when I read three paragraphs later about the grenadiers! Many bad words were uttered. Your story has a very Mr Bean feel to it. Laces are problematic in for me too, for different reasons - I’m just too lazy to tie them.
DeleteA fine looking unit Mark…
ReplyDeleteI too think they look better with the crimson turnbacks…
I knew someone who insisted that you didn’t need to read the instructions… she said working and assembling things should be intuitive… she hadn’t reckoned Ikea though… I can still hear the cries and lamentations to this day 😁
All the best. Aly
Thanks Aly. Wouldn’t life be wonderful if working and assembly was intuitive - I would never have to employ a plumber, electrician or mechanic again…and fixing the computer would be a breeze.
Delete