Landlord of the "King and Crown"



This figure recreates another minor character from Beyond the Mask Movie.  He is the landlord of a Philadelphia pub called the “King and Crown.”  It has a reputation for the best lamb in town.  As might be evident by its name, this pub is a favorite resort for Loyalists.

The original figure is from Barzso Playsets and captured the character wonderfully.  With a pewter mug in hand and head cocked deferentially, this man is ready to serve another customer.

 

Figure by Barzso Playsets; painted with Testors paints.

Interior is a Playmobil house and is furnished with a mix of Lego and Playmobil accessories.  Posters are from the website of the Loyal American Regiment.  Please visit their site at http://loyalamericanregiment.org/.

 

2nd Pennsylvania Regiment by Armies In Plastic

The 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment had an excellent reputation during the American Revolution.  They fought gallantly at Brandywine (1777), Paoli (1777), Germantown (1777), and Monmouth (1778).  The 2nd was a unit of trusted veterans and George Washington knew it.

When Major John Andre was captured and Benedict Arnold fled to the British, George Washington believed that West Point (where Arnold had formerly commanded) might be in danger.  He needed reinforcements to halt the British if they attempted to capture it.  He called on the Pennsylvania regiments, who marched 16 miles in 4 hours (from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.) to reach West Point.  "When Washington got word of Wayne's forced march and timely arrival, he quite rightly called the feat 'fabulous.'" (1)

 

In 1781, the Pennsylvania Line mutinied because of a lack of pay, but the 2nd Pennsylvania did not initially join them "until the other troops threatened them at bayonet point and with artillery." (2)  The 2nd was sent to join Lafayette and his hard-pressed Continentals in Virginia.  There they took part in the Battle of Green Spring and ultimately, the Battle of Yorktown.

The 2nd Pennsylvania wore blue coats with red cuffs and lapels and white waistcoats.  Colonel Walter Stewart was the colonel of the 2nd Pennsylvania and he was an officer who cared for his men. "I find the little necessaries for my regiment difficult to be procured and at the most exorbitant prices, but I am determined to get them and have them I will if possible,"--Stewart wrote. (3)

Figures are by Armies in Plastic "American Revolution: French Infantry."  I chose French infantry as the base for these soldiers because they were cast in white plastic.  Most men carry "Brown Bess" muskets, but one man has a French musket (distinguishable by the barrel bands).  These soldiers are painted with Testors paints.  Click on each picture to expand it.

(1) pg. 65, Victory at Yorktown by Richard M. Ketchum
(2)http://www.243regiment.com/history_2nd.html
(3) http://www.243regiment.com/WalterStewartHistory.html

Female Civilian

Click on the picture to enlarge it

This figure is a female civilian during the American Revolution.  But this figure is slightly different than any figure I have painted so far because she represents my sister in her time as a extra for the movie Beyond the Mask. 

She (my sister, not the figure) has recently written a charming two-part account of her time on set.

Part 1 can be found at https://castlesinclouds.wordpress.com/2016/04/19/as-an-extra-for-beyond-the-mask-part-1/

And Part 2 at https://castlesinclouds.wordpress.com/2016/04/20/as-an-extra-for-beyond-the-mask-part-2/

The figure is a Marx recast.  The figure was originally supposed to represent a character from Johnny Tremaine, but has been recast and is a useful colonial-era young girl.  No conversion was required.  Figure painted with Testors paints.

80th Regiment Center Company Finished!

I finished the last figure for the 80th Regiment of Foot, Center Company last Friday (click the picture to enlarge it). The 80th, also known as the Royal Edinburgh Volunteers, arrived in Virginia with Benedict Arnold in January 1781 and served at the Siege of Yorktown. Now all these jolly lads need is varnishing and basing (a few figures already have this) and then their unit can be featured on this blog.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day from the Volunteers of Ireland!

The Volunteers of Ireland wish a Great and Glorious Saint Patrick's Day and take this opportunity to share with you their War-Song, first sung in the year of our Lord 1780 by Barny Tompson, piper to the Volunteers of Ireland.

"Success to the Shamrogue"

SUCCESS to the shamrogue, and all those who wear it,
Be honour their portion wherever they go,
May riches attend them, and store of good claret,
For how to employ them sure none better know;
Every foe surveys them with terror,
But every silk petticoat wishes them nearer,
So Yankee keep off, or you’ll soon learn your error,
For Paddy shall prostrate lay ev’ry foe.

This day, (but the year I can’t rightly determine)
St. Patrick the vipers did chase from this land,
Let’s see if like him we can’t sweep off the vermin
Who dare ‘gainst the sons of the shamrogue to stand;
Hand in hand! let’s carrol this chorus,
   “As long as the blessings of Ireland hang o’er us,
   “The crest of rebellion shall tremble before us,
   “Like brothers while thus we march hand in hand!”

St. George & St. Patrick, St. Andrew, St. David,
Together may laugh at all Europe in arms,
Fair conquest her standard has o’er their heads waved
And glory has on them conferr’d all her charms!
War’s alarms! to us are a pleasure,
Since honour our danger repays in full measure,
And all those who join us shall find we have leisure,
To think of our sport ev’n in war’s alarms!

Text of this song graciously made available by the Loyalist Institute at http://royalprovincial.com/history/music/voisong.shtml


A post about the uniform and history of the Volunteers of Ireland will be forthcoming

Mr. Edmund Bentley

This figure is painted up as Edmund Bentley, a Philadelphia Loyalist who appears in the Christian movie Beyond the Mask.  Beyond the Mask is set in the world of the 1770s as tumult and war erupt in Great Britain’s North American colonies.  Mr. Bentley works for Ben Franklin before he is fired for incompetence.  He then joins a group of Loyalists who are working for Charles Kemp against the American rebels.  Mr. Bentley appears to be an assistant to the Loyalist leader Mr. Richard Harrison.  This figure recreates one of his outfits.  To learn more about the movie, visit www.BeyondTheMaskMovie.com

The original figure was made by Marx as a character figure of Johnny Tremain in the 1950s.  Thankfully this figure was recast in the 2000s so that I could acquire one.   

 

Edmund Bentley (left) and Richard Harrison (right)

This outfit is worn by Mr. Edmund Bentley when he meets Charles Kemp, the Director of the East India Company.  It consists of a cream-colored waistcoat and light blue breeches. In the movie he also wears a brown coat with this outfit.  However, because he is often seen in a brown waistcoat without a coat, it seems reasonable to assume that he wore his cream-colored waistcoat without a coat sometimes.   He was the first figure that I painted with a grey tricorne hat.

 

Mr. Richard Harrison

This figure is painted up as Richard Harrison, a local Loyalist leader who appears in the Christian movie Beyond the Mask.  Beyond the Mask is set in the world of the 1770s as tumult and war erupt in Great Britain’s North American colonies.  Mr. Harrison has no love for the rebels and recruits his friends to harass them and keep Philadelphia loyal to King George III.  This figure recreates one of his outfits.  To learn more about the movie, visit www.BeyondTheMaskMovie.com



The figure on the left is the original pose that eventually
became Mr. Harrison

The original figure was made by Accurate as a militiaman standing firing musket and required heavy conversion to become Mr. Harrison.  First I cut his musket away, then cut and repositioned his arm that was originally pulling the musket’s trigger.  I bent his other arm down by holding it under hot water and bending it until it had reached the desired pose.  Then I added a pistol from another Accurate figure and with a little sculpting (including adding a pair of boots), the figure was complete.

This outfit is worn by Mr. Richard Harrison when he is confronted by the rebel vigilante William Reynolds.  It consists of a matching set of tan waistcoat and breeches with a grey overcoat worn on top.  He carries a pistol in several scenes.  The original figure wore the cartridge box and powder horn and I left them so that Mr. Harrison can reload his pistol.  His hair was interesting and enjoyable to paint because it is sandy with streaks of grey.