"Grenadier Drummer" Topic

Of possible interest.
"These are from some very much delayed 28mm American War of Independence releases. The first, as you can see is our Grenadier Drummer."

From
tabletoptalk.com

Amicalement
Armand

Why are you calling him a "grenadier drummer?" Is that how the figure is labeled?

Musicians' bearskins were not the same height as the grenadier cap.

As I former drummer, I always found it easier to play the drum in front of me, not off to the side. This is a common position glich I often seem from sculptors. Put the drum in front when the figure is supposed to be playing. When you march with a drum, you try to balance it on the front of your left knee, and when you are standing still, the drum is right in front of you, slightly off to the left, slightly tilted.

The left arm should be bent with the elbow facing downward and the left hand holds the stick from underneath, not like the right hand, which covers the top of the drum stick.

I carried that thing for years, so I know a little what I am talking about here.

Still, the figure looks very nice. :-) Am I being overly anal? Yes, but perhaps my description will help the next scultpure of a drummer be more accurate.

We just recently moved from East Greenwich, and living in the historic district on the hill, we saw quite a bit of the Kentish Guards practicing in the summer, and now that I think about it, yep, historygamer has a point.

I was a certified rudimental drum instructor at age 13. I played with the Fort Pitt 60th Fife and Drum unit in the 70s and was the drum sergeant (we did not have a drum major, so I was senior musician). I loved being a drummer. Talk about walking and chewing gum at the same time – I had to play, give orders to move the musicians, and figure out where I was going with the unit. all at the same time. I loved it. :-)

I am not throwing this figure under the bus. It looks fine, just like every other British musician figure I have seen – nothing wrong with that. But if there are any sculptors lurking here, perhaps what I am saying will influence their next work. :-)

historygamer: Comments well taken, will be sure to keep them in mind when next we create a drummer figure.

Mike from TableTopTalk.com

Historygamer, he's obviously a rock-grenadier drummer using match grips…non-drummer scuptors are obviously influenced by what they see on the stage , TV or photos…ever seen sculpts of guitar players….holy moly!

"Why are you calling him a "grenadier drummer?" Is that how the figure is labeled?"

Yes my friend, if you visit the link you can see it.

Amicalement
Armand

"Why are you calling him a "grenadier drummer?" Is that how the figure is labeled?"

Yes, if you visit the link you can see it.

Amicalement
Armand

Well, they may call him that, and there certainly were musicians with the grenadier companies (as recorded at Brandywine when they were massed), but there was no grenadier musician uniform, only musicians' uniforms. Perhaps someone thought since he had a bearskin he was somehow different? I dunno?

Still, I would buy this fellow, at least if he were matched with a standing unit, not a marching one. :-)

I must admit that most of my British musicians are in bearskins, even though they most likely wore cocked hats during the conflict.