Hi gents,
A couple of months ago, i got 2 sets of Masterbox's "Scotland the Brave" and thought that i would build one of the pipers pretty much, out of the box with some extras from the spares box and the other one, based on the photo from the 15th Scottish Division during operations in normandy.
The piper as on the sprue is to all intents and purpose a Highland regt piper, most likely Black Watch from the hackle. However the plastic is v soft and was easily carved out and replaced with a patch and capbadge formed from green stuff. However there is a glaring ommision on the headdress, and that is the toorie, which is the Small bobble seated in the centre of the hat and is representative of the thistle. That and the lack of waterbottles and other kit.





The kilt has been painted as Royal Stewart with the body of the pipes being done in Hunting Stewart, as these were tartans worn by The Royal Scots, (The Royal Regiment) With the basic uniform markings being that of 7th/9th Bn The Royal Scots, 155 bde, 52 Lowland Division(Mountain) late 1944/ early 45. These were also known as the "Dandy 9th" as they were the only RS Bn to were Kilts.


Unfortunately, pipers rarely wore the kilt in battle during the latter part of the war, though some units allowed the pipers to wear them. To this end, i matched the body from the piper with legs from one of Tamiya british on patrol soldiers. The TOS was removed with much pain, as the knife slipped and knicked my finger. The head was filed and a helmet was found ( its still on its sprue). Again the Equipment needed came from my spares box. This piper will be set on a small vignette with a patrol behind.



As more work is done to both figures, pics will be posted.
Hope they please and any points please add them as we can only learn from direction.

Scott

Very nice work Scott I shall watch this progress with interest, I particularly like the background information you have provided thus far.

I've considered trying to place this kit in Holland. I dread the kilt, however. You can use part of the head of a micro-brush for the hat bob. Nice work on the kilt.

Nice one Scott. The set is dissapointing in the lack of waterbottles. Pattern 1937 Web Equipment is not hard to research. What figures will you use for the patrol?

I was thinking of using the piper and the DML Commonwealth Infantry to show the 51st Highland Division in Sicily

I was planning to use the tamiya British infantry on patrol, and setting them on the advance during operation epsom. The piper with kilt, i am gonna mount on its own, on a nice circular plinth.

The infantry from 1 set will be used in a 15th Scottish diorama, this time 8th Royal Scots in Normandy with 2 sets of Dragon british infantry and a set of surrendering germans, the other set consigned to the spares box.

Like the idea of the 51st in Sicily, looking forward to seeing it. I have the same set, using 2 figs with long trousers for a battle of Kohima vignette, the rest for end of the war palistine.

Hi gents,
A point on the tartan. Up until 1933, Royal Scot pipers wore and carried Hunting Stewart tartan, the same as worn by all members of the regiment. On the 28th March 1933, the regiments tricentenary, the right to wear Royal Stewart tartan was bestowed on the pipers. As well as being worn on the kilt and pipes, it was also worn as the backing to the capbadge.

Hi Gents,
Well then, i have decided to turn these 2 figures from individual builds into part of a larger project. This will be in the form of a regimental history of ww2, working on the battalions and what their main parts were in the greater picture. The regiment i will be modelling is The Royal Scots, covering the 1st, 2nd, 8th and 7/9th battalions and will involve troops serving in 3 different theatres at different times. With each of the builds i will give a summery of the operations involved. I hope that this will add substance to the pictures that i post.

Scott.

Hi guys, sorry not been any posts lately, but i been away on me hols. So the scotland the brave build will continue soon,

Thanx, Scott.

Looking forward to it Scott

cool subject and one that sends chills down my spine to think of the fellows who played while shells and bullets were flying all around.

a few years back we had my friend's son play his bagpipe on christmas eve outside in the snow... they have a haunting tone like no other instrument. look forward to seeing this one completed. cheers, bd.

Hi Scott,

Nice work so far. I'll look forward to developments.

Nice one.

Al