Monday, 25 January 2021

Austrian-Hungarian mountain battalion

Not to be outdone by my Great War Italians, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is creaking into 54mm action.  This mountain battalion has been raised either - depending on your degree of cynicism - from loyal mountain-dwelling citizens of the empire, or from some old Airfix WW2 figures with light conversions and a new paint job.
The A-H uniform isn't miles adrift from the WW2 German version. To several figures I added packs from the spares box.  The more obviously WW2 bits of webbing and kit were carved away and the paintwork includes the distinctive A-H black leather peak to the cap.  To my eyes they look the part - especially from 6 feet away!





 

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16 comments:

  1. tradgardmastare25 January 2021 at 18:37

    Excellent loyal citizens of the Empire!

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  2. Simon25 January 2021 at 19:09

    Ah - the hills are alive with the sound of music! (about 20 years earlier!)

    These look very good. Looking forward to seeing them on the table.

    Simon

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  3. Tim Gow25 January 2021 at 20:52

    Tradgardmastare
    Given their origins there’s more chance of them speaking German than most A-H troops....

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  4. Tim Gow25 January 2021 at 20:52

    Simon
    No singing please!

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  5. Archduke Piccolo25 January 2021 at 21:09

    Hi Tim-
    Looking at those fine and hale mountain men reminds me of what a silly chump I was to flog of my one and only pack of Airfix Mountain troops a zillion years ago. I could sure lord use 'em now!
    Cheers
    Ion.

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  6. Pete.26 January 2021 at 01:05

    Those look great Tim.

    Will you be doing some mountain peaks for them to climb?

    Cheers,

    Pete.

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  7. Maudlin Jack Tar26 January 2021 at 07:49

    They look terrific Tim

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  8. Martin Rapier26 January 2021 at 09:03

    Brilliant, they look really smart. The GJ caps are very good standins for the high fronted Austrian caps.

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  9. Tim Gow26 January 2021 at 12:03

    Archduke Piccolo
    They are very useful figures - what scale do you need them in?

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  10. Tim Gow26 January 2021 at 12:04

    Pete
    They will, as Simon has implied, ready to climb every mountain....

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  11. Tim Gow26 January 2021 at 12:04

    Maudlin Jack Tar
    Thanks!

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  12. Tim Gow26 January 2021 at 12:09

    Martin Rapier
    I hope you'll still think as well of them when you are toiling up a mountain under fire next week....

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  13. Brian Carrick27 January 2021 at 08:34

    I see they've already taken a Russian prisoner, or is he an infiltrator?

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  14. Tim Gow27 January 2021 at 10:08

    Brian Carrick
    Well spotted - the chap in the greatcoat did indeed start off as a WW2 Russian - but his kit is sufficiently anonymous as to be able to fit in pretty well anywhere.

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  15. Geordie an Exiled FoG14 February 2021 at 12:31

    I should of spotted the early signs of your "Madness" Tim but they were masked by all teh other signs of madness ;)

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  16. Tim Gow14 February 2021 at 16:50

    Geordie
    Signs of madness have been here for all to see!

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