German Camel Corps

[Richard]

NOTE: This topic was "split" from Henry Martini's "Victoria's Soldiers."

I bought the Christmas "Three Kings" set just to get the camel.

I want to make a soldier of the German Camel Corps in SW Africa http://www.gwpda.org/photos/camel01.htm.

I really like soldiers on camels.  I want to follow him with british & Indian camel soldiers as well.

Hello, Dan ...

I want to make a soldier of the German Camel Corps in SW Africa  ...

A couple of years ago, David Hamer visited us at our Summer home in Canada.

He knew that I really liked The German Camel Corps. He surprised me with this really great Playmobil custom of the Südwestafrika Kamel-Korps! Enjoy!

All the best,
Richard

see attachment

[cheng]

hey Richard!

this Südwestafrika Kamel-Korps custom by the great David Hamer is also beautiful !!!! I've never seen it....do you have any more pictures from other angles?

I didnt know David was amongst the first to heat-bend playmo parts(I assumed he did that to make the 'Australian bush-style hat')?

were the old PM camels' humps narrower, permitting klickies to straddle them?

(sorry Micheal, for side-tracking  )

[Richard]

Hello, Cheng ...

hey Richard!

this Südwestafrika Kamel-Korps custom by the great David Hamer is also beautiful !!!! I've never seen it....do you have any more pictures from other angles?

I didnt know David was amongst the first to heat-bend playmo parts(I assumed he did that to make the 'Australian bush-style hat')?

were the old PM camels' humps narrower, permitting klickies to straddle them?

(sorry Micheal, for side-tracking  )

I split this topic from Henry Martini's Victoria's Soldiers, and started this new one,. so that I could post some more photos of David's Südwestafrika Kamel-Korps!

Photos coming soon ...

All the best,
Richard

[Richard]

Hello, Cheng ...

First to answer your two major questions:


1. The hat is from Playmobil's African Park Ranger Special (4559) no bending required ...

see attachment

2. This is not a "skinny" camel! David "carved' the camel to accommodate the mounted figure.

NOTE: David's figures (unlike Ralf's) are made for "looking" not for "playing" ...

All the best,
Richard

Edit: Corrected a typo.

[Richard]

And, as you requested, Cheng ... Here are a couple more photos of David's Südwestafrika Kamel-Korps.

see attachments

[Richard]

And one more from the top ...

see attachment

[Dan]

That flaming man Hamer's got there first again (goes off muttering).

Nice to see he got the hat right.  The German Army turned its hats up on the opposite side to the British & Australians.

[Leblanc d. II.]

Wow  . Another wonderful custom from David Hammer. I love it.

[Richard]

Hello, Dan ...

That flaming man Hamer's got there first again (goes off muttering).

That may be true, that David made one first ... However, the point is that he ONLY made one! And, in the photos that you showed us, there's an entire regiment of Kamel-Korps to be made!

I had hoped that showing you David's Südwestafrika Kamel-Korps, would have encouraged you to make at least a small troop of Kamel-Korps. And, that you would also make a troop of Kamel-Korps that could be "played with" and not just "looked at" like David's!

And, I think that you can still order camels from DS, so that you won't have to collect an "army of wise men" to make a troop of Kamel-Korps! ... 

All the best,
Richard

[specialist]

Fantastic figure. We want to see more from David again, don't we all?

[Richard]

Fantastic figure. We want to see more from David again, don't we all?

David's email address is on this page at Garden Wargaming.

I'm sure that he would love to get an email from everyone !!!

[cheng]

what a smart spin-off, Richard ! 
look at the immediate response 
many thanks from me too....very good pictures and i know David has no problem sticking that bayonet behind...for 'looking' only (i dont play too but i need my customs to be more durable for dusting etc or recustomizing or improvements)

looks like i havent been paying attention to new civilian klickies...great hat from PM!

I've nt heard of these camel troopers until you mentioned it, Richard....were their uniforms light brown/sand color instead of grey-bluish?

and those belts and pouches he made are very good..I can only hope that PM makes them soon 

thanks for this thread and pictures AND 'enlightenment' 

[Richard]

Hello, Cheng ...

I've not heard of these camel troopers until you mentioned it, Richard....were their uniforms light brown/sand color instead of grey-bluish?

Actually, it was Dan who made me remember this custom figure from David Hamer!

And, in answer to your question regarding the German African (tropical) grey and sand uniform colours ... they wore both!

see attachment

[Dan]

Also the colour of the trim varies, blue SW Africa, white East Africa and red West Africa.

The East African troops were undefeated in WWI.  There's an excellent book about them "The Battle for the Bundu" and the movie "The African Queen" is based on an episode in the campaign.

[Richard]

Thanks, Dan ...

There's an excellent book about them "The Battle for the Bundu" and the movie "The African Queen" is based on an episode in the campaign.

"Battle For the Bundu" is one of my favourite books and "African Queen" is one of my favourite films !!!

I recommend both to anyone interested in this period of history!

Thanks again and all the best,
Richard

see attachments