[Open-Box review] Captain N. Somerset Yeomanry by Kevin

Hi to one and all, It always good to see a new release especially from the Korean company Nuts Planet and this is what we are looking at in this review . What are we talking about well its this :

As always in my reviews lets have a bit of background on the North Somerset Yeomanry particularly in WW1 as this is the era .

The regiment formed part of the 1st South Western Mounted Brigade which was administered from Salisbury in Wiltshire.

24 joined on 6th April 1908

166 joined on 11th April 1909

250 joined on 11th March 1910

339 joined on 25th May 1911

369 joined on 24th Feb 1912

464 joined on 24th March 1913

563 joined on 10th March 1914

616 joined on 10th August 1914

722 joined on 4th September 1914

876 joined on 13th November 1914

The North Somerset Yeomanry The regiment was formed on the creation of the Territorial Force in April 1908 and placed under orders of the 1st South Western Mounted Brigade. It was headquartered at Bath with the squadrons being headquartered as follows:

• A Sqn: Bath (with drill stations at Bathampton, Farmborough, Frome, Mells and Road)

• B Sqn: Weston-super-Mare (Axbridge, Clevedon, Langford and Nailsea)

• C Sqn: Shepton Mallet (Queen Camel, Ston Easton, Wells, Wincanton and Castle Cary)

• D Sqn: Bristol (Queen Charlton, Barrow Gurnmey and Keynsham).

1/1st North Somerset Yeomanry

• August 1914 : moved with brigade to Sussex after mobilising but was then ordered independently to France, landing on 3 November.

• 13 November 1914 : came under orders of 6th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division.

• 13 May 1915 : regiment suffered heavy losses in defending a German attack near Bellewaarde (Ypres)

• 10 March 1918 : left division, initially to be converted to infantry. Two days later this was changed to a plan to merge with Leicestershire Yeomanry to form a machine gun battalion. This too was altered and the regiment returned to the Cavalry Corps.

• April 1918 : regiment broken up, one squadron going to each of the regiments in 6th Cavalry Brigade (1st Dragoons, 3rd Dragoon Guards and 10th Hussars)

2/1st North Somerset Yeomanry

• Formed as a Second-Line regiment in September 1914, coming under orders of 2/1st South Western Mounted Brigade. Moved to Calne (Wiltshire) in May 1915 then to Canterbury in September 1915.

• March 1916 : moved to Colchester, brigade coming under 4th Mounted Division and being renamed 15th Mounted Brigade. Moved to Morpeth, back in Northumberland. July 1916 : converted to a cyclist unit under orders of 6th Cyclist Brigade in 2nd Cyclist Division.

• November 1916 : moved to Ipswich area merged with 2/1st Wiltshire Yeomanry to form 10th (Wiltshire and North Somerset) Yeomanry Cyclist Regiment, under orders of 4th Cyclist Brigade.

• March 1917 : resumed original identity, still in 4th Cyclist Brigade. Moved to Wivenhoe by July 1917 and went in November to Walton-on-the-Naze.

• Early 1918 : moved to Ireland and stationed at Dublin where it then remained.

3/1st North Somerset Yeomanry

• Formed as a Third-Line training unit around May 1915.

• Summer 1916: affiliated to 11th Reserve Cavalry Regiment at Tidworth.

• February 1917: absorbed into 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment at Tidworth.

When the Regt was formed in 1798 one of the conditions was that they should never have to march more than 10 miles from the county town !!!! , the regiment served hard and well wherever they were sent , with the onset of WW1 as a cavalry Regt horses were their main mode but as it progressed they more often found themselves fighting as infantry , suffering as all did in the mud and grime and horror of the war . Recently we have had the film and very successful stage production of War Horse in which the unit was depicted starring of course Tom Hiddlestone and Benedict Cumberbatch as officers . This bust depicts a Captain in his "blues" and it goes without saying that the film character was no doubt an inspiration for the piece.

He wears the pouch belt with the pickers and chains this held the pouch at the back ( see reference pictures ). The facing colour for the regiment was white this shows on the collar and cap band . The Yeomanry is a very interesting subject to research and in doing so you realise just how proud these men were to serve , cutting a dashing image for the ladies no doubt.

In the film they have the Imperial Service badge this was worn on the right breast above the pocket top and was made in many alloys , size 1 5/8" long by 2/5th" high with a royal crown above ( 3/5th" high) .

Note this shows the shoulder chains and the jacket tailoring but is not badged as NSY.

This is a forage cap but shows the peak edging

Some really good books to look at include:

For a insight into a serving Yeoman in WW2:

Onwards and upwards, Lets see what we are looking at: Title: North Somerset Yeomanry Captain of British Cavalry in WW1 Reference: NP-i002 Scale: 1/10th Material: Gray Resin No of parts: 3 plus a colour card ( painting references) Sculptor: Jun-Sik Ahn Box Art: Myeong-Ha Hwang The review items ( the other release was included and will be looked at soon) was sent wit the usual ease , well protected surrounded by the local newspaper!!..recycling by Nuts Planet there . Nuts planet are naming the series "it bust" why for no other reason except they like the name ..well so do I!!! One thing to say is that the packaging has been changed for these releases and the contents are now in a rather dashing metal tin with a full colour picture on the top , the label is sealed to the tin , all items were secure between foam layers .

There is also a rather nice surprise inside the tin as well a very useful paint reference (one side has the colour picture the other the Vallejo details) ..great idea ...adds that little extra to the presentation .

What's in the tin ...... just 3 resin pieces the torso , the cap and a base , this is a classic bust , just head and shoulders , the idea from Nuts being that these can be prepped a lot quicker giving more enjoyment for bench time with the brushes and having a fine model to display at the end.

Prep Torso... a casting remnant to cut away from underneath , very fine casting line on neck to sand Cap.....Casting plug to cut from the top of cap at the back Base...Nothing apart from fitting That's it ......really easy and really quick took me 17 minutes !

Let's look at the pieces now beginning with the: Torso .....Our subject has been sculpted wearing the blues as I said and the torso includes the head, working from the tunic , suffice to say the material folds are very naturally worked with the edging in the middle being very fine indeed , at the back we have the centre seam , flawless , don't forget to highlight the edges !! Our fellow has the pouch belt running under his shoulder chain on his left , this itself is packed with details , the zig zag pattern being well defined with nice edging , we also have the chains and the prickers, these are very well sculpted , the chains hanging as they should , the prickers in arrow shapes could almost be taken out the little tubes ..great stuff, at the top the chains are linked to a lovely shaped rosette. On both shoulders we are again in for a treat with the dress chain epaulette showing excellent details , with the 3 pips of the rank of Captain , again these equal the rest in quality

There is a good collar sitting proudly nicely shaped and formed , under this we have button this in itself is art , you have the details exactly as the references in the first part of this review.

Now to the head this is very well sculpted , good features , especially the eye and ears, the mouth tightly shut the head turned to his left , hair is well shown , the locks of hair nicely done , slightly curly.

Under the chin we have the leather strap this in itself shows real good surface detail on the edges, the ends held in place under a small cross piece on each side , one thing to mention and give a pat in the back to is the casting ..top class great undercuts and edges , particularly on the chin strap .

At the top the retaining buttons are proud of the head , these sit perfectly to the cutouts on the cap

Now to the Cap, this is another lovely bit of work the crown of it is well shaped with the material surface showing as it is , the white piping round the edge is well defined with the sides being in 4 sections separated by the seams.

The badge which is the initials NSY intertwined is well done the crown above the same, the peak is shown as in the film with the edging sitting on the top , this has good surface lining done. At the sides we have cutouts ready to receive the chinstrap on the head , fit is excellent with no filler needed whatsoever.

The Base ...a simple but useable pedestal type , shaped down from the top , if you choose to use it then I would suggest pin it

Final Thoughts This is the 2nd of the releases ( more on the other very soon!!) and is a classic bust in style , even so everything about it is screaming QUALITY at the modeller , , presentation is nicer and with the colour card being a bonus , Sculpting first class and well in line with previous releases. Its good to see the Yeomanry being depicted perhaps we might see more , there are some great uniforms including mess dress ...hint there !!! , the piece itself as such has conversion potential to other regiments . I look forward to more from Nuts Planet and can do nothing more than say ...BUY IT !!! Very Highly recommended Thanks to Nutsplanet for the Review model and to you all for looking in . For more details including great pictures go to the website at: www.nutsplanet.com or visit them and like at facebook : www.facebook.co/nutsplanet Nap