The latest release from Steve Warrilow / The Fusilier is GWA/6, Australian Train Driver Nearside Horse Artillery, 1916 / 1917 and continues Steve's recent theme of Australian subjects. The figure depicts what looks to be an extremely wet and cold figure, semi-protected against the elements in a groundsheet, leaning against a wheel and looking at his watch / stopwatch in keen anticipation of something - "Waiting for that train?" There is really good sense of atmosphere to the whole piece and photographs are shown on both this site and the Fusilier's own site.

The figure is an 80mm white metal kit and contains the following parts:

1. Slouch hat
2. Steel helmet
3. Torso (main casting)
4. Right leg / guard
5. Left leg
6. Waterbottle
7. Right hand / watch
8. Left hand / whip
9. Pipe
10. Wheel
11. Left tree half
12. Right tree half
13. Shells x 2
14. Base

The first thing that struck me about the kit was it's weight and there is a lot of metal to it. The main casting comprises a combined head, torso and upper legs enveloped in a groundsheet and it is the groundsheet, which accounts for a lot of the weight. The rear of the groundsheet has been designed to fit against the wheel, which will partly support the weight of the piece. The right and left legs came separately on my kit although I understand some versions have the left leg incorporated in the main casting. Fit of the left leg is very positive with a large locating pin to attach it to the main casting. The fit of the right leg was not as positive and in view of the fact this will act as a main support for the rest of the figure I intend to drill out and pin the joint. The arms are incorporated into the main casting with only the right hand / watch and left hand / whip to be added. The figure comes with a choice of slouch hat or steel helmet and I have a problem in knowing which version to go for. It looks likely to be the slouch hat at the moment, and this does tend to identify him straightaway as Australian.

There is a suitable amount of clutter for the base, which includes a couple of shells, a wheel and a shattered tree. The base includes a recess designed to take the wheel, which is leaning against a shattered tree, and there is a locating pin at the top of the wheel securing it to the tree. This should provide the basis for a very solid support for the figure and I intend to make use of the base supplied with the kit. However, there is plenty of scope to further embellish this. It will require some filler (mud!) where the wheel fits into the base and likewise for the tree but this is only to be expected.

The parts on my kit were very sharp and well detailed and will not require a great deal in the way of cleaning up. A few mould lines plus a few moulding pips and I wouldn't anticipate this taking very long. As mentioned earlier I do intend to pin the right leg for a more solid joint and this may also require a wipe of filler.

Weathering the figure looks to be an interesting project in it's own right and I have seen a version painted up by Steve Warrilow complete with "running" water. There is a lot of scope here for experimenting with painting techniques and this is bound to be a popular figure.

I can thoroughly recommend the kit and it really is a superb piece with a most convincing pose. With the exception of the mounted Australian Light Horse I'd consider this to be Steve's best piece to date.

Australian Horse Artillery Driver
1916/17