The latest 28mm resin model from Grand Manner is this Prussian Church (NAP 14) which was a true joint venture between Dave and myself. The model will be available to pre-order on Friday 6th May. For full details go to this post The set includes the 28mm scale church with removable roof, two steeples, a beautifully detailed graveyard and full interior detail which includes an altar a storeroom and an upper level. See images for further information.
The master was based on a re-constructed half-timbered church at Hessen Park open air museum, Germany. The following three images show the original, including the rather unusual 'fish-scale' roof tiles.
The original church is believed to have been built in 1626 (according to a bell inscription) and was enlarged in 1774-1775.A full description of the building reads;
Two storey half-timbered building. Rectangular one room ground plan, corner pillars resting on stone foundations. 'Hessen Man figures' on the show side. Connecting pillars of the extension are crossed on both storeys, with plates and sills of the original building strongly profiled. The beam ends of the inside gallery in the extensions are visible. Filling timbers on sills. Irregular window arrangement, extension with two arched windows. Octagonal turret, church spire, cross and weather vane. Slate roofing.
Framework; Red-brown
Plastering; White
Roof; Greenish Slate
Dismantled in 1973 and rebuilt in 1974.
Notes taken from museum guide - Half-Timbered Church from Niederhorlen.
This really was a great (master) model to work on and I am very proud of the finished resin casting. I for one cannot wait to see a painted example. Get your orders in quickly - this is a very limited edition and given the history of previous church models from Dave (Grand Manner) I do not expect this one to be available for long! You have been warned.
Tony
23 comments:
Great piece of work!
Excellent model. How apt do you think it would be for the Seven Years War? Its extension occured post-SYW, but I see no reason why this extension could not have occurred earlier. What do you think?
Cheers
Paul
Hi Paul,
Hessen Park (where the original church is sited, had many, many earlier buildings, all built in the same style.
In addition we are only talking 20 years, so I would have no issue in recommending this model for the Seven Years War.
The model comes with both spires, I think the roof tile one would have been earlier. You could always paint it up without the spire or with it removable.
Tony
Thanks for the quick reply Tony. I agree with your thoughts. In fact, I'm buying it tonight!!!
Yay!
:)
Cheers
Paul
Hi again Tony. :)
Now that I've bought the church (Dave's posting it on Tuesday!), I have a question re the irregular edging between the tower/steeple and the roof. In painted examples, this rough narrow edging is painted the same as the cream colour of the walls. What is it meant to be? On the actual building there's no edging at all; the steeple's tiles are flush with the roof tiles.
Thanks,
Paul
...And is there a reason you went with a wooden fence around the graveyard instead of a matching stone wall?
Cheers
Paul
Hi Paul,
The rough pale coloured filler between the roof proper and the tower is meant to be plaster filler, a device used to seal the fishtailed roof tiles and the tower base.
I would suggest it could just as easily have been lead flashing,
When the church was being modelled there was a requirement from Dave that the Church have more than one option - hence the two types of tower - the traditional or fish tailed tiles and the onion dome.
There is also the option of no tower.
This was done to add greater variation and modelling variance to the main mould.
I think it offers a Church that can be used all across Europe. A number of options.
Try modelling the main roof with optional no tower, plain tower or onion dome tower, all three types can be seen at Hessen Park.
The reason that there is a wooden fence is that the main church has both wooden fence and stone wall. I modelled the original with a small stone wall, Dave modified it to be a larger grave yard, once again to add interest and to give variety.
I hope that this helps.
Tony
Thanks again Tony.
Your detailed reply is both very informative and useful. :)
Cheers,
Paul
Hi Tony
I received my church a few days ago and it's fantastic - well done!
I've also been looking at photos of various churches in Hessen Park, and they all appear to have a weather vane on the spire instead of a cross.
Is there a reason for this? I'm planning on putting a cross on mine, but just wondered if there was some reason not to. :)
Cheers,
Paul
(there's problems leaving comments on your blogger page)
Hi Paul.
From memory, I recall that there was a mixture of crosses and weather vanes.
Most buildings at Hessen Park had metal posts on the roofs, something to do with either stopping birds from nesting or (maybe to help with clearing snow).
The weather vanes I have seen are very fragile, a cross is much stronger.
In addition the Church needs something on the exterior to mark it out as a Church. I am not sure if you know but Dave has converted the Church to a large house see Wachau Meeting House, which just goes to show how generic the original master is.
I am not sure what to advise, a weather vane would be more authentic, but a Cross gives a better idea of what the model is supposed to represent.
Thanks for the posts/comments, the reason you do not get through straight away is that due to Spammers, I have to approve all posts.
Regards
Tony
Thanks again Tony.
I have just the perfect cross for the job! :)))
Cheers
Paul
Hi again Tony :)
Can you recommend an appropriate building to go with the Prussian church as a parsonage? I don't imagine the priest lives inside the church, so something small nearby would seem appropriate.
Something like this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warhammer-Wargames-Scenery-Terrain-28mm-Scale-Small-Cottage-/390544847158?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item5aee497136
The other Prussian buildings on Grand Manner just don't look right for a parsonage.
Any building you can suggest would be appreciated.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Paul
I'll have a think about this aver the next couple of days. Rather than take the obvious route.
Tony
PS.
Remind me if I have not posted by Friday........
Thanks Tony. Note: I'm just as happy to not have a parsonage, but as my church is going to be isolated, ie not in the middle of a village or township, I just wondered where the priest lived (given the church has no chimney etc).
This image of an early 1900s church + parsonage got me thinking about it...
http://www3.familyoldphotos.com/image/view/8296/_original
Cheers
P
Hi Paul,
Sorry for the delay. But I have had time to think about it.
I suggest a smaller house, not too flashy, but well built, I would also suggest that you look at having a garden to the rear. I am sure you could sort something out.
My preferred option is something like;
http://www.grandmanner.co.uk/Holzhausen_Thatched_Cottage--product--741.html
This would need to have a tiled roof for the Napoleonic period, but would be fine thatched for the Seven Years War. Try painting the woodwork green as this would give it a less formal appeal. See this image;
http://www.elevenshadows.com/travels/ghana/frankfurt01.htm
(ninth image down).
For a more formal approach the Lindenau House could work. See;
http://www.grandmanner.co.uk/Lindenau_House--product--739.html
You could always go the route of;
http://www.grandmanner.co.uk/Jetted_2_storey_stone_based_house--product--593.html
For a less formal house, I think it would work, but not as well as the ones above.
Finally, I'm not sure there is a perfect answer to your question, these are just personal views,
I hope this helps.
Tony
Thanks Tony.
That's brilliant. :)
I'd seen the Holzhausen cottage and liked it, but was put off by the thatced roof. If, as you say, this is not an issue for the SYW, then it would indeed be ideal.
Re a garden for the rear, I've bookmarked this one from Architects of War, for the priest to grow his own vegetables. Stick a tricorne on the scarecrow and voila!
http://www.architectsofwar.com/gardenkit.aspx
Re the use of green for the parsonage's woodwork - yes, that's fine. I'd still do the church's woodwork in deep red, unless you thought one would more likely match the other.
Thanks again. Looks like another order for Grand Manner coming up.
And when do you think your book on Terrain for Wargamers will be released? I'd buy it. :)
Cheers
Paul
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the comment.
I know the garden, it is exactly right for a parsonage.
The red of the church is a brick red - to get a good and similar colour try adding a touch of green to your mix. It will 'dull it down - as the original.
Good luck and remember to send me a link to the painted images.
Tony
Will do Tony. :)
Cheers,
Paul
Hi Tony
Would you believe I haven't bought the cottage for the parsonage yet?! Been too busy arranging my first range of miniatures to be sculpted - a lot of work.
Anyway...I was looking at the Grand Manner site today and noticed how similar the Lindenau House is in appearance to the Prussian Church. Was there a reason you rejected it for the parsonage in favour of the Holzhausen Thatched Cottage? Was it the flowers at the windows? The door?
You have probably already seen this photo diary about Hessenpark, but if not, it's great (especially for the dates & comments): http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsouthall/3764517540/in/set-72157621744335385/
Looking forward to your terrain book when it comes out.
Cheers
Paul
PS I came across this excellent little document about parsonage gardens from the Reformation onwards, and wondered if the flowers in the Lindenau windows might be a feasible extension . . .
www.rectorysociety.org.uk/Uploads/Site786/Files/parsonagegardens.doc
What do you think?
Cheers
P
PPS Perhaps the Lindenau is too urban, not rustic enough for a church's parsonage outside the township? The windows do not match like the Holzhausen either.
Decisions! Decisions!
Should I be emailing this directly instead of posting it here? :)
Oh, I forgot you'd previously recommended the Lindenau house for a more formal parsonage.
!!
With my recent observations in mind, it probably comes down to matching roof or matching windows. And urbane vs rustic.
Tricky. :)
Hi Paul,
Just got home from a field trip/away day in Coventry photographing some timber buildings.
I also think that the Lindenau house would work as a parsonage and the flower boxes and a small garden word add interest.
Also thank you for the links. I am always interested in this type of article.
Tony
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