Battle of New Orleans ~ 1815 - diorama

[Custermen]

I ran across this diorama for sale on FaceBook.  It is factory "store-bought" made but I thought some might find it interesting because of the subject matter. 

 

Diorama “New Orleans ~ 1815”  made by The Franklin Mint in 1980

Size:  Base 7 in X 5-1/2 in.   Figures are standard 54mm size.

 

 

Display depicts a scene at the 1815 Battle of New Orleans.  The central item is a French 6.5-inch Howitzer used by the Americans to defeat the British.  The set includes 7 54-mm figures, each mounted on its own painted base that is engraved on the bottom with identity of soldier. 

 

The 7 figures are identified as following:  3 Corps of Artillery: Officer, Sergeant and private.  1 Baratarian Seaman, Lafitte's Pirates.  1 Louisiana Militia in gray uniform.  2 Kentucky Militia wearing the hunting frocked coats and round hat.

 

The Base may look wood but it is solid pewter and weighs a ton.  The side is more than ½ inch tall.   This set came out in 1980 and the individual pieces were shipped through the year.   

 

 

A close-up of the uniforms of the Kentucky Militia.  The Officer is standing; the enlisted is squatting.  The Sergeant of the Corps of Artillery is igniting the cannon and the private of Artillery is holding his ears.  

 

 

Reason for adding to my collection:

1)  Made by the Franklin Mint, good quality.

2)  Depicts an old artillery cannon --- my 4th diorama with a cannon.

3)  Subject is War of 1812 which is hard to find figures for that era

4)  Two figures on display are Kentucky Militia; my ancestor served in the KY Militia.

 

Quality:  There was a little damage to the paint and some bent parts.  Nothing serious and I do plan to touch up some expose shiny pewter.  I could have maybe painted them a little better but my average time to complete a diorama is 20 years.   I'm tempted to make a few "corrections" to the painting but some have advised me to restore to the original condition. 

 

French 6.5 inch Howitzer and the Colonel of the Corps of Artillery.

 

 

A view of the BASE with the cannon and some figures removed.  

[Doctorofwar]

Pretty neat, I don’t often see War of 1812 subject matter.  
Coincidentally I am currently reading “The War of 1812” by Harry L. Coles- I recommend it for a through but concise history of the conflict.  

[Custermen]

17 hours ago, Doctorofwar said:

Coincidentally I am currently reading “The War of 1812” by Harry L. Coles- I recommend it for a through but concise history of the conflict.  

Thanks.  

My 3rd cousin wrote a historical novel or such about our ancestor using the journal of his company's captain and records of the 7th Kentucky Militia.  They served only 9 months and were in no battles.  They maneuvered up through Cincinnati up to Dayton area and tried to relieve Fort Wayne.  They stayed at St Marys and eventually built a stockade there when they heard rumors of Indian attacks.  Nothing happened but the fort was called Fort Barbee after the colonel of the regiment---later just called Fort St Marys.  

I would like to find a simple map with the rivers and these forts that are mentioned.  There is not much on this area as the fighting was up in Canada.  

[Proud Kraut]

I like this dio very much! The painting of the gun and the figures is excellent, thanks for sharing!

[Custermen]

3 hours ago, Proud Kraut said:

I like this dio very much!

I didn't know the Franklin Mint made dioramas.  I'm not sure if I heard of any 54mm military figures made by them.  

However, the Franklin Mint does make metal aircraft models.   They have some nice 1:48 Scale ones.  

 

1:48 Model of C-47 by Franklin Mint.

[Backtheattack]

Great dio!