Wagons roll
The Civil war armies used wagons by their thousands in order to transport munitions, foodstuffs and necessaries from the railheads to the battlefields.
Whilst the Confederates used anything to hand including captured US stock the principal US vehicle was a purpose built wagon, authorised in 1855 and produced with various modifications until 1865.
The vehicle weighed 2000 pounds and could carry a similar weight.
Originally designed for use with four horses or mules this specification was later upgraded to six animals.
An interesting point is that the teamster rode the inside rear mount and was not positioned on the vehicle ala John Wayne etc.
Here is a drawing I found showing the standard army wagon and it’s principal features.
These contemporary Pictures illustrate the wagon.
Here is the basic uncovered wagon.
Jacklex miniatures do a very nice wagon with mules but it is not cheap so I decided to utilise the IMEX wagons rather than build from scratch.
I firstly used cardboard to represent the tailboard detail.
I constructed the front tool box from balsa with card hinges.
The hooped structure I was going to build with card as the originals used wooden hoops.
However, picture wire works well as it can be easily bent to shape.
To provide the accommodation holds for the hoops I heated a needle, held by pillars over a gas flame and then inserted it in the base.
Once completed the brake system was made out of balsa.
Toilet paper cut to size completes the canvas which these vehicles were uniformly equipped with as I found tissue to be too uniform in texture.
I was going to paint the canvas’s but I think they look good ‘au natural’.
The horse team in this instance, are from the Revel and Imex sets with tissue covers and Hat Austrian trails.
A web site suggested that the bodywork should be a light blue with Venetian red wheels. My research suggests that the monochrome pictures indicate a uniform colour. Mr Adkin in his Gettysburg companion has them in green as per my initial picture so green it is.
The camera has revealed a few bits that need attention but I think they have the ‘feel’ of the period.
Incidentally I found a fascinating link on Civil war logistics .
All you need to know about kitting out,supplying and feeding a civil war soldier!
https://transportation.army.mil/History ... icle_1.pdfFascinating stuff.
Chris