The Periscope Rifle, Galipolli– WWI Diorama in 50mm 1/35 using Masterbox Figures MB3540 and a Ruine
450,00 € inc. tax
The “Periscope Rifle”
Building and Painting a 1/35 scale Vignette of a WWI Three-Figure Sniper Team at Gallipoli
The Gallipoli battlefield was ideal for snipers. The rocky terrain with bushes, hills and natural obstacles provided many perfect hiding places and the careless or unlucky soldiers of both sides were easy prey for the snipers hidden there and a sudden shot was usually coupled with an instantaneous death. The most successful Allied sniper in Gallipoli was Billy Sing of The Queensland Light Cavalry with more than 200 successful kills.
However, the snipers’ job was very tough and dangerous. They could easily get hurt or captured… Or die while trying to shoot at the enemy while out of sight of their comrades. Consequently, the need for aiming a rifle without the sniper being exposed to danger emerged and it led to various constructions, like the one used extensively in the Australian trenches. This was a wooden construction, which was put above the sandbags using sloping wooden frames and which included a periscope for aiming, as well as a wire for pulling the trigger.
The inventor of the “periscope rifle” was Sergeant William Beech, originally from Shropshire, England, of the 2nd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. The “periscope rifle” was first used in Quinn’s Post in late May 1915, and allowed the user to aim and shoot an issue .303in SMLE rifle fitted into a wooden frame, using two mirrors to aim while remaining out of sight to the enemy, below the lip of the trench. The upper mirror looked along the rifle’s sights, while a lower one reflected this view to the sniper.
Up until the “periscope rifle” came into use, it had been virtually impossible to raise one’s head at Quinn’s Post to fire back at the enemy because of the proximity of the Turkish trenches and their snipers who were higher up the slope. With this invention, the garrison at Quinn’s was able, at last, to hit back effectively.
THE VIGNETTE
The composition of our vignette is based on a vintage photograph taken in an ANZAC first-rate trench in May 1915 at Gallipoli. The only difference is that the sculptor David Hay used three figures, whereas there are four soldiers in the photograph.
Pins were inserted and glued into the soldiers feet to fit into corresponding holes drilled into temporary wooden bases that we use when priming with Vallejo Black Primer Spray and for support when painting. All the painting was done using Vallejo Model Color acrylics.
The colors' selection has been made after historical research, so that the result is as close as possible to the German soldiers of the ERA.
This particular vignette is collectible; It makes a great gift for any history lover and collector.
We will ship with the vignette screwed into a strong carton box, within the shipping box to eliminate the possibility of transit damage.
Paypal only. Additional photos and information available upon request.
