Objectives - Guinness-rekord - Miska Hussar
Hussar traditions and the Tinsoldier
The history of tinsoldiers - 15 Facts about Hussars - References in the press (In Hungarian only)

Objectives

We not only would like to create this statue – this would be just the way to achieve our target. We plan to show the world if many enthusianistic people get together and have a common great plan they are able to realise it.

The idea of the Biggest Tinsoldier of the World has been existing in the brain of the founder for a long time, but the team that could be able to build this monument has just gethered. And supporters who are ready to assist us keep on applying.

Our soldier, Miska Hussar will be a unique record – he is going to be the Biggest Tinsoldier of the World. A record that will be registed in the Book of Records. A record about many people could hear all around the world and could be also be wondered by locals. The height of the Hussar is expected to be 11 meters, according to the international standards – up to the dome – it will reach the height of 9.5 meters. It is equal to a 4-stage house.

We know it won’t be easy to achieve these objectives. All phases of the project mean challenge for those who spend time and energy in the project. This requires moral responsibility from everyone to do their maximum. A huge professional knowledge and know-how means also a key point of the success : shaping a soldier, building a constant ground and casting the parts would require strong technical background, organisation skills and co-ordination of the volunteers.

The main value of the project becomes the co-operation of many, who make joint efforts to make a dream real showing the world that many enthusianistic people could achieve huge goals as well. All of us are working on their own field for the desired target.

We do not intend to keep the soldiers just for our purposes. We also would build a memento for old, hand-made, creative toys, and keep those traditions alive. We also would like to express our honour to the former Hussar units and soldiers.

Guinness-rekord

A régi és az új rekord

Jelenleg a világ legnagyobb ólomkatonája a kanadai New Westminsterben található. A katona 9,75 m magas, 5 tonna súlyú, festett játék-katonákhoz hasonló. Valentin napkor avatták fel az örök szerelem jelképeként (utalva az Andersen mesére).
A készítés megtekinthető képekben a http://www.austinmetal.com/web/tinman.htm címen.

Az Ólomkatona a magasságában és a súlyában is megelőzi majd kanadai elődjét. Az ólomhuszár 11 méter magas lesz és 15-20 tonna súlyú. Különlegessége, hogy hagyományos öntési eljárással készül, és teljes egészében ólom és színesfém borítású lesz (nem festett!).

Miska Hussar

In 2007 the town of Rácalmas, which noble curias gave many remarkable Hussars for the glory of the nation made some measures to be an attractive place for our Soldier. A local construction enterprice, Timpanon P+P offered its property, a former stable to serve as the place of 12-meter-tall soldier from PU-foam.

So that autumn ROHO moved to the stable, and despite the freezing weather he started to weld the iron rods to prepare the skeleton. As this iron-skeleton became ready it seemed and was lying ont he floor seemed also huge, as it was standing on the yard it seemed a giant. On 15th March the town was rewarded by a replica as a sign of our gratitude for the dedication and the support we recieved.

The next remarkable day in the life of the Hussar became the day of christening on 28th June. On that day the name ”Miska” was given to the soldier within a local festival Art Porta – The port of Arts. On the festivility Hussars were represented by a Hussar troop, a bagpipe artist was playing for the bless of God , and a priest was baptizing and blessing the Hussar.

The project is still in progress int he yard. Now the muskles – the PU-foam is already on the skeleton, and it will be fully covered by gypsum. According to our plans the core of the big solder would be concrete and that will be covered by Pb sheets, and somewhere it will have casted parts as well.

Hussar traditions and the Tinsoldier

One of our aims during the realisation of the project is to rebirth and follow the tradition of the Hussars, a unique Hangarian cavalary unit.  Almost all of us identifies these units with the Hussars of the 18th and 19th century. But we have to go back with the beginning of the story.

The origin of the word is still unclear for historians. Some say it derives from the word  ”cursor” which means courier int he Latin. Or there is an other opinion that says the world is equal to the Italian expression for pirates (cursaro).  Or it is also suggested that the word comes for the Croatian harrier.

However, the origin of the word is not defined, Hussar tradition means a form of Hungarian pride and valour, an image of a warrior  who is fighting for his home even until death. Mr. Rohonczi imagined the form of the Tinsoldier as a Hussar holding a flag in his hand to salute those soldiers.

The history of tinsoldiers

Since the early civilisations people form miniatures about their daily life, the work they do, and of course about the privileged part of the society, the soldiers. The early soldiers and figures were made of stone, clay, wood, metals. Miniatures were found in the tomb of Egyptian pharaos, and in the Mediterranium as well. (Romans and Greek figures were found made of bronze and tin). There are documents that tell us, many toy- and modells were made in the acient Mexico and Peru in manufactures.

In the Middle age huge number of lead-tin forms were made, and even sold. Selling small statues for pilgrims was counted as a blossoming business. Children were playing tournaments with modell knights and soldiers.

The French King, Louis XIII and Louis XIV. had a great collection of metal soldiers. Those were made of precious metals. Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden had troops of bronze. And in subsequent centuries many rulers were to have fine collections.

The King of Rome, Napoleon II, had soldiers made of gold, the Prince Elector of Bavaria, men of wood. Frederick the Great of Prussia showed interest in lead soldiers, and Napoleon III also collected them together with Czar Nicholas I, Czar Peter III, Alfonso XIII of Spain, Kaiser Wilhelm II, the King of Hannover, and Frederick William III of Prussia.

In Hungary manufacturing and collecting tinsoldiers also had a great tradition before WWII. In the socialist era it was forbidden for privates to cast and collect solders since the metal of the miniatures could be used for armory as well and collection almost disappered. After the transition some enthusianistic people who remembered their childhood started to produce soldiers, collect them, and playing according to the international rules. Although there are no restriction for these toys, it does not seems to be a popular toy for the children of the 21st century.

15 Facts about Hussars

Did you know, …

1. ... the word Hussar originally means highwayman? Word ”Hussar” was not always used for light cavalary units according to some researches. It means in Serbian language highwayman and pirate in Italian (corsaro)

2. …. Hussars were represented int he battlefields of Europe for over 500 years? The first documents dating the appearance of Hussars int ha late 14th century and int he WWI they also were fighting.

3. …. the first Hussar unit was grounded in 1389? After the lost Battle of Kosovo a Serbian oligarch who was fleeding to Croatia grounded the first units called Hussars. Certificates mention first this name in 1403.

4. … in the Army of King Mathias I. also were serving Hussar units? These were well-trained, skin-armored, longbow cavalary units lead by nobles. These were soldiers who were stand out after the property.

5. … the first Hussar warriors in Western Europe came from Balcan? In the first time of the war against the reformation and the Schmalkalden Alliance Habsburgs used Bosnian and Croatian soldiers in the battlefields of Germany, Hungarian Hussars appeared later.

6. … Hussars played also a notable role against the Osman Empire? Int he 16th century Hussar units consist of mercenaries. They also showed their skills during duals with Turkish warriors.

7. …. what is the difference between Polish and Hungarian Hussars? Polish Hussars according to their armors and weapons was a part of weight cavalary. Since the reigning of Stephen Bathory was this unit represented in Poland. They were fighting successfully against Osmans in the 17th century even they defended Vienna in 1683.

8. … Hungarian Hussars forced Berlin to pay? In 1753 Baron Andrew Hadik and his units was reaching Berlin crossing sectretly the Prussian area during wartime and taxing the city of Berlin.

9. … which are the most reputable Hussar units? Nadasdy-, Palffy-, Petnehazy-, Forgach-, Deak-, and Karolyi-banderiums are the mostly known banderiums.

10. … Hussars were fighting int he War of Independence in America? Mihaly Kovats former Huszar served as colonel in the American Army, and died during the siege of Charleston in 1779.

11. … who is Colonel Simonyi ? Colonel Simonyi is the lenendary hero of the Napoleon wars, who was awarded by Marie Theresa order in 1804.

12. … the Hussars of the Hungarian Revolution and Liberty War returned back from abroad to defend the achievments of the Revolution? Since the Hungarian soldiers were serving abroad and after the Laws of April the new Hungarian goverment ordered them home to defend the achievments.

13. … the last notable battle of the Liberty War of 1849 were fighted by the Hussars of Klapka? After the fall of the Liberty War in August 1849 Klapka defended the Fortress of Komárom. Int he last battle his armies were fighting with Kozak warriors.

14. … Hussars were fighting for the unification of Italy? Victor Emanual announced Count Gergely Bethlen to ground a Hussar Unit. Garibaldi also did in 1860, he grounded 2 of these in 1860. They were fighting heroicly int he Battle of Capua.

15. … Hussars were fighting in WWI? Hungarian cavalary unit was represented int he battle of Vistula in 1914 and even near Piave in 1918.

References in the press (In Hungarian only)

2009.07.24 :
Bőrt kap a huszár (Dunaújvárosi Hírlap)

2009.03.10 :
Otthont keresnek Miskának, az óriás ólomkatonának! (Dunaújvárosi Hírlap)

2008.07.26 :
Óriáshuszár Pécsett: száműzik a belvárosból (BAMA)

2008.07.17 :
A világ legnagyobb ólomkatonája Pécsre kerülhet (BAMA)

2008.07.07 :
Miska az Art-Portán (Helyi Téma Online)

2008.06.30 :
Miska leend a huszár neve (Dunaújvárosi Hírlap)

2008.06.29 :
Összművészet Rácalmáson (Dunaújvárosi Hírlap)

2008.06.25 :
Art-Porta: huszáros! (Dunaújváros Online)

2008.05.20 :
Rácalmáson épül a világ legnagyobb ólomkatonája (OrientPress)

2008.05.20 :
Rácalmás: a világ legnagyobb ólomkatonája (MR1 Kossuth Rádió)

2008.05.20 :
Rácalmáson készül a világ legnagyobb ólomkatonája (MR1 Kossuth Rádió)

2008.04.28 :
Guinness rekord ólomkatona (webradio)

2008.04.24 :
Kérő van, de nem helyben (Fejér Megyei Hírlap)

2008.04.17 :
Talpon a katona (Fejér Megyei Hírlap)

2008.04.15 :
Talpon a katona (Dunaújvárosi Hírlap)

2007.03.28 :
Guiness-rekord ólomkatonával (Népszabadság Online)

2007.03.20 :
Óriás ólomkatona - Guinness-rekord épül, ha lesz rá elég pénz (webradio)

2007.03.19 :
Négyemeletes lesz az ólomkatona (Dunaújvárosi Hírlap)

2007.03.18 :
Ólomkatona-óriás - nekünk? (Dunaújváros Online)