Life Guards - 1837 (2 Viewers)

[johnnybach]

Whilst the paintwork is drying on Scottie's Hussars - there's time to show a few developments on my Life Guards, so here's a few pics of what I've been up to.

Here's a pic of one of my spare Life Guards - whose horse was found minus a few legs. Excuse the organised chaos - but concentrate on the figure's new
rear leg with pin inserted.



Next pic shows it miraculously in place - having been glued into place in the pre-drilled hole made to accept the pin already glued into the leg you saw above. Note the sprue - which contains all four legs and the tail for this mount - with the one used removed.



Next pic shows front legs being given similar treatment.


He can now stand on his three legs.



And here's a pic of some others that were purchased in various lots that I bought on e-bay. they aren't for this project, as they just came along with the poses I really wanted - but I now find that I posses most of the figures (all repaired) from an early Britains set 43. In between working on my Set 72+ figures, I have been repairing and putting these on bases, to either keep or sell back on e-bay after painting. ( See the milliput filler on some leg-joints - to be sanded smooth before painting, once dried out).





Here's another similar figure - in need of two front legs, this time, showing legs prepared to be fitted into prepared stumps.



And finally - one of the whole lot - with my current project figures in front, at varying stages of development - and the remainder (mostly) repaired and pinned to new stands, awaiting their turn.



So..............that's where we're at ..........so far. jb

 

[blaster]

Hello JB,

I notice the officer on the prancing horse being featured several times. It looks perfect!

Rgds Victor

 

[johnnybach]

Hello JB,

I notice the officer on the prancing horse being featured several times. It looks perfect!

Rgds Victor

Hi Vic. Yes - I usually produce a figure straight through to the end (whilst working on the others at earlier stages), when producing a group of figures. This helps get my head around the figure - on what to paint first/last etc.

As this guy was one of the most difficult for me to get hold of on the secondary market - I chose to paint him up to completion first. As an Officer, he also had added features - like a sabretache ( incorrectly - as it turns out - as by the late 1820's - 1st LG had stopped using them). However, Britains used the figure WITH sabretache - so as a nod in the direction of Set 72 - I kept it too. I have removed the sabretache from the 1897 figure (yet to be shown), as I think that is a step too far. If they weren't being used by 1830, as suggested - then they were DEFINITELY NOT being used at the eve of the turn of the next Century.

Here's a few tidier pics of him - which I keep in front of me when working of the others - to help remind me of things I need to know.







I had to make a few alterations to Britains' Basic figure - as they had the pouch belt and aiguilettes incorrectly placed - but I think he came out okay in the end. His arm/sword is a genuine old tin-strip one, by the way. I have another coat of varnish to go on him yet - so he will have a nicer finish than this, eventually.

I'm currently working to complete my Trumpeter figure next (though the other 1837's aren't far behind him), which Britains never did. Reason is - this set was first produced for Queen Vic's (any relation??) Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Britains had NOT produced a Trumpeter at that time - and this set was based upon just two castings - the Prancing Officer and the Trooper. I'm using the Trooper figure too - but using the recast Romanesque head and arm with Trumpet that I bought from our old pal Giles, in Dorset.

All the best - jb

 

[theBaron]

Very nicely finished, John! I enjoy seeing classic Britains given a bit of a cleanup and some new life. They'll make quite a nice parade display.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Very nicely finished, John! I enjoy seeing classic Britains given a bit of a cleanup and some new life. They'll make quite a nice parade display.

Prost!
Brad

Hi Brad - thanks - and glad you like him too. I know that you and I ( amongst several others), share the passion of repair, refurbishment and re-painting ( The 3 R's). . He's been cleaned up completely and given a conversion with a new head - but that's the only real difference between him and a casting done for 1897, ( apart from the fact that this "two-eared horse" version, was done in the 1930's). Proves the point that underneath bad paint and the grime of a maybe a century or so - there lurks a very nice casting indeed.

I note with interest, quite a lively debate going elsewhere on the forum - mainly concerning the high price of modern produced Toy Soldiers - many of whom, no longer offer a castings option these days - and also limited number runs of figures.

Just as a thought provoker - I'll share the cost of this particular figure and some others. He was minus his head (which I was going to replace anyway) - and he cost me in that condition - £6. His brother Officer (yet to be completed), had his own head - but was also minus his right arm/sword - and cost me £8 - and, at that price was the MOST expensive figure for this project.

All of the other troopers cost less than these amounts - and one Trooper on a horse (who was minus four legs for the horse and an arm for him cost me just 10p from an e-bay lot of 20 figures for £1.99. (That's TEN PENCE each).

I bought most on e-bay, in lots - and three from dealers in old Toy Soldier figures. Okay, they all need a bit of enjoyable work to clean up and maybe repair too - which I think you and I regard as part of the fun - and not "work".

Legs for horses, arms with sword and heads cost 40 pence each, ( I bought mine at Dorset Soldiers). I visited the workshop/shop - but anyone can order via e-mail - (with just a minimum price of £10 for each order).

If that makes you think..................do the maths - and pick up a brush. jb

 

[nmrocks]

Whilst the paintwork is drying on Scottie's Hussars - there's time to show a few developments on my Life Guards, so here's a few pics of what I've been up to.

Here's a pic of one of my spare Life Guards - whose horse was found minus a few legs. Excuse the organised chaos - but concentrate on the figure's new
rear leg with pin inserted.



Next pic shows it miraculously in place - having been glued into place in the pre-drilled hole made to accept the pin already glued into the leg you saw above. Note the sprue - which contains all four legs and the tail for this mount - with the one used removed.



Next pic shows front legs being given similar treatment.


He can now stand on his three legs.



And here's a pic of some others that were purchased in various lots that I bought on e-bay. they aren't for this project, as they just came along with the poses I really wanted - but I now find that I posses most of the figures (all repaired) from an early Britains set 43. In between working on my Set 72+ figures, I have been repairing and putting these on bases, to either keep or sell back on e-bay after painting. ( See the milliput filler on some leg-joints - to be sanded smooth before painting, once dried out).





Here's another similar figure - in need of two front legs, this time, showing legs prepared to be fitted into prepared stumps.



And finally - one of the whole lot - with my current project figures in front, at varying stages of development - and the remainder (mostly) repaired and pinned to new stands, awaiting their turn.



So..............that's where we're at ..........so far. jb

Great to see the process JB, you've really got your system down.
Ray

 

[johnnybach]

Great to see the process JB, you've really got your system down.
Ray

Hi Ray - yes - that's what it is........a process. When I get a bit tired of painting - or I need for something to dry off a bit - it's nice to pull out a few "casualties", and figure out what's needed to fix 'em up again. I have a really useful book by Andrew Rose called "The Collector's All-Colour Guide to Toy Soldiers". Inside, it's full of life-size illustrations of most of the well known old Toy Soldiers. So..............when you get (say) a horse with fewer legs than it began life with, you can just look up the book to find out what it looked like to begin with - and find a spare to fit (or make one from a piece of paper-clip as "the bone" and milliput as the flesh. You can even place your specimen on the book page - to check out angle of leg etc., as the illustrations are the same size as the figure.

Once you have them standing up - it's usually just sorting out the minor details after that - though as a general rule, the older they are, the more likely they are to have picked up other knocks or damage. (though not always).

After repairs - it's just another casting - to paint up in whatever medium pleases you - which in my case is Gloss.

Bung the lot on a good solid metal base - and voila! - Toy Soldier's in business once again! - delighting - whoever.{sm4}

Here's another pair I've been working on right now. These are lancers - the one on the left by Cherilea, and the other is by JoHillco. Cherilea required a new top for his lance - as the pennant was broken off - and a bit of work required for his foot. Johillco needed a new rear leg - as he couldn't stand up on the two he had left to stand on.

You can probably see the new "joint" on the leg. This is milliput pressed into the glued joint. I'll leave it in until hard, then file and sand it down flush. Once undercoated(primed) and painted, it will be difficult to spot. The new leg was actually a Britains re-cast spare part (Dorset), but the scale's the same - so after working it over - they fit together perfectly - and they have been pinned together as well, of course, as you saw earlier.

The Cherilea Lancer has already been pinned to the base - and the other one has just had the new base cut and filed to shape, so will put him on tonight.

I pulled forward my new LG trumpeter - which is almost dry now - so will be ready for a first coat of varnish tomorrow, probably. The Trooper to his right is still being painted. I normally keep wet paint away from this metal "dirty work"., as filings and wet paint don't generally look good! These are dry though - so quite safe.

AND - 'cos it's you - you get a preview:salute:: All the best, Ray - jb

 

[nmrocks]

Really like the Dapple coloring of the horse, well done.
Ray

 

[theBaron]

Hi Brad - thanks - and glad you like him too. I know that you and I ( amongst several others), share the passion of repair, refurbishment and re-painting ( The 3 R's). . He's been cleaned up completely and given a conversion with a new head - but that's the only real difference between him and a casting done for 1897, ( apart from the fact that this "two-eared horse" version, was done in the 1930's). Proves the point that underneath bad paint and the grime of a maybe a century or so - there lurks a very nice casting indeed.

I note with interest, quite a lively debate going elsewhere on the forum - mainly concerning the high price of modern produced Toy Soldiers - many of whom, no longer offer a castings option these days - and also limited number runs of figures.

Just as a thought provoker - I'll share the cost of this particular figure and some others. He was minus his head (which I was going to replace anyway) - and he cost me in that condition - £6. His brother Officer (yet to be completed), had his own head - but was also minus his right arm/sword - and cost me £8 - and, at that price was the MOST expensive figure for this project.

All of the other troopers cost less than these amounts - and one Trooper on a horse (who was minus four legs for the horse and an arm for him cost me just 10p from an e-bay lot of 20 figures for £1.99. (That's TEN PENCE each).

I bought most on e-bay, in lots - and three from dealers in old Toy Soldier figures. Okay, they all need a bit of enjoyable work to clean up and maybe repair too - which I think you and I regard as part of the fun - and not "work".

Legs for horses, arms with sword and heads cost 40 pence each, ( I bought mine at Dorset Soldiers). I visited the workshop/shop - but anyone can order via e-mail - (with just a minimum price of £10 for each order).

If that makes you think..................do the maths - and pick up a brush. jb

As a matter of fact, I've got a group of Life Guards somewhere in my stash, battle-hardened veterans all, that I picked up years ago with an eye to refurbishing them, converting them into Prussian cuirassiers. I've always thought it wouldn't take too much to do it. And I got inspiration from an American maker back in the late 90s, I think it was, whose catalog consisted of Britains-style solid-cast figures, depicting nations and regiments Britains never produced (like Prussian cuirassiers, for instance). It might have been Little Metal Men, but I have their catalog, and some of their foot figures.

Maybe I'll move them up in the queue this year...

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Really like the Dapple coloring of the horse, well done.
Ray

cheers Ray - glad you like him.

I copied much of the details ( including dappling) from a picture that my (late) dear friend Trooper sent me. A lovely guy, I will miss both his help and friendship so very much.

The pic of the figure that he sent me, was dated to 1830 - so just seven years before my date of 1837 - and a rare pic of the Mounted Trumpeter also wearing the Romanesque helmet. He's in State Dress here - but I wanted him in the more regular tunic - so found another pic of him, dressed this way ( see below)



See what a fine fellow he is? I found this pic on a great website - and this time, the figure is dated to 1832. So.....around 5-7 years before 1837 - pretty darned close.

http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyuniforms/britishcavalry/1stlifeguardsuniform.htm



A few detail changes required - such as the black sheepskin saddle cover for my figure - as he's a 1st LG Trumpeter - and white pants instead of the dress dark trousers as he's mounted - and we have my figure - which is now also completed ( and varnished last night). It would be nice IF we could find a definitive picture of him dressed this way, dated 1837 - but despite many hours of research - this is the closest to that date I could get. So.......between 5-7 years of the date Britains chose to use (1837) - this is the closest to the date that I could get - and thus my set will, unlike Britains original Set 72, have a Trumpeter.





Both of the above figures have been given one coat of Humbrol Gloss Varnish ( which seals everything in). They will get a second coat in a few days time ( ensures everything is perfectly dry) - to improve protection and the shine.

By the way Ray - seeing as this is a repair thread - and I mentioned in an earlier post, that it is sometimes NOT possible to use a replacement leg on some figures - whose horse legs cannot be matched up to existing spares. Well, I was doing one of these just last night, so here's a pic.

As you may be able to make out - this is a second grade Hussar by Johillco ( he was sold in 1930 for two-pence, instead of a the more normal 3 pence for a thicker legged premium grade specimen - and I kid you not!). You can see just how spindly his legs are - and the front right was snapped off when found. I have drilled into this stump - as far as I dared, as old metal can be fragile - as it's so thin - and used a piece of paper clip to pin him to my new stand (made up as usual). The other hooves have also been pinned (albeit shallow pins) - but he now stands up once again. I will model some Milliput around this missing leg - hopefully to look like the other ones. Once dry and sanded back - then painted - he will look as good as new ( or hopefully - a bit better than when he was brand-new), way back in 1930. jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

WOW WOW WOW These are smashing Sir JB !!


Pour yourself a pint of brains

 

[johnnybach]

As a matter of fact, I've got a group of Life Guards somewhere in my stash, battle-hardened veterans all, that I picked up years ago with an eye to refurbishing them, converting them into Prussian cuirassiers. I've always thought it wouldn't take too much to do it. And I got inspiration from an American maker back in the late 90s, I think it was, whose catalog consisted of Britains-style solid-cast figures, depicting nations and regiments Britains never produced (like Prussian cuirassiers, for instance). It might have been Little Metal Men, but I have their catalog, and some of their foot figures.

Maybe I'll move them up in the queue this year...

Prost!
Brad

love to see the process or outcome Brad. Get cracking then - I'm getting older!! jb

 

[johnnybach]

WOW WOW WOW These are smashing Sir JB !!


Pour yourself a pint of brains

Okay - they sell it around the corner now!

 

[johnnybach]

Mind you, Scott - it doesn't come like this anymore - jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

I remember those days !!!! Running down the pavement to the end of my Nans terraced row to see the Joshua Tetley White Shires clomping down the street. Shame it is all gone now

 

[johnnybach]

I remember those days !!!! Running down the pavement to the end of my Nans terraced row to see the Joshua Tetley White Shires clomping down the street. Shame it is all gone now

not quite Scott. Wadworth Brewery in Devizes keep a pair of horses with a dray for deliveries to pubs within a two mile radius of the brewery. I've seen them delivering - using Monty and Max ( I asked the guys for their names - last year).

Just google it - to see 'em both. Cheers! jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

not quite Scott. Wadworth Brewery in Devizes keep a pair of horses with a dray for deliveries to pubs within a two mile radius of the brewery. I've seen them delivering - using Monty and Max ( I asked the guys for their names - last year).

Just google it - to see 'em both. Cheers! jb

Good to hear..........what beautiful creatures Monty & Max are !!!

 

[johnnybach]

Meanwhile..............I've still been doing a bit each day, and have got to the point where the 1837 Life guards are almost completed. Just the bases to do for the Troopers and Trumpeter ( whose base I handled too soon - with some milliput residue on my fingers. Drat!!!! I'll re-paint that base too).

So......for now - this is what they look like. I was hoping to show you the other side - BUT Photobucket is having one of it's regular exasperating moments - and the other pic I tried to upload - is still 90% complete - after about twenty minutes. I'll try again when it feels better!!! jb

 

[johnnybach]

Well - I gave up on Photobucket - and went and had my dinner. On returning - I closed down photobucket - and logged back in ten minutes later and started again. Uploaded my picture almost immediately - and so.............................. here's the other side of my 1837 life guards comprising Officer on prancing horse, 3 NCO's, 2 Troopers and - Trumpeter (which Britains never did for set 72). Hah!! jb

 

[johnnybach]

And finally, for this evening, I thought I would show you how the rest of my project is developing - with my Eight further figures in various stages of development.

But wait a minute - I hear you cry - we thought you were doing a version of Britains set 72 - with two extra Trumpeter figures???? That's 14!!!

That's correct - BUT - I was sitting here at my bench the other night, and looking into my "spares box", when amongst the various arms, legs, swords and other bits'n'pieces - a thought hit me!

I have another (broken) trooper figure here - and loads of new legs and swords. I wonder if Giles does a suitable Farriers Axe??? A quick e-mail confirmed he did - so some more spares were dispatched to me by post this last week - including the arm and farriers Axe. The result is front rank - second in from the right. You can't miss him - he's in his blue tunic - has a black plume to his helmet and carries that axe.



So......my original idea to reproduce JUST the six 1837 Life Guards from set 72 - then became the complete set of 12 - then by adding two trumpeters - became 14 - and now - with the addition of an 1897 farrier ( a picture from the LG's web-site confirmed how he looked in late victorian times), becomes 15.

I've still kept the carbines - as Britains did with these, by adding them to the figures I managed to obtain - a lot of them with a few repairs and other modifications ( such as adding scabbarded sword for the trumpeters and the farrier - as well as nearly all of them requiring the right arm holding the sword at the Low Carry - and the axe. But, I'm very confidant now, that I'm getting there - and MY set will have 15 members. jb