1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, Pipe & Drum Band. (4 Viewers)

[johnnybach]

Development of last drummer and another piper has reached this stage. jb

 

[aujj65]

Johnny,

You are making a really good job of these. {bravo}}

Jeff

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Jeff - or should I say "Hello Sailor"? - I hope so - but it is always hard for me to keep it up towards the end of a largish group. I'm always a very enthusiastic "starter" - but a slow "finisher" - if you know what I mean. It's as if I've cracked all the problems - know exactly what I need to do - but am halfway to thinking about my next project. Add to that all of the jobs around the house/garden stacking up - and I am definitely slowing down production. Did quite a bit of transplanting earlier today in the greenhouse. Still - on the last five of these now - and looking forward to seeing them all completed - these two are well on their way.

Surprised you're still around - thought you'd be in the bath-tub by now - playing with your new boat!{sm3} Hard astarboard Number One! - where's the shampoo?

 

[thebritfarmer]

I love reading your posts JB they make me laugh, just the tonic !!!


The soldiers are looking mighty nice too by the way.

 

[johnnybach]

You know what Groucho says about it Scott; "Laugh - and the World laughs with you. Cry - and you get a wet shirt!" Just gotta have a sense of humour. Glad you like 'em.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Five to go then it's SHOWTIME

 

[johnnybach]

I've been working on the two a bit more, old buddy, so hope to have those finished later today - then there will be just three more to go. Tune in later. jb^&grin

 

[4th Hussar]

JB,
You likely mentioned it 160 or so posts back, but does this band have a pipe major or drum major ? Is the band lead or just it just stampede when the pipers start up ?^&confuse

 

[johnnybach]

Funnily enough - I don't think that I have mentioned it - this time, old chum.

The Band wouldn't have actually had a man out in front - as this has never been mentioned in any of the (albeit few) things that I have either read about them - or seen any pictures of that. They DID have a leader - who is reported as being likely to have been of Staff Sergeant rank - but likely wore the customary four inverted Chevrons of a Pipe Major - because that is how he was referred to. Remember, this was not "a rank" - as no such rank was available to a Mounted Rifles regiment - but was an appointment. Consequently, I have given the right hand piper of the first rank these four inverted chevrons on his right cuff. (I may faintly outline them in a shade of brown - to make them stand out a bit more). Have a closer look back at some of my pics, - and you will see them. I'll do a close up later today too - when I add my next dynamic duo to the fold.

We do know that the band was originally raised and trained by Pipe Major Ian Stewart, in 1915 - though he was later commisioned into the Royal Artillery as a Captain (known as "a re-tread" - at least, when I was in the mob!). He was replaced by another Pipe Major - Angus Morrison. I don't have any dates for when they changed over - but assume that when MY band was using the change of tartan (from Royal Stuart - to Clan Fraser) in 1917 - Pipe Major Morrison would have been the leader - so consequently that first right hand man in the front rank of my band - is highly likely to have been him, rather than Stewart. Hang on - I'll take a pic now (see below)

As for a stampede - that was HIGHLY unlikely - as an eye witness to the 1917 parade reports that the horses kept their dressing extremelly well - doubtless as a result of their good training - despite there being no use of foot reins - or hand reins by the riders, even though there were hand-reins in all the pictures shown (and in my band too). jb

 

[johnnybach]

My latest two completed bandsmen have now been added to the others. Again, I have left the black surround to the base unpainted for these two for now - so that you can identify them. They are the fourth and last side-drummer ( so Drum section is now complete) and another piper - directly in front of him. I have taken four pics - so that you might see them from slightly different angles.

This will be very much as they will be displayed - although the front three ranks of three pipers - will eventually be ranks of four - as the three remaining pipers to be painted will add one piper to each rank. Note in the last pic of the four - that I have shown a closer shot of the Pipe Major discussed earlier. He really acts as the right-marker for dressing. Note that I have outlined his (and the other NCo's - so far) chevrons on his sleeve with a thin dark brown line - which helps to define them a bit better.

 

[aujj65]

Hi Jeff - or should I say "Hello Sailor"? - I hope so - but it is always hard for me to keep it up towards the end of a largish group. I'm always a very enthusiastic "starter" - but a slow "finisher" - if you know what I mean. It's as if I've cracked all the problems - know exactly what I need to do - but am halfway to thinking about my next project. Add to that all of the jobs around the house/garden stacking up - and I am definitely slowing down production. Did quite a bit of transplanting earlier today in the greenhouse. Still - on the last five of these now - and looking forward to seeing them all completed - these two are well on their way.

Surprised you're still around - thought you'd be in the bath-tub by now - playing with your new boat!:D{sm3} Hard astarboard Number One! - where's the shampoo?

Hmmm...{sm2} I hadn't thought of that. :rolleyes2: I know it's made of resin but the felt on the underside would get a bit wet.

Do carry on, not many to go now and I'm looking forward to the end result. :smile2:

Jeff

 

[johnnybach]

I am Jeff - I am!

Now don't stand about there in your bath-robe dripping everywhere - you'll catch your death! As for the wet felt on the underside of your resin tub (hope it's green, by the way - as the rest of das boot is distinctly lacking in the colour!^&grin) - get the hair-dryer on it - you can do the beard later!^&grin

By the way - little tip for you - when you nick the missus's shampoo - top it up with a bit of water from the bath - then she'll never know you've been pinching it! Sneaky eh?{sm2}jb.

P.S. If you heard a crash - it's Scottie - he's just fallen off his chair!:rolleyes2:

 

[MapleLeaf]

So far so good johnny
I like the different shades of the horses
Can't wait to see finish band

 

[4th Hussar]

johnny
I like the different shades of the horses
Can't wait to see finish band[/QUOTE]

And the stampede when the pipes begin a'wailing and the drums begin a'druming............................... {sm4}{sm4}{bravo}}

 

[johnnybach]

You and your stampede! These were well trained horses - and the skirl of the pipes and drums did not affect their composure - as you will see when they set off. Have a read of the article below - which should dispell any negative thoughts. It's pretty long - but a description of the Parade they took part in, with twelve pipers and eight drummers, in 1917 is given - playing their Regimental March Past "Highland Laddie" - where their composure is admirably described whilst playing on the move. Just stick with it. It was this article that convinced me to have a go at the band - and decided the numbers to be involved.
http://www.worldmilitarybands.com/pipers-and-pipe-bands/

Glad you like the different shades of horse MapleLeaf - I have tried very hard to make them as different from each other as I can - reflecting the admirable individual sculpts of each one. jb

 

[Buster]

I am Jeff - I am!

Now don't stand about there in your bath-robe dripping everywhere - you'll catch your death! As for the wet felt on the underside of your resin tub (hope it's green, by the way - as the rest of das boot is distinctly lacking in the colour!^&grin) - get the hair-dryer on it - you can do the beard later!^&grin

By the way - little tip for you - when you nick the missus's shampoo - top it up with a bit of water from the bath - then she'll never know you've been pinching it! Sneaky eh?{sm2}jb.

P.S. If you heard a crash - it's Scottie - he's just fallen off his chair!:rolleyes2:

Too funny jb, almost had me squirting a mouthful of coffee at the keyboard. Maybe you should think about dividing your time between painting and stand-up comedy ..... what time's the next show? ^&grin
Thanks for the "nicking the shampoo" tip, will giving it a try.:tongue:

B.

 

[johnnybach]

Too funny jb, almost had me squirting a mouthful of coffee at the keyboard. Maybe you should think about dividing your time between painting and stand-up comedy ..... what time's the next show? ^&grin
Thanks for the "nicking the shampoo" tip, will giving it a try.:tongue:

B.

A Small Warning! Don't overdo the additional bath-water - as she may catch on, when eventually you have to use half a bottle to get any bubbles. Another good source of free shampoo - is to add a drop or two of beer in place of the bathwater. She won't like the smell - and may give the rest to you - quite willingly!^&grin

As for the stand-up, I happily gave up paid employment several years ago - as my Boss and I, to my infinite regret, were not similarly endowed with the same sense of humour. A bit of a not happy, chappy that one - who came to a sad end, though I digress. {sm2}Mercifully, however, I have retained mine - and continue life in the same vein - and am the happier still for not having to endure the daily grind in search of a crust - as I am of a certain age now!{sm3}.

Aided and abetted, of course, by my dearest "La Belle Commandante" - who sees as her duty in life, to keep me from having TOO much fun! I fear, therefore, dear boy, a life in Show-Biz - is not for me!{sm4}

 

[johnnybach]

Back from the stand-up routines - and the pic below shows the sum total of the parts now left to complete this project. Not a lot to do now. Two of the three horses are more or less finished (except for the bases) and the third is close behind. Each of the three figures have also been developed - and two will be mounted soon. These will just be "fiddley" - as I will have to wait for tiny painted details to become dry enough for me to handle them. Note how the rider arms progress from no arms (at the rear), one arm ( with pipe bag) and both arms fitted. I do them this way - to ensure each piece is fitted solidly ( glue set) and cleaned up - before the next piece is fitted to it. The pipe bag is painted before fitting - and the drones are fitted last of all - and only when the piper is in the saddle.

In Steeplechasing terms - you could say - we're on the final run in. jb

 

[johnnybach]

I have been making a determined effort to finish the last three of my pipers together - and have got them to the point below. As you may see, I now have just the last element - the pipe drones - to fit to the bag of the pipes. The base of this piece must be cut and filed to shape, in order to fit. With this figure, each horse is slightly different, so each rider sits ever so slightly differently (so that the Chanter - which is the flute part of the pipes played with the right hand) - needs to be positioned where it does not foul the horses neck. Hope that makes sense.

In other words - just as in real-life, the rider slightly adapts his seating to comfortably play his pipes. If the joint between pipe and drones becomes noticable, I make up a tiny roll of milliput and smooth it onto the joint, to create an invisible joint between pipe-bag and drones. Once set, it will be blended in with the paintwork on the existing painted bag. Time-consuming - as paint will need to dry between colours/coats - but very quick and easy to do - just takes a time waiting for coats to dry. Whilst I'm waiting for paintwork to dry - I will be checking over every piece for errors or ommisions.

Note that I have varnished the rear-end of each of my last three horses. I do this, the night before the rider is glued on - as it then gives me a point where I can pick up the piece between forefinger and thumb - to adjust or paint anything further forward - without damaging or smudging any paintwork. Head features, of horse/rider/ reins etc, can be then worked on much easier.

Note also the piece of paper underneath the drones - which has the name of the piece, (e.g. piper), regiment and date, (printed from my computer). I cut this slightly smaller than the base shape - and glue it underneath each piece. This tidies up the underside of each base, and provides a record for any future owner to see - rather like the original old Britains figures which had paper labels. My daughters may appreciate this feature - as they plan to dispose of my collection when I shuffle off to Buffalo - as one so quaintly puts it.

I have told them, however, that if I can't take 'em with me - I'm not going!^&grin

 

[Buster]

Well jb, looks like you're roundin' third and headed for home, shouldn't be long now before you strike up the band. We're all on the edge of our seats in anticipation of the grand finale.{bravo}}

B.

Glad you got to varnish those horse's rearends before you went to bed last night, won't want you having bad dreams about unvarnished posteriors. :tongue: