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

[johnnybach]

Now, don't forget that you're talking to an amateur here Brian. With my "adapting" head on - this is what it would take for me to start a conversion to one of Lovat's Lovelies off!{eek3}

As a "pro", You doubtless would want to get every possible detail correct - so please bear with me, when I come out with statements like that! ^&grin

I do realise that you and Alan will want to make detail changes - indeed, I hope you do - 'cos I'll be having one or two of those myself.

Glad you like what I've done so far with the Canadian lads too.......... lovely to work with chum.......and I'll keep an eye out for developments..jb

 

[aujj65]

Now, don't forget that you're talking to an amateur here Brian. With my "adapting" head on - this is what it would take for me to start a conversion to one of Lovat's Lovelies off!{eek3}

As a "pro", You doubtless would want to get every possible detail correct - so please bear with me, when I come out with statements like that! ^&grin

I do realise that you and Alan will want to make detail changes - indeed, I hope you do - 'cos I'll be having one or two of those myself.

Glad you like what I've done so far with the Canadian lads too.......... lovely to work with chum.......and I'll keep an eye out for developments..jb

Hi Johnny,

The better the quality of the casting the better the paint flows from my experience.

What you have done to these is really, really nice.

{bravo}}{bravo}}

Jeff

 

[trooper]

Johnny, you like unusual pipe bands, how about one like this? Trooper

 

[johnnybach]

What unit is he in, Trooper - The 1st Uni-Cyclists?

I have seen the Dutch Bicycle Band - but they just look faintly daft! - so have never been tempted. I sometimes think that there is just someone in the unit with a whacky sense of humour - and they just dream up these wild ideas - to put their unit "On the Map".

See what I mean? (sorry - couldn't get the percussion section in shot!).

As for the one-wheeled piper - well lets see how he gets on counter-cycling with 20 or so others! I wouldn't want to see the FMT3 (Accident Report Form) for that one.^&grin Come to think of it - how would the Bass-Drummer mount his (ahem!) instrument on a uni-cycle - now that really WOULD be interesting! jb

 

[Arnhemjim]

Hi Johnny,
When I first saw the video of their performance at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo I couldn't believe it. See YouTube clip at the end of the following blog page;http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/08/vintage-w-britains-toy-soldiers.html. Note absence of any instruments requiring two hands to play. Immediately rules out trombones, woodwinds, but was amazed at the bass tubas and drums. Hard enough mounted on horseback, let alone bicycles. As a nation where bicycles are so popular and numerous, I'm not certain the band is a complete fluke. Had to go back and check, but they are officially titled the Royal Netherlands Army Bicycle Band (Fanfarekorps Koninklijke Landmacht Bereden Wapens).
Arnhem Jim
Arizona Territory

 

[yeoman]

Hi Johnny,

I have read ArnhemJim's post with regard to the Fanfarekorps Koninlijke Landmacht Bereden Wapens with interest and something akin to disbelief. My only comment is "Don't you dare!"

Yeoman.

Hi Johnny,
When I first saw the video of their performance at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo I couldn't believe it. See YouTube clip at the end of the following blog page;http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/08/vintage-w-britains-toy-soldiers.html. Note absence of any instruments requiring two hands to play. Immediately rules out trombones, woodwinds, but was amazed at the bass tubas and drums. Hard enough mounted on horseback, let alone bicycles. As a nation where bicycles are so popular and numerous, I'm not certain the band is a complete fluke. Had to go back and check, but they are officially titled the Royal Netherlands Army Bicycle Band (Fanfarekorps Koninklijke Landmacht Bereden Wapens).
Arnhem Jim
Arizona Territory

 

[johnnybach]

Hi - Jim - Thanks for the very humeous clip. I have actually seen them live - once - and that was enough for me! Dorset Soldiers can do you a band on bikes - as castings if you like! I passed on those myself Brian (yeoman) - so fear not - I'm saving my pennies for a real beauty of a band from you next Springtime (or thereabouts).

That will be the 1st Lifeguards Mounted Band circa 1910, in Review Order - and I can guarantee Jim that they won't be mounted on any form of wheels - and will be playing more traditional forms of instruments, for sure.^&grin

Good laugh those though Jim.

 

[johnnybach]

However, back to the job in hand. I thought that you might like to see how two of the side-drummers are developing. These are much easier to position than the pipers - so can be assembled before fixing to the horse. The figure front left on the brown horse has been fixed to the horse - as has the drum immediately afterwards, with epoxy glue. The side-drummer on the black horse is seated temporarily - just to check everything fits. I can now add his arms and finish him a bit more before fixing him in place too. I hope to have these two finished by tomorrow.

 

[johnnybach]

I had been developing the face of the new side-drummer, when I decided to make him a Corporal. Having succesfully done that - I decided that some more stripes were in order - so dished out a few more to some new lance-jacks - and also including a pipe-majorship for the lead piper - who got the traditional four inverted chevrons on the right cuff! I also thought it was about time you had a different view - which shows them all off a bit better, I think - especially the horses - which I am delighted with. The mixture of Black, dark, medium and light horses works well. As Jeff rightly said earlier - the better the castings - the easier the paint seems to flow. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Well, the first side-drummer (Cpl.) is completed - so now you can actually see all of the figures that will be represented when the band is completed. The other side-drummer I'm working on is not far off being finished - and some others are also started and being worked up. Just seven more to go now - and the look of the band just gets better with each addition. Norman Joplin is dead right. The more toy soldiers you have in a group - the better they look. jb

 

[johnnybach]

One more side-drummer now added - I have put them temporarily either side of the Bass Drummer, although there will eventually be a rank of four side-drummers in front of the Bass drummer. So - just two more side-drums and a rank of four pipers to go.

La Commandante says she is looking forward to the Lifeguards - as she says these are too brown!!!{sm2}

 

[johnnybach]

Just testing the Newsagent's new super-duper photo-copier - for my new background piece - or blotter-out of all of the crud that inhabits my studio-desk^&grin
That's One Euro's worth of paper there - and an empty bean-box as backing - donated by our Super-market - and a spot of glue. No expense spared here!{sm3}
Looks okay - maybe a bit more lighting required. Still 14 down and six to go.

 

[aujj65]

Hi Johnny,

Were your ears burning today? I had a chat with Brian and Alan at the London show :wink2:...your doing a fine job. ^&cool

Jeff

 

[johnnybach]

Nah! - Too busy for that. Hope you wished them both well. Forgot it was on actually - splashed a little paint about - watered the plants - and stuff. Hope it all went well. jb^&grin

 

[MapleLeaf]

Johnny i'm amazed
This is great maple leaf stuff
I'm following

 

[johnnybach]

Hi MapLeaf, glad you're still enjoying seeing them come to life. The figures are very nice, aren't they?

By the way - here's a present for you to copy, if you wish. It's the badge of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles (which includes maple-leaves), of course. As you don't currently have an Avatar - why not use it - it seems very appropriate to you? johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Thought you might like to see my remaining six figures. Note that all heads have now been mounted onto the bodies - and each figure has a pin which will hold him onto his horse for eternity - once the epoxy glue is applied and the sunshine pin inserted into the saddle area. The first two figures from the left are the last side-drummers - one of which is nearing completion. From the third figure on - these are the last four pipers - so a fair way to go with these yet.

What you see is typical of my painting - where if I have a drop or two of paint left on my pallete after finishing some detail or other - I use it up on figures or items left to do. Hence, every figure now has some paint on it. Just using up left overs economically - I'm sure Brad would approve!

Something else I have noticed - as I have been going along - is that Brian (yeoman) has given me quite a few, ever so slightly different heads to mount on the bodies. Nice touch (again) that, from a castings provider. All too frequently, you get all heads the same, so that you have to shade - or add moustaches to hide the fact that they all have the same face. Very thoughtfull - and much appreciated. Well done again Brian.

 

[yeoman]

Hi Johnnybach,

We aim to please!

Brian (Yeoman)

Thought you might like to see my remaining six figures. Note that all heads have now been mounted onto the bodies - and each figure has a pin which will hold him onto his horse for eternity - once the epoxy glue is applied and the sunshine pin inserted into the saddle area. The first two figures from the left are the last side-drummers - one of which is nearing completion. From the third figure on - these are the last four pipers - so a fair way to go with these yet.

What you see is typical of my painting - where if I have a drop or two of paint left on my pallete after finishing some detail or other - I use it up on figures or items left to do. Hence, every figure now has some paint on it. Just using up left overs economically - I'm sure Brad would approve!

Something else I have noticed - as I have been going along - is that Brian (yeoman) has given me quite a few, ever so slightly different heads to mount on the bodies. Nice touch (again) that, from a castings provider. All too frequently, you get all heads the same, so that you have to shade - or add moustaches to hide the fact that they all have the same face. Very thoughtfull - and much appreciated. Well done again Brian.

 

[johnnybach]

Well your aim is pretty good then Brian - you've made a hit with me with these beauties!

Told you my next side-drummer wasn't far off - he's now also joined the band. He's the nearest side-drummer to the camera. So, three quarter point reached now - and they are beginning to look like the real thing at last. One more side-drum and another rank of four pipers - and I will have my band - just like the real thing.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Thank u Johnny it's a keeper
Thanks