71st Highland Officer (1 Viewer)

[blaster]

I also rescued this other Highland figure. I think this is a Sarum piece. I think that I would like to refurbish it properly. Although I like the pose and the face, the figure seems to have an awkward right arm, awkward hands, the left leg is shorter than the right leg, and the torso is flattened when seen from the side. I also did not like the engraved details on the doublet. I am now resculpting the figure.

 

[blaster]

More pics

The torso is being bulked up from the back, the left leg is being lengthened, the right arm is being reshaped etc.

 

[blaster]

Second major stage of resculpting. Left arm and both thighs were bulked up. The cuffs were sculpted. I think that the only thing to add are final details.

 

[blaster]

The boots were resculpted to fit over the trews. buttons were added and the hat visor was carefully filed to thin it down. The figure was painted in enamels.

 

[blaster]

I adjusted the height of the boots, cleaned up any defects and started to paint the figure in oils. I think that the limbs and overall proportions of the figure look better now.

 

[blaster]

I noticed that the cuffs were too short. I lengthened the cuffs and also bulked up the lower sleeves.

 

[blaster]

Now starting to paint the figure in earnest.

 

[blaster]

Plaids painted. Other details added.

 

[blaster]

I've placed the figure onto a cast metal base (Andrea, I think) which is then mounted onto a round wooden base. As the base is a little large, I have added a fence (modified Tamiya) into the scene.

 

[blaster]

Just added some ground cover sprinkled on white glue.

 

[blaster]

Built up the foliage to this piece. Then I stained the wooden base with dark brown, varnished with polyurethane. The figure is still awaiting final painting.

As you can see, if you don't rush the process, fairly decent results can be obtained. As I work on multiple projects at the same time, I perform certain tasks on several figures all at the same time. This seems to be the most efficient way for me to work.

 

[blaster]

I finally got around to finish painting this piece. Painted the sword, medals and the thin white piping on the doublet. I gave gentle highlights to the tunic, not obvious due to the flash camera taken immediately after painting. This morning, the paint had dried to a nice sheen and hopefully, this will continue to dull over the next few weeks. I use oil paints thinned with turps and white spirit. A neat little display to add to my refurbished collection.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Better pics taken against a black background.

 

[blaster]

The other day, I was browsing thru an old Blandford book and came across a ref to a 71st Highland Officer. Other recent books on British Army uniforms also gave more intriguing details that could be added to this figure. The trews looked better if not covered by leather gaiters. So throwing caution to the wind, I prised the figure off its base and started to sculpt the shoulder belt, the sash and trews over the gaiters. The hanging cords were added from wire. A start has been made to painting the trews.

 

[blaster]

I glued the cords and added a riding stick. I sculpted the double braided hanging cords and tassels and right thumb. The final painting has proceeded.

 

[blaster]

More painting.

 

[blaster]

Final pics to this piece.

 

[blaster]

I wasn't satisfied with the final pics. A temporary setup with lighting doesn't seem to give me consistent results. So I set up a semi-temporary setup, doing things by halves as usual. I cleared an open cabinet space of about a couple of feet. I placed a black felt sheet on the back wall and sellotaped this. The rest of the sheet was allowed to fall naturally and cover the ground. On the side walls, I taped two white sheets of paper to reflect light. An LED light source was then adjusted to give overhead light. I will continue to expt with this set up as I want a backlight to outline the piece.

Rgds Victor