A Gordon for Me (1 Viewer)

Job completed.

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Well aren't you a clever chap !! I never realized the complete set up was going to be THAT LARGE !!

68 figures oh my, you definitely need to add Queen Victoria and Colonels, ADC, civilians to this scene when finished to complete it. Perhaps she could be reviewing the troops :D:D
 
Hi Scott - actually - you are not far off the mark with those suggestions!

At the end of 1862 the Gordons (92nd) returned to Britain from India. In July 1863 they returned to Edinburgh to be garrisoned at the castle. They actually furnished a guard for Queen Victoria in Edinburgh in August 1865 - but my group - including the two bands - are involved in a series of recruiting drives they undertook throughout Scotland just prior to this event - in the Spring of 1865. (That's why I eventually chose this date - and this dictated the uniforms). The mounted Colonel you suggest, (Col. Lockhart), can be seen in my group. (see in greater detail in "The Gordon Highlanders: A concise history", by Trevor Royle).

By 1866 they were off again - first to Ireland - and thence two years later back to India. So I had a very narrow time slot to fit them in to Scotland - and the uniforms that I particularly wanted them in. Any earlier, or later - and they would be on Foreign Service again.

Yes my group is going to be a big one - the biggest that I have ever undertaken in one go! This came about due to my very first question regarding the use of tenor drums in Scottish regiments. We never did get to the bottom of that one, but the ensuing discussions and the knowledge that fell out from that - resulted in my decision to " have a go" at a large group with two bands - and the rest of them. So this group is in no small measure the result of all of that help, advice, knowledge and discussion - from a number of forum members. They will know who they are - and I would like to thank them all again for all of that help - and this group, when finished, is going to be the result ( whenever - one day!!).

As I said - you weren't far out Scott!
 
Scott - dear boy! Amongst my researching for this project, I came across this old postcard. I don't know exactly where is depicted, or when ( though the guys have gauntlet cuffs - so later than 1868), but clearly some big parade is going on - and the Gordons depicted are saluting someone in a Phaeton - complete with liveried riders and what looks like the Household Cav!

Now - I want a phaeton - and Asset makes one - and this looks so good ...

I suppose my group just MIGHT be marching along behind them?

Uh - oh! I feel the germ of another project beginning ............................. jb

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Okay - abandoning the Noel Coward impressions - back to the bizz.^&grin

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Above are the latest five - now with tartan more or less done. Next to add some red on doublet edges - head bands , tip of plume, tassels on sporrans, socks etcetera. Getting late though - that's for tomorrow. Planted out chillies today - took too much time! Nite all - jb
 
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johnnybach ur doing an awsome job
I'm curious to know those figures i beleive they are 1/32 (54mm) right ??
Are they the same size as the glossy Britains which are smaller
than their matte figures ??
Thank u for info
Maple Leaf
 
Hi Mapleleaf - thanks for the positive comment.

Now, to answer your question - yes they are 54mm figures (so 1/32). I don't collect matte Britains - so don't have any to do a comparison photo. What I do have - is a selection below, which might answer you though.

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The left hand three figures are from my group. I obtained these from Dorset Soldiers as castings. The first is a bombardon player - based on the body of the standard figure for my band - which is the body of a musician around 1910 - but with different arms made up with the instrument from a quite different figure. ( the painted cuffs are correct for 1865 - and so different from the original figure) He is 54mm. Stood next to him is my Colour Sergeant - again a Dorset Soldier figure based loosly on an old Britains figure, but with different arms and weapon added - again 54mm size. These arms are from Dorset Soldiers "repair" range - made to fix old broken Britains figures.
Next we have a marching Officer figure - who IS basically a Britains figure ( he is actually a re-cast of a real figure dating from 1930) with a different arm holding a sword, which I made up from the "repairs range" again. (the real figure has an empty hand). You can see again that he is the same size. Next is another Dorset Soldier Piper - also a re-cast Britains Piper from a figure that was on offer during the 1950's - but was also available pre-WWII - I believe.
Next along is a modern REAL Britains glossy figure of the Queen saluting - which I believe was first offered around 2001 (No. 40197). The last figure is another old Britains figure dating from 1901 - and quite a rarity now - which is the Standing Officer with Binoculars figure - originally came as a Cameron, (though this one is another re-cast of an original old figure, and I've painted him as a Gordon).

So, I think you can see that my first three figures in my group, would fit in very well with many of the old - and some of the new Britains glossy figures - as indeed, some of mine are based on parts of old Britains figures. I certainly don't have any problem at all mixing them in with real or re-cast Britains figures.

If there are any slight differences in size, they certainly don't show up here - and can be explained away anyway, by the differences in size of a 5 foot eight man and say a guy who is 6 feet four!

Hope that answers your question - I always believe that a picture tells the story best - so hope I've shown that here for you. Regards, johnnybach
 
Managed to get quite a bit of red applied to most pieces today. Need to have a steady hand for this colour - as there is a lot of fiddly lining to be done - and red is very unforgiving. If any slip is made however, just leave it - and correct by overlaying other colours when it's dry. Shown in front of the piece are the newest instruments - including fife, bassoon and sax. Also note the half-sized "cheese drum" - which is a modification of the normal side-drum. A bit more detail yet to go before arms are fitted, including facial detail - as it's trickier to paint hair, mustaches etc, once the instruments are on.

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The painting of the latest five figures has now progressed far enough for the arms/instruments to be fitted and glued in place.
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What I have done here, is to show the first new figure (trombonist) next to the completed one - so that you can see what has to be done yet to complete him. Wings need to be fabricated for four of them yet. Next along is a Bassoonist, which I am quite pleased with - as the instrument is coming along nicely, I think.
Next is the side-drummer with the half-size cheese drum alongside a completed full sized side-drummer. (Note that I have just placed the smaller drum in position - I find it easier to paint detail whilst dismounted). Finally, the fife and sax players are also in need of wings and paintwork completion.

The next picture below, shows the remaining 10 castings of the Military Band part of the project, dry assembled with arms/instruments in place awaiting painting to begin. I just don't like "production line" painting - even though it makes more sense to do it that way. I just don't enjoy it - seems too much like "having a job"! I enjoy small batches - building towards a completed project.

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These remaining ten include two cornetists, whilst the others are duplicating instruments already completed. Once fiinished, this will bring the Military Band to completion, with 30 figures - which is around the number that was shown in the original old photograph that trooper so kindly provided me with before I began the project and which I based the band on. I have, however, taken a few liberties with some of the instruments I have chosen to include - though all of them COULD have been around at the time (1865).
 
Apologies for the poor photo - but I think its good enough to see that the four musicians (backs to the camera), now have had the"wings" added to the shoulders - made from thick tin foil - as before - cut and shaped to fit each piece. This is one of the most "fiddly" bits of adapting each of the Military Band figures, and comes about because of the sheer number of non-standard instruments I am using which were never made for these figures.

I have been reading that few manufacturers ever made many Scots Military Band figures - other than pipers and drummers, so it was expected.

This means that well over half of my figures had to be adapted in this way - and for the sake of uniformity, I decided that ALL 30 figures would be adapted in the same way. Very time consuming - but I feel, will be well worth it in the end, as all will have a similar look.

Once two coats of Ivory have been applied to the wings - then yellow and white cross hatching - this part will be completed - as each of the others completed so far have.


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Again we are at the stage where it doesn't look like a lot is happening - but each of the new five is progressing. Wings have had two coats of Ivory - and much facial detail has been added or "tweaked"(ears are always favourites!). Instruments (mostly non-catalogue) have been added, first-coat painted and adjusted to fit. All extremely time-consuming and hardly able to be noticed - but so essential to the finish I want ( which is Best Britains Toy Soldiers!).

Very pleased with Bassoon, Sax and Fife - which are developing well - don't look like they have been grafted on at all. (They were not made for these figures).

The last two figures (Ivory and Oxford Blue) are from the "Silver Squad" of the last photo. Note: If you are waiting for paint to dry, and have figures ready to begin - and the paint is on the pallet - Use It! - so I did. Good day today for bits and pieces.

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The famous five (the usual suspects - out in front) are now approaching completion. They have only the spats and bases to complete - so whilst varnish on all above the knee was drying, I have added them to the band for a quick pic, below

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Note that there are buttons on the spats to complete - and the half-size "cheese" drummer detail needs to be added also - but are more or less there! [ I just can't resist looking at a big glossy band - even though there are ten more members to go yet!]. I'm getting more and more pleased that I took this project on! johnnybach
 
You ain't seen nothing yet Mapleleaf - for my next trick I will need 35 more Scotsmen - and a paintbrush!^&grin
 
Hi Jeff - thankyou - even though I'm just short of half-way through the project yet! I have another ten of the Military Band to go before that element is finished - then 15 figures for the Drum & Pipes - and then another 9 in the Regimental Escort group to go (phew!)

I think what I should have stuck to was my original idea of breaking them down into sub-groups - and tackle each as a separate entity. Trouble was, I was afraid that I might just get fed up and give up the idea - so I got the lot anyway and dipped into each group. As it happened, I was sent the wrong pipers in error, so have to swap these out with Giles (from Dorset Soldiers) in June, when we are meeting up - so I won't be tackling these until later anyway. Still, the more tricky conversion pieces of the Band are all done.

I'm pretty pleased so far though, with how they are progressing - even though my painting could be a bit better - the old eyes and hands don't get any better with age do they? They will look pretty "flashy" when completed though, I think ( as long as you don't look TOO closely^&grin) - Nice to hear from you again - johnnybach
 
johnnybach said:
Hi Jeff - thankyou - even though I'm just short of half-way through the project yet! I have another ten of the Military Band to go before that element is finished - then 15 figures for the Drum & Pipes - and then another 9 in the Regimental Escort group to go (phew!)

I think what I should have stuck to was my original idea of breaking them down into sub-groups - and tackle each as a separate entity. Trouble was, I was afraid that I might just get fed up and give up the idea - so I got the lot anyway and dipped into each group. As it happened, I was sent the wrong pipers in error, so have to swap these out with Giles (from Dorset Soldiers) in June, when we are meeting up - so I won't be tackling these until later anyway. Still, the more tricky conversion pieces of the Band are all done.

I'm pretty pleased so far though, with how they are progressing - even though my painting could be a bit better - the old eyes and hands don't get any better with age do they? They will look pretty "flashy" when completed though, I think ( as long as you don't look TOO closely^&grin) - Nice to hear from you again - johnnybach
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Hi Johnny,

Your not going to the London show are you?

Jeff
 
I was hoping to - but it's on 25th, I think - and I won't be in UK until later- due to previouscommitments here with relatives - so nope - not this time again. Shame 'bout that, 'cos I have never been to a real show - just toy fairs/swapmeets and suchlike.

One day I'll make it though - I hope! It's always great fun reading about them - and seeing some of the pics that you geezers who know how cameras work show! Many thanks to all who do it, by the way, as it is marvelous for those who just can't get there. for one reason or another. jb
 
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