A Gordon for Me (1 Viewer)

Hi Sandor. Glad you like them. These started out as various castings from Dorset Soldiers in the UK. I had to convert many of them from their original formats - as many were wearing too modern a uniform for my chosen date - of 1865. This date was set for several reasons - including the fact that the Gordons were based in Edinburgh, Scotland at that time. Also - I wanted the Military Band to wear the white doublet - so chose a date when they would have worn them - and be in Scotland. A year later - the Regiment departed - first for Ireland - and then - back to India - and into overseas clothing.

I read from a book that I bought about the Regiment, that during Spring - and early Summer of 1865, the Gordons went on a series of marches as a recruiting drive across areas of Scotland - so my group will seek to depict one of those marches, which culminated in the Regiment providing an honour guard for Queen Victoria, at the inauguration of a statue for her late husband Albert, in Edinburgh in August 1865. A bit later on - I intend to buy a the Ivory Phaeton carrying Queen Vic - and thus my group can also be an honour guard parade group for her.

I hope to finish a few more today - so am getting very close to finishing them all off now. Then I will have a large parade and a darned good playtime - so I had better charge my camera battery!

If I were you - I would move your painting station - as it sounds like you may not get your clothes made in time. Always listen to your Mum! johnnybach
 
Latest pic of the Gordon Highlanders Drum & Pipe Band c.1865 is below. Today, the last two pipers graduated from the School of Piping - and joined the band. Remember, the official complement of pipers per Regiment is five - the rest are paid for by the Officers (that's why we have them!). The Colonel is very pleased - indeed, almost ecstatic - as three side-drummers have also had their uniforms finished - or are out of sick-bay and joined in the practice session. Only two more drummers are needed to complete the band.

(Don't look too closely at their bases - they aren't dry enough to handle any more - so the bases get painted tomorrow!!!)

PIC201.jpg


And then there were TWO............{eek3}

Cheese drummers - we should have known..........

" Are we there yet Dad? :confused: - "Not yet - eat your sherbert!" :D Maybe tomorrow????

PIC_1252.jpg


Soon - watch this space.....johnnybach^&grin
 
Below - see all 19 of the Drum & Pipe Band finally painted. All 19 are now finished - EXCEPT for the final varnish coat on the last two half-sized side drums ( the Cheese-drums). It will be a couple of hours before the paint on these two is dry enough to accept a final coat of varnish - to seal everything in.

So - I am pleased to confirm that I have finished painting the Gordon Highland Regiment (circa 1865) - and the whole unit will be ready to be finally varnished around midnight tonight, (local-time) here. In celebration, a tot of rum may be partaken, there-of! (Whose round is it??)

I do confirm therefore, tomorrow being the Sabath - that the whole Regiment will be ready to go on Church Parade tomorrow morning at 09.00 (local time) and will march forth with the following muster:

Colour Party (6 leadmen - good and true): Drum & Pipe Band (of 19 leadmen - see below): Military Band ( of 30 instruments) & Regimental Escort ( of 13 Officers and leadmen good and true) - comprising in all 68 Toy Soldiers - shining heartily!

Lets hope the sun shines on them all - and until the morrow - Adieu! johnnybach

See you on parade - medals to be worn, where appropriate! No hangovers please! johnnybach.

PIC203.jpg
 
La victoire en chantant,
Nous ouvr.......
May I be the first to congradulate you on this great feat!
-Sandor

P.S. A toast of ol' Bavarian beer from across the channel:wink2:!
P.P.S. I hate beer^&grin.
 
Did you see that Brad? - Young Nap hates Beer!!

And just when I had high hopes for the young shaver!

Well - I s'pose you haven't tasted Brains Beer yet..............

"Brains Ales - best in Wales!"

Still - with a name like Napoleon - s'pose its all red plonk at the moment. Not bad that red plonk though - specially from round that there Bordeaux area. Only problem being - when you drink it in pints - it makes you fall over!

Merci pour votre felicitations johnnybach^&grin
 
Church Parade - 24 July 1865.

Under leaden Scottish skies, The Gordon Highlanders, with Colours flying, the Band of the Drum & Pipes, Military Band , The Commanding Officer Colonel Lockhart and two of his Officers with a Platoon of men drawn from Whisky Troop, move off the muster square at Edinburgh Castle for Churh Parade - before marching off on a Recruiting drive in the surrounding countryside.


PIC205.jpg


A closer view of the Colour Party with the remainder of the arade stretched out behind them. There are 68 souls on parade today.


PIC206.jpg



A closer view of the newly formed Drum and Pipe Band - with some of the newest pipers only joining the Regiment for this parade today! Play up lads - give us "Scotland the Brave".
]

PIC207.jpg


Behind them ( at the express order of Queen Victoria herself - who recently decreed that in Scottish Regiments, Pipers would always take precedence on Parades over the Military Band), comes the magnificent sight of the Gordon Highlanders Military Band. Resplendant in their white doublets - they make a stunning spectacle - and add power to the unique haunting sound of the pipes.

PIC208.jpg


Bringing up the rear, his heart bursting with pride, comes Colonel Lockhart, the Commading Officer of the Regiment - along with two of his Officers and a sergeant with a platoon of Highlanders selected from Whisky Troop. Every man chosen for his skill and dash. The Colonel knows that within a month, his Regiment will be supplying The Honour Guard to his Queen, when she will visit Edinburgh to unveil a statue of her late Husband and Consort, Price Albert. So this recruitment drive will be a good chance to get some practice in for both bands - and his men.

PIC209.jpg



My thanks go to Giles Brown of Dorset Soldiers - who, after much discussion and debate provided me with the castings for this project, many in the style of "Best Britains" which I really wanted - some cast especially for me.

Thanks are also due to many Treefroggers for their help, assistance and encouragement both before and during its construction. Notables are Trooper and Martin Tabony for their (always) constructive assistance in trying to get things right - especially with photographs and drawings of many of the details of uniforms worn at this time. Also to guys such as nshighlander and Craig - whose help with things Scottish - and pipes and Drums in particular - helped me enormously. Thanks also to Jeff - and my number one encourager - Mapleleaf - as well as many other wellwishers have not gone unnoticed. Thanks to you all - I very much appreciate your help in giving me this wonderful set to play with.

Hope you enjoy looking at them half as much as me. Also - if the sun comes out later on today - I hope to take some better photos to post - fingers crossed . Johnnybach.
 
BEAUTIFUL jb, BEAUTIFUL

Great pictures to start my Sunday, I can almost hear the pipes down here in Surrey:salute:::salute:::salute::

The sun is shining here by the way, should be moving North later

Cheers

Martyn:)
 
Well done Johnny, a magnificent result for a lot of hard work. What's next? Tempus fugit. Trooper
 
Great thread and pics , perfect timing for Church Parade , this Sunday morning

Congratulations
Kirk
 
Thanks Martyn and Alan, glad you like them too.

What's next? - Well I have already started on some more of the Knights of Agincourt. I did three last year, including some that I found on a stall in Bristol - and enjoyed them so much - I obtained re-casts of all of the others too when I was in the UK. I'm doing them a bit differently to how Britains used to do them though - by using a book I found to depict Knights of old - and their heraldic devices - that actually existed.

Hang on, where's my camera - I'll show you a couple that I started a few days ago:


PIC_1251.jpg



The one on the left is Sire John Wauncy c.1322 - the other is Thomas de Brotherton Earl Marshall of England in 1334. And those will be their heraldic devices at the time - when finished. The other 5 are foot knights - which I haven't started yet.


After these - I have a few odds and ends knocking about - and a chess set to paint too (Crusaders).

But my next big project - was actually something that you (Trooper) suggested a while ago - it's the 1st Canadian Mounted Pipe Band. Brian Harrison ( Our own Yeoman) has had them made up as castings - and is finalising production of them to deliver - well - soon! I'm really looking forward to those - as his products looked so good when John Firth painted them (well a bucket would look good if John painted it!).

As you say - time flies - so - gotta get on. I'm not getting any younger.

Thanks again for all of your help Trooper - johnnybach
 
Well it was a long road but you finally it made jb and with everyone in ship shape and Bristol fashion !! What a grand job you have made of these lads. Here's a little diddy albeit a tad later than their time I believe.

http://youtu.be/vBKBI7DOLHA
 
Thanks Kirk - and thanks Scott (how appropriate). That's a really nice bit of music is that!

Got there in the end - and have been re-arranging them all day. jb
 
{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

Is all that I can say Johnny. :wink2:

Jeff
 
Cheers Jeff - I've just tucked the boys in - they have gone into their new cabinet - reserved space - so I'm off to bed myself now. Seems very strange not painting one of them today - but pleased how they turned out. Thanks for the gee-up every now and then. jb
 
Ha Ha! _ Now how did I just KNOW you were going to say that?

I must say though - they do look a bit of alright - especially when setting them out. Thanks for the support every now and then - I did sometimes need it. johnnybach
 
Well thankyou for saying that Mapeleaf - very much appreciated.

I wish we had had a nicer day down here - with some better light for me to get a better picture - but the Sun appears to have gone into hiding for a spell.

One more pic for you - this is where they live now. They are on the middle shelf of this photo (the mirror at the back doubles up their numbers too;))

Thanks for watching them "come to life" ^&grin.............johnnybach


PIC210.jpg
 
Just one last thing to add before I finish this thread.

First - thanks for watching them being made - hope you enjoyed it and it didn't get too tedious.

I have an idea to produce something similar at some point in the future - but with a Lowland Regiment such as the KOSB's or Royal Scots perhaps. As you may know - most of these guys wear trews ( or trewsers) - But it won't be yet awhile - as I have too many other projects lining up to start ( and others to finish).

When I do - I think I would like to do another step-by-step showing them being made.

Regards an all the best - johnnybach
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2024 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top