A Gordon for Me (2 Viewers)

King Edwards! Chips! Heaven forbid!!:p

Mine are Charlotte. A very tasty, small and delicate french variety. Excellent straight out of the ground, boiled - as they are - left to cool ever so slightly, and then tossed in a light olive oil, with snipped chives - a little cream added - and eaten with mixed barbequed meats or sossidges! From earth to stomach in less than 30 minutes. They will be ready from mid-July to whenever! Such a delicate new potato flavour - just scrummy!:smile2:

Oh dear, I'll never be a slim person - my mouth is watering already!:tongue:

Glad to hear you're enjoying the cavalry. jb^&grin
 
Hi Johnny
I've been following ur thread
Awsome work, i wish i could do
Those figures are they the same size as the glossy Britains?
Who makes those kit figures?
Thank u
Maple Leaf
 
Hi MapleLeaf. A surprisingly tricky question to answer, that one. I'll show you what I mean by that, below. To the left is a genuine Britains QEII saluting from horseback (40197). This is from Britains newish "hollowcast" figures range - and is nominally 54mm.

Look at my mounted Gordons Officer on the right. He is a re-cast of an original Britains figure from the 1930's. Again, nominally 54mm size.

I hope you can see that the Queen looks quite small when compared to some of the Gordons band figure, whereas the Officer fits in beautifully with them. This is because over the years - and different owners, Britains have sometimes slightly changed the sizes of their figures. Lets face it, a company that started that long ago is almost bound to make some changes through the years.

So the answer to that part of your question is - Yes for some - a bit more iffy for others. Depends what you want to put with them.

Second part of your question is easier. All of the castings that I am using for this project are from Dorset Soldiers (UK) - and extremely good value. Yes - they are all 54mm in size - and will fit in with some Britains figures - indeed if you look back in this thread - you can see that I am using the mounted officer as the basis for the "Colonel" of the Gordons - who will ride immediately behind the band when it is (eventually) completed, though he has a drawn sword "at the carry".

This may take some time - so pop back for another look at how its going, from time to time.

Lastly, thanks for liking them. I must admit, they are turning out to be a bit tricky - and are taking a longer time to finish than I had anticipated - so won't be finished for quite a while. However, I am enjoying the challenge enormously - and am glad you like 'em. Thankyou - johnnybach

PIC71.jpg
 
Hi again MapleLeaf - forgot to tell you a bit more about the figures I'm using.

If you want to have a look at where they come from - go to Dorset Soldiers web-site - click on Britains defenders - and you can see original pics of these - done as 1513A & B - as a Black Watch Band - and 1514 - same page - as Gordons - around the turn of the Century. I am making mine as earlier figures from c.1865 - so needed to change a lot of details - like cuffs and colour of tunics etc. I'm also adding in quite a few extra "older" instruments, that you wouldn't find in a band of c.1900.

If you are thinking of having a go then - stick to the ones shown first - as they will be (relatively) easier to do - as you just follow what's on screen.

You will find that Giles brown is very helpful - if you haven't had a lot of experience at painting - and will help out with advice. best of luck - if you decide to give it a try - I did, a few years ago - and found it was easier than I first thought. johnnybach^&grin
 
I need a bit of advice for this next figure that I'm working on - before I finish painting and assembling the arms/instrument onto the figure.

He will be a Bell Lyre - or Glockenspiel player. When I was researching what instruments might have appeared in the band at around this time, my good friend trooper provided an early photo, (actually a few years later) which showed an instrument, very much like the one I have made up below, which COULD have been around at the time of my band (c.1865). Snag is, I can't really say for sure, what the colours of the horse-hair tassels attached to each side arm of the instrument as decoration would have been.

I have taken a large leap in the dark here, and decided that the regimental colour of the normal doublet (red) and the facing color (yellow) were most likely. I will be attaching the arms to the figure within the next few days - which would make painting behind it rather difficult - so would prefer to know before I did it whether anyone out there really knows? As you can see - the figure is unfinished yet - so I have a few days yet!

Any ideas welcome - or preferably, a definitive answer IF anyone DOES know.

Thanks - johnnybach:salute::

PIC72.jpg
 
Haven't the foggiest jb but they look good painted red and yellow. You could also do em in solid red or perhaps red & white to match the hackles on their bearskins.
 
Yep - red & white occured to me too - as the band have white jackets and red piping too. Just felt that red/yellow looked nice. Unless anyone knows better................
Maybe it's just ..................who knows? That's why I asked - just in case anyone does know.

They are ONLY toy soldiers - I know - but I would like to get them correct - if I can!

I DO like this figure though! jb%^V
 
By the way - during band practice today, Colonel Lockhart ( at the rear) detected some deficiency in the volume in the deeper notes of the brass section - and decided to oversee some extra practice! So here they are ( with the lighter soprano of the French horn added) - under the supervision of that disciplinarian - The Drum major.

One more time lads, let's have an auld favourite - "The Cock-o-the-North!"

PIC73.jpg
 
johnnybach said:
By the way - during band practice today, Colonel Lockhart ( at the rear) detected some deficiency in the volume in the deeper notes of the brass section - and decided to oversee some extra practice! So here they are ( with the lighter soprano of the French horn added) - under the supervision of that disciplinarian - The Drum major.

One more time lads, let's have an auld favourite - "The Cock-o-the-North!"

PIC73.jpg
Click to expand...

This a tidy little grouping jb, very nice indeed !!
 
johnnybach said:
I need a bit of advice for this next figure that I'm working on - before I finish painting and assembling the arms/instrument onto the figure.

He will be a Bell Lyre - or Glockenspiel player. When I was researching what instruments might have appeared in the band at around this time, my good friend trooper provided an early photo, (actually a few years later) which showed an instrument, very much like the one I have made up below, which COULD have been around at the time of my band (c.1865). Snag is, I can't really say for sure, what the colours of the horse-hair tassels attached to each side arm of the instrument as decoration would have been.

I have taken a large leap in the dark here, and decided that the regimental colour of the normal doublet (red) and the facing color (yellow) were most likely. I will be attaching the arms to the figure within the next few days - which would make painting behind it rather difficult - so would prefer to know before I did it whether anyone out there really knows? As you can see - the figure is unfinished yet - so I have a few days yet!

Any ideas welcome - or preferably, a definitive answer IF anyone DOES know.

Thanks - johnnybach:salute::

PIC72.jpg
Click to expand...

Johnnybach, have been rummaging through all my info on bands, regiments etc and have found that the glockenspiel is a very rare beastie. I have only found some half dozen in the whole British army and those are all in black and white making it almost impossible to determine the colour. The only thing that does appear clear is that they all seem to be of solid colour, not parti-coloured. As the instrumentation of the band was at the discretion of the bandmaster I would think it doubtful that there was ever any regulation concerning the colour of the tails. I would think your best options would be either black, as plain horse tails, red, as conforming to the tunic colour or yellow, following the facings. Will continue rummaging but think that it is doubtful I will find anything to change the above opinion. Hope this helps. Trooper
 
Sorry, one thing further to my last. The glockenspiel was supported by a narrow belt over the right shoulder with a socket into which the butt of the staff fitted. That carried by the modern 14th/20th Hussars is black. Trooper
 
Hi trooper. Thanks for the advice about the Bell Lyre player. Yes, he is a rarity indeed. I only decided to give the band one, after that picture you sent me - showing one propped up against the base drum of the Gordons Band (remember that one?). True, it was a few years on from 1865 - but a bit of poetic licence came in! I really want this band to look spectacular - so crossed fingers and squeezed one in. Well- if you can't do it with a toy soldier band - when can you?:p

With this figure actually, the end of the pointed staff of the instrument falls just on top of the sporran - so I guess I could fabricate a belt to go over the right shoulder and end just about there - and suggest a socket too (bit of milliput). Should be a nice touch. As to the ornamental tails - in the light of what you have found, I will change them to a single solid colour. Red seems most appropriate, I think - so will go with that for now. It should be a day or two though, before I'm ready to "arm" him.

Many thanks - once again from that old Welsh ferret - johnnybach ( you do make me laugh sometimes!){sm4}
 
Hi again Scott - your suggestion to have a group of Gordons marching along behind the Military Band has already been taken care of. Let me explain:

Behind the Military Band will be the mounted Colonel Lockhart ( he was Col. in 1865) - on his horse with drawn sword at the carry. As you have seen, I have already made him up, by adapting an old Britains figure.

Behind him - marching on foot - will be two Officers - then a Sergeant with 9 men (i.e. Two ranks of 5 men). These will be carrying muskets at the slope - though I'm thinking of the Sgt having his at the shoulder. They will be wearing the red doublets - and won't be wearing the full plaid - except for the Sergeant. They won't be wearing glengarries though - but the feather bonnet. The only Gordons wearing glengarries in 1865 were the pipers. Such details were the result of all the research I did - with the help of a couple of experts - who I think you may know!^&grin

Actually, I have to change my Pipers over, with Giles (of Dorset Soldiers) as he originally sent me Black Watch Pipers - wearing feather bonnets, (wrong for the Gordons in 1865). I have already arranged to meet up with him in June - at a Toy Soldier Fair in the UK - and swap the figures over. That's why you haven't seen a Piper yet! If I get a bit "fed up" of doing the white doublets - I might do one or two of the Regimental Party by way of a change - as I already have them waiting their turn, as are the Drum & Pipe Band.:smile2:

The Military Band (white doublets), will have 30 members, eventually (Only finished five, so far) - but the whole group of; Colour Party ( already finished), Drum & Pipe Band, Military Band and Regimental Escort group - will number 68 in total.{eek3}

Goodness knows when I will finish them all - but finish them I will - one day - but not soon, I think. johnnybach{sm4}
 
Trooper - whilst we are on the subject of support belts for instruments - ( I have just finished fabricating a belt for the Glock! - looks good - I'll post it once its painted ) - what would you suggest for the Bass Drummer. From looking closely at that marvelous old photo of c.1867 - I have a Bass Drummer and drum lined up - that looks very like that figure near the centre. He has no apron or plaid - but I can't quite make out any form of support belts for the drum - except for a vague outline of perhaps something around his neck?

I was thinking that maybe he had a harness underneath his doublet, with a small hook arrangement stcking out from underneath around the sternum area. I have seen this sort of thing in an illustration by Simkin - though the one I'm thinking of was a Grenadier Guard - wearing a waistcoat over it in 1855 - I could scan and post it - but perhaps you know the figure?

I was going to go with that arrangement (i.e no visible form of support - but you have triggered off this thought by mentioning the support belt for the Glock.

Any thoughts? johnnybach
 
A quick update on some progressions - and a few new figures started off. From the left - completed french horn - with second french horn next to him. Next is the Bass Drummer from the Military Band with Drum and arms out in front of him. Tuba player 2 underway. Next to him is a side-drummer - but from the Drum & Pipe Band. Note the red doublet - and green bugle cords ( not a Royal Regiment - or they would be red, yellow and blue cords). He is a one-piece figure - otherwise I would have painted his drum seperately before adding. Note that I started this figure off - in order to learn the best way of tackling the figure. I will go back to the beginning with the next one of these (there will be 7 of them) - and show each colour going on.

Next is the Bell Lyre (Glockenspiel) figure that I have been discussing with trooper. Note that I have changed the Hair Tassels to solid red - and fitted the beginning of a support belt for the instrument. I have this "vanishing" under the chest plaid at both sides - as it looks incredibly clumsy going over the top of the brooch at top of shoulder and down the back of the figure. I have the "cup" to make, from milliput, once the arms and instrument have been fitted - but this won't be before the tartan and red piping to the tunic have been completed. It would be practically impossible to do this neatly - once the instrument is on - as you will see later.

Last figure is a Euphonium player - early stage of development. Have to be careful with this one - as the instrument is held very tight to the chest area - and required a bit of filing down of the chest plaid - to make the arms fit into the arm sockets in the body. More later jb

PIC74.jpg
 
Johnnybach, there were two methods of carrying the bass drum. One was a simple loop around the neck with a hook on the chest. This would appear to have been a very early method which was superceded by the brace method as shown on the attached, which I think would be applicable to your figure. Trooper
 

Attachments

  • aac04.jpg
    aac04.jpg
    43 KB · Views: 49
Ah - yes - A much more satisfactory arrangement that method. It does look rather like our man has something like that at the neck. This is the one that I was thinking of (by Simkins)- but I can see that our old chums in the Army Air Corps are once again showing so clearly the later method.

As an aside, incidentally, Bill Carman doubted the authenticity of Simkin's description of this figure as A Grenadier Guardsman. He thinks this should be a Scots Fusilier Guard of 1855 - as there were three known for them - but no contemporary evidence had been found for such a drummer dressed like this in the Grenadier Guards.

I do have a Royal Marine bass drummer figure - with a waistcoat similar to this for 1830 - but as your photo of 1867 shows - the Bass drummer is not wearing such a waistcoat. Once again - I think its far safer to go for the version you have given me - the brace method. That's what I'll do then - out with the scissors and flexible sheeting!

Thank goodness I found you! Much appreciated, yet again. johnnybach.


img029.jpg
 
So we end up with front view and rear view of the figure of the Bass Drummer - like this. Lovely Jubbly - thank you trooper - you're a Gent! To be continued....jb

PIC76.jpg


PIC75.jpg
 
Last pic of the day - shows development of the Bell Lyre and Bass drummer from the Military Band. Really do have to let some paint dry now - and have tomatos to water - and dog to walk. Lovely bit of work today - lots of clever advice from chum - all is well. See you tomorrow - if garden permits - johnnybach

PIC77.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 3 (members: 0, guests: 3)
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2024 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top