A Gordon for Me (1 Viewer)

[trooper]

Modified cheese side-drummer is now looking like this. Note that the sporran has now been removed, and a short drum apron has been put in place. Belt for the drum has been fabricated and can just see the bugle attached at the rear of the kilt. I will work out some bugle cords later, once the figure has been developed to the completed tartan stage. Note the peg on the cheese drum in front, which attaches the drum into the pre-drilled hole I did earlier with super-glue, later on.

Four more instruments are nearing completion - but I haven't pictured them yet - as I hope they will be finished later today - so can show a completed pic later - maybe with the four already shown at the rear of the above pic. johnnybach

Johnny, side drummer for the band does not carry a bugle, only the drummers in the corps of drums. Trooper

 

[johnnybach]

Good job you're looking after me here trooper - I simply didn't know that - I did wonder about it - then dismissed it - and made an assumption that they would. So thanks for that important point - much appreciated at this stage, and not when the figure was more developed!

Actually, that will make life much simpler for me. Easy to remove the offending bugle at this stage - and will not have to worry about cords now.

For the bugle-cords I had been trying out fine braided wire - milliput rolled out thinly - thin strips of "belt" material - and even a thick cotton - laid on the bare metal. Wasn't really satisfied with any solution to date - so not having any will be good news! Thanks again pal. johnnybach.

Two bugles now for the "spares" box

 

[johnnybach]

"Oi! - Jock, have you dropped something?"

"Och! - no mine, laddie - I never use one!"^&grin jb with thanks{bravo}}

 

[johnnybach]

The latest four Musicians have been added to those completed so far below.(Note: Bass Drummer's base has yet to be finished off). I'm particularly pleased with both him and the Bell Lyre player, who is next to him.

The rear four musicians show the development of the bass Brass section in Military bands - with the oldest Ophicleid instrument by now (1865) really obsolescent - the bombardon well used by then - and the Tuba really just coming in. Both French Horns are also completed - so they are finished, (as are the bombardons), as far as I'm concerned - as I only planned two of each for this band.

So, eight completed - just 22 more for the Military band section to be be completed!

I have another six musicians at various stages of development - so will show how these are coming along later on. johnnybach

 

[trooper]

Bugle cords, Johnny, use 5 amp fuse wire. Take a piece of thin rod and bend it into a hook shape and place it in the jaws of a small hand drill. Secure the hand drill in a vice or lock it somehow. Take a length of 5 amp wire and double it over. Then take both ends of the wire and loop it over the hook. Keeping the wire fairly straight with one hand but without exerting too much pressure rotate the drill at a steady pace with the other, this will give you a fine, flexible length of cord. Don't use a Dremel drill, it spins too fast and the wire will sheer.Trooper

 

[johnnybach]

Aha! - thanks for the tip, trooper. I get the idea and understand. I will certainly remember that one - 'cos I wasn't looking forward to fathoming out which way to do it.

Fortunately with these Gordons, the cords are solid dark green - so maybe could have got away with just a suitable piece of copper wire. But if it had been a Royal outfit, with the red/yellow/blue cords - Well!

I will file that one upstairs - for future use, - thank -you. I think I'm getting part three of a Masterclass with this particular band! I'm currently starting the second cheese drummer casting off - by removing the sporran. Might as well do them both at the same time now that I know precisely how I'm going to tackle them. jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

These are all turning out splendidly espescially the cheese drummers.......they are Gouda (sorry couldn't help myself HAHA)

{sm4}:salute::

 

[johnnybach]

Edam Gouda perchance?^&grin

 

[johnnybach]

Including all figures completed seems to be gettig a bit "busy" now, so will have to put completed figures to one side for the future - except perhaps occasionally - just to show where I am in the project.

For now, the front row are still "works in progress". The left hand figure is a drummer from the Drum & Pipe Band(in red doublet). I have shown rear view - to show his bugle and cords which are cast into the figure. I have just realised that all my other figures in this band already have this feature - so won't require extra work in providing bugle cords - as described by trooper! Makes life a bit easier for me.

The rest of the figures are being developed - instruments/arms in front which are:
Euphonium, Tenor Horn, Trombone, Tuba (No.2), Cymbalist, and finally the two modified figures playing the half-sized side (or cheese) drums. These are at various stages of development - which usually means - I had a bit of paint left over on my palette - and started a new figure off. No rhyme or reason - either because I fancied something different - or - next bit out of the box!

By now, you may be able to see that there is a definite order to the painting, with white tunic and blue base for the tartan being among the first basic colours to lay down. Also note, that I am using Ivory instead of white - as it covers better - and gives, I think, a slight "antique" look to the tunic, which I think suits the figure better. Incidentally, one of the main reasons that the white doublet tunic was to change to red soon after - was the difficulty keeping the tunics white - so a slight "off-white" would also perhaps, be more authentic.

 

[johnnybach]

I have retired the Colour Party for a while - to better show development of Band figures. The rear two ranks are the completed - whilst the front two ranks are developing.

First left is the side-drummer for the Drum & Pipes Band (hence red doublet) with all the basic colours laid down now - details required from now on - which take some time as it's a fiddly figure to work on as he has been cast in one piece. Next three are Military Band (white doublets), with tartan completed by overlaying first with green lines, then yellow when green is thoroughly dry. The fourth along is a drummer figure for the band, with sporran removed and kilt complete now. I'm quite pleased with the way this figure has turned out. Will start painting detail on the cheese drum and arms today. Directly behind him, you can see the second drummer figure which is less developed (to show you better how I have worked up the other figure). I will also build him up today with solid colours - and begin his arms, (still in the box somewhere).

Another figure that I started, can be seen in the second rank, between drummer and Euphonium player with a red sergeant's sash across his chest. He will be the Band Sergeant - and will be playing the Clarinet that you see on the far left. Simkin nearly always shows the Band Sergeant playing this instrument - so I am following his lead here. I think I will work-up his tartan today - and see how he can be developed a bit more. Note that I used rolled thin strips of milliput for the bits of his sash that you can see - to give it a bit more emphasis. I could have just painted this on in a dark red ( as I did with the three Colour Sgts. of the Colour Party) - but as there will be only one, thought I would do it that way. Shows up quite well already on his white doublet jacket. He will have three stripes on both arms - so made sure that I sanded and wire brushed his arms - so that I can paint on his stripes easier. Note that I always try and choose a figure with good wide straight arms for one who is to have SNCO work on the arms - wherever possible - much easier to do cleanly. All for now - johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

I have been mainly working on three figures today - which are shown below to the front.
Euphonium, Second Tuba and Side-drummer with half-sized (cheese) drum.

I have just fitted arms/instrument to the first two figures, which must now be left to set. Even though these have a rudimentary "wing" already cast in to the shoulder, many of the instruments I am using do not have this feature - so I will add the same modification that I have used on all of the others - so that they will all match. If you look at the Tuba in the foregroud - and then the one immediately behind - you may see what I mean.

This is a common problem when conversions are being attempted - so I think that a match of all figures is quite important if they are going to look as if they were all made together - rather than just bits and pieces.

Drummer: The very small size of the drum will mean that I will have to take extra care whilst painting - so am leaving to dry between each paint-job, to ensure there are fewer problems with paint smudges. Unfortunately, this means longer completion for this figure. Note that the arms now have red piping added

 

[johnnybach]

Took this pic this morning showing some of the pieces worked on last evening. My greenhous and planting seems to be taking more of my time now - so progress might be a bit slow! It's not a sprint though - more like a marathon.

I have been working on the drummers - and hope you can now see the difference clearer between the side-drummer from the Drum & Pipe Band (in red doublet) - and the two drummers from the Military Band stood next to him in the white version.

I have completed the tartan and fitted the cheese drum to the first of these two - and left the other at an earlier stage of development - so hope you can see how they progress. Note that none of the drummers carry a dirk - as it would get in the way of fast moving arms/hands with drumsticks. Also that their plumes in the feather bonnet, do not carry the red tiop associated with the rest of the Military Band members. This was intended to show that they are NOT musicians - but as drummers, were part of the "fighting soldier" arm of the Regiment. Note also that both are still not completed - wings to add to more complete version yet - as well as knees down painting.

Note some of the other musician figures, including the Band Sergeant (with red sash across chest) who will be playing the Clarinet in front of him when fitted. Other instruments/arms are in front of their respective players - and include tenor horn, cymbals, trombone - and of course the second cheese drum, not yet fitted - so you can see an earlier and later version.

Behind these, of course, are the band figures completed so far - which I have shown marching at the incline - so you can see a slightly different view of them. I may alter their position, from time to time - so you can see them at a slightly different aspect. All going well - just rather slower than I would like - but I don't intend to rush - it always shows, if you do. johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Whilst putting on the left arm wings for some of the latest figures, now that arms have been fitted - a small problem emerged that I had noticed before. The new wing, in some cases, was not fitting neatly - and once painted, the joint was becoming too apparent.

The solution is seen in the three closest figures, and involves nothing more than a tiny piece of rolled milliput being placed over the joint - and being worked onto the falling plaid. This is first overpainted blue - as I have done here. I will re-photo once the blue has been retouched in with some green - and finally the yellow distinctive Gordons tartan stripe to match.

This fold of cloth then partially covers the wing with the tartan plaid - as the figure immediately behind - and looks as if the plaid is falling partially over the wing - and no joint is now visible. Look in a couple of hours to see the tartan completed. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Figures have now had the paintwork restored and cut into the other lining. Whilst painting the tartan, I also took the opportunity to paint the wings - first ivory, then the central portion yellow. When dry, this will be overlaid with thinn ivory lines - as the top figure has. Problem resolved. johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Time for a quick update on where I am with the Band.

Above are all involved so far. The front five have progressed to the green lines on the tartan stage whilst the arms with instruments just need buttons on to complete them, ( although you may note that I have just found the second drummers arms! Ooops!).

Behind them, turned at a slightly different angle, are the rest of the band - though note that some are still also unfinished yet.

This shows how whilst some of the tiny details (button, bases etc - are waiting for paint to dry) - I can still get on with pieces at an earlier phase in development.

Still not halfway with this band though - as I have another 14 figures for this lot not started yet! johnnybach.

 

[thebritfarmer]

These are looking really smart jb. Glad you were able to fix the issue with the wings!!

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Scott - Just one of those unforseen things that can go wrong when you are trying to make something from a casting that was made for something else. In this case, the main body was made for a different era - and half of the arms/instruments were made for different figures! So it's a case of - now how do I make "a" into "b" from "c"?

Sometimes it's easy - and sometimes - well - it ain't! I have just noticed something else that's not quite right - and trying to avoid it - but I'll figure it out - I think! If no-one else has spotted it - well - I might get away with it yet!

Good to see you are progressing with the HC - though I still don't like those "jockey caps"! How on earth they started wearing those things - I'll never work out!!

keep at it - you're doing fine..............johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Today's pic shows yellow lines added to tartans of five bandsmen in the foreground. I have turned the rear figures around to show rear view. Red lining needs to be added to the doublets of those in front, before arms and instruments can go on. jb

 

[johnnybach]

A bit more done today. Doesn't look much different to the preceding picture - but quite a lot of very fiddly detail done. The front five have had facial detail added - moustaches, hair eyebrows etc. Then the red piping on the doublets has had initial lining done. This will be worked over again with white between red lines - if they are not quite right - but only when thoroughly dry. The rear ranks have been turned again - so a different view of tartan and details can be seen - and some work was done on some of the unfinished bases for these. A few still need lower leg detail (buttons on spats etc).

It is often necessary to give each a careful look-over, to check that I haven't missed some detail like a button, or piping etcetera.

Note the arms/ instruments in front of the five - details have been added now, ( chevrons were fun to do!)- and just some more paintwork required on instruments to complete them to this stage. May be possible to fit them on to the bodies tomorrow - and make a start on making up wings for each of the five pieces. Still a lot of very finicky work to do yet, to get these completed. johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Whenever I'm starting to feel a bit bogged down in a project, I sometimes give myself a little lift by lining up the figures completed so far. So that's what I've done here. Gives a little idea of what is to come - and inspiration for me to "get on with it!" Wait 'till we get to the Pipers!