A Gordon for Me (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

Edit note - pictures wrong way round - look at bottom one first then top one second - ooops sorry - long day!

Latest figures ( front five), have had the arms and instruments fitted to the bodies. (Clarinet, Tenor Horn, Trombone, Cymbals and Cheese drummer). Note also that I have somehow "missed" the yellow stripe in the cheese-drummer's chest plaid! I left it like that so that you can see how things can be missed without you knowing. No problem - just a brush-stroke of yellow required - but shows how easy it is with colourful and complicated figures, to miss something. As his arms have not been fitted yet - easy to fix.

Note that this is the first fit, as wings have now to be fabricated and fitted to each. I am now becoming more familiar with what needs to be done next - so am tailoring the arms to fit each body much better - so should reduce the amount of time for fitting of the wings necessary for each figure.

It probably won't be apparent - but the rear figures are also being "tweaked" - as little details are added to those who are still unfinished (buttons added etc.)

Next pic shows another five starting;

This five to the right, show two more Musicians (Basson and Fife) from the Military band - another side drummer from the Drum & Pipe band ( who I will adapt to the smaller cheese drum) - an Officer marching ( re-cast very old Britains figure - which will be adapted to carry a drawn broadsword, and the first marching Other rank (OR) who will provide the Regimental Escort. These last two are being started as a change from the band. it can become a bit repetative to start very similar figures - so is a wlcome change to start off different figures. Remember that I am only approaching halfway with the number of figures for the Military Band. jb

 

[johnnybach]

The five usual suspects out in front now have the wings fabricated and fitted to their shoulders - then blended into the tunics with a coat of Ivory paint. Whilst I had the paint open, I also gave their spats a coat. These will be left to dry overnight, then tomorrow I can start to add detail to wings and tunics etcetera.

Note that the drummer is a bit behind the others - wings to be fitted to his shoulders yet, as arms only went on today - need to set a bit more before fiddling with him too much.

I am starting to turn a corner with these bandsmen - as this drummer is my sixteenth figure of the Military Band (of 30) - so less than half left to begin painting - with 14 to go.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Looking good jb and I am really enjoying the thread.

 

[johnnybach]

Well thanks chum - glad you're enjoying seeing me tackle these. I really hadn't realised just quite how much work they were going to take before I took them on. I knew they were going to take some time - because of the number of them - but hadn't realised just how many modifications I would be having to make. Very enjoyable to do though - just wondered if people might be getting fed up with the repetativeness of similar figures in the band - so have started some of the others as well. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Whilst waiting for the overlay of yellow on the musician wings to dry thoroughly, I have been progressing some of the white piping detail on a side-drummer from the Drum & Pipe section - who I began as an aside a while back (left foreground). He is getting close to being finished now, with just buttons and a tidy up to complete him. I will go through a proper step-by-step with the others from this group, as I just needed to find a suitable order for painting them.

Next to him, is the first of the Regimental Escort group - who will bring up the rear of the whole group. I started him off, just as a change from the white doubleted musician figures. Note that he is a much simpler casting - wearing no plaid - just kilt and doublet. He will carry his weapon at the shoulder - and note the quite different peg at the shoulder and the locating hole on each of his arms. Note also the black sporran - which will be the same as the Colour Sergeants in the Colour Party. A much simpler and therefore quicker figure to paint.

 

[johnnybach]

The garden and greenhouse appear to be taking up increasing amounts of time at present - so have been unable to do as much as I would have liked on my current project. However I have been doing bits and pieces - and managed to get as far as having 16 of the Gordons Military Band in some sort of state to allow for a photo - so far. I just couldn't resist the temptation of grouping those finished - and those approaching completed together for a group picture (to see what they looked like as a small sixteen man band - plus Drum Major, who really belongs out front of the drum & Pipe Band).

I will be over halfway - when each of those above have all of their buttons and bits completed - and am not too displeased with how they are looking - so far. jb.

 

[johnnybach]

I was looking back to the very first page of this thread, which shows some illustrations that I am using to base many of the pieces that i am making up. The basic marching private soldier is shown there as ilustration "f". I thought that my version was somewhat lacking in the correct equipment ( i.e crossbelt and pouch on the right of his waist-belt). I was thinking of painting one on - and making up a pouch - when I remembered that I had some pouches in my "spares" box - or "stash" as Brad calls his). I therefore dug one out, drilled a hole and attached it - and also made up a cross-belt from flexible material and attached that to my partly painted figure below, left.
I feel much happier with this development - and think that once re-painted - will look far more like how the Simkin illustration does. I will, therefore, be adding such conversions to all ten of the figures for this project. His weapon and arm are also shown at his feet, incidentally - and will be added after head details are completed and body re-touched. The side-drummer was handy - so I included him in the pic too - not yet completed - but on his way.

 

[aujj65]

Hi Johnny,

It’s been a while but I thought I should drop in and have a look at your progress on these. It’s good to see that you have nearly finished them {sm3}…….. Excellent! And a very entertaining thread.

{bravo}}{bravo}}

All the best.

Jeff

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi Johnny,

It’s been a while but I thought I should drop in and have a look at your progress on these. It’s good to see that you have nearly finished them {sm3}…….. Excellent! And a very entertaining thread.

{bravo}}{bravo}}

All the best.

Jeff

Jeff !! Where have you been I had thought you had fallen of the face of the earth. Good to see you back.


These are coming along nicely jb. You are lucky to have been able to do some work in your garden, it has done nothing but rain here

 

[johnnybach]

Right - I have just been planting out some sweet peppers, then walking Pheobe ( my Black Lab) - so have been out for a while. The weather here has been so dry - I am having to water my plants every evening. Sorry about that for all those afflicted with nastier weather - but I am loving the spring heat!!

Jeff. Hi!! - welcome back - I was getting really worried about you - at my age, if you don't hear from GOOD FRIENDS - you start to get a bit edgy!! Thanks for the gee-up, but ( sad to say), am only about halfway through yet with the band - they are taking just ages!! I should have started these much earlier - as the garden just takes over ( as normal) Lovely to see that splash of Green again though. thanks for the much needed encouragement - and hope you are well!!

Scotty - send me a bit of your rain ( not too much mind) and I promise to spend the time I would have been watering - on painting! I have been doing bits and pieces - but they don't show up much - could be another pic on development tomorrow. Off now - have to water the roses.

See what I mean - if this one doesn't get watered (Ena Harkness) , she just fries every afternoon - 'cos she faces West! I'll post the tomatoes later on - they have gone NUTS! See ya! jb.

 

[johnnybach]

Back to the project.

As a break from the musiciuans of the Military Band - I bagan some of the Regimental figures who will eventually be escorting them from the rear of the group. I show below how these are progressing. On the left is one of the private soldiers with weapon at the shoulder. He has been modified to include a cross belt and pouch at the waist belt. I will have to fit a bayonet scabbard to his left side at waistbelt - so will need to fabricate that item and attach.

Next figure is one of the two marching Officers, with broadsword at the carry. This was made up from a re-cast version of Britains famous old Highlanders set 437 - originally available around 1932-1940. I have included the mounted officer with him - as this pair were originally available in that set - BUT - without the sword at the carry for both. I have obtained such arms for all three figures - and am modifying all three with the new arm carrying a sword, to fit in with the marching theme of the whole group. You may also note that I have made up a basket hilt for the sword, using milliput - and then painting it to suit - in toy soldier style, of course. Some painting work to go with these two, though the mounted "Colonel" in trews is already finished. You may note that he does not carry a broadsword - but a finer and more ornate handled sword. He also wears the full plaid - whereas the kilted officer on foot, wears a simpler "fly plaid". Nice touches these, from essentially complete figures - easily modified to fit into my project.

 

[johnnybach]

Just a short footnote to the last pic; You can see how I paint the chequered band on the feathered bonnet from the centre picture. I first paint the band white, then when dry, overpaint short upward strokes in red - onto the feathered bonnet. Then overpaint with black, to leave the chequered effect shown in the other figures. Simples! jb.

 

[johnnybach]

Just to complete the headband - here he is with the overpainted red and white hatband now finished off with the black feathered bonnet overpainted. Whilst I had the black paint on the pallet - I overpainted his socks too. This is really a series of "X" markings, beginning at the back - so that the distinctive diamond markings show up. I usually overpaint the sock "tabs" red to finish too. If any black wanders, leave to dry - and touch in with the appropriate colour later ( e.g. white for his spats, flesh for knees etcetera).

 

[johnnybach]

Quite a lot going on in this latest pic. Out in front are, on the left, the marching officer figure and the marching Higlander. Both of these are conversion figures. The Highlander now has a bayonet scabbard added - and I am now satisfied with how he looks. All of the others like him will have such conversions/additions to the basic figure done BEFORE painting. I have been modifying him as I went along, as I was really quite dissatisfied with his appearance before adding crossbelt, pouch and bayonet scabbard. He is much more like the illustration that I have been working towards now.

Both of these front figures need black buttons added on the spats and bases painted - then will be ready for varnishing to seal paint in.

The band figures to the rear, are also (mostly) finished with all details added (buttons and other small touches). Again, some bases will need re-touching, but also will require varnishing next. Once everything is dry, I will add them to those already finished and re-photograph. I have begun a new round of figures - but haven't photo'd those - as they are really replicating others that I have done before.

A quick count shows that I am not half-way through this project yet- so plenty of work required still.

 

[johnnybach]

A lot of small detail on some figures has now been completed, bases painted and figures varnished. These have been rounded up to form the "Completed so Far" picture below, which shows 27 figures. This pic indicates how the finished band will be formed - in ranks of five abreast. To date 16 of the 30 band figures are completed. At the rear, some of the first Escort group have now been finished - and I am now clear how they will look.

I will continue with some more of the band - with some instruments you haven't seen yet - to include fife, basson and saxophone - as well as duplicating other instruments seen already - so hopefully, no more surprise changes for me will be required. From here on in, the group will just slowly grow - until all 68 are assembled and painted up - and my project will be completed.

 

[thebritfarmer]

They look really cool jb. You could stop now and still have an awesome display. Keep going though as it will look even cooler with more figures

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Scott - Funnily enough, I was thinking as I arranged them, this is a "reasonable sized band" - for me. I normally stop at around the late twenties/ early thirties. This time, however, I really wanted to have a go at a really big group - and I think it was down to the enthusiasm and support from several forum members (you included), that decided me to "go for it".

I guess in every project, a bit of "painters fatigue" creeps in, and I must admit that when other household tasks intervene, it is sometimes necessary to give the work a rest for a day or two - but that's the way of it sometimes. They remain as the finished ones - whilst the new guys are still waiting patiently in the box. As soon as I pick up the brush and get concentration going - it's just the next one that I focus on.

I know that when I eventually get there - that old feeling of tremendous satisfaction will kick in - and this time it should be enormous. I have only ever seen much smaller bands rarely, in white jackets before - and never with Colour Party, Drum & Pipe band and a regimental Escort. So this lot could be unique. I'm still enthusiastic about the project - so will plod along - as time permits - and I'll get there - maybe not soon - but I will get there: Thanks for the positive comments - johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Whilst I have been finishing several of the band members at the rear, I have started off another five figures (out in front). If you have been following along, by now these will be familiar, with flesh, ivory, oxford blue and yellow laid on as the first of the colours. Note again, that I have continued the flesh colour onto the socks - as it acts as a very good first coat to the red which will eventually be overlaid on them. In front are the arms/instruments, which have been checked and adjusted for fit to each figure - as usual.

Note also the drummer - who is not a member of the Military Band - but from Pipes and Drums section - so wears a red doublet. Note that this one is yet another modification - as he has had the full sized side drum removed - and a cheese drum will be substituted. (This figure comes as a one-piece casting - so surgery was required to remove the original drum- then a hole drilled to fit the smaller drum). The painting order for this drummer is best from head down - but can be done in any way - as he is really a lot of small bits and pieces. I have found it best for me to paint the small areas of jacket first - and the green cords (still unpainted here) towards the end. The base is green - as I was using up a bit of green on the palette - normally it would be done last of all - as I hold the base whilst painting, wherever possible.

 

[johnnybach]

Finished the second marching officer - so I thought I might try a photo of those completed again - but as a complete unit. As it came out okay, I thought you might like to see it. 28 completed now - just another 40 to go!

 

[johnnybach]

Whilst waiting for paintwork to dry on some of my new batch of musicians toady, I thought that I would dry assemble a few of my remaining bandsmen - to be ready to paint for the future. A problem arose, when I found that one of the lugs on a trombonist arm had been mis-cast, and was just a shapeless blob. I was unable to trim it up to fit in the locating hole in the bandsman's body - so I reverted to the idea that you may have seen before in one of my earlier posts - and epoxy-glued into the body a "post" - and drilled a hole in the arm - where the projecting lug should have been. If you look at the other arm than the one with the hole, you can see the correctly formed lug there.

Once the post is solid, I will trim it down to a smaller size. Once the arm is fitted (later) the hole can be filled and sanded down, so that the joint becomes invisible when painted. This little dodge can also be used when an arm from a completely different figure is used, for example when an instrument is required which is not in the casting range ( as in several here) - and simply won't fit any other way.