A Gordon for Me (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

Whilst waiting for bits and peces to be dry enough to handle, I have been preparing and painting some of the other elements of the project. Below are some of the Drummers from the Drum & Pipe band, who have been having the dribs and drabs of left-over paint applied to them - when I have finished painting some of the Military Band - but still had a bit of paint left on the palette. It also shows two completed side-drummers (full size and half-size drums) from when I was learning which order to paint them in. As the eye moves right, you can see how each figure is built up. These figures come as one piece - which I think makes them far more difficult to paint. I much prefer seperate pieces - to paint easier and THEN assemble and touch in. The end result is much the same - but you need to get the brush into some awkward spaces with these. There are two more half-size (or cheese) drums not begun - but as the drum is separate - I will show a step by step with these two later.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Puts me in mind of the old BRUT commercials JB ..........."just splash it all over" don't know why just did HAHAHA

Most interesting to see these guys develop and looking forward to seeing the pipers when you receive them. Keep it up, we are watching

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Scott - The old 'Enery Cooper Ad! ( loved that guy! RIP). Yes - I s'pose that's what it is - give 'em a splash of whatever you have left over. Glad to hear you are watching Mein Herr!!! ( Ve haf vays of seeink vot yoo are doink!).^&grin

It's a bit of a marathon this lot - but I am SO looking forward to the Military Band being finished - as that was the main impetus for starting it off in the first place ( and joining the forum - incidentally). Glad you are enjoying seeing them develop - because I certainly am. I have always seen them in "my mind's eye" - but its nice to see them in reality too. So..on we go! johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Another rear viw shows the next development of the wings. I have applied a coat of yellow to the centre of each one. When dry I will overlay with thin strips to represent the finished wing. Noticed that some of the red piping needs tidying up before the brass buttons are applied to the doublets. Then it will be socks,spats and buttons!

Nearly there with this band - phew! - long haul............. hope my chum Mapleleaf will still think they are awesome ... I'm beginning to believe him!! ....^&grinjohnnybach

 

[PJDeluhery]

Well I think they're awesome!! Very well done. What an eye-catching display these will make!

 

[johnnybach]

Hi PJ - glad you like 'em too. Yup - that was the idea from the outset. Those white doublets of the Military Band - the red doublets of most of the regiment and Drum & Pipe band - and the dark green doublets of the pipers - add to that the distinctive yellow facings and stripe in the Gordons tartan - and you get loads of colour - in glossy finish too. Yummy!

When I get over tartan fatigue - I have a germ of an idea to try something very similar for a Lowland Regiment - so you never know - I might have another bash later with say the KOSB's, Royal Scots - or even Royal Scots Fusiliers (as above). Might be an interesting project that! johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Latest development of last five bandsmen and a couple of marching Highlander regimental escorts is shown below. Apologies for the grotty mat - but safest to move them around this way when their socks and spats are still wet. Paint, you understand, not Daz! (sorry - washing powder for International viewers!). Welcome to the world of a painter!!!

I had a general tidy up of these figures too, as bits and bobs invariably get splashed or omitted as you go along - so I leave most touch-ins to around this point. You need to check over each piece very carefully. Gold paint to go on some - and buttons too for most to go on - and then just boots to finish off - then varnish coats and bases. Getting very close to finishing this band now - though have plenty of the other Drum band, some escorts - and all of the Pipers to do yet.

As I explained a while back - the original pipers supplied for this project were wearing feather bonnets - like those above. However, in 1865 - Gordon Pipers wore a plain glengarry. It's just Scots Guards and Black Watch who wore the bonnets then. I could have beheaded these and substituted Glengarry heads - but I have decided to keep my eight bonneted pipers, and use them for one of those two Regiments in a future project. My new pipers are waiting for me in the UK, to collect soon. Quite looking forward to those, as a change from bonnets.

 

[johnnybach]

You may be interested in an experiment I conducted with a different varnish coat - on some of the Colour Party which had already been completed. This was as a result of seeing some other figures recently, which had a really deep shine. After inputs by Hazebrook and Dragoon, from Australia and USA respectively, (showing yet again the International dimensions of the forum), I managed to find some Tamiya Acrylic finishing coat (X-22) locally (a 200 Km round trip is local!!) - and tried it out on various surfaces, paints and figures. Encouraged by the results - I have tried a coat on the central Colour Sergeant below.

All three had been painted - and had one coat of Humbrol Clear Gloss (N.35). The right hand figure of this three had a second coat of Humbrol - whilst the one on the left has just had the one coat. Now it might just be my imagination - but I think that the central figure just beats the two-coat Humbrol for lustre - whilst both are much shinier than the figure with just the one finishing coat.

I have therefore resolved for the future, to use both varnishes in this way from now on - i.e just one coat of Humbrol to seal everything in Humbrol on Humbrol paint) - then one coat of Tamiya X-22 some time later - to develop the glossy finish that I ( and a lot of others) like so much. Hope you like the finish too. I am absolutely delighted by the finish - many thanks to both pals of mine - much appreciated. johnnybach

 

[thebritfarmer]

Definitely the one in the middle certainly does (pardon the pun) shine!!! In fact he puts me in mind of the wonderful figures painted by our very own John Firth (beating retreat on the forum)

Nice job jb, are you going to give this treatment to the rest of them now?

 

[johnnybach]

I think the picture below tells its own story - encouraged by that experiment - I had a bash at a Bombardon player - and here they are: to the left is the Humbrol one coat - to the right Humbrol plus additional Tamiya coat. All very unscientific - but I think this pic also shows the benefit of the additional coat. Whilst I know that I'm not in John's league as a painter - that finish is certainly reminiscent of some of his.

So the answer to your question old chum - is yes - I certainly will give all of the figures in this project the same treatment. By the way, the Tamiya coat seems to be touch dry in just a few minutes - though I won't handle them for 24 hours at least - bound to take time to cure fully. What a find!! johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

I just cannot get over this stuff - "Tamiya Claer Gloss X-22". I just gave the other four members of the Colour Party one additional coat of it. Took less than 5 minutes. Washed out my brush, and by the time I came back ( minutes) they were touch dry. I was kind of pleased with them before - but now!

If I was a footballing type - "I'd be over the moon!". johnnybach

 

[trooper]

Hi Johnny, reference your earlier comment regarding a future project of a lowland regiment make it the two battalions of the HLI. There are loads of minor differences between the two battalions and it should keep you happy for five minutes. After you've finished all your other bits, of course. So start next week? Trooper

 

[johnnybach]

Hi trooper - HLI ? MFI - piece of PIE - whatever? - this is DEFINITELY - but DEFINITELY a sometime in the future project! It was a definite aside on what I am doing right now ( which I am enjoying to the full - thanks in no small part to some of your advicel) - and also an aside to orders I have in right now with others.( e.g Canadian Mounted Piper Band from Yeoman! - amongst others.

) I think that I have enough projects to last for the whole of next year lined up - or in my "stash" (doncha just love that word? - thanks Brad) just waiting for me to dig 'em out!

In addition - I have just found a varnish coat - which will transform some of my "well - okay" stuff into - "Whooh! bach - I like that!" - which means several more man-hours of "sploshing it all over" ( Thanks 'Enery) to take account of as well. The varnish of course - not perfume for men(????) Men in perfume???Hmmmm!- move on JB...

Moving on --- swiftly--Having said that - you have got me ever so slightly interested - once again! ( Have you ever thought of being a salesman??? ). You can do it every time!

HLI eh?

Several battalions eh?

Will have to embark on a lengthy investigation of this phenpommmoenoon.

Cross that word out, too hard for this time of evening! -- Idea!

Sounds good - will think on and discuss -- for some time in the future.

As my headmaster used to say " See me after prep!"

Thanks chum - will think on - and be in touch..... johnnybach (Hope you enjoyed your birthday - did you get "the telegram" yet?

 

[johnnybach]

BUT - back to the day-job. Below see the last 5 of the Mil.Band with most bits completed - just lower legs stuff to go. The front three are regimental Escorts - furtthest right finished - the other two almost there. These will be completed in the next couple of days - and ready for my "new" final finish gloss coat. I almost can't wait - to see how they turn out.

This is fun!

 

[aujj65]

I just cannot get over this stuff - "Tamiya Claer Gloss X-22". I just gave the other four members of the Colour Party one additional coat of it. Took less than 5 minutes. Washed out my brush, and by the time I came back ( minutes) they were touch dry. I was kind of pleased with them before - but now!

If I was a footballing type - "I'd be over the moon!". johnnybach

Johnny,

Great looking figures and the colour of the bases seem just right! :wink2:^&grin

{bravo}}{bravo}}

Jeff

 

[johnnybach]

Yes Jeff - love those blue bases too. It's actually a Matte colour which Humbrol have labelled "Army Green" (no.102). As mentioned before, I use colours I can live with - whether they are Gloss or Matte - doesn't really matter, as I always seal in the colours with a coat of varnish at the end.

Now that I have found this new final coating though- they should all shine just that bit better, I hope. I have been trying to work out how much I will need to work through the whole of my collection. It does seem to go a long way - as it only takes moments to go over a foot soldier. Very nice to apply - and so satisfying to see that lovely shine develop so quickly - and touch dry in just a few minutes. Really "magic" stuff. I am going to try to finish the Military Band off today - or tomorrow (depends on the black buttons on the spats being dry enough to survive brushing with the varnish). I apply these using a waterproof ink pen, which usually needs 12 hours to dry enough to survive the brush. If they don't - it means another coat of Ivory paint - then wait for that to dry - and repeat the process.

Watch this space.

Now then trooper - I have been reading up on the HLI - and have also found a few interesting illustrations of musicians by Richard Simkins for 1st and 2nd Battalions dated from 1864-1866. Interestingly, the pipers (kilted of course) wore doublets and bonnets then (with French Cuffs to the doublet). Now I already have eight of these casting figures in my stash - so I'm part-way there already. The musicians wore the same white doublet jacket as my Gordons - though with trews (maybe trewsers) in the 71st and 74th. I also have Simkins' illustrations for Officer and Man wearing the short shakos for 1866 - again very similar to my Gordons for doublets - though no drummer illustration as yet. They could certainly be contendors for a trewser clad outfit which would match my Gordons of 1865. I note also that the Tartan was Lamont until the Cardwell reforms - when it changed to Mackenzie - so easy to do for the Lamont version - with white line added to the government set.

BUT - though they wear trews - are they really Lowlanders - and I think that they were separate Regiments in 1866 - so maybe would not have marched together as a single unit at that time. I suppose I could have two Regiments marching - the 71st with Drums & Pipes - and 74th with a Military Band - each with a small marching contingent?

Yes - that might work - I will think on a bit. Thanks for the idea - I would be interested in starting a file on this idea for a "possible" at some point in the future. Any other pics for these at around that time? Again - it is the White Doublet Jackets that I will want to show - so between 1855 and 1868 again. johnnybach

 

[trooper]

Yes Jeff - love those blue bases too. It's actually a Matte colour which Humbrol have labelled "Army Green" (no.102). As mentioned before, I use colours I can live with - whether they are Gloss or Matte - doesn't really matter, as I always seal in the colours with a coat of varnish at the end.

Now that I have found this new final coating though- they should all shine just that bit better, I hope. I have been trying to work out how much I will need to work through the whole of my collection. It does seem to go a long way - as it only takes moments to go over a foot soldier. Very nice to apply - and so satisfying to see that lovely shine develop so quickly - and touch dry in just a few minutes. Really "magic" stuff. I am going to try to finish the Military Band off today - or tomorrow (depends on the black buttons on the spats being dry enough to survive brushing with the varnish). I apply these using a waterproof ink pen, which usually needs 12 hours to dry enough to survive the brush. If they don't - it means another coat of Ivory paint - then wait for that to dry - and repeat the process.

Watch this space.

Now then trooper - I have been reading up on the HLI - and have also found a few interesting illustrations of musicians by Richard Simkins for 1st and 2nd Battalions dated from 1864-1866. Interestingly, the pipers (kilted of course) wore doublets and bonnets then (with French Cuffs to the doublet). Now I already have eight of these casting figures in my stash - so I'm part-way there already. The musicians wore the same white doublet jacket as my Gordons - though with trews (maybe trewsers) in the 71st and 74th. I also have Simkins' illustrations for Officer and Man wearing the short shakos for 1866 - again very similar to my Gordons for doublets - though no drummer illustration as yet. They could certainly be contendors for a trewser clad outfit which would match my Gordons of 1865. I note also that the Tartan was Lamont until the Cardwell reforms - when it changed to Mackenzie - so easy to do for the Lamont version - with white line added to the government set.

BUT - though they wear trews - are they really Lowlanders - and I think that they were separate Regiments in 1866 - so maybe would not have marched together as a single unit at that time. I suppose I could have two Regiments marching - the 71st with Drums & Pipes - and 74th with a Military Band - each with a small marching contingent?

Yes - that might work - I will think on a bit. Thanks for the idea - I would be interested in starting a file on this idea for a "possible" at some point in the future. Any other pics for these at around that time? Again - it is the White Doublet Jackets that I will want to show - so between 1855 and 1868 again. johnnybach

Hi Johnny, would think the period post 1881 might be better as the regiments were amalgamated then so you could get away with just one marching unit, two sets of officers (one for each battalion) pipes and drums and band. Will have a rummage and see if I have any pics showing the white doublet for the period you like but still think the later period would be sufficiently different for you. Trooper

 

[johnnybach]

Yes - that is a thought. White doublet figures with the same aagain - would be a bit "Bread and bread" I suppose. Still - you have me thinking along those lines once again. Thanks for triggering them off though - and for having a look for some pics i that wornderful archive you have - johnnybach^&grin

 

[johnnybach]

Anyhow - musn't get ahead of myself too far - this sub-project of a current project to finish first. Latest pic on the "grotty drying mat" shows all five of the musicians painting now complete. This was delayed due to the spats requiring another coat - as I wasn't satisfied with the finish. Buttons have just been applied to the spats - ( I have turned them slightly for you to see), and boots painted black. I also did a double check on finishing - and found that I had missed the red from the diced red and white band at the rear of the feathered bonnet for the saxophonist! I must have looked at that a dozen times - and still missed it!! Still - felt good enough to give the saxophonist a stripe! I might re-visit the band - and give out a few more promotions before I'm done!!

Done now - (must check all of the others!!). So I am afraid that I cannot varnish tonight ( darn it!). Experience tells me to wait until tomorrow - or they will smudge. I can then complete the bases and apply a second coat of (my new) secret weapon varnish!

So - tomorrow will see the 30 strong band finally assembled. I think I will have them play "The Cock'o the North" whilst I assemble them for their picture - it's the Gordons marching tune - and I have a casette of it. ( hope my old cassette player still works! Must get a new CD for Xmas!). Will look forward to that!

 

[johnnybach]

Whilst the musicians are drying - I have been completing the Marching Highlander figures to be ready for painting. This involves fabricating the cross-belt and drilling and fitting the pouch to the waist belt. The results are below. Furthest left is the completed figure - then two drying for final varnishing tomorrow - and the rest - somewhere in between just started and on their way. Note the furthest right/front rank is the sergeant - who wears a fly-plaid. These will eventually march at the rear of the two bands.