A Gordon for Me (1 Viewer)

I should have painted faces - but got a bit fed up doing the same figure the same way - and as the arm was ready - glued them on instead. After all was set, filled the joint with milliput and smoothed over. Four hours later - one coat of red to begin blending in the arm. I dont want moveable arms - but it is possible to lightly rivet the joint if required - as Britains used to - years ago.

Drummer has had cords painted green - which neatly "loses" any other colour that has "bled" over them. I used matt Army Green for these - which will become glossy once the varnish is applied. (I think matt gives better coverage in one coat for these). johnnybach

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A lot of detail added to the figures since last time. Ivory piping added to doublet - and facial detail added. Will wait until all of this is dry - before attempting to tidy up - as it's still a bit messy. {For example - you separate white which has contacted another line of white, by painting in a fine line of red - BUT you must wait until it is dry!!}. I have put the sergeant back in - to show the rear of his fly-plaid. Can't add arms yet - as I don't have the alternative set, at the moment.

When all is dry - will complete bonnets and add in eyes. In the meantime - muskets to complete on their other arm. JB>

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Everything dry - or drying off nicely - so soon will be able to assemble the arm with musket at slope to each of the six figures in front - whilst poor old serge at the rear will have to wait until his new arms arrive. Might do the socks first ( cross-hatching in black) - and maybe some NCO stripes to dish out, once the arms are on. jb

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Blow the socks! I wanted to see what they all looked like with their muskets at the slope! Quite a bit to do with the arms yet - as need to fill in any small gaps where it meets the shoulder, blending in the paintwork etc, - but mostly nearing completion. This is how they will march eventually - at the rear of the whole group. Once I get the Sergeant's new set of arms, which are at the "shoulder arms" position (his others are at the slope - like the others) - I will try them out - and then select what I think look best. I have seen other similar TS groups with this arrangement - and quite like the different posture. Nearing completion of this group now - so just the Drum & Pipe band left to do. Quite a few drummers also underway - so getting closer to completing the overall project too. johnnybach

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You always make me laugh!

Thanks chum - glad you are enjoying them too.As to the "A" word - well - they're okay - but when its all finished THEN I think it could be! ( I hope) johnnybach^&grin
 
Below are the seven remaining Regimental Escort group - who have (at last) had their socks overpainted. In addition I have tidied up some of the piping, added gold buttons and gold bits to belt,sporrans etc - and painted the spats with two coats of Ivory. Will need to add black buttons to the spats and paint boots black tomorrow - and they will be ready for bases and varnishing. They can then join the three of these already completed - and except for poor old Serge's arms - will be complete.:D

Just a small matter of a 19 figure Drum & Pipe Band to go then! Ye Gods! - I used to think something like that was a project on its own!{sm3}

Sneak preview - look below the Gordons pic. arrived in the post today!!!!

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Whilst spats were drying I had a look at my latest buy from ATS. It's a casting of a brewers Dray - about to undergo some modifications to change it to A Brains Beer Dray - with my Grandad rolling a barrel of beer to..............well - don't exactly know where yet. I might have to start a separate thread on this one yet.
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Looks good jb, love the dray. Please a separate topic for the Dray makes things easier to find for reference later one :)
 
Okay Scott - it's a deal - I'll start a new thread in Modelling/kit building - as I will be adapting the Dray a bit from the start. It's a beauty - thanks for the tip-off of where to find one. johnnybach{sm4}
 
johnnybach said:
Okay Scott - it's a deal - I'll start a new thread in Modelling/kit building - as I will be adapting the Dray a bit from the start. It's a beauty - thanks for the tip-off of where to find one. johnnybach{sm4}
Click to expand...

No problem!! It is fun to spend other peoples money :D:D:D Already had a sneak peek at the thread, looking forward to it.
 
Well - it's off and running - but doesn't mean that I have forgotten about this project. I have just given a first coat of varnish to my six new highlanders - but not much difference from the last pic - except they are a bit shinier. Will see how these go before doing another pic of progress.

Off to pick some first runner beans now for our evening meal. Always look forward to the first picking. jb
 
Ah! - Glad you asked me that - as I have made a slight change to the stuff I have been using for years.

As I always use Humbrol paints - I have been using Humbrol Gloss Varnish (35).

After admiring some pieces done by others on the forum though - I got into a discussion and Ken (Dragoon) advised me to try a Varnish made by Tamiya called Acrylic Clear X-22 ( sounds a bit like a fighter plane!).

When I went to my local Hobby Shop ( Local here means 150K away!!!), the guy who owns it gave me a warning though. He wasn't sure whether the Acrylic varnish would be compatible with the Humbrol enamel gloss paint - or matte paints ( I use both for different effects).

Anyway - I did an experiment. I first gave a coat of Humbrol Gloss varnish - as usual - but THEN applied a second coat of Tamiya Clear X-22 a day or two later, when the first coat was completely dry. The result was - no adverse reaction, and the final coat now gives a deep lustre to the piece.

So that's what I now use Humbrol Gloss Varnish (No.35) for the first coat - then when completely dry - a second coat of Tamiya Clear Acrylic X-22.

This was my experimental piece:

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Nice - isn't he? johnnybach:cool:
 
And whilst we are on the subject of varnish - here are my latest half-dozen recruits - whose first coat of Humbrol gloss varnish is dry enough to mix them in with some who have had the full treatment. See if you can choose which ones have had the second coat of Tamiya Clear.

Note that the Sergeant is missing from this line up - as he is still armless - but other than that - this is how they will march along behind the Military Band once he joins them.

I must admit - it is tricky to tell from a photograph - but easier when they are in front of you. The answer is First on the left and last two on the right in the front rank have had the extra Tamiya coat applied whilst all of the others in the ranks have had just one coat of Humbrol Gloss (35) varnish, so far. I will give them the extra coat in a day or two - when the first coat is thoroughly dry.

Incidentally - the mounted Colonel has also had Humbrol and Tamiya varnishes - whereas the Officers on foot have had two coats, but of Humbrol only. I will eventually apply the Tamiya X-22 varnish to all 68 figures in this project.

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Isn't it just great! Remember the name - Tamiya Clear X-22. I have been " Glossy Toy Soldiering" for around 12 years now - and this is the best I have ever managed to get 'em. This stuff is just the biz!

And Father Xmas is " A Dragoon!" Thanks again Ken for the tip!^&grin
 
As I only have drummers to do for now (Pipers are on leave in England - ready for embarcation next week) - I got on with a bit more on some of them. All are at different stages of development - so that you can see the progression from early stuff - at the rear - to completed - front left. The drum of the second one in is almost complete. Note his varnished head - as I had some left on a brush - so did his head with it! jb

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Update on the side drummers progress is shown below. I thought I would try to show how I tackle the painting of the side drum As explained before - I build up the surface of the drum with backgound yellow. These have had 4 - 5 coats of yellow (Humbrol matte 24). Good stuff for smoothing out any casting marks. I use Ivory for the top (and bottom). When all is thoroughly dry - I then paint the rim of the drum - taking it down so that there is a thick band. Note that |I have touhed in the approximate positions of the battle honours and devices on the front panel of the drum. These are done with my fine point waterproof black pen - but I have used pencil before I had a pen. Just to give me an approximate guide to where things will be - can always overpaint.

Numbers 3 and 4 below are at that stage. Later on, I will overpaint this red band with a thinner yellow band - and then add in a red worm - as in numbers 1 & 2. After that - the pen-marked devices get the treatment - but more on that when I get to that stage. jb

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Quite a bit more done to these today - but the problem is that they are so "bitty" - it is difficult to explain where best to see it. Firstly - several have had their kilt yellow stripe finished. Spats developed - and of course - what I really wanted to show - the two drums which had solid red on top and bottom - have now two thin red lines. Really - one thick band of yellow overlaid - leaving the red each side. This can be tidied up later with red and yellow paint. When the top line is dry - a very thin snaky line is overlaid onto the yellow "the worm".

After the decorations are finished - the last hing to apply are the drum cords going vertically up the drum. I continue these over the top and onto the drumskin - as they would have looked in 1865. But that will come later. jb

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What can i say Johnny just awsome
theBaron is right the finish look is just like porcelaine
Can't wait to see the 68 figures finish and together
suggestion: johnnybach to johnnyawsome
Maple Leaf
 
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