A Gordon for Me (1 Viewer)

just pleased you like them - I will stick with johnnybach - 'cos that was my old army nickname. ^&grin
 
Back from leave - accompanied by a few pipers - dressed correctly in glengarries this time. I have also added to my stash off tinlets of Humbrol paints - as they are allowed in the hold of the plane - but not in hand-luggage! ( Yes - same plane {sm2}!!!!!)

A few modifications were necessary to the pipers, such as removing the cock's feathers from the glengarry - as these were not worn in 1865 - and added a dirk made up from a bayonet to the belt. (Note: The original Piper figure from Dorset Soldiers is from 1900 - but mine are 35 years earlier - so some small changes needed - but nothing major).

Incidentally, the small sprue you can see in the foreground holds a bayonet in a scabbard, a pouch, and a knife in a scabbard. This is sold by Dorset Soldiers for the princely sum of 35pence - and can be used for many things. You have seen the pouch before on the Marching Highlanders - the Knife on my SS Band - and the bayonet has been cut down and painted as a dirk in this project too. A very useful piece of kit for a small amount - which makes all the difference to a simple figure when additional detail is added..

I am currently "fettling" or cleaning up these castings and mounting them on my usual favoured round bases. I now have all the pieces to finish this project in my stash!

I will. of course - show a step-by-step painting of these new figures.


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Thank goodness you don't know all the words to "Danny Boy" - which is Irish by the way - and these pipers are Jocks!^&grinjb
 
Haven't painted a piper for a while - so couldn't resist starting them off.In the background, the Sergeants Mess is getting a delivery - they go a long way for a good pint - as the pipers are in Edinburgh! No wonder the horses look tired!

Working from top down again - mostly - I started with faces and glenngarry. I mix matt black with oxford blue to get a deep, almost black, navy-blue. The tourie will be a dash of red for the Gordons. Note that I had some blue left on the palette - so used it up on the base coat for the kilt/plaid of a piper.

The jackets will be dark Green - so I brought back a tinlet of Brunswick Green (Humbrol No.3) for them. Haven't used it before - I usually mix green with black - so will give it a try. I would be interested to hear what other colours painters use for Highland piper's doublets? jb.

Note also the Bass Drummer for the Pipe & Drum Band to the right. He uses a much slimmer Bass Drum than the Military Band drummer - and Giles couldn't supply one thin enough - so I had to adapt the normal wide drum. I first carefully cut off the side band - then cut a chunk out of the drum - lastly connecting up both edges again. There was quite a bit of cutting/filing - then glueing and more filling - with only the slightest use of Gallic expressions like "Hoots and Haggis"" when things drifted off a bit. But eventually with quite a bit of epoxy resin. superglue and filler - the drum re-emerged in weight-watcher style. " Slimmmer - and ready for a good thumping! I'll tidy it up a bit more when fully dried out ( the drum - not me!).;)

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HAHA Sorry jb couldn't resist ^&grin I hope those pipers are in tune, wouldn't want them turning the beer sour. {eek3}^&grin
 
Just put some ear plugs in - sit back - relax - and crack another open. Pour gently into a smooth sided straight glass - held at about a 30 degree angle for the head to develop nicely - let the foaming brew subside to show off that clear golden amber.

Ahhhhh! that first sip - lovely bach! No weazel wizz here!

Brains S.A. - sheer nectar!^&grin
 
I painted the jackets of two pipers (one will be a pipe-major[PM]) to try out the green Humbrol No.3 . Looks okay - will use thin undercoat first next time.

Note the PM sash worn left to right in 1865. He will also have four gold stripes on both upper arms - as this changed to points up on right cuff in 1869. jb

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Below is my marching sergeant with an alternative arm that I collected last week. I quite liked the idea of the Troop Sergeant marching with musket at the shoulder - rather than the arm with musket at the slope like the others.

A bit tricky - because no such figure existed in this range of figures from Dorset Soldiers, so I had to make him by;
(a) using the basic musician figure - and remove the chest plaid by surgery, to leave a fly plaid.
(b) Obtain arm with musket. This one was for an 1830's marine - and had some shoulder detail removed and shaped - again by surgery.
(c) Obtain swinging left arm - this one was (I think) came from a BMSS Grenadier Guard that I had in my spares box (the original figure came with optional arms).

The result below is a unique figure - and just adds that little difference to the normal figures. He has sergeants stripes to be added to both arms and the usual finishing buttons etcetera to complete - but is looking just as I wanted him to look already. jb

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Hi Mapleleaf and any others looking in. Apologies for getting a bit diverted with another project for a while - but that one is finished now - so on we go.

Below I have started on some of my eight pipers. Handy having a few of these - as I can show the progression of painting the tartan once again. Below see front views - then rear view - showing how the colours are applied in order from L to R.

I am still progressing with the drummers - though they are so bitty - it has done me good to leave them alone for a while. It's always the same with a largish project - and painting similarfigures over and over again gets a bit tiresome. That's why I often have several small projects on the go - to try something different from time to time. Will show some drummers next time too. Last chunk of the overall project left now - and have only two castings which I haven't started yet jb

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Below are all of the full sized side drummers remaining to be completed - with the Bass drummer of this band and two of the eight pipers in front. All are at various stages of development.

Note that the left hand piper will be the Pipe Major - the next is a corporal. Just a bit of fun adding in the ranks. The Pipe Major's sash was added to the figure, using a thin strip of milliput, by the way. This needs to be a slightly deeper shade of red - I was using up a bit of red left over whilst doing sme socks.

The Bass drummer of the Drum & Pipe Band you may notice has had his sporran removed by surgery - and the drum harness has just been painted on in this instance. The slimmed width drum has begun to be painted up (still a bit wet - so is resting on a couple of wooden toothpicks/ or cocktail sticks - as we call them over on this side of the pond). I believe some folks like to drown olives on them in some fancy drink or other. I use 'em to support bits and pieces whilst painting - and for stirring paint.

I have just two figures left without paint on them - so looks as if the project may be completed within the next few weeks. jb

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Ha! - I'm glad that someone else feels that way too - because that's just how I see it! It's as if they slowly emerge from a lump of metal and become almost real. Daft to think that way I s'pose - but that's just the way it is with me - and sounds like you too. Good-oh! jb^&grin
 
Quite a bit of progress on the two pipers that I have been concentrating on today. Sometimes you find that some figures just seem to go easily - whilst some are difficult. The pipers fall into the easy category, whilst the side-drummers are the latter. Note the fourth piper along from the left has a quick thin "undercoat" of matte green (102). I have found the top coat (Gloss 3) covers much better and has a more consistent finish using this technique. Takes about half an hour to dry before the top coat goes on. Gloss on bare metal is always tricky - as I don't like using thick primer much.

That base drum needs some more work. jb

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Thanks my faithful friend - so here is the latest today on the eight pipers. The first two are very near completion , so gives a good idea of how the whole group will look - whilst the others are developing nicely. I have added in the Troop Sergeant to this picture - as I have now completed him by giving him his stripes - and varnished his base (first coat).

Will be back later with side drummer development - they are still a bit too wet. Nice paint drying day today - warm at 28 C.


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You couldn't have asked a question with better timing Scott! - as I was just photographing on my "set" ( i.e the desk!) the last lot. Along with the side-drummers - are the last two remaining "cheese drummers (left side)) who I have brought into play today!. These are numbers 67 and 68 - of the 68 originals who have been patiently waiting in a drawer!

In other words - if you count the last pic and this lot - THAT'S IT!

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Note that I have added in at the front - the two completed ones that I learned on. So, I am now on the slippery slope towards finally finishing the marathon I set myself back in - ummmm! - whenever it was!. I have hit the wall - more than once - and fear I might do so again - as I am a very enthusiastic starter - but dreadful finisher of projects. However before your eyes are all that's left - and a few of these are almost there. I hope to keep going and finish these off - well - soon. Then I will do a huge pic of all 68 of the recruiting party - though I fear the poor desk won't be big enough. Is the Albert Hall available?^&grin

What's next?? Wait and see! - but I have several new and interesting things in my drawers ( Naughty! - don't say it!) _ - and another super project - currently on order from Brian at Yeoman.^&cool

Keep looking Mapleleaf - won't be long now - keep taking the tablets - I am! johnnybach
 
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