Alma Figures Crimean War - Gloss and Matt (1 Viewer)

[beating retreat]

Hi John

Welcome to the forum, great job on the Alma figures, what paints are you using? Visited your website quite often, excellent.

Regards John

 

[kogu]

Welcome to the forum, John,
that is one excellent job you did with the painting of the Alma castings.
As others pointed out, when browsing the internet for Toy Soldiers, many times I got to your website and enjoyed the variety you are displaying there.
It is a great pleasure to see you joining this forum.
Konrad

 

[Obee]

Thanks to all of you who have paosted commets about both my website and my painting of the Alma Figures, I really appreciate getting feedback like that, and make the time and effort I put into my website worthwhile.

John asked me about what paints I use, and I always use HUMBROL Enamels. The reason is that its what I've been using since I was a kid, as it was the only product available here in Australia in the 1960's and acrylics hadn't been invented! When I took up painting again 12 years ago I saw all the acrylic, but as I wanted to paint in the 'tradional' gloss style, Humbrol was my choice again, and it was still being made and sold here. I hardly ever mix colours, I just use the closest available out of the pot. Thats becaue I quite ofter paint for other collectors and when the wnat more painted, I can always match the colour. To get a matte finish, I apply a spray finish from a local commercial Aussie maker, so it doesn't matter whether I use gloss or matte paint, the finish is matt.

I hope that helps,

regards,

John

 

[aujj65]

All the current painted samples are now finished and so I thought Michel would like to see them all together. The Russians are a little out numbered and awaiting their standard bearer.

Jeff

It's been a while since this post - a little over six weeks in fact and the castings for the Russian Standard Bearer have arrived - so tomorrow I will start the process with a photo or two.

Jeff

 

[aujj65]

The castings for the Russian Standard Bearer have arrived - so tomorrow I will start the process with a photo.

Jeff

Nice flag detail!

Jeff

 

[aujj65]

The castings have been cleaned up and assembled with the usual gel type super glue. The flag staff has been placed into the figures hands for photo purposes and will be removed for undercoating and painting.

Weather permitting tomorrow, the figure will be undercoated with grey car primer.

Jeff

 

[Obee]

Jeff, what regiment are you planing on painting this flag? I had quite a problem finding resources depicting flags of the Russian Infantry in that period, and so i slightly 'cheated' and used a Napoleonic reference book for the colours that I used but I did notice that some of the reiments hadn't changed the colurs on the flags over that 40 year period, so I think I'm right!

Looking forward to seeing him finished,

regards,

John

 

[aujj65]

Jeff, what regiment are you planing on painting this flag? I had quite a problem finding resources depicting flags of the Russian Infantry in that period, and so i slightly 'cheated' and used a Napoleonic reference book for the colours that I used but I did notice that some of the reiments hadn't changed the colurs on the flags over that 40 year period, so I think I'm right!

Looking forward to seeing him finished,

regards,

John

Good question John! Michel has sent me some painting info he found in an old Tradition magazine. Green (sorry Simon ) with white corners etc. Oh... and a few pictures of painted standard bearers found on some website of which you may be familiar with!

Jeff

 

[aujj65]

Lovely day weather wise so the usual light coats of grey car primer make the detail stand out. Leave for a day or two to thoroughly dry and then the painting can begin.

Jeff

 

[kogu]

Looking forward to see especially this one coming up.
The details on the flag are extemely well done.
Konrad

 

[Obee]

Jeff,

Oh dear, having to wait a day or two for the undercoat to dry..... I just love summer, you can get the paint to dry in 15 minutes in 40c temps here in Australia What I do in the cold winter is to put them in a window so the sun warms and dries the figures, but don't do that in summer, they could melt !!!! Mind you have to be quick painting in summer, the Humbrol Enamels I use dry on the brush somtimes and you can't leave the lid off the tin for too long either.

Looking forward to seeing this guy finshed,

regards,

John

 

[aujj65]

Jeff,

Oh dear, having to wait a day or two for the undercoat to dry..... I just love summer, you can get the paint to dry in 15 minutes in 40c temps here in Australia What I do in the cold winter is to put them in a window so the sun warms and dries the figures, but don't do that in summer, they could melt !!!! Mind you have to be quick painting in summer, the Humbrol Enamels I use dry on the brush somtimes and you can't leave the lid off the tin for too long either.

Looking forward to seeing this guy finshed,

regards,

John

John, It was nice, sunny and warm here yesterday and the undercoat was touch dry in a few minutes, but I always leave figures for a few days as I have to fit painting in between work and the like.

I don't quite have the same problem here of course but it does get too hot some days in the conservatory (where I do my painting) even with the blinds down – nothing worse than having to paint with tar on your brush.

Jeff

 

[Obee]

Jeff,

I hope to have my Colour Sergeants completed this weekend, finished in matt, of course, witha light splashing of Balaklava mud around the ankles.

All I need to complete is the details on the flags on Saturday afternoon, and they will be done. I use gloss gold/brass for details such as badges, buttons, cybersand details on flag, as I find that a matt spray I use on the clothing dulls the lustre of gloss

I have chosen to do a small conversion, using on of the bonnet caps instead of the shako, as with all Alma Figures you collect many spares, and from images of this period, mainly by the famous photographer Fenton, you'll loads of the troops dessed that way.

I hadn't realised that you had chosen the same regiment (19th Foot - Green Howards) as I did!!!!

"Great minds think alike" or so the saying goes.

bye for now,

John

 

[Obee]

Jeff,

as promised, here are the 2 Colour Sergeants of the 19th Foot, at the battle of Alma.

The flags are so deatiled that it makes it a pleasure to paint the details on them, the oly thing not scuplted were the Regimental Numbers and I also painted the name "The Green Howards" in the circle on the Regimental Standard.

I think that with your wonderfully pained gloss figures, and these, it will show collectors the mertits of these particular figures, and I hope they will be on the market really soon.

John

 

[aujj65]

John,

It's great to compare your matt versions with the gloss ones I painted earlier in the thread. Nice choice of colour!

Jeff

 

[aujj65]

Just a bit of a progress update, no painting so far but there are some reinforcements on their way in the shape of a Russian gun crew and another British Guardsman.

Once they arrive assembly and undercoating will take place and then hopefully some painting.

Jeff

 

[Obee]

Jeff,

what Regiment of Guards are you planning on doing him as? I did Coldstream for my 2 figures, but with the extra pouches and the plume, you have the choice of 3!

Michel told me that he's planning on a couple of Ensigns to carry the flags, so lest hope that he gets them underway too, as I just love flags

regards,

John

 

[aujj65]

Jeff,

what Regiment of Guards are you planning on doing him as? I did Coldstream for my 2 figures, but with the extra pouches and the plume, you have the choice of 3!

Michel told me that he's planning on a couple of Ensigns to carry the flags, so lest hope that he gets them underway too, as I just love flags

regards,

John

Earlier on in this thread I painted Grenadier Guards and Scots Fusiliers Guardsmen so I believe this one will be a Coldstreamer.

Jeff

 

[aujj65]

It seems like an eternity since I undercoated the Russian Standard Bearer…….

The cannon and crew along with the Coldstream Guardsman arrived today. The cannon is quite an impressive size

I need to get on with these……..

Jeff

 

[thebritfarmer]

Very nice, looking forward to seeing these brought to life. I like that these figures allow for a couple of different variations. Quite a good idea