Austrian Infantry Band c.1865 (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

I'm trying my hand out - once again - with a small challenge. It's an Austrian Infantry Band (c.1865), in campaign uniform. This time however - with a somewhat unusual twist. The base drum is being towed on a small trailer - by a largish dog! [I call him Boom-Boom!]

As usual - I couldn't resist having a go at the most unusual member(s) of the Band - so painted up the dog first. They are Flats, of course - and 30mm ones to boot. There will be 22 members of the band, eventually - but these are my first four attempted - as I prefer to find out how to paint this new challenge in small batches.

These are my first four completed.



I found these castings - online - in a Museum in Austria. (zinnfigurenwelt-katzelsdorf.at) A very helpful member of the staff called Ernst, helped me through my first purchase of my 22 castings - and also helped with a bit of info as to their painting. A general view of how these would have looked is shown below. Note the waterproof cover on the shakos - and the leaf sprigs on the cap.



Another view of the band - shows them in their Summer uniform - without greatcoats - which is a bit unhelpful - but by looking at both pics - an idea of how they should look can be estimated.



My new chum Ernst, also sent me another view of a finished Band - so keeps me on the right track. This is something like I'm aiming for - though mine will be in my favourite medium of course - Gloss.



As I'm still feeling my way around with Flats - I'm interspersing the painting of these with some of my more usual 54mm subjects - so expect others to appear from time to time.

Hope you like 'em ................. my way. jb

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Hello JonnyBach,
good seeing you painting up a new project and shareing it with us. I allways like to see austrian themes especially from the 19th hundred period. I got hooked on the that subject while living in Vienna. Be it 30mm flat or 40 - 60mm semi-round figures I think the uniforms of that period allways make up very nice interesting figures. I agree with you when it comes to painting the troops in GLOSS. To me that is the way to do it and which seems best to represent that historcal period.
Last reminders of times that soon will be lost forever. Your painted figures are looking great so far,- as allways waiting for MORE...{sm4}
kind regards
Wolfgang

 

[theBaron]

Nice to see another painter delving into flats, John! And a great choice of subject, too. Just as with the fully round figures, there's a range of styles from things that are representational, or toy-like, if you will, all the way to deliberately accurate sculpts. That path leads over the Schneider figures, too. I look forward to seeing your completed band.

Oh, and the dog cart for the bass drum was a popular custom in the Austrian army, and I think some Prussian bands used them Kind of like the rage for having Moors (African) musicians and drum majors in the 18th century.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Hello JonnyBach,
good seeing you painting up a new project and shareing it with us. I allways like to see austrian themes especially from the 19th hundred period. I got hooked on the that subject while living in Vienna. Be it 30mm flat or 40 - 60mm semi-round figures I think the uniforms of that period allways make up very nice interesting figures. I agree with you when it comes to painting the troops in GLOSS. To me that is the way to do it and which seems best to represent that historcal period.
Last reminders of times that soon will be lost forever. Your painted figures are looking great so far,- as allways waiting for MORE...{sm4}
kind regards
Wolfgang

Hi Wolfgang, glad you are enjoying them, so far. I wouldn't describe myself as a natural painter of Flats - but enjoy trying my hand at them - in short bursts - as I need to really concentrate hard on them. As Military Bands are a long-term favourite of mine - I have been trying to source some of the more unusual subjects - and where better to go than Austria and Germany for this type of figure?

These came from the Museum at Katzelsdorf - and I think are re-casts from original figure moulds that they hold and market to visitors. As previously mentioned, the museum can be found online - and items from their catalogue can be purchased by e-mail order.

I also find that by going directly to either the engravers - or the holders of historic moulds - They can be far more reasonably priced than some of the offerings of more commercially orientated companies/ suppliers. These came for less than £1 apiece, whilst postage on such small and lightweight figures is also low.

I have noticed that it is often more usual and fashionable these days, to paint Flats in acrylics than gloss enamels- but as I like the glossy look - I'm trying to paint them this way - so glad you approve. I'm still very much a learner at it - but do find the finished figures very rewarding - and very enjoyable to do. Watch out for more to be added from time to time - but they aren't quick for me to do - and I still like painting the fully round, 54mm figures too.

Cheers - jb

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Johnny

That's a very cool subject! I really like the flats you can find over here. I didn't see the scale mentioned are they 54mm or smaller?

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Nice to see another painter delving into flats, John! And a great choice of subject, too. Just as with the fully round figures, there's a range of styles from things that are representational, or toy-like, if you will, all the way to deliberately accurate sculpts. That path leads over the Schneider figures, too. I look forward to seeing your completed band.

Oh, and the dog cart for the bass drum was a popular custom in the Austrian army, and I think some Prussian bands used them Kind of like the rage for having Moors (African) musicians and drum majors in the 18th century.

Prost!
Brad

Hi Brad - I just KNEW you might like them too!

Yes - they are great fun - and that dog really did it for me. As soon as I saw the piece - I just had to have one - whilst the rest of the Band were an added bonus. The Museum has another two Bands on offer, so I'll doubtless be going back for some more, once this one is completed - and I get a bit more comfortable with the genre.

I don't know who sculpted the original figures, which could be modern reproductions - though they do have the look of Heinrichsen about them - whilst the date of c.1865 would be about right for one of the family to have had a hand in them. Glad you like them, ( and all the tickers in the box too) ^&grinjb

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Johnny

That's a very cool subject! I really like the flats you can find over here. I didn't see the scale mentioned are they 54mm or smaller?

Dave

Hi Dave - these are 30mm ( or The Nurenburg Scale - as it's sometimes called). I'm getting more familiar with some of the suppliers you can find online - with the help of Ray (nmrocks) - who has a superb collection. As usual, I prefer to paint my own - though I did find one painted set recently - that I just couldn't resist at the knock-down price they were being offered at. My idea was to strip and repaint it (another 30mm Band again), but mounted - but have just begun to re-touch some of the pieces - which were slightly playworn, as they were generally in fair condition.

Cheers - jb

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Haveing a dog pulling the "Pauke" remained a quite popular habbit over the years with military music in Germany/Austria.
Doing a very quick search I just found this splendid Elastolin version of the subject which is still representing the "Reichswehr" in the 1930ies. Sure I got much more samples in my books.
As for the gloss style on Flats I am much in favour since you are dealing with a rather small "Canvas" given the 30mm scale of your figures. As with all the "Glossies" one benefits from the physical law that says:
"Objects become visible to the human eye by reflecting light" Obviously a gloss surface reflects light much more intense therefore the image we receive appears top be much brighter than compared with a matte surface. I have seen flats where the painter broke his neck with oils but the figures still remaining rather dull. Now there are of cause those masters in flat figure painting which seem to brake all laws of physics creating splendid artwork and doing fantastic paintjobs on those little miniatures. But still to me a rather basic gloss paint-job is superior to a sort of "well done" paintjob in a matte medium. That is of cause to be judged by everybodies own likeing. To me it is a clear comittment to "Glossies"
As for the molds I do not see why the should be reproductions? Slate molds are almost indistructable if handled with care and they are good through production numbers going into tenthousands or more.
More than one manufacturer in Germany or Austria uses molds that could be up to a 150 years old.

Looking forward for more and keep them GLOSS
regards
Wolfgang

 

[johnnybach]

Haveing a dog pulling the "Pauke" remained a quite popular habbit over the years with military music in Germany/Austria.
Doing a very quick search I just found this splendid Elastolin version of the subject which is still representing the "Reichswehr" in the 1930ies. Sure I got much more samples in my books.
As for the gloss style on Flats I am much in favour since you are dealing with a rather small "Canvas" given the 30mm scale of your figures. As with all the "Glossies" one benefits from the physical law that says:
"Objects become visible to the human eye by reflecting light" Obviously a gloss surface reflects light much more intense therefore the image we receive appears top be much brighter than compared with a matte surface. I have seen flats where the painter broke his neck with oils but the figures still remaining rather dull. Now there are of cause those masters in flat figure painting which seem to brake all laws of physics creating splendid artwork and doing fantastic paintjobs on those little miniatures. But still to me a rather basic gloss paint-job is superior to a sort of "well done" paintjob in a matte medium. That is of cause to be judged by everybodies own likeing. To me it is a clear comittment to "Glossies"
As for the molds I do not see why the should be reproductions? Slate molds are almost indistructable if handled with care and they are good through production numbers going into tenthousands or more.
More than one manufacturer in Germany or Austria uses molds that could be up to a 150 years old.

Looking forward for more and keep them GLOSSView attachment 144685
regards
Wolfgang

Thanks for the additional information W. "Pauke" eh? Good to know the proper name for it. Love the Elastolin version too.

I'm a Glossy fan - through and through - so fear not. It may be more popular nowadays to go for more realistic model soldiers - and matte finishes - and indeed there's nothing wrong with that - if you like things that way. However, I'm a Glossy Toy Soldier fan, whatever size or shape they may be. That's the way I like them - and that's the way I like painting. Glad you seem to like things that way too - there are quite a few of us about!!:salute::

I think you may also be correct about the origin of these pieces. They may very well be produced from old moulds, as I've been reading a bit more deeply into Flat production - and some of the old producers from the mid 1800's. However the often unsigned pieces from engravers who were actually prevented by middlemen from advertising who they were ( to protect themselves from customers going directly to the makers), means that even Museums may be unsure of the original maker. But here I have been speculating - I don't know who engraved the original mould in this case. I just know - I like them - a lot.^&grin jb

 

[aujj65]

Interesting topic for the paint brush JB ^&cool....looking forward to seeing the rest. :salute::

Jeff

 

[johnnybach]

Interesting topic for the paint brush JB ^&cool....looking forward to seeing the rest. :salute::

Jeff

It's quite a small brush Jeff, so not using a lot of paint!

More underway.:wink2: jb

 

[johnnybach]

In fact - here are the few more - in front of my first four completed.

As you may be able to make out - I don't prime - but build up successive washes of thinned out colour onto each figure. Tricky to do because of their small size - and the need to use a small, fine tipped brush; ( I'm using an 00 as the biggest brush for painting). I tend to work from head down - and hold the base either between two fingers - or mounted on a cork with a bit of blu-tack.

Then - wait for the paint to dry - and continue building up coats/washes etcetera.

to be continued..........jb

 

[nmrocks]

Yes it's an offbeat and unusual subject for the toy soldier crowd but very well done and refreshingly different!
Ray

 

[johnnybach]

Yes it's an offbeat and unusual subject for the toy soldier crowd but very well done and refreshingly different!
Ray

Cheers Ray - Here's another couple of pics showing how the latest additions are developing:

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Cheers Ray - Here's another couple of pics showing how the latest additions are developing:

Really nice!
rgds
Wolfgang

 

[johnnybach]

A couple of high concentration sessions with the brush later - and I've got this far with them.



Another view: Note that the Kappelmeister {we would call him the Musical Director), slightly behind the Drum Major is unfinished as yet, and wears a different uniform to that of the Band. Details for his uniform - came, once again, from the Museum. Thanks again to my new chum, Ernst.



And finally - this is how they look when mounted (temporarily) on a piece of white corrugated cardboard - which keeps them safer than stood around.

 

[aujj65]

Very smart JB! ^&cool...I hope you are painting both sides of the figures :wink2: ^&grin

Jeff :salute::

 

[johnnybach]

Very smart JB! ^&cool...I hope you are painting both sides of the figures :wink2: ^&grin

Jeff :salute::

Good question Jeff, as I know you CAN buy them - as painted one side only. However, I can assure you mine are painted on both sides. It's just that I have focussed so far, on the side with the most interesting features ( sword, bread-bag etcetera).

Next pics I do - I'll show the other sides too.

I have all of the rest underway now - and I think now that I've had a bit of practice - I might be getting a tad quicker! jb

 

[johnnybach]

Here's the other side of those figures completed so far Jeff. Just realised that I'm over halfway through my batch of 22 figures - with the 11 finished - and all others at least started off being painted - with a couple more nearly complete. jb

 

[DMNamiot]

Very cool set!