Britains Hollowcast Set 101. Household Cav. Bandsman (2 Viewers)

[johnnybach]

I wanted to share something that I think is a bit special. I recently purchased a very heavily overpainted Household Cavalry bandsman, wearing the full ceremonial State Dress uniform. I took a chance on him being an old Britains - as the paint on him had been applied so thickly, any makers marks were hidden - and any possible repairs were also hidden.

Anyhoo - when he arrived by post, and after a quick inspection - he was put in a bath of paint remover and I sat back to see what would emerge.

Imagine my surprise to find an absolutely perfect casting to come out. There were no blemishes to be found at all - and it was as if he had just come out of the mould.

Why my surprise?? Well, on inspection, he turned out to be from an early Set 101. He has slotted arms holding a Cornet - which means he could be as early as 1911 - whilst his horse has the single ear type - which was changed to two ears in 1925. So he was made sometime between those dates (1911-1925), and is thus between 90 - 107 years old, and he's survived intact for all of that time. Simply amazing!

Here he is now ( forgot to take pic when he was wearing around seven plus coats of paint). jb

 

[johnnybach]

Hang on - I think I copied his pic from the original e-bay advert. Here he is, as found. You can see from the E R on his chest, that someone has repainted him around 1953 or onwards. The white paint on the horse was also extremely thickly applied, obliterating the Britains makers mark under the horse.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Looking forward to you working your magic on this one. You just need the rest of the members now :salute::

 

[johnnybach]

Looking forward to you working your magic on this one. You just need the rest of the members now :salute::

He's progressing well, Scott. And I'm always looking for early ones!

P.S If you ever see any going - please do give me a bell ! jb

 

[johnnybach]

No repairs to make - so just a strip and repaint required.

I have tried to make him riding a lightly dappled grey - jst to get slightly away from what he would have looked like originally, as Britains applied the slight dappling differently. I've also given him a VR cypher on his chest, below the Queens Crown - to make him a Victorian figure.

Here he is now.

I merely have to find the other 11 figures from pre-1925, to complete Set 101. jb

 

[Sandhurst39]

Hi John. Looks great. As we discussed I’ll have the other band members for you done over the summer. He won’t be alone for long!

 

[johnnybach]

Hi John. Looks great. As we discussed I’ll have the other band members for you done over the summer. He won’t be alone for long!

Wow! - thankyou buddy - that's just great! I'm delighted. and glad you like him.

Just to explain to those a bit bemused by our conversation - I've been chatting via e-mail to Sandhurst 39 lately - mainly about his progression of the smaller variety of Britains old Hollowcast figures ( such as the "B" range and 35mm figures), when I mentioned this new (to me) figure, and that I had been looking for a suitable Mounted Life Guard Band, without much success for several years.

Indeed, I mentioned this Britains figure from the Old Set 101 to him as being a very old favourite of mine- and he replied saying that he also had such a figure - and had been considering making up a new mould to re-cast him for some time {eek3} (he's around 100 years old - so a suitable candidate). The Sate dress tunic hasn't changed much over several hundred years - so just the cypher will date them.

I replied yes, of course, in a heartbeat - so now it looks as if, at long last, after searching everywhere in vain for years - I'm gonna get one.

Thankyou is such a small word - but I do really mean it:salute::

Now ..............it's just a question of how big I want my band to be - why stop at a mere twelve now - eh?

I'm currently thinking of 5 ranks of four - being led out by the Drum Horse - so that would be 21 figures.

Something like this ( assumes all of these instruments will be available), Victorian Band around mid to late 1800's:

Kettle Drummer

1st rank: 4 Trombones
2nd rank: 2 Bombardons (if available) plus maybe two Tuba's
3rd rank: A couple of Euphoniums, and 2 Sax's
4th rank: 3 Cornets plus the cymbalist
5th rank: 2 Clarinets, a picallo and a Bassoon

Wonderful - and of course, I'll show how I get along with them on the Forum - so that anyone else who fancies a band - can see how I get on. jb^&grin

 

[johnnybach]

It struck me today, that there may be a few people who don't know what this early Britains mounted band looks like.


So, I raided my store of pics - and found one that I had stored from one of the Auction houses ( with many thanks to whichever Auction site it was) - a few years ago to show as an example. This would be an original first version, of course, made c.1900 - but does show most of the instruments that I want, though hopefully, my set will include extras - in the shape of duplicates of some instruments and my particular favourite, the bombardon, ( front rank right). jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

Love this set, looking forward to seeing your band develop JB !

 

[johnnybach]

Love this set, looking forward to seeing your band develop JB !

I must be really old fashioned Scott. I too, saw a pic of this band - many years ago - and fell for it immediately. However, as old as it is - whenever I have seen one for sale in good nick and in a box - they are expensive, nowadays.

I have looked at several other manufacturers products - mostly in Regimental dress - and considered them - but never went through with an order - as I really wanted that old Britains set.

I had made up my mind - that I would keep looking for singles - even damaged ones - and just build a set up from those - with maybe a bit of scratch-building along the way. The cornet player was to be my first.

And then.................I showed my Cornet player - and casually mentioned what I was trying to do to my new pal Sandhurst 39 - who then made this incredible offer - to make up a casting - and make the set for me to assemble and paint.

Now, this means that some new moulds will be made. And moulds can be used again, for anybody who would like a set...................

Out with the brushes this winter - I'm gonna be busy. jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

Maybe I need to save my pennies for a set then. I wouldn't even mind the plastic eyes right version that they made but that too commands a pretty penny.

 

[johnnybach]

Maybe I need to save my pennies for a set then. I wouldn't even mind the plastic eyes right version that they made but that too commands a pretty penny.

I too looked at the Plastic version on e-bay from time to time - but always managed not to pull the trigger.

PM sent. jb

 

[johnnybach]

I must be really old fashioned Scott. I too, saw a pic of this band - many years ago - and fell for it immediately. However, as old as it is - whenever I have seen one for sale in good nick and in a box - they are expensive, nowadays.

I have looked at several other manufacturers products - mostly in Regimental dress - and considered them - but never went through with an order - as I really wanted that old Britains set.

I had made up my mind - that I would keep looking for singles - even damaged ones - and just build a set up from those - with maybe a bit of scratch-building along the way. The cornet player was to be my first.

And then.................I showed my Cornet player - and casually mentioned what I was trying to do to my new pal Sandhurst 39 - who then made this incredible offer - to make up a casting - and make the set for me to assemble and paint.

Now, this means that some new moulds will be made. And moulds can be used again, for anybody who would like a set...................

Out with the brushes this winter - I'm gonna be busy. jb

Well........they've arrived. I've received 20 castings that bear a very good resemblance to that over 100 year old Mounted band of the Life Guards (Set 101). In the pic below, you can see the main body of the figures ( I decided to enlarge the band to 21 - which includes the Drum horse and Kettle drummer). Also included, near the front, is my original Britain's Mounted Bandsman figure - which I re-painted a while ago. He will be my master figure for painting up these castings.



The arms with instruments are in the small bags - and will have to be made to fit each figure. That is to say - they have to be modelled to each figure - and some may require slight modification - as these are generic items which will fit to many other bands.

For example - the Bombardon is always difficult to mount on the figure, as it coils around the body of the player. and You may notice some figures have a head removed - as this makes it easier to maneuver the instrument into place. I have also sometimes cut off the lugs that protrude from the shoulders, on which the arms locate, to ease positioning further. I can re-pin these once I'm satisfied with the location of everything at a later stage.

Also note that I'm about half- way through putting a solid base on each figure, as I think this gives far greater stability than figures without one. jb

 

[DMNamiot]

I love it! See a musical ride developing very quickly! Does Sandhurst have any Indian Army mounted figures I would love to put together a mounted band for my Durbar display.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

I love it! See a musical ride developing very quickly! Does Sandhurst have any Indian Army mounted figures I would love to put together a mounted band for my Durbar display.

Dave

I also have 5 mounted Indian Army riders - that I'm going to make up into a small troop of Skinners Horse in 54mm. I'm pretty sure he could do these as a band too. Just send him a PM, Dave, and pose the question. jb

 

[Sandhurst39]

Hi John. Glad you like the castings. My first order fulfilled ! Looking good already can’t wait to see the finished items.

Making good progress with Replica Metal Soldiers and Models (formally Pat CambellsReplica Models). Sorted the Moulds and almost ready for go live. Website well under development now and just revising the listings. Taking orders very soon!

Replica will have a trade stand at the December London Show and all next years fixtures.

Dave. Thanks for getting in touch. I have a huge Indian army range I am re releasing which you may be interested in and I’ll be happy to add any items that you want that I don’t have! You want it I’m sure I can provide it! I did a special Indian army commission for James Opie in June, in the Britains style. Band will not be a problem. I’ll drop you a line to discuss in more detail.

Andrew

 

[thebritfarmer]

These look great JB, can't wait to see them finished.

 

[johnnybach]

These look great JB, can't wait to see them finished.

Me too Scott! However, I've been waiting for over twenty years to get my hands on this particular Band - so I'm fighting the urge to rush at them. No - I'm gonna take my time - and just relish this opportunity.

I'll tell you one thing though - they're really nice to paint. With a bit of luck - I may complete my first two later this evening. When I do - I'll take a pic. ( Drummie and first trombone). jb

 

[DMNamiot]

Andrew I got your note and will get back to you soon on what I am looking to do. Thanks

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

A little later than predicted - as paint is now drying a bit slower than just a few weeks ago - but here are my first two figures from the Victorian Mounted Band of the Life Guards in State Dress. I usually like to paint one or two up to completed - just to get a feel for the way to do it. These paint up nicely.

I'm going to paint some on Greys and some on blacks - just like some of the pics of this old set I have seen. I have another six started - with Bombardon next up! jb