johnnybach
Major General
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2010
- Messages
- 13,663
Regarding your point about the poor quality of moulds Mike - which I didn't cover in my initial reply.
I - and I'm sure many of my fellow assemblers/painters - are quite good at removing excess flash and fixing errors addition or omissions in castings. IF. like me, they buy used figures on the open market - you quickly realise that things sold there are rarely perfect. There's always usually something to fix.
Hole in the saddle - fill it with milliput. Lump on the saddle, cut it off and file it smooth. There's rarely anything that can't be fixed. I currently have a re-cast of a Knight on the go - using one of Selwyn-Smith's old castings. Lots of flash - as the mould is old. Lots of gaps for the same reason - these are some I did, like that lately. Okay - no Courtney, I know - but suits me down to the ground.
The one on the left is the recast SSmith. Central small figure is a converted Doran casting - found second-hand for £1. The lutteral Psalter combo - was inspired by Freddy Ping's Xmas card - and was made from some bits bought from Dorset Soldiers - including a 10pence junk stall find of a Timpo Horse.
I'll go with just about any state - as I can fix most things now - I've had lots of practice with them. Thanks for listening. jb.
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What you reworked a Doran ? Doran-Courtenay made between 1920-1928 estimated value actualy for a simple foot figure is 800 - 1000$
The Courtenay ( working alone then ) cames later 1935 - 1968, then the molds were sold to Ping .
Nowadays : good work ( I agree with you about reworking toysoldiers sometime, I have a friend who bought the entire range of DelPrado Medieval because he liked very much the New Hope Design Men at Arms production, he repainted them with oils, it was far cheaper than looking for Old Kit, or buyig new one, the more for the "on horse")
Best
The "Doran" had no head, one arm, half a shield left and no base. It was solid - so I think it was an old re-cast. I found it in a car-boot sale, and only recognized it when I consulted some of my books. I always check out what I'm going to repair and/or restore - just in case. Do not worry. jb
Agreed about Delprado range - they can also be good source material to restore and convert. I prefer the Selwyn-Smith recasts presently - but have now done so many - I would like a few different poses. The AQM Agincourt range would suit me down to the ground - UNLESS they become really expensive - and just like another well known brand - formerly based in London - I just stopped buying them. jb
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