Cherry Pickers Mounted Band (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

Yes - you are right. I do have a tin of crimson - but when I tried it out - it looked too dark - almost maroon - and I didn't like it.

I actually meant to have a go at mixing it with the bright red I am using - to see what it looked like, but being a bit lazy I just used red.

As YOU have noticed - I WILL have a go at a mixture. Easy enough to overpaint - as I haven't done too many yet. Thanks for the input NOW though!^&grin jb

 

[johnnybach]

Below, see a colour test that I have just done for a better colour for the trousers of The Cherry Pickers.

The Colour 1 is Humbrol Crimson (20). Number 2 is Bright Red (19 - which is what I have used so far), and Number3 is a mix of the two (Note - just one coat of each on a marge tub lid ) I normally would give two coats - so may wait and do a second coat.

Now compare with this rather nice illustration - from my file ( which is pretty representative of the eighty that I currently have). I think that its pretty clear that Crimson is too dark - and Red is a better option. However, maybe the Bright Red is too vivid - and a mix of the two will give a closer match to my picture ??

Any thoughts???? Anyone can jump in. johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Just checked out a Britains figure of a trumpeter - and I think that this might help me a bit - as this figure seems to be a mix of the two shades.

I will give one of my figures a try with a mix.

 

[Obee]

Johnny,

yes the Britains is what I'd suggest you follow for the colour, and like me, mix the crimson as I agree its too dark.

keep up the good work,

John

 

[johnnybach]

Hi John - Just tried out a mix of fifty/fifty - and now MUCH more satisfied with the shade obtained. A look at the picture below tells its own story.

The two Bombardon players tell the tale. To the left is the Red trousers/bag(19) and to the right is the mixture of the two colours - which I'm VERY satisfied with. Just a few minutes should sort them all out! Thanks for your input John - I must admit to having felt a bit unsure and disatisfied with using plain red - but just knew that plain Crimson was just too dark! A mix it is!^&grin

 

[johnnybach]

Re-touched those with plain red pants - and painted all but one with the mixture of red and crimson so will refer to that shade as "redish/crimson" from now on. My line up currently looks like this. Bombardons are now fully assembled - so I can complete painting of these two figures later on. jb

Thanks John (Obee) for the help in making a decision I had been putting off.

 

[johnnybach]

Lots of small details now being completed on most of the figures begun so far. Just varnished one Bombardon player and painted base on the Drummer. Will start two more musicians by putting them on a base first this evening. Photo update below - with one rider out of shot (paint too wet to touch). His horse awaits at the rear.

 

[Martin Tabony]

Who's older than 25? Not in my head!^&grin

Martin


P.s Trooper, Well caught sir!

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Martin - Nothing magic about 25! - Just a Boy Soldier still at heart too.

Spotted the "Gaff" then! - Bother! (no profanity here!).

Having a few problems with the VR though - my smallest brush has started to need some Grecian 2000, as it's getting "Follically Challenged".^&grin

Snag is - there's nowhere nearby for another as small as that (5.0) - so will have to wait until later on - when I get back to the UK, for that detail. jb

 

[trooper]

Hi Martin - Nothing magic about 25! - Just a Boy Soldier still at heart too.

Spotted the "Gaff" then! - Bother! (no profanity here!).

Having a few problems with the VR though - my smallest brush has started to need some Grecian 2000, as it's getting "Follically Challenged".^&gri
Snag is - there's nowhere nearby for another as small as that (5.0) - so will have to wait until later on - when I get back to the UK, for that detail. jb

Johnny, when I was painting professionaly for Tradition we used to use a no 1 brush by gently pressing a razor blade against the base of the bristles and rotating the brush until we were left with a narrow, long, springy brush. These were ideal as they retained enough paint to execute long continuous lines ( good for tartans etc) and with a fine tip for small detail. Might be worth your while trying that. Trooper

 

[Obee]

Johnny, when I was painting professionaly for Tradition we used to use a no 1 brush by gently pressing a razor blade against the base of the bristles and rotating the brush until we were left with a narrow, long, springy brush. These were ideal as they retained enough paint to execute long continuous lines ( good for tartans etc) and with a fine tip for small detail. Might be worth your while trying that. Trooper

Thanks for the tip...... I'll try that too

John

 

[johnnybach]

Cheers for the tip Trooper - I'll try giving a Number One a shave too! ^&grin

Snag is - I'm trying to do that swirly VR cypher - underneath a Crown - in a space slightly smaller than my little finger nail. Sabretache is the same. I have quite a few new 3.0 brushes, but have just about used up my 5.0 stash for the moment - so will just leave the space vacant for now - then overpaint when I can stock up again. They aren't long straight lines though - just tiny. My own fault for over-using the two smallest brushes I had. Didn't forsee using them up quite so quickly- so must make a note to buy a dozen or so, next time I find some.

Model shops over here are like hens teeth - and mostly for plastic kits anyway - so good small brushes are difficult to find. My "Local Shop" (only 30 mins away), closed down last year - as the guy who owned it told me that he had been fighting a losing battle for years. Kids here, apparently, want something that takes a maximum of twenty minutes to make - or they don't buy it! My new local shop - is a 5 hour round trip away! I take a sarnie when I go there! I also tried buying some fine brushes on the Internet (which is always a bit of a lottery) - but the price they wanted to charge me for postage was more than the brushes by a long way! Stupid price! So, I actually stock up in my local art shop in the UK when I'm over - so as I will be there in Spring - can stock up then. But as I say - I'll give your tip a try in the meantime. Thanks again - jb.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Johnny,

I have 2 art shops here in Heidelberg that carry a lot of different brushes. My daughter does some painting so I am in one or the other fairly often to replace old messed up brushes for her. Is there a brand that you prefer? Send me the details ie size etc and I will swing by there and see whats in stock. We can sort out costs etc if they have what you are looking for and you wont have to wait so long to acquire them.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Fine brushes, notwithstanding - here's where I am with progress, so far. Started off a Bassoon player last night (front right; - going to give him a very dark horse, I think)). The two bombardon players are more or less done (bases to go yet - but will do a batch job on those later). They went together very easily - must be getting used to doing them!

One interesting error that I made might amuse you.

My prancing horse Officer has a drawn sword in his right hand - but I also gave him a scabbarded sword with sabretache - so he had TWO swords, for about a week - and nobody noticed!!! {eek3}. He had the hilt part removed very carefully last night - when I noticed the error that I'd made. (As Mister Mannering might have said "Stupid Boy!")^&grin. Note also that most of the other previously uncompleted figures now have arms/weapons etcetera added (where appropriate) - so are rapidly getting to the finished stage now. I'll be making some more bases today - and get cracking with starting off a few more instruments.

Thanks for the offer of brushes Dave - but I know of a really good shop in the UK - who also know me and my preferences - and really go the extra mile for me - so I'll wait until May to stock up. Thanks again though for the offer.

I'm really rather pleased with progress so far with these - so not really too bothered with the missing cyphers at the moment. That's the beauty of painting your own - you can alter figures at any time you like - without agonising over re-touching!

 

[johnnybach]

Here are another three Musicians - just based up with arms/instruments loosly fitted yet, just to check out everything fits correctly, and ready for painting. These are Cornet, Trombone and Euphonium, all bright and shiny in some pleasant afternoon sunshine. So, to anyone who asks why I like to live here in the Winter.......................here's your answer. ^&grin jb.

 

[trooper]

Complaining about putting VR on a space the size of your fingernail? When we had a figure holding a letter about that size we used to write the letter. (Usually "Help, I'm being held prisoner in a model soldier factory") Try it some time. Trooper

 

[johnnybach]

Complaining about putting VR on a space the size of your fingernail? When we had a figure holding a letter about that size we used to write the letter. (Usually "Help, I'm being held prisoner in a model soldier factory") Try it some time. Trooper

I might as well try and poke out my eye with the end of a hair-less paint-brush!

I suppose you used to paint on a Penny Black at the top right hand corner of the envelope, and hand stamp it as a "First Day Cover" from Buck'nam Palace?

I'm an amateur m'lud - (he claimed ) dragged screaming from self-incarceration in a torture chamber marked - "Private - Enter Ye at Yore Doom!". I don't get paid for doing this - it's fun! (F'narf-f'narf!).

What's all this "When I wuz...We Used to" m'larky, anyway?

When I wuz Sane - I didn't try and do this either...................(PS there's a crown as well)...............johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

A liitle more seriously though - I have tried out Trooper's tip by shaving a cheap Number 1 brush down a bit - and it does work - after a fashion - once you get used to it. So thanks for that - o wise one. Your tips, (well, some of them), are always greatfully received - as you have much more experience in that wise head - than I will ever have about Toy Soldiers. None of my current crop have a letter in hand though (thankfully!).

Back to the day job though - and here they are again - growing in numbers by the day. Front rank are - Musical Director and two Officers ( addition of scabards required to two of these) and Trumpeter on his Dappled Grey.(Just noticed a splash of reddish crimson required on Trumpeters plume).
Rear rank shows recently started Bassonist, two bombardons and kettle-drummer(nearly completed with those three) and one of the Escorting Group of hussars with Carbine in hand. Off-stage are three more shiny musicians begun yesterday - whose horses have been primed ( I use it sometimes),as two are going to be Greys - as in the picture in Post 1, that I am working to.

You may be able to see my (admittedly somewhat haphazard) method of painting these from this pic. - as I return to each figure and complete tiny details - once they have had chance to dry thoroughly. The last thing to do - will be to paint the bases for each figure. I will be adding scabbarded swords to each band member - as I always just like to put in a gentle reminder, that in real life, these guys were soldiers too.

 

[trooper]

Steady the horses,Johnny. Before you start putting swords on them check the attached. Ignore the two figures flanking the kettledrummer, they are trooper escorts. The band do not have swords. Trooper

 

[johnnybach]

I must admit that I have also seen a Ducal TS version of this band - and the bandsmen didn't have swords attached either. I was only able to find a few illustrations of the 11th Mounted Band - so thanks for that one You posted Trooper - and alas that one confirms what my others suggest - no swords for the bandsmen either. Shame that - but okay - so no swords it is for mine either, darn it!

However, I note that plain black sabretaches are in order for the Hussar Escorts - so will just have to content myself with fabricating some of those. My three Officers (including the Director) will have the Red/Gold version too.

Thanks for the advice again Trooper. jb