UKReb
Command Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 2,436
My FLMB Rebs have recently undergone some minor surgery and discreet repaints in a vain attempt to reproduce-as close as possible-the excellence of the original 55th North Carolina figures. Firstly those darn ugly raised pants patches were ground off and their pants primed and repainted as close to the original pants colour.
Next additional but subtle light and shadow applied to their uniforms and all facials given more of a sun-tanned appearance.
A couple of their hats had a repaint but in particular the dubious "bright blue" Stetson worn by the Texan Lone Star Flag Bearer. He is now wearing matt black headgear with a rawhide hat band. More subtle shading applied to the creases and folds of all four flags iaw the other FL banners. Finally all the figures given a coat of matt varnish.
The end result...........
Now if Matt P. should read this post I have a request-
Matt as an avid fan and a keen collector of your ACW figures could I be so bold as to ask if your talented sculptors could ease up on adorning any future ACW Confederate releases with those darn pants patches that some of your Reb figures carry. They first appeared on some of the 55th NC figures, however, when you released the 13th Alabama set I was as happy as a munchkin when none of them carried these odd coloured patches on their pants. Only to have my happiness utterly dashed when they re-appeared on half of your ACW Artillery team and yet again on the MB series.
Matt it is one thing grinding off patches and repainting a $36.00 figure but a whole different ballgame messing about with a $60-80 one. So much so I never invested in the Reb gun-crew.
Not wanting to get too technical as I am far from being a stitch counter on a Reb outfit but historically the "ragged Reb" is no more than pure myth originating from the United Daughters of the Confederacy which promoted the Lost Cause image of the antebellum South and to preserve and uphold the memory of Confederate veterans fighting to the bitter end in rags and bare-feet.
Nearer to home Jeff Dougdale (known as Tullock on the forum) has kindly presented me with a personally signed copy of his brilliantly researched tome "Never in Rags" in which he presents overwhelming evidence that the Confederate soldier was indeed extremely well clothed and booted all the way through the war right up to Lee's surrender at Appomattox.
End of sermon Matt and far from being a criticism just a polite request for your future consideration from an avid FL ACW collector.
Bob the UKReb
Next additional but subtle light and shadow applied to their uniforms and all facials given more of a sun-tanned appearance.
A couple of their hats had a repaint but in particular the dubious "bright blue" Stetson worn by the Texan Lone Star Flag Bearer. He is now wearing matt black headgear with a rawhide hat band. More subtle shading applied to the creases and folds of all four flags iaw the other FL banners. Finally all the figures given a coat of matt varnish.
The end result...........
Now if Matt P. should read this post I have a request-
Matt as an avid fan and a keen collector of your ACW figures could I be so bold as to ask if your talented sculptors could ease up on adorning any future ACW Confederate releases with those darn pants patches that some of your Reb figures carry. They first appeared on some of the 55th NC figures, however, when you released the 13th Alabama set I was as happy as a munchkin when none of them carried these odd coloured patches on their pants. Only to have my happiness utterly dashed when they re-appeared on half of your ACW Artillery team and yet again on the MB series.
Matt it is one thing grinding off patches and repainting a $36.00 figure but a whole different ballgame messing about with a $60-80 one. So much so I never invested in the Reb gun-crew.
Not wanting to get too technical as I am far from being a stitch counter on a Reb outfit but historically the "ragged Reb" is no more than pure myth originating from the United Daughters of the Confederacy which promoted the Lost Cause image of the antebellum South and to preserve and uphold the memory of Confederate veterans fighting to the bitter end in rags and bare-feet.
Nearer to home Jeff Dougdale (known as Tullock on the forum) has kindly presented me with a personally signed copy of his brilliantly researched tome "Never in Rags" in which he presents overwhelming evidence that the Confederate soldier was indeed extremely well clothed and booted all the way through the war right up to Lee's surrender at Appomattox.
End of sermon Matt and far from being a criticism just a polite request for your future consideration from an avid FL ACW collector.
Bob the UKReb