Highland Light Infantry Band (2 Viewers)

[johnnybach]

Cheers Sandor - I think this one of the completed front rank might give an idea of what they are going to look like once completed. I don't think you ever really know when you're painting - until you get a few completed. Must say - they aren't looking too bad, so far. I finished a big band of the Gordons a while back - so seemed the obvious thing to do was to try my hand at a band in trews. Glad you like them so far.

On to the next rank..............jb

 

[blaster]

Hi JB,

how do you work so fast, bands and painting trews as well? Don't you work, have families like the rest of us....

Rgds V

 

[johnnybach]

Hi JB,

how do you work so fast, bands and painting trews as well? Don't you work, have families like the rest of us....

Rgds V

Hi Vic. I don't consider myself a very quick painter at all. In fact, I take care not to rush things - as this generally leads to mistakes and sloppy work.

No - I finished that "work" thing a while ago, after doing my turn at it. Our daughters are safely married and gone,( thus freeing up a room for my "Studio" - as I prefer to call it!). I generally do my painting in short periods - and stop if I start to feel that it's getting to be a chore. Then have a break - make cuppa tea - and get on with the rest of life - like - catching up with news on BBC - garden duties, "jankers" ( peeling vegetables etc) - say hello to La Commandante - go shopping, dog walking etc.

Then, mostly during the evening, ( and especially in the winter months), the TV is on for herself - and I can safely retire to the Studio and resume splashing a bit of paint around whilst listening to my CD collection. That's when most of my painting gets done, in the company of Ray Charles, and Jackson Browne this week!^&cool I must say though, that the longer I paint on a regular basis - the quicker it gets because of experience. Knowing how to go about it - saves a lot of decision time. When I'm really getting into it - I do sometimes lose track of time - and late evenings sometimes become early mornings!{eek3}

With a big band like this one - after the first one is done - I will know just how to go about all of the next figures - and sart the rest off in EXACTLY the same way, so that it gets more like a routine sequence. Whilst the paint is drying - I can prep the next batch ( I usually do them in small batches - as you have seen).

Being retired does have it's compensations - and I can thoroughly recommend it! Though please don't waste your life hoping that it could come more quickly - just enjoy it when it comes. Hope that helps explain.............jb^&grin

 

[Malcolm Britain]

Good afternoon JB

Thanks for yet more words of encouragement.

Do you generally use matt paint and then gloss varnish to achieve the effect you have?

Do I detect a variation in the base colour? Do you have a favourite? Most commercial bases are finished in gloss dark / brunswiick gree or a sort of muddy brown. I always used to use humbrol gloss brunswick green for smaller figures but switched to a more grassy emerald green. I don't have a favourite save that the "grassier" green fits better with scenery and in particular green baize but the darker colours blend in with the commerically painted sets. Ho hum!

The front rank looks terrific by the way.

Regards
Malcolm

 

[Buster]

Good afternoon JB

Thanks for yet more words of encouragement.

Do you generally use matt paint and then gloss varnish to achieve the effect you have?

Do I detect a variation in the base colour? Do you have a favourite? Most commercial bases are finished in gloss dark / brunswiick gree or a sort of muddy brown. I always used to use humbrol gloss brunswick green for smaller figures but switched to a more grassy emerald green. I don't have a favourite save that the "grassier" green fits better with scenery and in particular green baize but the darker colours blend in with the commerically painted sets. Ho hum!

The front rank looks terrific by the way.

Regards
Malcolm

They do indeed look terrific. As for the green bases, I think jb might have resort to using whatever he can get his hands on as our friend Jeff (auff65) has managed to the completely corner the green paint market. :wink2:^&grin

B.

 

[Martin Tabony]

Hi Vic. I don't consider myself a very quick painter at all. In fact, I take care not to rush things - as this generally leads to mistakes and sloppy work.

No - I finished that "work" thing a while ago, after doing my turn at it. Our daughters are safely married and gone,( thus freeing up a room for my "Studio" - as I prefer to call it!). I generally do my painting in short periods - and stop if I start to feel that it's getting to be a chore. Then have a break - make cuppa tea - and get on with the rest of life - like - catching up with news on BBC - garden duties, "jankers" ( peeling vegetables etc) - say hello to La Commandante - go shopping, dog walking etc.

Then, mostly during the evening, ( and especially in the winter months), the TV is on for herself - and I can safely retire to the Studio and resume splashing a bit of paint around whilst listening to my CD collection. That's when most of my painting gets done, in the company of Ray Charles, and Jackson Browne this week!^&cool I must say though, that the longer I paint on a regular basis - the quicker it gets because of experience. Knowing how to go about it - saves a lot of decision time. When I'm really getting into it - I do sometimes lose track of time - and late evenings sometimes become early mornings!{eek3}

With a big band like this one - after the first one is done - I will know just how to go about all of the next figures - and sart the rest off in EXACTLY the same way, so that it gets more like a routine sequence. Whilst the paint is drying - I can prep the next batch ( I usually do them in small batches - as you have seen).

Being retired does have it's compensations - and I can thoroughly recommend it! Though please don't waste your life hoping that it could come more quickly - just enjoy it when it comes. Hope that helps explain.............jb^&grin

Personaly I like Youtube while I'm sculpting. I play "I bet you haven't." Try thinking of the most obscure piece of music and then search for it. I've also discovered new singers through youtube, and if I ever want to remember what it was like to be shouted at, I play a clip of the musical ride or the "trooping".
Anyway back to Milliput and E.L.O. ^&grin

Martin

 

[Martin Tabony]

Hi Vic. I don't consider myself a very quick painter at all. In fact, I take care not to rush things - as this generally leads to mistakes and sloppy work.

No - I finished that "work" thing a while ago, after doing my turn at it. Our daughters are safely married and gone,( thus freeing up a room for my "Studio" - as I prefer to call it!). I generally do my painting in short periods - and stop if I start to feel that it's getting to be a chore. Then have a break - make cuppa tea - and get on with the rest of life - like - catching up with news on BBC - garden duties, "jankers" ( peeling vegetables etc) - say hello to La Commandante - go shopping, dog walking etc.

Then, mostly during the evening, ( and especially in the winter months), the TV is on for herself - and I can safely retire to the Studio and resume splashing a bit of paint around whilst listening to my CD collection. That's when most of my painting gets done, in the company of Ray Charles, and Jackson Browne this week!^&cool I must say though, that the longer I paint on a regular basis - the quicker it gets because of experience. Knowing how to go about it - saves a lot of decision time. When I'm really getting into it - I do sometimes lose track of time - and late evenings sometimes become early mornings!{eek3}

With a big band like this one - after the first one is done - I will know just how to go about all of the next figures - and sart the rest off in EXACTLY the same way, so that it gets more like a routine sequence. Whilst the paint is drying - I can prep the next batch ( I usually do them in small batches - as you have seen).

Being retired does have it's compensations - and I can thoroughly recommend it! Though please don't waste your life hoping that it could come more quickly - just enjoy it when it comes. Hope that helps explain.............jb^&grin

Personaly I like Youtube while I'm sculpting. I play "I bet you haven't." Try thinking of the most obscure piece of music and then search for it. I've also discovered new singers through youtube, and if I ever want to remember what it was like to be shouted at, I play a clip of the musical ride or the "trooping".
Anyway back to Milliput and E.L.O. ^&grin

Martin

 

[johnnybach]

Good afternoon JB

Thanks for yet more words of encouragement.

Do you generally use matt paint and then gloss varnish to achieve the effect you have?

Do I detect a variation in the base colour? Do you have a favourite? Most commercial bases are finished in gloss dark / brunswiick gree or a sort of muddy brown. I always used to use humbrol gloss brunswick green for smaller figures but switched to a more grassy emerald green. I don't have a favourite save that the "grassier" green fits better with scenery and in particular green baize but the darker colours blend in with the commerically painted sets. Ho hum!

The front rank looks terrific by the way.

Regards
Malcolm

Cheers Malcolm - glad you ( and others - cheers lads), like them.

Yes - there is a bit of a variation in my front rank bases. I tried out a darker green on my first "prototype figure" - and didn't like it. It made the figure too dark for my liking ( I used Brunswick Green. 3). I eventually went for a mixture of that colour and Lime.3 - to give that shade. I liked the way it highlighted the Mackenzie tartan of the Trews - which is the feature I wanted to particularly show up. Looks like I slightly altered the 50/50 mixture on my next four, which are slightly darker. I will leave them for now, as they are - but go back to them and adjust, once I have produced a few more figures.

As to using Gloss or Matte - I don't really mind which - unless I'm trying for a certain look. For example - a Matte Black is good to differentiate (say) leatherwork on a saddle, from (say)Gloss Black for boots. Once varnished at the end of painting a figure - that does show up the difference between boots and saddle. I also prefer to use some Matte colours (e.g Oxford Blue) - because of the density of coverage it can achieve. Also, mixing Oxford blue with Matte black - give a superb Navy Blue for use in Guards trousers, Best Blues or RN and Royal marine uniforms. Another way of differentiating a very dark horse from leatherwork of a similar shade - is to use a touch of a reddish brown colour with the matte black for the horse - which shows up nicely at the end.

So - the answer is - I use both Gloss and Matte - depending on what I want to achieve with particular figures. You just need to work out what it is you are trying to achieve - then choose the most appropriate colurs to get it. I've worked out my own choices from my 14 years, or so, of painting experience. I guess you may need to do the same sort of thing. Experiment away - and keep a record of what you do - and how it turns out. I do this on Margarine tub lids BEFORE painting figures sometimes. Remember, varnish will usually darken things down a bit - so do that too on your test pieces.

Going back to colours for the bases ( or Stands - as they are sometimes known) - you can try other mixes of colours than one shade. Have a look at the stands on these Canadian Mounted Rifles Pipers and Drummers. Same colours I mentioned earlier - but applied separately - with a gloss black edge. Different - but very nice ( and thanks to a tip from Brian at Yeoman, who also supplied these as castings).

Hope that helps. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Personaly I like Youtube while I'm sculpting. I play "I bet you haven't." Try thinking of the most obscure piece of music and then search for it. I've also discovered new singers through youtube, and if I ever want to remember what it was like to be shouted at, I play a clip of the musical ride or the "trooping".
Anyway back to Milliput and E.L.O. ^&grin

Martin

I like a dash of Youtube too, occasionally. The other Martyn (GICOP) and I have a bit of fun with the music game on here - and IF he ( or others) posts something that I haven't heard ( rarely, I hasten to add), I'll sometimes get it up on the tube - just to hear how corny it is! Good fun - consider joining in?????

Which Army unit are the ELO allied too - you appear to be sculpting it? - Mounted????jb

 

[aujj65]

They do indeed look terrific. As for the green bases, I think jb might have resort to using whatever he can get his hands on as our friend Jeff (auff65) has managed to the completely corner the green paint market. :wink2:^&grin

B.

Hmm....not sure there is a shortage yet :wink2:.....but you could always try mixing - red and silver make a nice shade of green so I hear from Simon (wraith) :rolleyes2:

JB, take no notice of our banter you have made another fine job on these. :salute::

Jeff

 

[johnnybach]

So..........red and silver make green eh? Okay - still prefer blue and yellow though.

As for Banter - I wuz in the Army with some Scousers - who all seemed to think that they had to be a cross between Jimmy Tarbuck - and Ken Dod - all of the time.

Banter?.............don't talk to me about banter! [ P.S. I never had the heart to tell them that they never really suceeded - but used to respond something around these lines.] Now don't take it personally - Wack!

Question? What do you do if you're out driving - and you see a Scouser riding a bicycle?

Answer. Avoid him - it might be your Bicycle.

It's the way I tell them!

 

[johnnybach]

Okay - so I'm not Sir Brucie! (thank goodness)

Thought you might like to see these. Tuba and Euphonium, by the way.

Wings on - different instruments

Which currently have developed this far:- Note that the wing on the left arm of these figures has quite a useful feature - in that the top of the fly plaid ( the bit of the cloak that falls down the back of the figure), can be extended over the wing a little, just by using a couple of coats of Oxford Blue paint ( my bases colour) and then touching in to the existing coloured lines of the tartan. Quite useful if you have trouble getting the piece to fit nicely and you have a gap. Note - I don't have a gap!

 

[Malcolm Britain]

JB thanks very much for sharing some of your vast knowledge on paint and mixing.

When you make a mix do you do a bulk lot and store in a clean tin or airtight jar so that you can have a consistent colour for an entire "batch" (squad?) of recruits?

You make a very good point about the stand colour helping to bring out the colours in the uniforms. Its the sort of thing interior designers pay a lot of attention to and its a lesson we should bear in mind where there is a green in the uniform facings / kilt / jacket etc

The mounted band look terrific and to be honest I didnt even notice the bases as the figures are so attractive. Perhaps all that is really needed is uniformity with any group that is to be displayed together. In my wargaming days I had regiments with different colour bases and they did not jar the eye at all.

Trial kits to be prepared today and I will post some photos later if the light is good enough to take a half decent snap

Thanks again
Malcolm

 

[johnnybach]

JB thanks very much for sharing some of your vast knowledge on paint and mixing.

When you make a mix do you do a bulk lot and store in a clean tin or airtight jar so that you can have a consistent colour for an entire "batch" (squad?) of recruits?

You make a very good point about the stand colour helping to bring out the colours in the uniforms. Its the sort of thing interior designers pay a lot of attention to and its a lesson we should bear in mind where there is a green in the uniform facings / kilt / jacket etc

The mounted band look terrific and to be honest I didnt even notice the bases as the figures are so attractive. Perhaps all that is really needed is uniformity with any group that is to be displayed together. In my wargaming days I had regiments with different colour bases and they did not jar the eye at all.

Trial kits to be prepared today and I will post some photos later if the light is good enough to take a half decent snap

Thanks again
Malcolm

Hi again - I wouldn't call my knowledge "vast" - there are some guys on here that are making their living doing this, you know!

No I don't make up batches - I just mix enough on a palette ( disposable margerine tub lid^&grin), for the figures I'm painting at the time. I just trust my eye - which obviously failed me on this occasion! However, in real life, not all ground that you stand on looks exactly the same. I am also making up my Toy Soldiers in a Glossy style - so am not looking for the realism that a Figurine or Military Miniature painter might look for. If I was to paint a Camel Corps soldier on a Camel - I wouldn't go for green as a base though - maybe Desert yellow or pale brown - or some of each. I also sometimes use a colour that I've had around for a while - and want to get rid of - as long as it suits the piece. Slight variations in colour don't really bother me too much either.

Fall in and line up any group of soldiers anywhere - and unless they've ALL just had a new issue of clothing - they won't look identical in real life. Just try and get someone who has had the same battered old Beret on his head for twenty years to change it! Colours fade - and clothing gets worn. The "Old Sweats" always stick out like a sore thumb. Actually, with Victorian/Edwardin soldiers you can sometimes show this. A painter can include long service stripes on the left cuff (inverted chevrons), which I have done with my first Bombardon player. Each stripe represents four years unblemished service ( or undetected crime, as we used to call it!) - whilst the right arm is used to denote rank - so my guy is a corporal with between 8 and 12 years service. Details like this just add to the interest for me.

Here's a pic showing this from R McKenzie. Don't worry about the change of facing colour to Buff - as thsi was a time when they had changed (once again) to that colour, instead of the Scottish Yellow facings. Note the trombonist with 3 GC chevrons - indicating a minimum of twelve years service. [This is one from my computer file that I build up before undertaking projects like this one.] I think this one came from Google Images. Art Print sites are also good for finding images like this.

Glad you liked the bases on the mounted Pipe band. They came from Yeomanary Miniatures - whose owner Brian is a Forum Member - and very good and experienced professional painter in his own right (Yeoman). It was his tip to dry brush a lighter green over my initial darker colour that I used. So.... it's worth remembering that all bases don't always have to look the same - unless YOU want them too.

All good fun - jb

 

[johnnybach]

My second rank of HLI Military Bandsmen have now been completed - so I have added them to the front rank - though I've taken the liberty of putting them in front of my previously completed soldiers. I have offset them a bit - for them all to be seen a bit better. Hope you can see that I've corrected the somewhat paler green stand of my errant bombardon player now. A quick lick of paint fixed it quite quickly - though note that all of the band is "a work in progress" - as I can still change my mind over any feature I'm still no happy with. It ain't over, 'till I say so!

My new five comprise two Euphoniums at either end, two Tenor Horns and a Tuba. They will march behind the trombones - for the somewhat practical fear of a trombone slide in the feather bonnet on the lower-notes!{eek3} jb

Already a nice little brass band - they look a bit lost without a Drum Major - so I might make one up with my next batch, so will be getting away from making up a next rank of five. jb

 

[aujj65]

My second rank of HLI Military Bandsmen have now been completed - so I have added them to the front rank - though I've taken the liberty of putting them in front of my previously completed soldiers. I have offset them a bit - for them all to be seen a bit better. Hope you can see that I've corrected the somewhat paler green stand of my errant bombardon player now. A quick lick of paint fixed it quite quickly - though note that all of the band is "a work in progress" - as I can still change my mind over any feature I'm still no happy with. It ain't over, 'till I say so!

My new five comprise two Euphoniums at either end, two Tenor Horns and a Tuba. They will march behind the trombones - for the somewhat practical fear of a trombone slide in the feather bonnet on the lower-notes!{eek3} jb

Already a nice little brass band - they look a bit lost without a Drum Major - so I might make one up with my next batch, so will be getting away from making up a next rank of five. jb

Pale green, dark green, any shade of green is good to go JB! {sm3}

Anyhow, great paint job on these as per usual. {bravo}}

Jeff :salute::

 

[johnnybach]

My Drum Major will look rather like the figure at the left of the picture below - which was taken prior to WW1 at Aldershot. Note the usual feather bonnet and tunic being worn with full plaid - but no baldric. I've noticed this feature with another Scottish Light Infantry Drum Major ( Cameronians) - but don't know why?

I note that the Richard Newth-Gibbs drum Major TS also didn't have a baldric - so assume it's correct - and will go with that form of dress for mine.

 

[johnnybach]

Pale green, dark green, any shade of green is good to go JB! {sm3}

Anyhow, great paint job on these as per usual. {bravo}}

Jeff :salute::

Cheers Jeff - Glad you like 'em. Just didn't fancy the 5-6 hour round trip to my "local" model shop for a wee tinny, so am mixing a bit up! jb

 

[Martin Tabony]

I don't believe any rifle regiment wore a baldric, including the Cameronians(Sottish Rifles)

Martin

 

[johnnybach]

I don't believe any rifle regiment wore a baldric, including the Cameronians(Sottish Rifles)

Martin

Thanks Martin for that confirmation - I strongly suspected that - but didn't actually know it for certain. Snag is - I've been unable to find any COLOUR pictures of the HLI Drum Major - except for some TS ones already painted by other manufacturers. So in copying what they have already done - I might unwittingly reproduce any mistakes they might have made.


I've already posted a pic of a DM by Newth-Gibbs - and this is another by Yorvik, heading up a Drums and Bugles Band. Again - no baldric on him.

I'm going to give him a sash - underneath the plaid across the chest- and a basket hilted sword too - as all the photos I have seen show that those entitled to, of the 2nd Btn, wore these. I'll have to make these up and fit a tail of the sash showing under his right arm and the sword to his left side, under the arm and to his belt.