Highland Light Infantry Band (1 Viewer)

[theBaron]

Nice progress, John! And I hear ya about deadlines with painting. I haven't done any SBS in a while, because things would get in the way of installments, and I'd feel bad about missing the schedule. Now what I do is to take photos as I go, but I save them up for a single posting session. That way, I don't leave anyone hanging.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

^&grinYo Baron - I hear you about saving up photos. Snag is - It's La Commandante's camera. If I leave them inside the widget - my dearly beloved has a habit of deleting them from the memory - when she uses the gadget to record Patchwork Quilts and other invaluable stuff such as the colour of something unmissable!!!

Bsides - I like to post 'em and see for myself how they look on-screen - and so do some others - or so they tell me. It does take a bit of time to add them on - but I think that just shows how long it actually takes to produce them - when it isn't a job - but a hobby worked on in bits and pieces of time - between episodes of real life.

They are turning out as I imagined they would - so I'm happy with them. As to deadlines - well - I'm hoping to have this phase ( The Military band) completed before my next trip to the UK. If it ain't -it'll just have to wait until I return. Ciao for now - jb

PS Went shoppin today - but couldn't find the right size shoebox - The quest continues..................

 

[johnnybach]

You wait for ages for one Clarinetist to turn up - then three arrive together! Still in my Mark I shoebox - though it's getting a bit of a squeeze now there's twenty of 'em. Shame I don't have bigger feet!

But I must get on - as I have a cornetist nearly there too. I must say - I rather like painting trews - which is just as well considering the pile I have left! jb

 

[johnnybach]

An extra cymbalist and cornetist have joined the band. Check out the new cymbalist towards the rear of the band - as this shows how you can vary the look of pieces by adjusting the arms slightly differently. His opposite number in the same rank has the cymbals apart - whereas the new figure is in the act of striking them together. I have put the latest cornet player at the back - alongside the previously finished Bass Cornet player, which is a monster by comparison. All of these slight differences will make my band just that little bit different, once it is completed. jb

 

[Malcolm Britain]

JB they are looking really splendid. Lovely stuff Looks like one of the cymablists is going to get a spell washing spuds for being out of time..

My own project is underway, albeit slowly, so I should have something in red coats to post in the next few days.

MB

 

[MapleLeaf]

Ur the best Johnny
AWSOME band

 

[johnnybach]

Hi both - glad you're still liking them so far. A little update on progress - which has slowed because of some superb Six-Nation and premier Rugby matches recently ( Have to get priorities right occasionally!).^&grin

Below see four of the usual suspects being prepared for the Military Band - but also a Bugler and a Drummer ( from "the other" band) making an appearance as prototypes. I usually work on one or two other figures when getting near to sorting out my first set of figures - and these are the first of the others.

As you may be able to see - these are quite different castings to my first lot for the Military Band - with thinner and different shaped bases - and a chunkier body - devoid of any Tartan plaid - other than the trews - which are just painted on. This is another reason that I give related groups the additional round base - because as well as giving them more stability - it will help unify my group more, once they are all completed. I have chose to emphasize the lace on these figures - which isn't completed yet. The usual "wing" on the shoulder modification is being made, as some of the arms I'm using simply don't have them. As such, these figures aren't really a kit - but made up from several modified spare parts from the Dorset Soldier range - with a bit of helpful advice from "the boss".

This is one of the illustrations I'm using for my buglers - which has some small differences to my version. The picture shows a dirk on the right hip - whereas my TS casting has one cast in on the left side of his belt. This would work better - as it avoids being in the way of his bugle-holding hand - so I'm keeping him that way. I also don't have any bugle cords cast into my figure - as he wasn't a bugler originally. I may omit that detail - as from previous experience, it's always a very fiddley conversion adding them in. (still thinking about it). jb

 

[johnnybach]

Still painting up the remaining figures for the Military Band - but thought that you might like to see the Bugler figure that will be marching ahead of them,with the Pipe Drum and bugle band - now he has had lace added to his tunic. Iam showing him alongside the Mil Bandsman figure - to show the differences between these castings better,(three views below).

Note the general "chunkier" look of the bugler body - no plaid of course, whilst the dirk is on his left side. Note also that the different base of the new figure from that of the Military bandsmen is not so noticable now. This new basic figure will be the basis for all drummer and bugler figures in the band,( though arms/instruments will differ, of course) - and also the Colour Party and Escort group eventually. Pipers will be different again, as these are conversions too, and will have yet another base - but will be given the same treatment as all others - so that when everything is eventually completed - all will have had the same round base added, (hope that all makes sense). If not - just wait to see how each group turns out. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Finished painting a few more last night, but waited until the light was better to take a pic. The Military Band is up to 26 strong now - with a sole bugler tagging along at the rear at the moment taking my total to 27. I have a first drummer from the Pipe Band also approaching completion, which uses the same basic casting as the bugler for the conversion - so will show him later once dry enough to handle. Should be able to note the difference between the two types of HLI drummer from the two bands of the Battalion/Regiment then.

I have 5 more to go to complete this element, (for now)- with a few more to come,including the Bass Drummer, once I obtain the correct casting with Leopard-skin apron and a head change, when I visit Dorset again!

 

[johnnybach]

My first drummer from the Pipe Drum and Bugle band is now completed. He is the second in from the left, standing between the Military Band drum musician - and the bugler. You can see immediately how his uniform is more like the bugler than the musician. Note the shako head gear, lace on the arms and lack of the tartan plaid. Drum and trews are, of course, the same. Same Battalion and Regiment - but completely different bands - who frequently had a great dislike for each other - and these HLI are no exception.

I will eventually be having a total of thirteen drummers in this next part of my project ( including tenor and bass drums) - as well as more buglers - though will concentrate on completing the Military Band musicians, for now. Hope you don't mind the diversion - as I did need to work on these converted figures - just to make sure they would work: [ Note that the two new figures were derived from the same basic casting - and both involved use of arms and instruments derived from quite different sources - though from the same maker - Dorset Soldiers - and the wings are all scratch-made. All parts required slight changes, modifications and additional work - to make them all fit together]. The base also needs an extra coat of paint!! jb

 

[johnnybach]

Another view of all completed so far. Forgot to mention - Mark II shoe box now in play. jb

 

[Buster]

Another view of all completed so far. Forgot to mention - Mark II shoe box now in play. jb

Looks like you were successful in convincing Igor to part with one of his shoe boxes jb, but I suspect as your band continues to grow even Igor's size 24-10E won't be any where near big enough. :smile2:

Great work jb and thanks for keepin' us up to date on it's progress. {bravo}}

B.

 

[johnnybach]

Looks like you were successful in convincing Igor to part with one of his shoe boxes jb, but I suspect as your band continues to grow even Igor's size 24-10E won't be any where near big enough. :smile2:

Great work jb and thanks for keepin' us up to date on it's progress. {bravo}}

B.

Holy Toledo dude! That's a big chap - I suspect that Igor might be the tallest living chap in the USA?{eek3}

I must confess that my new shoe-box photo-booth once actually held some beer, in a previous re-incarnation - and was donated by a kind chap in our local Supermarket. I regret that my French wasn't good enough to explain that I wanted to cut two sides and the lid off, in order that I could turn it into a photo-booth for my new HLI Band - though maybe if it had been good enough to explain that - they might have telephoned for some men in little white coats to come and collect me! I just put my groceries in it and left with a swift "merci!" and a wave.

Glad you're also enjoying my installments too - the posting of which, helps me keep going when I'm flagging a bit! My last five musicians are progressing nicely - but I'll be needing a few reinforcements soon - to take the eventual Military Band section of the project to 7 ranks of five (and will then look around the same size as my original photo). I missed the fact that my Bass Drummer would need a leopard-skin apron - and wasn't wearing the Tartan Plaid - so I've ordered him - and a few extras to keep things symetrical!

The new boys just MIGHT squeeze into the new box - but thereafter - the remainder will need a much bigger photographic studio - so I've booked some space in La Commandante's sewing room.

Do you think Igor gets his socks delivered in a box? jb

 

[GICOP]

Holy Toledo dude! That's a big chap - I suspect that Igor might be the tallest living chap in the USA?{eek3}

I must confess that my new shoe-box photo-booth once actually held some beer, in a previous re-incarnation - and was donated by a kind chap in our local Supermarket. I regret that my French wasn't good enough to explain that I wanted to cut two sides and the lid off, in order that I could turn it into a photo-booth for my new HLI Band - though maybe if it had been good enough to explain that - they might have telephoned for some men in little white coats to come and collect me! I just put my groceries in it and left with a swift "merci!" and a wave.

Glad you're also enjoying my installments too - the posting of which, helps me keep going when I'm flagging a bit! My last five musicians are progressing nicely - but I'll be needing a few reinforcements soon - to take the eventual Military Band section of the project to 7 ranks of five (and will then look around the same size as my original photo). I missed the fact that my Bass Drummer would need a leopard-skin apron - and wasn't wearing the Tartan Plaid - so I've ordered him - and a few extras to keep things symetrical!

The new boys just MIGHT squeeze into the new box - but thereafter - the remainder will need a much bigger photographic studio - so I've booked some space in La Commandante's sewing room.

Do you think Igor gets his socks delivered in a box? jb

Probably a CRATE ^&grin

Cheers

Martyn

 

[johnnybach]

You can tell that I'm a relative novice to photography - I don't even know the correct terms to use for a home-made photo-booth!{sm2}

A CRATE sounds good! Not sure whether Pierre has any in the shop - maybe he keeps 'em around the back. I'll check it out next time I venture in for some stuff!{sm3}

Thanks for the tip - jb^&grin

 

[theBaron]

You can tell that I'm a relative novice to photography - I don't even know the correct terms to use for a home-made photo-booth!{sm2}

You're OK--we call it a "home-made photo-booth"

Excellent progress, John! How many figures are left till you've finished?

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Home Made Photo-Booth - has a certain ring to it eh? Us photographers use such terms all the time, you know! :rolleyes2:

How many to go? ..............Um..err......good question. I knew how many I wanted when I started - but due to one error - I've already decided to add four more to make my ranks look symetrical, and I haven't even finished the first element yet Brad.

Quick calculation:

This Band will now have 36, when completed.(New Bass drummer and four extra musicians ordered).

Pipes (8) & Drums(13) = 22 figures - plus 10 buglers = 32....and I already have them (apart from the Bugle Major - who I also missed out originally).

Then there's the Colour Party and Escort - say around 20 for them. (They have 3 Colours - and I'll need about four Colour Sergeants a couple of Officers to go with a squad at the rear). Note that I haven't ordered them yet, so haven't made any firm decisions yet - as I intend to complete both bands first.

So, if my maths are correct, that will make a Grand Total of approx 88 - and I currently have 28 completed (today) - so, makes around 60 to go ( unless I've missed something else) - how's that? ( for today's estimate, anyway)? Whatever - It's a work in progress. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Finished the last five of the Military Band that I had as castings today - so have put them into a practice session with the rest of the band - until my last five arrive from overseas duties. These may take a bit of time to arrive - so in the meantime - my "other HLI band" (Pipes, drums and bugles) will be seeing a bit of paint splashed about.

I now have a couple of Fifers, two Bassooonists and another French horn player mixed in with the ranks - so see if you can spot the new boys. I must say, it is VERY satifying to maneouvre them about now - as my band is really beginning to take on some shape at last. Glad we Brits chose red! Luverly!

 

[aujj65]

Finished the last five of the Military Band that I had as castings today - so have put them into a practice session with the rest of the band - until my last five arrive from overseas duties. These may take a bit of time to arrive - so in the meantime - my "other HLI band" (Pipes, drums and bugles) will be seeing a bit of paint splashed about.

I now have a couple of Fifers, two Bassooonists and another French horn player mixed in with the ranks - so see if you can spot the new boys. I must say, it is VERY satifying to maneouvre them about now - as my band is really beginning to take on some shape at last. Glad we Brits chose red! Luverly!

Indeed it is JB and rather impressive at that! {bravo}}

Jeff :salute::

 

[johnnybach]

Cheers jeff - glad you like them too. I can't resist playing about with any new band that I get - so here's another pic of them from the front. I've re-arranged them in 5 ranks of six to fit them in my photo-booth! (forced to drink the beer it once contained - the things I do for art!). jb