Highland Light Infantry Band (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

Here's my first finished Tenor drummer in the centre - flanked by the others in various stages of development. Behind is a bit more "product placement", of the two part putty used to make the aprons - Milliput. jb

Won't be too much more work today - I'm off to a Rugby match - Bath-v-London Welsh. See you later!

 

[johnnybach]

Here's my current state of play with my 5 Tenor Drummers for the band. I have completed all five hand-made Leopardskin aprons for them - and fitted four of the drums to the bodies ( each has a peg and hole arrangement - as can be seen on the drummer at far left). Note here that a small error means I can't finish him, at the moment - as an incorrect drum has been provided in error.

All other four drums have the older rope style tensioners ( with inverted Y shape at the bottom of the drum) - but this one is the more modern type - with straight tensioners down the shell of the drum ( I have partly painted it up - just so that you could see the difference a bit better). A simple error - easy to miss on a small unpainted casting - but would stand out like a sore thumb if I had painted it and just stuck it on! I've already ordered a replacement - which I intend collecting next week! The other drum goes into my stash for some future project.

Plenty of small details left to finish these five off - including the lace down arms and other small touches like drum centre pieces, buttons etcetera - but they are getting close to being finished now. jb

 

[johnnybach]

I have a small confession to make. Whilst I've been working on these drummers - I have been using the same colours as for them, on another recent purchase - that I thought you might like to have a quick look at. Here he is - Richard the Lionheart - shown here with a few Side-Drummers of the HLI - who are having a belt fitting session.

I've been after a casting suitable to paint as Richard for quite some time - so was delighted to recently find this figure available from Whitetower Miniatures - which could be adapted from a selection of casting parts (horse, bodies, arms,heads and weapons, etcetera) to make him up as shown. Whitetowers' idea is to have multiple parts that are interchangeable to make up a variety of Knights using different elements - rather like the old Courtney/Ping/Greenhill adaptations at the top end of the market - but at just £13 a pop - to paint yourself!!!

Richard will fit in just fine with my other Medieval knights: ( though he needs a base, so I'm off to find some suitable metal to make one tomorrow)

P.S. Drummers are still coming along fine too! ^&grinjb

 

[johnnybach]

Latest update shows that I have now virtually completed my 5 Tenor Drummers (except for the rear facing one - who needs a new drum - but is otherwise complete). I will need to check out each for missing buttons etc., but have turned them to various directions - to show the all round detail better.

Behind them - are the rest of my Side-Drummers, who are in various stages of painting. Note my usual method of working from the head down whilst painting standing/marching figures - as they are easier to hold at lower leg level when painting. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Attention now focuses on my six remaining Side-Drummers. I have the drums to sufficient detail, to now fit them (along with cast-in right arm) to each figure. I drill and fit the drum with a pin at the rear - and connect this to the figure via another hole drilled in his kilmarnock flap. The top of the arm already has a hole in it at the shoulder, which slots over a peg (some slight modification required - as the arm was not intended for this figure). A similar process is done for the left arm with drumstick - which is much easier, as there is nothing attached - and then wings fabricated, as before, for both arms. After a bit of milliput filling to joints - and any holes disguised with some more - a dab or two of glue - and then paint can be applied once it's all set - and we have reached this point. Note the drummer furthest right has no paint on his wings - as I am waiting for them to set off. jb

 

[Buster]

The drummers are lookin' great jb, ya can't have tooooo many drummers. :wink2:^&grin Please keep us posted on the Richard the Lionheart figure, glad you moved him away from the drummers ..... judging from the number of arms lying about he appeared to be a little careless swinging that sword around. :tongue:

B.

 

[aujj65]

I admire the way you keep painting JB! I haven't painted any figures for some while now and they were only a few at the time (Alma Figures Thread).

Those drummers have some nice fine detail, so keep it up. {bravo}}

Jeff :salute::

 

[johnnybach]

Ha ha! - I hadn't thought about Richard's sword that way Buster - but as you can see - all limbs are back in place now. I will be having Seven side-drummers - and five Tenor drummers and One Bass Drummer in this element - so a total of thirteen to add to the eight pipers - and then ten buglers. I will be seeing Giles at Dorset soon - so will try and sort out a figure to make up as a Bugle Major. Trooper gave me a full description of what he would look like - so we shall see if I can get the parts to make one up.

I have made and attached a base for Richard, Buster - there's a couple of pics below. I made it from an off-cut of metal alloy from my favourite engineering works. The chunk is 2.5mm thick - and I'll get about twenty pieces like this out of it - and at £2 it didn't break the bank!^&grin I usually make a template out of paper first - to see what various sizes would look like. This one ended up as 8cms long by 3.5cms wide - and now keeps the horse nice and stable - as he's drilled and pinned then epoxy glued into the three feet the horse has on the stand.

Hey Jeff - It's just perseverance - and doing some bits each day. I know what the reward will be when I get to the end - and will be able to see (and play with), the whole thing. So - not too hard - just keep at it.

Unfortunately for me - I bought a book the other day which is trying very hard to swing me back in a familiar direction. "Heraldic Miniature Knights" by Peter Greenhill. It's absolutely un-put-downable, and full of pics of Courtneys, Pings; Sewyn-Smiths and Greenhill versions, of course - so I fear that some more Heraldic work will be calling again soon - as evidenced by Richard!. Shame that - because I have a ton of stuff to do in my stash!

All the best both - glad you like them - now - back to the lace on the drummers............jb

 

[Buster]

Nice job on the base jb ..... and a fine shade of green it is, which I'm sure will get Jeff's approval. Now Richard has a sturdy platform from which to swing his sword accurately about, we wouldn't want all your hard work of gluing arms and legs on all those band members to go for not!:smile2:

Not to suggest even more things for you to do, but do you have any idea of when you'll be starting your Yeomanry NAAFI canteen truck project? ^&grin

B.

 

[johnnybach]

Nice job on the base jb ..... and a fine shade of green it is, which I'm sure will get Jeff's approval. Now Richard has a sturdy platform from which to swing his sword accurately about, we wouldn't want all your hard work of gluing arms and legs on all those band members to go for not!:smile2:

Not to suggest even more things for you to do, but do you have any idea of when you'll be starting your Yeomanry NAAFI canteen truck project? ^&grin

B.

It's in the pile, Buster - along with several other projects! I MUST get that one completed this year though - (along with my previous NAAFI canteen - which I started - but have yet to complete also). I can't do either at the moment - as they are in a different Country!

Ho hum! jb

 

[GICOP]

It's in the pile, Buster - along with several other projects! I MUST get that one completed this year though - (along with my previous NAAFI canteen - which I started - but have yet to complete also). I can't do either at the moment - as they are in a different Country!

Ho hum! jb

It must be hard being a Jet Setter jb :salute::

Cheers

Martyn

 

[johnnybach]

Unfortunately - my dog "Feebers" INSISTS on coming too - so it's no jet for us this time - we chug up to Cherbourg in the old Batmobile - and catch a ferry. Feebers quite likes the ferry - and the sea air - though when I come back with TOO MANY castings (yet again!) she complains about the amount of room left in the back! ^&grin

Life in the fast lane - it ain't! - especially when "Doggie Stops" are called for about every hour - for "walkies" or "tickle my tum!" Incidentally, you don't need a car alarm when Feebers is aboard - nobody goes near, when we're getting a cuppa! Woof!{eek3} jb

 

[Buster]

Unfortunately - my dog "Feebers" INSISTS on coming too - so it's no jet for us this time - we chug up to Cherbourg in the old Batmobile - and catch a ferry. Feebers quite likes the ferry - and the sea air - though when I come back with TOO MANY castings (yet again!) she complains about the amount of room left in the back! ^&grin

Life in the fast lane - it ain't! - especially when "Doggie Stops" are called for about every hour - for "walkies" or "tickle my tum!" Incidentally, you don't need a car alarm when Feebers is aboard - nobody goes near, when we're getting a cuppa! Woof!{eek3} jb

Just don't ever strap the dog crate to the roof of car jb or your dreams of being president of the USA will be dashed! :rolleyes2::tongue:

Very much looking forward to the day when the NAAFI truck project works it's way to the top of the pile. :smile2:

B.

 

[johnnybach]

Just don't ever strap the dog crate to the roof of car jb or your dreams of being president of the USA will be dashed! :rolleyes2::tongue:

Very much looking forward to the day when the NAAFI truck project works it's way to the top of the pile. :smile2:

B.

I have no intention of applying for that particular job, Buster ( though as a foreigner - I don't think I could ever be considered for that post?????????:wink2. As to crates on roof-racks:............. I have a trailer (when required) - so wouldn't spoil the lines of the old Aston DB5 with a roof rack ...YUK!:wink2:

As to the NAAFI wagon - consider it advanced! I'll start/re-start both when these two bands are completed.

 

[johnnybach]

Back to the day-job, once again. Latest pic shows the development of the side-drummers - against the background of the tenor-drummers. I am doing something a bit different here with the side-drummers - as the drum was already attached to the right arm, I needed to think out how I could paint trousers without smudging lots of small details above.

Solution was as follows. I completely painted all tunic details above the trouser line - and the drum, and let it all dry. Next morning, I completely varnished all of the painted area, as if it was a finished figure. Once this had dried thoroughly again (overnight) - I could then hold the varnished/painted area, whilst I painted the trousers Oxford Blue - without any smudging, as the paint was sealed in. When this basic coat had dried - I could overlay with my standard green grid - which will then be ready to receive firstly the white, and then the red lining of the Mackenzie tartan when the green grid is dry. Then it's just black boots and the green stand - and these will be finished - so shouldn't be long now.^&grin

Note that I have tried to make each figure a little individual, by slightly positioning the drum a tad differently - as they would swing about in real life. A closer look will also reveal that I have one more tenor drum to add to one of the rear rank in leopard-skin aprons- and of course, a Bass Drummer to make up - and then the HLI drum section of the Pipe, Drum & Bugle Band will be completed. Just the ten buglers to finish off now ( one prototype is finished - so nine to go) - and then this element will be complete ( unless I can find parts to make up a Bugle Major!!). You can see the buglers waiting patiently in a box at the side of the pic. I will have some work to do on the arms - which once again were not made for this same basic figure used for all of this band - as all of the drummers have been made by coversion from. (i.e same body for all - but coversions made them up differently).

Hope that makes sense - Whatever - we're getting there. jb

 

[Buster]

I'm at a loss for words jb, "OUTSTANDING" will suffice. ^&grin

{bravo}} {bravo}} {bravo}}

One really never can have toooooo many drummers.

B.

 

[johnnybach]

Cheers Buster - Here's another couple of pics - as I have finished off overpainting the trews, boots'n base - and now the Varnish to seal everything in, is nearly dry - so this is what they look like now. I've included a bugler at the front (which I was quietly working on all along, whilst I had some left-over paint on the palette). I have another drummer and bugler finished, of course - but they are on Foreign Service at the moment - and these new buddies will join up with them later on. Front and rear views of them - below.

Still in the throes of arranging next visit to Dorset - but hope to have my mitts on some "new recruits" to the band next week! jb

 

[johnnybach]

I've managed to complete my two Bass drummers (One for the Military Band - wearing Feather Bonnet with wider drum - and the other for the Pipe<Drum & Bugle Band wearing the shako). Here they all are - awaiting the Buglers - who are also still underway. Too many distractions over the past week!!! jb

 

[johnnybach]

Back at thge Ranch - I can now re-unite my Globe-trotting pair of HLI Bands (so far). I have now put my Drum Major out in front of the Pipe Drum and Bugle Band - although only two of the Buglers are fit for parade today. Behind them comes the Military Band - also minus four musicians presently.

I have those four extra musicians, as castings now - and eight more buglers to complete both bands. Sorry for delays in completion - but have had other things to contend with over the last couple of weeks, when I sadly lost my old dog Feebers - before returning home. Sorry for the picture quality. jb

 

[Buster]

The bands are a looking a treat jb ..... almost across the finish line now.:smile2:

So sorry to hear about your dog Feebers, I know how lousy that can be ..... if you keep in mind the old saying that "all dogs go to Heaven" it sometime makes it just a bit easier.

B.