Joseph Bonaparte Stadden (1 Viewer)

[blaster]

Hi All,

I have this kit in front of me and it looks nothing like the slimmer picture in the portraits (and yes, I have considered that official portraits were always meant to be flattering).
So I may have to "convert" this piece. Hence I am cowering in this section instead of at the Stadden appreciation society threads....

Rgds Victor

 

[Mirof]

As rendered by the peoples of Le Cimier
http://lecimier.fr/90_pietons_large20.html

perhaps based on this painting

 

[blaster]

Yes, that Le Cimier piece certainly looks more like JB (oops, did that seem to refer to someone else?...). One thing that I have noticed about Le Cimier is that their pieces are generally larger than 1/32, and they cost more than Stadden, I think. If I am not wrong, that Le Cimier piece is a 90mm figure.

As I have the Stadden piece in hand, I will probably use this for my conversion. Alternative, I could save this for another French or Spanish general figure as they were normally depicted as portly, and instead use a slim Historex figure for my conversion.

I actually have Rigo print showing a mounted JB which is my preferred choice for a conversion.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

This is the Rigo print nr173 that I propose to use as a reference for a mounted JB.




I had earlier converted another Stadden figure of Louis Bonaparte, posed next to my JB casting. However, I think that the JB casting is definitely too portly for my conversion.




I also discovered a small stash of Historex figures which I had bought off ebay and a selection of Historex horses suitable for this conversion.




Note the unusually elongated body of this particular horse pose.

 

[blaster]

Using various combinations of Historex horse parts, I made up a pose which resembled the Rigo plate. I had to remove the upper part of the horse to accommodate the saddle.

I decided to give the Stadden figure a reprieve for now and instead, used Historex parts for my JB figure.

 

[blaster]

I added putty to the underside of the legs and pressed the figure onto the saddle to create a good seat. The tunic was further detailed with Historex coat tails. The face is being reworked.

 

[blaster]

I completely reworked the face, added eyes and nose. Once the waistcoat and lapels were completed, the sash was sculpted and the horse shabraque was reshaped.

 

[blaster]

I lengthened the forehead and added hair. The buttocks were bulked up.

 

[blaster]

I resculpted the nose to look more aquilinine, added ears and more hair.

 

[blaster]

This piece is proceeding quite nicely besides the Portuguese drummer. I built up the collar, then added a sash ribbon and also a modified left arm. It doesn't matter which sash ribbon I used (there are at least 4 different types made by Historex) as the decoration is masked by the hand.The hand will be holding a large folded bicorne hat, all Historex accessories. This is a similar pose to that in the portrait, and seems to capture the somewhat vain and haughty look of the subject. The buttons will be added next and then more decorations, including the right arm and epaulettes. The sword will be added last.

 

[blaster]

The right arm was added.

 

[blaster]

Cuff details added from Historex. Buttons added to the lapels. The arm sleeves were sculpted to match the cuffs. Decorations added and epaulettes were fitted and the fringe was sculpted. This was fun!

 

[blaster]

The left cuff was trimmed to accept a folded bicorne. A thumb was sculpted. Back buttons added and a back seam was scribed into the tunic.

The bicorne was sculpted using a discarded Historex hat bit, to create a flat-folded bicorne. The back part of the hat was sculpted onto the front part. This hat is key to my concept for this piece.

 

[blaster]

The intent here is to have the left hand hold the flat-folded bicorne, with the thumb gripping the upper half and slightly bending the bicorne. This would hopefully convey some impression of tension, perhaps nervousness, as Joseph rides into Madrid to claim his throne.

rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I carefully searched through my Historex spares for a couple of tiny stars and an eagle. These were carefully used to create my orders and decorations. I only have the order of the Golden Fleece to sculpt on this figure. The cuff buttons and epaulettes were also detailed.

I decided to sculpt the feathers on the bicorne to make them more 3-D. The bicorne was test-fitted onto the figure for these pics. These additional details seem to pop out and really add to this figure's appeal.

The fringe on the saddle is now being sculpted.

 

[Obee]

He's looking great ....

can't wait to see the painted figure

John

 

[blaster]

Hi John,

Yeah, I've been lucky with the sculpt so far. All the references being more or less at hand, materials too. I didn't realise that one spends so much time looking for things. The key seems to be to get organised. Perhaps the regular domestic cleanup helped too....

I finished sculpting the order of the Golden Fleece around his neck. Also added a couple of buttons to the epaulettes. The hat feathers were further bulked up. A bit of clean up and I can add light washes of colours to the figure.

I've completed the saddle fringe. The left side of the horse neck was bulked up and the mane added. I found a couple of pistol pouches and have added putty for the fringe backing.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I've started to apply some acrylic undercoats to the figure, to highlight blemishes etc. These are then either filled in or scrapped away.

The tunic was later overpainted with Prussian blue with some Ivory Black.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I restarted this piece. The pistol holsters were sculpted and attached to the saddle. I am now removing any blemishes on the figure and will be painting it soon.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I've started to do the preliminary painting in oils. There are still some blemishes which I will remove after the paints are dry.