More Cavalry (2 Viewers)

Ivanhoe said:
jb;

You should be happy with how they turned out...they look like they were just completed and ready for their box and a toy soldier shop shelf.
Amazing !
Thank you for posting.
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What's a box???jb;)
 
johnnybach said:
I completed these two Dragoon Guard troopers earlier - and must admit I was quite pleased with them - so decided to show them on their own.

They came to me as two rather battered specimens of a not very common manufacturer - Fylde Box Company - who was making hollowcast figures in Blackpool for a comparitively short period, between 1947-1950. Cherilea was to take them over in 1950. The figures are somewhat larger and "fuller" than Britains - at approximately 60mm size. The horses are particularly nicely made - and a pleasure to paint

They were originally painted by Fylde as Household Cavalry Troopers, but when I took off what was left of their original paint ( not a lot left!) - found that there was no Curiasse on the casting at all - these armoured plates had just been painted over the tunic jacket. Now, I have a number of Household cavalry already in my collection, and I felt that they would probably look better as Dragoon Guards ( which I hadn't ANY of!):D.

Decision made - they would become Troopers of 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales) - and 6th (Carabiniers) Dragoon Guards respectively. [5th wear Red tunics and 6th wear Blue].

Some repairs to rear horse legs were made - as neither could stand up when found. Some slight additions and modifications were made - by adding a scabbarded carbine to the right side of each horse - and also a cartridge box to the Chest strap at the back of each figure. Sword slings attached to each sword scabbard - made from milliput - rolled and cut to shape. One sword was also made from a flattened piece of paper-clip - to match the other figure which already had this modification added by a previous owner. I thought this was a nice original repair - and was pleasantly surprised at how good they looked when finished.

Here's some pics of them, as they turned out:






Here's a frontal pic - which shows nicely the full figure of each piece. Note the strap between each horse's front legs attched to the chest strap and girth. They also weren't on the original figures, so I added them - made with milliput



And here's a rear view - which shows sword slings and cartridge box on cross-strap.




Lastly - here's a couple of splendid illustrations that I found on the internet - which helped me get a few details correct.

5th Dragoon Guards.



6th Dragoon Guards.

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Nicely done JB, I did notice a slight difference in size of the mounts, is this just casting related or is there a "Heavy Horse" vs. lighter units IE: hussars etc.?
Ray
 
nmrocks said:
Nicely done JB, I did notice a slight difference in size of the mounts, is this just casting related or is there a "Heavy Horse" vs. lighter units IE: hussars etc.?
Ray
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Just the sculpt was done that bit larger to begin with Ray. My two had me fooled at the start - as I knew that Johillco did a few larger mounts like these at one time - and I thought they were produced by them. Probable that the same guy did the sculpting for Johillco larger pieces, (Wilfred Cherrington) - as he worked for Fylde, Cherilea (who eventually bought Fylde out), and Johillco too.

I don't think producers were at all hung up on "scale" at that time - and basically, they produced and sold in large numbers, whatever they felt like making. The one thing they all cared about though - was price. If they could shave a bit off whatever their rivals were charging - they would sell well - and their competitors wouldn't.

I'm speculating here - but these two that I have re-painted were NOT at the cheaper end of the spectrum - they are too well made - and when Cherilea bought Fylde out in 1950 - they don't appear any longer in any of their catalogued products.

So.....looks like my pair aren't all that common - and now that I've repainted them as Dragoon Guards - might even be unique! - which is just fine by me.:D jb
 
A couple more of my latest stash of patients have now been completed. ^&grin They are both of Troopers of the Household Cavalry in Winter Dress - but by different manufacturers once again.

I've included my two new Dragoon Guards at the rear - to give an idea of the difference in size. The two at the front are both 54mm. In the familiar red cloak of the Life Guards is a Johillco version, with sword at the carry. In the blue cloak is a Britains version of a Royal Horse Guards Trooper.

The Johillco version is slightly slimmer than the Britains - but both are a very good rendition of this simple yet elegant figure - which are very nice to paint. These two both required a new arm/sword which were missing originally - and a few repairs to horse legs, as usual. The Britains figure also has a new tail added which was missing when found. All parts are, once again, from my stock of Dorset Soldier spares. Both of these figures still had their original heads, though these too can be found in Dorset - should they be required - and are an easy fix. jb



 
One more figure almost there ( just noticed a small bit that requires attention).

I have placed my Britains Mountain Artillery Officer alongside the Royal Horse Guard Trooper, also by Britains - to show two of my favourite horse sculpts by this manufacturer - and the similarities in scale.

My Artillery Officer was virtually complete - just missing one bottom section of the front leg to ground from the horse - which annoyingly wouldn't allow the figure to stand up. A simple pin to a section of leg from my spares box pinned to my newly fabricated stand fixed that - and from there it was a new paint job again. I decided to give him an unlikely "flashy" horse, this time though - but isn't that what TOY soldiers are for?????:D I also gave him a pouch to his cross-belt. The belt and collar are in gold - which Britains used to signify an Officer.

Incidentally - this is a post-war version of the Officer from a very old set by Britains (first produced as set 28 in 1895). The original figure's horse had a red shabraque - so quite different from the more modern replacement.

I have added in a pic of my set of this version - which is really a lookalike set from Dorset Soldiers - which I made up and painted - based on the old Britains set 28. The Officer is very similar to Britains original. Note also that I made up the separate pieces of the gun carried by the four mules - as a complete weapon to stand alongside them.





.

So...............I now have two of him - but my newest version is mostly original! How nice. jb:D
 
My sixth figure is now completed - below see two views of a Royal Horse Guards Trooper, with sword at the low carry.

This is another figure that required a spare horse front leg added to make it stand up. The arm with sword was also missing, scabbard was snapped off - and I added the carbine/scabbard too. This was missing, of course - as Britains changed the casting around the 1920's to remove it - but giving the old "one eared" horse retirement and casting in two ears (as this one has) at the same time on the new figure. I like the carbine on, from the earlier Britains figure- so added one, along with the other Dorset spare parts used.

Note that I have also shown my other two Britains restored figures from my original lot. You can see how the same horse pose has been used as the basis for the Horse Guard in Winter Dress.

All three have now been repaired and repainted back to "as new" - and I hope shows what can be done at very reasonable cost with a few broken figures as a starting point - a few spare parts, a bit of time - and a paintbrush.





Six now completed - eight more to go, from this lot...........................jb:D
 
thebritfarmer said:
I think the lifeguard horse is my favourite of the horses made by WB. Nice job !

This is a new figure made from the old moulds, no longer being made but I did manage to pick one up.

Royal Scots Greys Mounted (in Winter Cloak)
http://www.britains-toy-soldiers.com/archive/photos/wbritains/hollowcast/40200.jpg
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Yes - one of my favourites too Scott. From set 1 originally - and also used for Set 72 made for Queen Vic's Diamond Jubilee. With just the one ear in those days Scott - but still a superb pose that has stood the test of time.

He has also triggered off a little idea in me. I don't think Britains ever made him as a RHG with the Romanesque helmet - like they did with Set 72 and Life Guards - where they changed the head and fiddled the paintwork a bit. I'll be keeping my eye out for a few more like him, I think.

I like your RSG too very much Scott. If you ever find another that you don't want to keep - we could always do a swap for something????? On the other hand - with a change of head - The Winter Cloak Household Cav. figure - could be made up that way????? Hmmmm.....................:confused: :D
 
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You always do such great work, John, but I think with these, not only are your repairs expert, but your colors look particularly vibrant. They look brand-spanking-new. Well done, mein Herr! Here's a Prosit! for your work!

Brad
 
theBaron said:
You always do such great work, John, but I think with these, not only are your repairs expert, but your colors look particularly vibrant. They look brand-spanking-new. Well done, mein Herr! Here's a Prosit! for your work!

Brad
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Vielen Dank mein freund. After over twenty years of trying to replicate the very few "Britains Special Paint" * jobs I have been privileged to see ( in other friends collections), I actually think I'm beginning to get there too Brad - I'm very happy to say.:D

*[For those who perhaps don't know - Britains once offered a "Special Paint" service - to those who could pay a bit more, to have their soldiers more carefully painted by their own expert painters - in extra fine detail and/or additional colours. You only have to see one or two of these - to immediately know the difference from their standard figures].

I think mine also show, that underneath the original old, often thickly applied paint-jobs from piece-work painters, and dirt, wear and grime of many years, on some of these older toys - there frequently lurks a darned fine casting - that's just crying out for a bit of TLC and a splash or two of paint!

Practice makes perfect, so they say - and the only way to do that - is to keep on trying. I joined this excellent Forum to try and improve my painting - and have been privileged to have had help, advice and encouragement from numerous people ( including yourself Brad ), which I think has helped me improve enormously. The list of guys is too long to mention - but I'm sure they know who they are - and I also thank them all for their assistance and patience with me.

Glad you like 'em too Brad - jb:salute::
 
Here's a quick update pic on the rest of the gang - which also nicely shows what I do with any left over paint on my pallette. I can only do this once I've decided what each figure is going to become.

Note how I like to mostly paint the rider first - as it's easier to handle the horse ends that way without spoiling paintwork. The head end of the horse is more complicated than the rear end - so the rear/tail is usually last of all to be completed - but that depends what paint is left on the pallette.

So.......it's now up to you to work out what they are going to be - alternatively - leave it as a surprise for each figure I complete. They will all be mid to late Victorian - if that helps.:D jb

 
Well they are all looking smashing so far, can't wait to see them complete.

If I find one I will let you know but they are not that easy to find and they are solidcast also, you may have better luck with a head conversion as that is all they are anyway.
 
thebritfarmer said:
Well they are all looking smashing so far, can't wait to see them complete.

If I find one I will let you know but they are not that easy to find and they are solidcast also, you may have better luck with a head conversion as that is all they are anyway.
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Agreed. I had a look at the web-site afterwards - and a conversion of a real hollowcast looks to be far preferable. Nice figure though - never seen one like it before. I'll keep an eye out on e-bay and some of my other sources for one.

Here's a pic for you ................:D jb

 
thebritfarmer said:
Awesome, I love the mounted bands

Britains also did a band like that from the old moulds..............9th Lancers. A set they had never done in the hollowcast range. I have this set and it is really nice.


http://www.britains-toy-soldiers.com/photos/wbritains/hollowcast/40191.jpg


One day I hope to have a set of the mounted band of the household cavalry in state dress.
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I made that one up from castings by Dorset Soldiers. Giles makes his figures to fit in well with Britains - though his horses are a bit "chunkier".

I've always really preferred the Household Cavalry in Red or Blue - rather than State Dress. In fact, Before Trooper sadly passed away - he was making a set of Life Guards for Yeoman (Brian) to supply me with. Best of luck with that band Scott. jb
 
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