More Cavalry (1 Viewer)

thebritfarmer said:
JB have you tried RP World Models, they are in Nottingham. They offer the lifeguard band you prefer though they are painted but they do offer a lot of unpainted castings, so they may be able to help.

http://www.rpworldmodels.net/Steadfast-Bandsmen?product_id=149
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Yes - I know about those Scott - and I'm still considering what to do. They are more like the old Britains - as Trooper's figures were more like Asset size - which is larger.

You might recall that I did make up a British Army Air Corps Band - some while ago - which was from the Steadfast range - and very nice they are too, as the Brass instruments are actually Gold Plated! I'm pretty sure a Mounted Life Guard Band from them would look good too.

I think I need to contact Brian - and ask if they ever got made - as I did order from him. jb

 
Here are another pair of completed repairs from this batch.

Left figure is by Reka, which I've painted as a 1st Kings Dragoon Guard - so pre-1932. You may be able to make out the trade-name in the second pic - which has REKA cast into the shabraque. Crescent took over the moulds of this Company after 1932 - so it's a bit of a guessing game on pieces after that - frequently found unmarked - so could be Reka pices made by Crescent.

The other figure is just such a mystery - and I've been unable to positively identify which Company produced him. Note the similar "one-eared" horse head, similar to the REKA - which means an early casting of around the same date as the Reka figure. I've painted him up as a Corporal in 3rd (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guards uniform [ Note black over red plume]. The horse blanket has just been painted in appropriate colours - as the casting does not appear to bear any resemblance to any particular order of dress. We'll just say that this corporal has borrowed the horse from the stables to go on an errand. Both of these figures are older than me, so have survived well - although the REKA horse has two new back legs, to carry him forward for another 80-odd years or so. ;)





It's always fun to show progress on a batch of figures with a group shot of "completed so far" - and this is where I am with this e-bay lot - so far. I've begun painting my Benbros figures too - whose "Prancing Horse" figures bear such an uncanny resemblance to the earliest of Britains very similar Officer figures - but more on them as they progress a bit further. jb

 
johnnybach said:
Here are another pair of completed repairs from this batch.

Left figure is by Reka, which I've painted as a 1st Kings Dragoon Guard - so pre-1932. You may be able to make out the trade-name in the second pic - which has REKA cast into the shabraque. Crescent took over the moulds of this Company after 1932 - so it's a bit of a guessing game on pieces after that - frequently found unmarked - so could be Reka pices made by Crescent.

The other figure is just such a mystery - and I've been unable to positively identify which Company produced him. Note the similar "one-eared" horse head, similar to the REKA - which means an early casting of around the same date as the Reka figure. I've painted him up as a Corporal in 3rd (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guards uniform [ Note black over red plume]. The horse blanket has just been painted in appropriate colours - as the casting does not appear to bear any resemblance to any particular order of dress. We'll just say that this corporal has borrowed the horse from the stables to go on an errand. Both of these figures are older than me, so have survived well - although the REKA horse has two new back legs, to carry him forward for another 80-odd years or so. ;)





It's always fun to show progress on a batch of figures with a group shot of "completed so far" - and this is where I am with this e-bay lot - so far. I've begun painting my Benbros figures too - whose "Prancing Horse" figures bear such an uncanny resemblance to the earliest of Britains very similar Officer figures - but more on them as they progress a bit further. jb

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I think I'm just going to start calling you Mr. Restoration! :salute::
Ray
 
nmrocks said:
I think I'm just going to start calling you Mr. Restoration! :salute::
Ray
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Ha! - thanks Ray - I just get the biggest kick from taking something that looks pretty unlikely at the start - and then getting it to look half-decent at the end of the process. It's a pleasant experience - and the bonus is - my Bank Manager also approves!:D

At the same time - I learn a bit more about both the history of the various Regiments I choose - and also some of the History of Toy Soldiers too - as, like this last pair - they're often older than me!!!{eek3}
 
johnnybach said:
Here are another pair of completed repairs from this batch.

The other figure is just such a mystery - and I've been unable to positively identify which Company produced him. Note the similar "one-eared" horse head, similar to the REKA - which means an early casting of around the same date as the Reka figure. I've painted him up as a Corporal in 3rd (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guards uniform [ Note black over red plume]. The horse blanket has just been painted in appropriate colours - as the casting does not appear to bear any resemblance to any particular order of dress. We'll just say that this corporal has borrowed the horse from the stables to go on an errand. Both of these figures are older than me, so have survived well - although the REKA horse has two new back legs, to carry him forward for another 80-odd years or so. ;)

jb

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Jb;

In this picture of the "Corporal in 3rd Dragoon Guards" the photograph shows off the horse fantastically !
Just when I think you have achieved perfection...you top it...beautiful job on that horse.

Thank you.
 
Ivanhoe said:
Jb;

In this picture of the "Corporal in 3rd Dragoon Guards" the photograph shows off the horse fantastically !
Just when I think you have achieved perfection...you top it...beautiful job on that horse.

Thank you.
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Glad you like him:D.

NB: I mixed two colours to get that shade - Humbrol Red-Brown (100) and Revell Matte Black (8). I then painted him quite quickly, shading the colours in to each other as I went along. I usually add a tad more black in at rear of legs and underneath - to try and simulate shadow areas and naturally darker legs.
 
I'm showing another three completed this time - all Hussar Officers. The central figure below - is probably from a Reka mould - but this time there's no trademarks at all - so he was probably cast by Crescent after they bought up the moulds. I have repaired another rear horse leg - and you may remeber the metal pin plume in an earlier pic - now finished off with an outer shell of milliput. I painted him as a 4th Hussar ( note yellow bag to his fur cap ). A very simple, elegant figure, I think.

My other two on the dynamic prancing horses are by Benbros. I've mentioned the repairs to these figures earlier. Note how VERY similar they are to some of the earliest Britains Figures - though these had moveable arms on the usual riveted joint. I kept the extended sword - which came fitted to my one figure - but the other at the carry - is a replacement part, as the original was lost. These are quite tricky to paint - as I like to include lots of detail - and are much easier with the arm off anyway. I've fixed the arms permanently in place - which makes them look even more like the early Britains figures.

The figure in the famous Cherry-red trousers, I have painted up as an 11th hussar ( one of my favourite Regiments) - whilst the other I've done as a 15th hussar. Note that the 15th Hussar now has the correct Leopard skin saddle cover, whilst my 11th Hussar has the original cast-in black sheepskin. I modified the leopard-skin by using milliput - to match up with a picture I have by Richard Simkin - which he painted that way in 1884. My 15th Hussar is, therefore dated to that time.

I can't tell you how happy I am to have these elusive figures in my collection - as I had been looking for reasonable examples of them to restore, for quite a while. jb






Rear view



Front view

 
johnnybach said:
I'm showing another three completed this time - all Hussar Officers. The central figure below - is probably from a Reka mould - but this time there's no trademarks at all - so he was probably cast by Crescent after they bought up the moulds. I have repaired another rear horse leg - and you may remeber the metal pin plume in an earlier pic - now finished off with an outer shell of milliput. I painted him as a 4th Hussar ( note yellow bag to his fur cap ). A very simple, elegant figure, I think.

My other two on the dynamic prancing horses are by Benbros. I've mentioned the repairs to these figures earlier. Note how VERY similar they are to some of the earliest Britains Figures - though these had moveable arms on the usual riveted joint. I kept the extended sword - which came fitted to my one figure - but the other at the carry - is a replacement part, as the original was lost. These are quite tricky to paint - as I like to include lots of detail - and are much easier with the arm off anyway. I've fixed the arms permanently in place - which makes them look even more like the early Britains figures.

The figure in the famous Cherry-red trousers, I have painted up as an 11th hussar ( one of my favourite Regiments) - whilst the other I've done as a 15th hussar. Note that the 15th Hussar now has the correct Leopard skin saddle cover, whilst my 11th Hussar has the original cast-in black sheepskin. I modified the leopard-skin by using milliput - to match up with a picture I have by Richard Simkin - which he painted that way in 1884. My 15th Hussar is, therefore dated to that time.

I can't tell you how happy I am to have these elusive figures in my collection - as I had been looking for reasonable examples of them to restore, for quite a while. jb






Rear view



Front view

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Definately a regal looking group! Very nice
 
Could the Reka model be Britains but one of the cheaper versions they sold. It does look like Britains.
 
thebritfarmer said:
Could the Reka model be Britains but one of the cheaper versions they sold. It does look like Britains.
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Short answer Scott, is yes, he could be a Britains second-grade figure - which they often didn't mark in any way ( probably because they wanted the trade - but didn't want their name on it!!). There are NO marks whatsoever - and when you take paint off - you can usually find any - BUT - there aren't any - anywhere.

Unfortunately - I don't have Opies's "Great Book of Britains" to refer to - only have Joplin's Hollowcast tome - and he ain't in there either.

Stylistically - he has a lot in common with the marked Reka figure below (Red jacket). Legs on horse are a bit slimmer and horses head is down - but you can find a lot of Reka horses just like that. Note the single ear on both horses ( signifying an older figure?). Shabraque and sabretache's are very closely modelled.

Having handled both - my gut instinct is that he started off as a Reka - and MAYBE when Crescent took over the moulds - they used it - either in whole - or adapted it.

BUT - that's only my guess - as you say - he COULD be a Britains. I think you have the big book????? Is he in there? Would be interesting to find out - though for me, not essential - as I frequently make changes myself anyway. ^&grin




 
I will have a look through my references and see what I can find. I agree he does share a lot of similarities with the Reka figure.
 
Hi Johnny,

I have the big book of Britains and when I look at this horse it is comparable to the horse the officer of the Mountain Artillery from set 28 in 1895, yes I ment 1895. It was also used for the mount of the officer in set 36 again from 1895. There was also a similar horse used in a special smaller sized set from 1901 of Edward the VII and in 1902 there were some Hussars done in 2nd Grade that are quite close to the figure you have but I don't have any in my collection so I cant make a comparison to your figure. But I also thought the 2nd grade figures were all smaller in scale something like 45mm to 48mm so if this guy is normal scale I believe he may well be from Reka.
ArnhemJim from the forum might know or even have one of these figures. I would say that the two horses in the photo were sculpted by the same hand. I know this info isn't really helpful but felt you might like some more information.

Dave
 
DMNamiot said:
Hi Johnny,

I have the big book of Britains and when I look at this horse it is comparable to the horse the officer of the Mountain Artillery from set 28 in 1895, yes I ment 1895. It was also used for the mount of the officer in set 36 again from 1895. There was also a similar horse used in a special smaller sized set from 1901 of Edward the VII and in 1902 there were some Hussars done in 2nd Grade that are quite close to the figure you have but I don't have any in my collection so I cant make a comparison to your figure. But I also thought the 2nd grade figures were all smaller in scale something like 45mm to 48mm so if this guy is normal scale I believe he may well be from Reka.
ArnhemJim from the forum might know or even have one of these figures. I would say that the two horses in the photo were sculpted by the same hand. I know this info isn't really helpful but felt you might like some more information.

Dave
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Thanks Dave. Yes, I know the one that you mean - as I mentioned back in the thread - that the Mountain Artillery Officer that I had was a post-war version. I also have a "look-alike" version to the Set 28 (1895) one - though mine's by Dorset Soldiers - which also looks a lot like the figure in question.

I really don't know enough about the "cheaper, often spindly-legged and unmarked figures" - whoever the maker - other than they are often darned difficult to repair - as you can't get a drill into some of the skinny legs!!!{eek3}

Here's a couple of pics that might help the ID, Dave. The comparison figure is the well known Britains H. Cav ( painted as a RHG by me here). It is the two-eared version - but it is the same size as the one-eared 1893 figure from Set 1 - so hope that's familiar enough???

You can probably make out that it is a slightly smaller - and less "beeefy" casting than the normal sized Britains cavalry figure. It's also a one-piece casting - with no add-ons at all (unlike the arm on the RHG). The thinner figure was very well made though, and was a pleasure to paint - with no awkward undercuts etc. In fact, what I hope I've shown is that just because they were at the cheaper end of the market originally (typically one-third less in price than the "best grade" figures), - they can still make a beautiful piece, given just a little TLC. I like him very much.

As I said - it's not bugging me at all - but it would be nice, if we can give him an original maker. ( A bit like having a lost birth Certificate - eh??;)) Hope that helps a bit. Best of luck with the sleuthing!:D - jb

Side view



Front view

 
I think the 2nd grade figures were 54mm but the painting is just simpler. I know they did make some smaller figures but think these were classed as B grade.
 
thebritfarmer said:
I think the 2nd grade figures were 54mm but the painting is just simpler. I know they did make some smaller figures but think these were classed as B grade.
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He's definitely NOT a "B Grade" figure Scott. I have seen some - and they are noticeably smaller than this figure. They are sized at 44mm for an Infantry sized figure - against 54mm for standard size.

I would say he's maybe 52mm size??? as a guesstimate. ( see last two pics against H.Cav Trooper).

You know, he could even be by someone like Hanks - who was a noted copyist of Others' work - including Britains. If you have the Andrew Rose Toy Soldier book - have a look at page 100 - top row - No.8. Okay, he's a line infantry Officer - but the horse he's on is strikingly similar to the one in question - and is a circa 1900 copy of a Britains figure.
 
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Hi Johnny,

I took a look at the Rose book and think you may be on to something but I am not totally sure. I would think someone out there has seen him before. Need to look at the original painting again as well. I do love a mystery.

Dave
 
DMNamiot said:
Hi Johnny,

I took a look at the Rose book and think you may be on to something but I am not totally sure. I would think someone out there has seen him before. Need to look at the original painting again as well. I do love a mystery.

Dave
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Looking at the original paint is tricky Dave. The only pic I have is at the start of this thread - and was the e-bay pic., as I didn't bother to re-photograph them. After checking them out for rareities - they all went into a bath of oven-cleaner to remove what was left of their original paint. It was a pretty small original photo - but he's the one standing among the ones who couldn't stand up - mostly all-over brown paint on the horse - just like most of any other second-grade figures.

IF he is a copy - then my current thinking is he's a copy by one of the early Pirates, and of either an early Britains or Reka (1908-1932), because of the one-eared sculpt.

Even guys like Norman Joplin have category "Unknown Maker" in their books - sometimes we will just never know exactly for sure who made some of these cheap and cheerful early models.

In the absence of certainty - I'll just enjoy him for what he is now. :D jb
 
I've added my two latest completed figures to the other two Benbros Prancing Horse figures which were Hussars - my latest two being Household Cavalry Officers. I've painted one as a Life Guard and the other as a RHG.

I had to make a few adjustments to both new figures however, before painting, as some details were just wrong. Both were Officers ( Shabraque and Sabretaches were worn), but the aigiulettes were being worn on the wrong side for Officers (One way to quickly identify HC soldiers in this dress, is the placing of these items). I had to remove them from the left breast (NCO's) by surgery - and replace with milliput on the right breast of each figure. They were also wearing half length boots ( makes sense - as the same basic casting for Hussars and H. Cav.was being used by Benbros). But........ H.Cav wear longer boots - so I added some length to their boots by using epoxy putty.

Now they are painted - and I'm okay with the result, for these old figures. jb



 
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