More Cowboys and Native Americans (1 Viewer)

[thebritfarmer]

He is pretty nice JB and a close match. I too have never seen one other than in books and the original concept sketch of the figure was nothing like what was eventually produced. The only time I saw one for sale was in one of the rodeo sets and it fetched quite a bit of money.

If I come accross the concept sketch I will post it but was similar to this using the tail and back legs for support.

 

[johnnybach]

Yes - pretty close in style to the Britains version, Scott - just smaller and very cute to handle.

Here's a couple more of some smaller scale pieces - waiting patiently in my stash for treatment. I bought these at my last visit to Dorset Soldiers - from a box full of damaged figures from "under the stairs".

After removing the accumulated grunge of the passing years - I found that the cowboy was actually undamaged - and some legs had just to be gently coaxed back into their proper positions. The Native American Chief has part of one leg missing - so can't stand up yet. When I get around to these two (both 45mm Johillco), I'll put them on stands which will solve stability problems. I've shown my battered Britains figure behind - both for an update on progress - and to show difference in scale better of these smaller figures. It's going to be an Apaloosa pony eventually. jb

 

[johnnybach]

He is pretty nice JB and a close match. I too have never seen one other than in books and the original concept sketch of the figure was nothing like what was eventually produced. The only time I saw one for sale was in one of the rodeo sets and it fetched quite a bit of money.

If I come accross the concept sketch I will post it but was similar to this using the tail and back legs for support.


View attachment 191400

Yes - I think the Britains Bucking Bronco was only ever made available in 'The Rodeo Set' - and maybe that's why he is difficult to find nowadays. Sets cost more than individual figures - so less were produced and sold - and less survive with each passing year. That's rareity in action. jb

Here's a few more of my own "Rodeo" type figures which I've repaired and repainted - some which have been "made up" from spares or mis-matched figures. The riderlesss horse at centre - is a Crescent, which I've been trying to find a cowboy figure for. His saddle is too wide for most figures - but I have recently found a figure with a pair of legs who sits the saddle beautifully. Unfortunately his top half is incomplete.

I will probably have to "build" a suitable figure from the waist up - so am now on the lookout for suitable parts. I did the same for the guy riding the steer - whose top half was missing.

All part of the fun jb

 

[johnnybach]

Did a bit more work on basing-up my two smaller scale Western figures last night - and splashed a bit more paint around my Battered Britains Chief too - so here's an update on them. They are all standing once again, now. ^&grinjb

 

[thebritfarmer]

I think he also came as a picture pack figure JB, these too are rare.

 

[Ivanhoe]

Here's a few more of my own "Rodeo" type figures which I've repaired and repainted -
jb

Like those 'Lassos' and that Cowgirl is one of my favourites.

 

[Ivanhoe]

Did a bit more work on basing-up my two smaller scale Western figures last night - and splashed a bit more paint around my Battered Britains Chief too - so here's an update on them. They are all standing once again, now.

That paint job on the horse is excellent jb !

 

[johnnybach]

I think he also came as a picture pack figure JB, these too are rare.

I didn't know that Scott. In which case - I won't give up looking for a damaged one to repair - must be some about??????

If ever you find two - I'm in!! jb

 

[johnnybach]

That paint job on the horse is excellent jb !

Thanks - he's coming along nicely from a rather unpromising figure to begin with. I think it helps to have repaired this same figure before ( and will help again - as I have another two of these to do from my stash - at some point in the future). Just fiddley-bits to do with him now. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Here's a couple of pics of my four mounted Native Americans - now all four have been repaired and repainted. Some have had minor conversions by adding weapons they didn't originally have - and they were originally from several different manufacturers, as explained earlier.

The most recently finished is closest to the lens - and was originally from Britains. He was originally a so-called second grade figure - and carried a tomahawk in hand - which is frequently found broken off - as are the rather thin legs of this horse sculpt. I replaced the weapon with a Dorset spare rifle - just for a change. This horse was missing most extremities - but with a little TLC - it shows what can be done with even the most damaged of figures. jb

 

[kilted vampire]

Ha-ha! - I do it for enjoyment too KV. For me - the fun is saving something from landfill. jb

I enjoy a good challenge.

 

[johnnybach]

I enjoy a good challenge.

Mt too KV - and here's part of my next one - two more Britains Galloping Native American Chiefs. Not quite as badly broken as my central (restored) figure - though still in need of a horse front leg each - and a splash or two of paint. Here's a pic with peg-leg each



And here they are with paint removed - new stands made and repaired legs begun.



I'm running out of time for painting these - so will probably just store them for now - for a paint-job at some time in the future. But here's another Timpo cowboy completed - who also fits my Charbens rearing horse. Looks like there's a horse-jacking in progress?



Note that I gave him a holstered pistol (milliput) and blue denim jeans.



Last one - for now - here are restored "Calamity Jane" (unknown maker) - with rifle and arm replaced - and a standing Johillco Chief - who was missing an arm with tomahawk - so has had a Dorset spare made to fit his missing arm.


I'll stop here - as there appears to be an almost endless supply of broken Westerners trickling in for attention at some time in the future.

So long, on this thread, for now pardners. See you later - jb

 

[johnnybach]

I fully intended my last post to be the conclusion of this particular thread - for quite a while.

BUT................as mentioned in a previous post - where I wrote about a Crescent Bucking Bronco horse - in need of a rider, just when you least expect it - another one came on the market! And NOT JUST the missing cowboy - but the complete two figures.

I had to have it, of course - and apart from grotty paintwork, the two parts were intact ( for a change).

Anyhow, I thought that as I had mentioned looking for a suitable figure earlier in the thread, I would show you how he came out.

Here he is - showing just how bandy he is - off the horse with a wide saddle.



Back in the saddle again - he is re-united and looks just great.





which means that I still have another one to find a cowboy for ................... or maybe "build" another version from spare parts????? jb

 

[Ivanhoe]

I fully intended my last post to be the conclusion of this particular thread - for quite a while.

BUT................as mentioned in a previous post - where I wrote about a Crescent Bucking Bronco horse - in need of a rider, just when you least expect it - another one came on the market! And NOT JUST the missing cowboy - but the complete two figures.

I had to have it, of course - and apart from grotty paintwork, the two parts were intact ( for a change).

Anyhow, I thought that as I had mentioned looking for a suitable figure earlier in the thread, I would show you how he came out.

jb

Thank you jb !

Just love the work you do.

Really like that horse also.

 

[johnnybach]

Thank you jb !

Just love the work you do.

Really like that horse also.

Glad you like them too buddy. I painted this horse quite differently to the one I already had waiting for a rider. I think that I will make up another figure as a cowboy - using spare parts. I have the all important bowed legs already - so off to a good start! jb

 

[nmrocks]

I fully intended my last post to be the conclusion of this particular thread - for quite a while.

BUT................as mentioned in a previous post - where I wrote about a Crescent Bucking Bronco horse - in need of a rider, just when you least expect it - another one came on the market! And NOT JUST the missing cowboy - but the complete two figures.

I had to have it, of course - and apart from grotty paintwork, the two parts were intact ( for a change).

Anyhow, I thought that as I had mentioned looking for a suitable figure earlier in the thread, I would show you how he came out.

Here he is - showing just how bandy he is - off the horse with a wide saddle.



Back in the saddle again - he is re-united and looks just great.





which means that I still have another one to find a cowboy for ................... or maybe "build" another version from spare parts????? jb

Your doing a great job with these finishes, that high gloss creamy look is very appealing JB.
Ray

 

[johnnybach]

Your doing a great job with these finishes, that high gloss creamy look is very appealing JB.
Ray

Cheers Ray! Glad you like him too. As you know - I like glossies - so wanted to make this one up a bit diferently to the original Crescent painters of the 1950's.

When stripping back to metal, I found that the whole horse and rider had been "dipped" in a muddy brown paint - and then other colours had been applied on top for other parts. This painting was the usual - rather quickly applied stuff, you frequently find on older pieces. Can't really blame them for that - as the major factor then was keeping the price lower than your competitors.

With imrovements in paint technology nowadays, it's frequently possible with a bit of colour selection and more careful painting - to improve upon the old paintwork - and reveal the often excellent castings underneath.

Hopefully I've done it with this one too - so glad you like him as well. jb

 

[Markster]

I've been winning a few more Auctions recently - so couldn't resist a few more - for my collection.

I've saved a few pics as I've gone along - so I'll start off with a few "earlier" in the repair process pics.

Here's a Johillco mounted Chief which is a pre-war piece that I found with the two front legs damaged. Both front hooves and part of the legs to the knee were missing. My pic below shows him stripped of the remaining old paint - and mounted on a new stand (base) which I made up from scrap metal sheet. I then drilled and pinned both broken legs and inserted cut steel pins (cut from paper-clips). These were longer than normal - and shaped as the original leg would have been - and inserted into the new stand. You can see how the leg was then built up using milliput.




After both legs had been re-made - he was painted in the same way a new casting would have been - and he now looks brand new once again - and ready for another 80 plus years service. ( though maybe I'll repaint that base - at this magnification - two coats weren't really enough!).





Next - I had a few odd pieces - pic below: From the left you see what was originally a repaired Charbens Circus horse Front leg/rear leg and tail repaired or replaced) - with a repaired Timpo mounted cowboy with rifle aboard him; At centre is a Native American Chief on foot - note the new arm with tomahawk attached where the original was missing. On his back - in front - is another Timpo cowboy who also can fit the Charbens horse - and lastly - another Mounted Native American on a rearing horse. My second cowboy has a new pistol and raised arm - which replaced his missing outstreched arm when found. The rearing horse had two broken off rear legs and base which were missing. I remade him in a similar way to the Johillco horse - but re-pinned him to a newly fabricated base in a similar way - leaving the pins long enough to re-make lower ankle joint and hooves



Here's another viw which shows how both cowboys fit the horse well.



and this one shows a clearer view of re-painted horse ( not completed yet).

.

I'll stop here - just for now - but will show these and - some others progressing later. jb

Nice Job,nice to see the figures being brought to life !

 

[johnnybach]

Nice Job,nice to see the figures being brought to life !

Thanks buddy. What I try to do with these posts - is to show what a worthwhile hobby it can be to buy and repair ( usually for small amounts of cash), some of the older hollowcast Toy Soldiers ( in this case Western ones - but applies to all types really).

I frequently see from other posts - with modern manufacturers - there is often some pain involved in shelling out big bucks these days for modern figures. What I hope I've shown here - is that there is another way of satisfying a passion - without necessarily shelling out the big bucks - and as an add-on pleasure, the knowledge that you have saved yet another "wounded soldier" from the worst fate of all - The Bin!


Glad you like 'em,
:salute:: jb

 

[johnnybach]

Note to hsm - Hi Grant - I have replied to your PM - but you need to clear out your inbox - before you can read my reply to your query regarding our conversation about some of these repaired Native Americans. You have exceeded your storeage - you naughty boy!!!!!jb