NHD Marshal Massena (1 Viewer)

[blaster]

Finally dug out this castoff figure from New Hope Design. Not a bad figure but I had wanted to represent a smaller man and snipped off the boots to make my own. Whatever, the figure fell by the wayside. But a few days ago, I came across it again and decided that perhaps it could be rescued. So I gathered up all the offending bits to redo this figure again. The pose was further modified.

 

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I've finalised the pose and am now adding details to the figure. Notice the repositioned head suggesting slight stoop. The collar has been repositioned too. Note that the side view shows a flattened figure and I am now bulking him up on the back and coattails.

I know there's not much of the original figure in there but it gives me a sense of satisfaction in working to improve these commercial figures.

 

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The back being built up. The right hand has been shortened.

 

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I epoxied the figure to its base for stability.

 

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sculpted the fringe on the sash. I tried aves epoxy putty. This is a much harder putty to manipulate.

 

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I added the left hand and the baton. The hat was an accessory placed on the table in his painting. But I have decided to place this in his hand.
This is the same hat which was originally meant for my Joseph Bonaparte figure. Like all Dutch modellers, I never throw anything away....

 

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Most of the sculpting is done. I have given the piece an undercoat of enamels for painting.

 

[Obee]

Victor, he is coming on nicely ....

I went to check my resources and found that OSPREY had 2 coloured images of the Marshal in thier books...

This one from a Men At Arms series book...



And this one, that NHD used for the figures you have in an Elite series book.....


Keep up your painting, just like I am at this time

John

 

[blaster]

Hi John,

Thanks for those refs. I am using those. If I remember correctly, NHD had an arrangement to produce Osprey based figures for a period. I think that the Elite range was after that arrangement, correct?

Those two refs clearly show two types of tunic as used by the marshals - the ceremonial tunic and the plainer surtout. I decided to model Massena in the ceremonial tunic where the back is pleated and with pockets and fuller turnbacks. So I ripped the figure off its base (damaging the right boot) to remodel the back.

Coming away from watching Versailles on Netflix, I was so impressed with the quality of the repro costumes and resolved to put in more details into my "lace wars and Nap" figurines. I'm also beginning to enjoy painting embroidery (whoa! Got to stop there otw I'll be doing crocheting next....).

Rgds Victor

 

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Found the fig fallowing among other lost toy soldiers. I found the original mhd leg which had been snipped off and decided to resurrect Massena.

 

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Completed the fig and mounted it on a base.

 

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Started to pt it. Giving massena a swarthy complexion.

 

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Fig ptd to this stage.