Purchasing "job-Lots" (2 Viewers)

[johnnybach]

A couple more completed from this batch.

This pair are now from the 6th Dragoon Guards (Caribiniers). The Officer came from a repaired and repainted figure - originally missing three legs from his horse and rider's head! The figure was either a second-grade Britains (so, unmarked) - or a Reka originally, but now repaired with spare original parts from my box - and horse legs from Dorset.

The Trooper is a Britains - and was also missing head and sword arm, whilst his horse had also lost a rear leg. Whilst repairing - I removed the sword top from his scabbard - as he would be holding the sword in his right hand ( something that didn't bother Britains at that time). Both figures now look as they would have been dressed around the end of Victoria's reign - so circa 1890.

 

[Ivanhoe]

A couple more completed from this batch.

This pair are now from the 6th Dragoon Guards (Caribiniers). The Officer came from a repaired and repainted figure - originally missing three legs from his horse and rider's head! The figure was either a second-grade Britains (so, unmarked) - or a Reka originally, but now repaired with spare original parts from my box - and horse legs from Dorset.

The Trooper is a Britains - and was also missing head and sword arm, whilst his horse had also lost a rear leg. Whilst repairing - I removed the sword top from his scabbard - as he would be holding the sword in his right hand ( something that didn't bother Britains at that time). Both figures now look as they would have been dressed around the end of Victoria's reign - so circa 1890.

Just love the paint job on these jb !

Excellent.

Thank you for posting.

 

[johnnybach]

Just love the paint job on these jb !

Excellent.

Thank you for posting.

Glad you like 'em buddy - keep an eye out later for a couple more to add to them. jb

 

[theBaron]

Excellent finish, John! Again, you are now in the same territory as John Firth, with the quality and depth of your glazing finish. Well done!

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Excellent finish, John! Again, you are now in the same territory as John Firth, with the quality and depth of your glazing finish. Well done!

Prost!
Brad

Very nice of you to say so Brad - as that's a real compliment. However, I regard John as "The Guv'ner", when it comes to painting glossies - and if I can get close - that will suit me just fine.

Thx:salute:: jb

Keep looking - I'm close to finishing two more Dragoon Guards

 

[johnnybach]

As promised - here are my next two Dragoon Guards - out in front of some other recently completed repaired and repainted figures.

This time, they are an Officer and Trooper of the 7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards, easily distinguished by their Black over White helmet plumes. Both figures ride a black horse - which explains the nickname for the Regiment - "The Black Horse".

Note how similar the Officer figure is to my version of the 6th DG - the only real difference being that my new figure has a Britains head refitted to his missing one - whereas my 6th DG had a different head from my spares box ( well...... I do run out of spares, sometimes!). Again, no markings - so could be by several British hollowcast manufacturers. Both however, ride "single ear" type of horse - which indicates pre-war for sure.

My new 7th Dragoon Guards Trooper rides a different Britains horse to my version of the 6th DG Trooper - but the rider is virtually the same figure. It's just the paint that makes his Regiment - which is up to me to choose, of course. However THIS particular 7Th DG Trooper hides a secret under the belly of his horse, as this version of the Cantering Horse is quite rare. There is the embossed date - 12. 2. 1903 - indicating that he came from a mould that first cast this version at that time - some 114 years ago.

If he hadn't required a new head, sword and arm, scabbard and a front horse leg ( which were all missing) - I would not have repainted him. BUT............as he did require those replacement parts and repair - I did what I had to do to fix him up again. Doesn't look too shabby for a 114 year old Toy Soldier though - don't you think???

I've done pics this time, with some of my other recent fixes - just to spice things up a bit. Hope you don't mind. jb

 

[theBaron]

You'll have to follow up with a thread on making boxes, John!

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Boxes????? - I wish!

Snag is Brad - broken Toy Soldiers - or castings - very rarely come in their original boxes. If mine ever get to be in a box - it's probably from the Supermarket - and once held products like Beans or similar

I understand that boxed sets - in their original boxes are worth more in monetary terms when you resell them. However, I don't feel the need to resell any of them (yet) - so have never felt the need to put mine in a box (other than to store some in the loft).

Consequently - I don't own any boxes - other than the ones that at one time - held something else.

 

[theBaron]

Boxes????? - I wish!

Snag is Brad - broken Toy Soldiers - or castings - very rarely come in their original boxes. If mine ever get to be in a box - it's probably from the Supermarket - and once held products like Beans or similar

I understand that boxed sets - in their original boxes are worth more in monetary terms when you resell them. However, I don't feel the need to resell any of them (yet) - so have never felt the need to put mine in a box (other than to store some in the loft).

Consequently - I don't own any boxes - other than the ones that at one time - held something else.

That's what I mean, John--the next step is to make some boxes for your figures.

I've got some wooden ones that I've scavenged, with sliding lids. Some are small, from Hadley's Tea, others are a little bigger. I've been trying my hand at making some, with a dovetailing jig to help. A local cigar store is also a good source. A lot of cigars come in some very nicely made wooden boxes.

I've also saved boxes from salt-water taffy. They're about two inches deep, by about three wide and nine or ten long. I originally tried to apply paper foil to them, but realized it was easier, and looked better, just to spray-paint the lids. I haven't devised labels yet, though. Those boxes, I paint gold. The wooden boxes, I painted green.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

That's what I mean, John--the next step is to make some boxes for your figures.

I've got some wooden ones that I've scavenged, with sliding lids. Some are small, from Hadley's Tea, others are a little bigger. I've been trying my hand at making some, with a dovetailing jig to help. A local cigar store is also a good source. A lot of cigars come in some very nicely made wooden boxes.

I've also saved boxes from salt-water taffy. They're about two inches deep, by about three wide and nine or ten long. I originally tried to apply paper foil to them, but realized it was easier, and looked better, just to spray-paint the lids. I haven't devised labels yet, though. Those boxes, I paint gold. The wooden boxes, I painted green.

Prost!
Brad

Good idea Brad - let us see how you get on. For me - I just like painting figures - who needs boxes? jb

 

[johnnybach]

I've added in to this little collection of repaired figures - my last two from the batch I showed a little earlier. Despite working on them all simultaneously - it still took a few days to arrive at this point - which is, of course, a box free zone!

My last two are front left and right in the first pic. The left figure is yet another Britains figure - at the halt, this time - who required two rear horse legs to make him stand up. Then another head and sword arm made him whole once more. I've painted him as 3rd (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guard Trooper with his distinctive black over red plume to his helmet.

My last figure - again so similar in pose to the other two un-marked Hollowcasts - was an ideal candidate to make up a figure that I have been waiting to turn up for quite awhile. He had an intact head wearing a colonial helmet - so he has become an Officer of The West India Regiment - and will one day lead a contingent of that Regiment, complete with Military band from those Islands. He only required one horse leg fix to make him up - though I have forgotten to mention that most of these figures required a rear pouch made up to go on the rear part of the cross-belt - as they weren't cast-in. Just an oblong -cut piece of milliput stuck on the back of the figure quickly fixed that surprising omission by the original makers, for several of the figures. jb



Other side

 

[johnnybach]

This pair of British, late Victorian Hussars, will be the last for some time, in this thread. I have a few bits and pieces left to go - but require special parts for some of them - which are of a smaller size than usual.

But for now - I have two Hussars - one Hussar Officer from the 3rd Hussars (Blue shabraque) and one Officer from 10th Hussars (Red Shabraque). Both of these required repairs and stripping back to repaint. Both were originally made by Benbros in the 1950's.

The 3rd hussar figure came to me, minus the two back legs on the horse, or base - and no sword or arm on the hussar. After stripping off all remaining paint, I made a stand (base) from my alloy metal supply - and fixed him to the base using steel pins and milliput - as usual. A spare arm/sword from Dorset completed the repairs - and I painted him in full-dress uniform - complete with a white throat plume for his horse ( wire and milliput again). Note he is correctly seated on a leopard skin seat in this dress (milliput modelling) - which was missing from the original model.

The 10th Hussar figure was missing the two FRONT legs from the horse as well as sword arm again. New legs and arm from Dorset were grafted on - and repainting was again completed in full dress for this Regiment. Note the fancy black leatherwork uniquely used by this Regiment for the horse - which is studded with small silver sea shells. No throat plume is used by the tenth.

I would also like to thank the web-site "uniformology" for superb illustrations which can be well used by painters for some superbly detailed illustrations of many types of dress for British Hussar Regiments - here's a link below - then come my pics. Hope you like 'em - jb

http://www.uniformology.com/HUSSARS-00-0.html









And finally, here's one of my last few British Cavalry restorations;

 

[theBaron]

Two more great additions to your collection, John! Excellent work!

I see Uniformology still has the Ruhl plates available. I thought I remembered seeing Knötel's prints in his catalog, too, and seeing book vendors at shows selling the hardcopies, but I can't find them there now. Yes, he provides a great collection of those old illustrated references that are hard to find these days, especially if you want a complete collection.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Two more great additions to your collection, John! Excellent work!

I see Uniformology still has the Ruhl plates available. I thought I remembered seeing Knötel's prints in his catalog, too, and seeing book vendors at shows selling the hardcopies, but I can't find them there now. Yes, he provides a great collection of those old illustrated references that are hard to find these days, especially if you want a complete collection.

Prost!
Brad

Thanks Brad - glad you like 'em. I have tended to paint up lots of my Hussars, as the 11th "Cherry Pickers" - as you know - and maybe neglected some of the other Regiments. So, to rectify this somewhat, when I get hold of another example to repair, I'm more "filling in the gaps" now, of the Regiments I didn't have examples of before. Hence, these two figures.

I mentioned Uniformology (by Bruce Bassett Powell) - as it's always useful to mention sources to others looking in, who may not be aware of these really useful online sites for help in painting up figures.

Cheers!:salute:: - jb

 

[Ivanhoe]

This pair of British, late Victorian Hussars, will be the last for some time, in this thread. I have a few bits and pieces left to go - but require special parts for some of them - which are of a smaller size than usual.

But for now - I have two Hussars - one Hussar Officer from the 3rd Hussars (Blue shabraque) and one Officer from 10th Hussars (Red Shabraque). Both of these required repairs and stripping back to repaint. Both were originally made by Benbros in the 1950's.

The 3rd hussar figure came to me, minus the two back legs on the horse, or base - and no sword or arm on the hussar. After stripping off all remaining paint, I made a stand (base) from my alloy metal supply - and fixed him to the base using steel pins and milliput - as usual. A spare arm/sword from Dorset completed the repairs - and I painted him in full-dress uniform - complete with a white throat plume for his horse ( wire and milliput again). Note he is correctly seated on a leopard skin seat in this dress (milliput modelling) - which was missing from the original model.

The 10th Hussar figure was missing the two FRONT legs from the horse as well as sword arm again. New legs and arm from Dorset were grafted on - and repainting was again completed in full dress for this Regiment. Note the fancy black leatherwork uniquely used by this Regiment for the horse - which is studded with small silver sea shells. No throat plume is used by the tenth.

I would also like to thank the web-site "uniformology" for superb illustrations which can be well used by painters for some superbly detailed illustrations of many types of dress for British Hussar Regiments - here's a link below - then come my pics. Hope you like 'em - jb

jb;

You are getting better and better with age !

The amount of work that goes into these 'restorations' is amazing...then the horses...Wow !
I do not know how to give you the proper praise for the way you have mastered those beautiful animals...

Thank you so much for posting.

 

[johnnybach]

jb;

You are getting better and better with age !

The amount of work that goes into these 'restorations' is amazing...then the horses...Wow !
I do not know how to give you the proper praise for the way you have mastered those beautiful animals...

Thank you so much for posting.

Thanks for compliment, F. I actually hated getting old - until, of course, as it dawned on me - you consider the alternative! ^&grin

The amount of restoration required for each piece - depends, of course, on the damage found. I don't really call it work - as for me, each piece is a small challenge - and I enjoy more than I can logically explain, bringing them back from the brink. It really is a very pleasurable experience, and not really like "work" at all.

True, there is a bit of workmanship involved, which I hope with practice and experience has evolved a bit from when I began, and it's nice that others see a bit of that too. But - my main reason for fixing up some of these older figures - is pure pleasure. I guess it's just " I can - so I do" - and at the end of the process, I have another of my favourite glossy pieces to grace my collection.

I hope that what I show, also encourages others to have a go too.

Glad you enjoy them too - jb

 

[bromhead]

Thanks for compliment, F. I actually hated getting old - until, of course, as it dawned on me - you consider the alternative! ^&grin

The amount of restoration required for each piece - depends, of course, on the damage found. I don't really call it work - as for me, each piece is a small challenge - and I enjoy more than I can logically explain, bringing them back from the brink. It really is a very pleasurable experience, and not really like "work" at all.

True, there is a bit of workmanship involved, which I hope with practice and experience has evolved a bit from when I began, and it's nice that others see a bit of that too. But - my main reason for fixing up some of these older figures - is pure pleasure. I guess it's just " I can - so I do" - and at the end of the process, I have another of my favourite glossy pieces to grace my collection.

I hope that what I show, also encourages others to have a go too.

Glad you enjoy them too - jb

I had a small business some time ago,,repaired old figures for florida collectors as a part,,One reason I could collect old Britains,,I bought up every bad shape figure and part I could find by the boxful,,that seems to have gone away these days as my business has so I restore from with in and feel the same about bringing back the casualties,,I understand there are sales in England of Boxed restored old britains,,,I have redone anything from Plastics to K and C

 

[NEVINSRIP]

I hope this is the right venue for this. I bought a collection today that includes 1950's Britains Cowboys and Indians, a set of 6 Mounties on horses and about 30 animals. In the whole bunch there may be 3 or 4 UNbroken figures. Lots of horses with broken legs. These are simple figures with the post on the shoulder.
The animals are better off and some of them are in fine shape.

Anyway, I have no use for these. If any of you repairmen want the parts shoot me an email at

nevinsrip@aol.com

I'll send you pix and you can make an offer. I'm not expecting a whole lot here.
50 bucks or less. 50 pieces a least.

 

[johnnybach]

I hope this is the right venue for this. I bought a collection today that includes 1950's Britains Cowboys and Indians, a set of 6 Mounties on horses and about 30 animals. In the whole bunch there may be 3 or 4 UNbroken figures. Lots of horses with broken legs. These are simple figures with the post on the shoulder.
The animals are better off and some of them are in fine shape.

Anyway, I have no use for these. If any of you repairmen want the parts shoot me an email at

nevinsrip@aol.com

I'll send you pix and you can make an offer. I'm not expecting a whole lot here.
50 bucks or less. 50 pieces a least.

I'll give your American lads first chance at these NEV - as I hope to be moving home quite soon - so am too busy packing up my bits and pieces over here in the UK - and the move isn't over - 'till it's over!

BUT - IF these are still around once I have moved - I'll have a look at them then - okay???

Thanks for the offer though - as they sound right up my street. jb

 

[johnnybach]

I'll be putting arms/swords on those two later today Scott - so should be up soon.

I'll see what comes in from "finds" for these Troopers - BUT - what I would LIKE very much - would be to replicate my previous Life Guard "Set 72 plus" that I did awhile ago. This had two Officers and thirteen Troopers, and was great fun to do. Now................I now have the two Officers - and have another Trooper in my stash - so just ten more Troopers to find!

I've seen a few still around on e-bay lately - but haven't been successful yet.

Patience is a virtue - wish I had a bit more.....jb

Here's a quick update ( and a practice for posting pics using the TF method after resizing some pics) - showing some of my collected Britains Troopers for my version of a "Set 72 plus", style of Britains Royal Horse Guards (RHG) - which will be converted in the same way as the Life Guards set 72 that I made up earlier.

Note that these are pics from unrestored ebay purchases - so not up to my usual high standard! (that's a joke - okay) jb