Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars Yeomanry (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

That poor old horse Victor - he's been lengththened, fattened up and now has a bigger derrier (Does my bum look big in this?) - and I still feel sorry for him. Has that drummer been eating bacon sarnies whilst you've been letting Dobbin grow? He looks chubbier than ever!

Don't get too hung up about the saddle - with chubby aboard - most folks eyes will be drawn to him anyway - it will just be you that is fretting about the saddle. He - and indeed the whole piece is looking excellent.^&grin johnnybach

 

[DMNamiot]

Old Dobbin has earned an extra ration of oats and molassas! What a great figure cant wait to see the finished item.

Dave

 

[blaster]

Dear Johnnybach and Dave,

Dare I say it - chubby has grown on you (ouch!).

Everytime I hit a blank wall on this project, I trot the figure out and photograph him to gain sympathy comments...


Dare I say it again - I seem to be saddled with this issue (ouch!).

I really think that the UP1890 saddle looks great, and if I can capture its inherent appeal, I would be delighted. The front of the saddle is partly obscured by the kettledrums and pads. however, the back of the seat had a metal arch supported by two strengthening bars - that would be difficult to model. But I should still have a go as this is clearly visible.

The bottom of the kettledrums would be visible. So I would have to make an educated guess as to whether this was a 3legged kettledrum or did it have a metal bar support stand etc.

Rgds Victor

 

[johnnybach]

Now I must admit to having a soft spot for kettledrums and drum-horses myself - however, I usually just buy a casting of one that I like - and just go with it. I'm not usually trying for ABSOLUTE accuracy with mine - just a pleasantly nice looking approximation - in fact - a Toy Soldier version of one. If in doubt - find a reasonable picture with a drum banner - and hide the detail - is my motto.

However - if getting absolute accuracy is what toots your flute - then by all means - go for it Victor. Making your own TS is a very personal thing - which just has to be done YOUR way. I think you are doing fine - and whether the drums have three legs or none at all - would be fine by me. As I said before - the eye is going to be drwn by "The Burger King" anyway - the poor old hoss is just a platform for him. (Hope you have strengthened his legs!!!). ^&grin

PS - I'm like you - posting a pic is a good way to motivate yourself to get on with it!

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Victor,

Like Johnny I dont always go for absolute accuracy. That said I have seen a few of these drums over the years and most of them seemed to have the 3 legs stands they are mounted on for dismounted use. Of course they also had some with little legs that are attached. I took a look some other Drum Horses from around this era and because of the battle honours worn on the drums I could not see the underside. But in one photo of the band of the one of the Hussar Regiments the Drums were clearly set on a three legged tripod for the photo. So I think you would be fine with doing this sort of drum. I would need to dig for more photos of the unit which I am sure exsist. If I find any I will let you know.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Having re-read my last post - I think I had better clarify my remarks.

I have a kettledrummer on the back boiler at the moment - he's on the right below. He's a Napoleonic Caribinnear drummer - intended for a mounted band eventually. On the left is another figure I bought and painted up a while back. Now both of these came as castings - and you can see from the demounted drum - there isn't a drum inside at all. The casting is just the drumhead and the banner - all in one. The finished one is exactly the same. Now - you can either fill this in - or - as I usually do - just paint the inside matt black. Once they are stood up - you're never going to see inside again anyway. Now THAT'S what I meant. It's not that I don't care about how they look - because I do care about that.

The other thing to note - is that when I'm making up a BAND - I am going for the overall effect. It can sometimes detract from the effect - if I were to go for an overly fussy detail on every figure. What I'm after then - is a Band - and not individual members of it in great detail.

Now - that's what I meant - as I hope the two figures below demonstrate

Phew! Glad I explained that............johnnybach

 

[trooper]

The legs on kettledrums varied according to the silversmith constructing them. Unfortunately the only photo I have of the Oxfordshire Yeomanry without the drum banners is too dark to identify which type is used by that unit. The most common types are shown below, the first is a circular stand, the second a twisted wire arrangement and the third shows legs cast integral with the drum. Hope this helps. Trooper

 

[johnnybach]

Fantastic detail - as usual from the Maestro!

But - are you going to see this with one of these around it?

 

[johnnybach]

See what I mean?? jb

 

[DMNamiot]

I have seen all of these types of legs as well but if there is a banner on the drum you can not see the bottom of the drum at all. So unless you are planning to do an undress rehersal type of mounted band I would go ahead and concentrate on the banners.

Dave

 

[trooper]

Fantastic detail - as usual from the Maestro!

But - are you going to see this with one of these around it?

No, but if Blaster wants to add them for his own satisfaction why not? Trooper

 

[blaster]

Hi All,

WOW! A cornucopia of pics. OK I'll go for the 3 legged drum.

I have to admit that one the reasons I post here (rather than on the other forum on modelling soldiers) is the wealth of info on British uniformology that is inherent among toy soldier collectors.

For this piece meant to be a model soldier, I'll need to model the underside which can be seen. Gotta remember to make this mount a gelding...

Thanks for this Trooper, Dave and JB.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Having re-read my last post - I think I had better clarify my remarks.

I have a kettledrummer on the back boiler at the moment - he's on the right below. He's a Napoleonic Caribinnear drummer - intended for a mounted band eventually. On the left is another figure I bought and painted up a while back. Now both of these came as castings - and you can see from the demounted drum - there isn't a drum inside at all. The casting is just the drumhead and the banner - all in one. The finished one is exactly the same. Now - you can either fill this in - or - as I usually do - just paint the inside matt black. Once they are stood up - you're never going to see inside again anyway. Now THAT'S what I meant. It's not that I don't care about how they look - because I do care about that.

The other thing to note - is that when I'm making up a BAND - I am going for the overall effect. It can sometimes detract from the effect - if I were to go for an overly fussy detail on every figure. What I'm after then - is a Band - and not individual members of it in great detail.

Now - that's what I meant - as I hope the two figures below demonstrate

Phew! Glad I explained that............johnnybach

JB,

What's there to explain? the pics say it all. I love the glossy look of toy soldiers as well!!! Rgds V

 

[johnnybach]

No, but if Blaster wants to add them for his own satisfaction why not? Trooper

Absolutely true - won't argue with that!^&grin jb P.S Thanks for the photos of the different types of foot too.

 

[blaster]

Hi All,

Sculpted the mane and now adding legs to the kettledrums, looking messy.

Rgds Victor

 

[johnnybach]

J still don't think that "Chubby Checker" will EVER pass his PFA! What are you feeding him on - he gets bigger every time!^&grin

I also think that the RSPCA should still step in on behalf of that poor horse.

C'mon Vic - get cracking - your work triggered me off to work on my Caribinier kettle drummer - which I finished yesterday - though you can't see the feet on my drum!

He's still looking good - now looking forward to you finishing him....................johnnybach

 

[blaster]

Hi JB,

The kettledrum legs are a bother. I had to drill and reposition them several times. Legs were made by drilling and inserting short metal wires which were covered with putty, then filing and repeat the whole process ad nauseum. I think that this is the most difficult part of the whole thing and if I get over the legs, the rest should be easy.

Rgds V

 

[blaster]

Hi all,

Finally got some nice looking kettledrums castings from Dorset soldiers (took a leaf from JB's threads.....
I also finally located my figure and horse after such a long layoff and a couple of weeks searching, and I am now looking back at this thread to figure out where I left off. Retreading stuff and will soon be working on this figure again shortly.

Rgds victor

 

[beating retreat]

Hi all,

Finally got some nice looking kettledrums castings from Dorset soldiers (took a leaf from JB's threads.....
I also finally located my figure and horse after such a long layoff and a couple of weeks searching, and I am now looking back at this thread to figure out where I left off. Retreading stuff and will soon be working on this figure again shortly.

Rgds victor

Hi Victor

I was wondering what had happened to this fellow, glad you have resurrected him and will be looking forward to seeing your progress.

Regards John

 

[blaster]

Hi John and all,

thanks for your interest. I was just waiting for the kettledrums.

After looking at the piece, I think that the saddle was too high and decided to lower the seat. This meant major surgery (anything new here?) and I cut away the seat, sanded down the trees and reattached the seat. I also decided to redo the cantle and as you can see from the pics, I use a folded piece of wire to create the underlying loop. very much a work in progress but I can see the light at the end of my tunnel vision...

Rgds Victor

side view showing rather high seatback view showing high clearance back view of lowered saddle, saddle is slightly offcentre as I had not glued it to the trees side view of lowered saddle, now the drummers' legs clear the saddle flaps cantle spoon to be resculptured