Restoration figures. (2 Viewers)

[Obee]

I have recently won a few sets of old Stadden / Lasset / Hinton Hunt figures on EBay, and I decided to bid on them knowing that I could bring them back to their former glory.

This is what I got... which was exactly as described and seen in the image.



They are (L-R) Sentinel 1705, The Duke of Cumberland 1746, Officer Black Watch 1745.

As you can see the painting is very badly done, its flaking, is faded and chipped where the figure has been bent, and looking very sad

My technique with these sorts is the use paint stripper to clean off the old paint, then clean up the casting with a tooth brush to get any other residue off they check for ant damage to parts and clean up any moulding line.

Then with the new casting, go ahead and give it 'a lick of paint' and here is the result .....



Just like news ????

Good news is I have another 14 figures to go, so keep watching later on in the year for more makeovers !

John

 

[farmertony]

You certainly are a talented painter of miniatures~I have followed your work on this forum and on your own website for some time now,but these figures really are appealing.I love 18th century figures(I collect Jacobites,FIW,AWI and 7 years war) partly because of the colourful and decorative uniforms,but they must be a real challenge to paint~the lace around the buttonholes would send me insane,not to mention the tartan!You have excelled yourself here.Well done that man.

 

[OldDragon]

John

I almost speechless at the level of restoration you achieved ... fantastic work.

Bests
OD

 

[theBaron]

Nice cleanup work, John! I may have been bidding against you, on some of these.

I must offer a minor correction, though. That's not Cumberland, but just a "British cavalry officer". Stadden's Cumberland is actually one of his better portrait figures. Here's mine, with more of the cavalry officer castings, as "The Duke of Cumberland, 1756, and staff":



The uniform details on the casting of the cavalry officer are not quite identifiable. The coat has no lapels, which would make it a dragoon coat, so I painted mine as officers of the King's (or Royal) Dragoons.

Even on this poor photo (one of the first I ever took, when I got my digital camera), I think the fine job Stadden did of portraying the Duke. The face really looks like contemporary portraits, and the star of the Garter and the ribbon are nicely cast.

I look forward to seeing the rest of this series from you!

Prost!
Brad

 

[beating retreat]

Hi John

Class job, superb restoration, rescued from the melting pot. Well done

Regards John

 

[blaster]

Hi John,

Excellent restoration. I think that your painting has "lifted" the qualities of the underlying castings.

rgds Victor

 

[Hazebrouck]

Beautifully done John.

The cavalry officer and the Black Watch officer look like they were starting to oxidise- something I have noticed with a few of these older figures now. So well done preserving them.

Incidentally there is a large collection of figures described as Staddens and Sarums in Melbourne on E-bay at the moment. I actually think there are a few other manufacturers amongst the lot (Ensign I think). Some of the larger Staddens as well.

If I were a single man I would be interested in this lot and I'm sure that if I did buy them I would be a single man!

 

[Obee]

The cavalry officer and the Black Watch officer look like they were starting to oxidise- something I have noticed with a few of these older figures now. So well done preserving them.

No it wasn't oxidization, it was where the paint chipped after bending of the legs and what was showing was the undercoat which also as very powdery.....

The paint stripper removed all of that and brought it back to raw metal so now with fresh undercoat and a top coat they are back to new.

John

 

[Obee]

Nice cleanup work, John! I may have been bidding against you, on some of these.

I must offer a minor correction, though. That's not Cumberland, but just a "British cavalry officer". Stadden's Cumberland is actually one of his better portrait figures. Here's mine, with more of the cavalry officer castings, as "The Duke of Cumberland, 1756, and staff":

The uniform details on the casting of the cavalry officer are not quite identifiable. The coat has no lapels, which would make it a dragoon coat, so I painted mine as officers of the King's (or Royal) Dragoons.

I look forward to seeing the rest of this series from you!

Prost!
Brad

Thanks for the advice Brad,

I think I'll do some repainting of the coat now and make him an officer of dragoons, like you suggest.

The reason that I painted him as 'The Duke' was that was the writing on the paper stuck onto the tinplate base, so I decided to follow that thread, even though the details on the coat were not right.

I thought if I posted the images, one of you 'fine gentlemen' would correct me if I'd got it wrong, so thanks for the advice!

I've also just received some mounted British Dragoons/Grenadiers in from John Eden, so when they are assembled and painted, they will now have an officer to lead them


John

 

[Obee]

Brad,

here is my repaint of the Dragoon officer to match yours..

Hope you like him, and thanks again for the info, I just have to get it right



John

 

[Artillery_crazy]

WoW, Miracles still happen..very nice indeed.....these Stadden´s are given a new life and another 40 years of glory ---- at least ---
Cheers
Luiz

I have recently won a few sets of old Stadden / Lasset / Hinton Hunt figures on EBay, and I decided to bid on them knowing that I could bring them back to their former glory.

This is what I got... which was exactly as described and seen in the image.

View attachment 151093

They are (L-R) Sentinel 1705, The Duke of Cumberland 1746, Officer Black Watch 1745.

As you can see the painting is very badly done, its flaking, is faded and chipped where the figure has been bent, and looking very sad

My technique with these sorts is the use paint stripper to clean off the old paint, then clean up the casting with a tooth brush to get any other residue off they check for ant damage to parts and clean up any moulding line.

Then with the new casting, go ahead and give it 'a lick of paint' and here is the result .....

View attachment 151094

Just like news ????

Good news is I have another 14 figures to go, so keep watching later on in the year for more makeovers !

John

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Brad,

here is my repaint of the Dragoon officer to match yours..

Hope you like him, and thanks again for the info, I just have to get it right

View attachment 152034

John

And many more restorations to come in August.......look forward if possible to see them in the thread before and after!
Cheers
Luiz

 

[mikemiller1955]

wow John!!!

absolutely fantastic...

especially your work on the intricate leggings...

you have given them a second life...

 

[theBaron]

Oh, John, I didn't mean for you to change him, but both versions are excellent! I wish my finishes were as crisp as yours.

I've picked up another of that casting at our show last weekend (below, left), along with a second dragoon trooper (far right), and 2 Dragoon Guard troopers (center):



The dragoon trooper and officer are curious, because their uniforms don't exactly match any specific regiment, but on the other hand, that makes them relatively adaptable to almost any dragoon regiment. The trooper, especially, has molded-on details that don't match any illustration I've seen so far, such as Morier's paintings.

I've got one Dragoon Guard trooper in progress as a trooper of the 3rd Dragoon Guards (later, the Prince of Wales' Own, circa 1768), and I may paint these two to go with him. I have to check back with the British order of battle in western Germany and see. If there were other Dragoon Guard regiments deployed, I may paint these till I have one or two from each.

Along with Tradition's latest British cavalry kits, we can put together a very nice display of George II's cavalry, indeed!

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

I must, too, looking again at your officer of the Black Watch, that you do an excellent job with the plaids and the diced hose!

Everyone, if you haven't checked John's website, I recommend his page on painting tartans, it's a very good guide for the painter.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Even better - second/third time around John. I know what you mean about knowing it isn't right. Just can't leave it - once you know it's a wrong 'un. Well done on rescuing yet another wonderful casting - lurking underneath a paint job damaged by time. Looking forward to the next ones. Lovely work, as always Maestro! - well done indeed. jb

 

[Obee]

I've been busy again repainting old Stadden figures.

Firstly its Lifeguard c 1820's


He came undercoated, but with the help of Martin Taboney, who supplied me with the correct uniform details, he has come to life

Next is a lancer from the Sudan Wars, bought in a job lot on Ebay


And now another Lancer c 1890s who turned out to be an officer, in walking out dress.


More to follow ..... in a few months

John

 

[Mirof]

I've been busy again repainting old Stadden figures.



And now another Lancer c 1890s who turned out to be an officer, in walking out dress.
View attachment 162664 View attachment 162665

More to follow ..... in a few months

John

Nice to see
The company Ensign, made a lot of figurines in "mess dress", 50+ pieces, in the 70ies I painted 4 of those pieces, sculpture was done by Rob Lowe



Catalog of Ensign to be found here : http://www.mirofsoft.com/nostalgia-old-catalog-pdf/

 

[theBaron]

Nicely done on this latest batch, John! Staddens really do paint up so well, and they hold up well with today's toy soldiers, too.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Hi Brad,

I fully agree with you...and the wealth of uniform details in certain cases surpasses many new manufacturers, cottage and large scale!
I am a great fan of the 54mm scale offerings from Charles....but have seen 70 and 90mm sets that are just incredible.
Pity that offerings from Stadden are becoming scarce by the day......

Cheers

Luiz

Nicely done on this latest batch, John! Staddens really do paint up so well, and they hold up well with today's toy soldiers, too.

Prost!
Brad