Some Napoleonics of mine (1 Viewer)

[Mardasson]

Hi Scott - thanks for the offer of some material regarding the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles of WW1. I have a few bits and pieces scratched together - but the more info I can collect - the better. I'm not at all certain in which newspaper the pic originally appeared - but think it is one of two that was taken in Brandon Manitoba in April 1915, prior to the unit going overseas. At the time, they were the fist mounted pipe-band in the world - which aroused my interest - as I quite like pipe bands. The only Colour pic I have is below - which may give some idea of how they will look. Tartan for the pipes is going to be the original one of Royal Stuart, by the way - they changed this some time afterwards to the clan tartan of the new leader - but I prefer the original set.

Alan caton is the sculptor of the band - for Brian Harrison of Yeoman Miniatures (Yeoman on this forum). They are just a few days or so from being ready for despatch to me apparently. I'm going to have them, in two contingents. When complete, there will be twelve pipers - and 8 drummers in total(including side drums, tenor drums - and one bass drum) - so should look very different. Definitely interesting too (at least I think so). I will send you my e-mail details - and would be very pleased to receive anything you can send me to help with the story that I am building - pics would be most helpful - but tricky to find those.

Cheers chum - and many thanks. johnnybach

Johnny,

Here is the picture Scott was mentionning.
Found in TRaditionmagazine issue 72
Michel

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Michael - thanks for the pic - and the referrence to the article in Tradition Magazine No.72.

Yep them's the boys alright. I'm slowly piecing together information about this mounted pipe band - which is being put together by Brian Harrison (Yeoman) - sculpted by Alan Caton. I now have three versions of this particular picture - which keep getting better - so thanks for your version which is particularly clear. All contributions greatfully received though - as it will help me produce a more realistic display ( I hope!).

Shame about the missing twelve band member mentioned in the text, though I think some of them never made it into the band that went overseas to serve in France - as I have another article which suggests only 19 formed the original band. I will write up what I know before starting the project - and give anyone else a chance to input any new material that I don't know about.

If we count up those present in the photo - we get 11 members - add in the missing 12 and arithmetically, there should be 23 in total. I'm going for twenty, which is somewhere in the middle - as it will make my band symetrical.

Many thanks again - johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

My first completed figure from my set of five castings is now finished - a Sergeant of the Gordons at Waterloo. He is very much in glossy toy soldier style - as he is based on a Britains figure from around 1936. They are nothing like today's fashion for Matte finished, realistic military models - but I just love 'em this way. Four views below. johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Continuing with my five Napoleonics - I would like to show my next offering - which may prove a bit controversial. I have long liked a particular illustration by Richard Simkin. This is shown as the Gordons drummer in the top illustration below. He is shown here as wearing a parti-colour jacket - of yellow with red sleeves. Bill Carman (1985) describes this illustration as "Not entirely trustworthy" - as other illustrators have shown a yellow jacket and sleeves with red collar and cuffs. He also doubts the banded red/yellow rims on the drum - considering they could be solid red - although stating they could be possible.

However - I like him just as Simkin drew and painted him - so chose to paint him this way too.

So here he is - painted up as Simkin showed him - alongside my Sergeant which I finished earlier - both in 1815 - and in Toy Soldier style. Note these are from the same casting - but I have worked on the drummers shoulder detail with a mix of metal foil, milliput and epoxy resin glue. There are a few details to finish off - such as socks and base - but he's nearly there - and took some time to get to this stage.

 

[johnnybach]

Still plodding away quietly with my Waterloo Gordons, so I thought I would show how my newest recruits are coming along. All of these are from the same basic casting - but have been given alternative arms and paint jobs. Not finished yet, of course - but shows how a very cheap and basic casting can be modified to make an interesting little scene. Note the socks Scott - a bit of work to do yet on them. johnnybach

 

[Grognard]

Johnny, very nice work and attention to details! Well done!

 

[johnnybach]

Merci, mon ami - and great fun to do too! - jb

 

[johnnybach]

My five Gordon Highlanders circa 1815 have now been completed and varnished - and now look like this. Rather simple and old-fashioned glossy figures - but just my cup of tea - I'm afraid.

In the background you may be able to see a cannon and four members of its crew from the Royal Horse Artillery around the same time period.

I have started painting these gunners - and they are at an early stage in their development - so will continue with these from now on. Four views of Gordons below.

 

[Obee]

Nice work with your painting.

These figures look great painted with a gloss finish, just like mine...

Well Done...

John

 

[MarkeytMaker]

The mounted 60th Rifles Officer is now completed - and the group to accompany him him has been started off. I have several more different groups of Napoleonic figures put aside - so will continue adding a few from time to time whilst progressing these. jb

I'm interested in knowing what paint brand & color you used on this horse base?

 

[johnnybach]

Hi John - I did a double-take just then - I didn't know you had painted up the same figures too. Thanks - but note that yours are a bit more professionally finished than mine. I'm running out of brushes - and have no fine points left (that's my excuse). I was surprised by how fiddly they were - I thought they would have been easier than they turned out to be. Still - I enjoyed painting them - my way, anyhow. Note that I tried to do my drummer as Simkin showed him - so they aren't EXACTLY the same - but therin lies the fun.

Hi Markey - I (like John) use Humbrol paint - and always have. For all of the bases on those 60th Rifles, I used a Matt 93 Desert Yellow as a first undercoat, and then a Matt 63 Sand - as a second coat when the first coat was dry. I then topped this with Humbrol 35 Gloss Varnish - and finally finished it with Tamiya Clear Acrylic X-22 - which gives a wonderfully deep lustre. Sounds complicated - but isn't really. They now look like this:

As they were quite a "dark" looking figure - I tried to lift them a bit with a lighter colour base. I often use a slightly different undercoat colour that will complement the top coat. The Humbrol varnish is to seal the Humbrol paint hat I used in - and the Tamiya top finish gives that really deep shine. I see you are thinking of having a go too - so try out my method - if you like - but by all means try Acrylics too - as you could go straight to using Tamiya Clear Acrylic X-22 right on top of the Acrylic paint.

 

[johnnybach]

If there is anyone interested in getting a really deep shine on their glossy TS - then check out this picture - with the previous one that I posted of the five Gordon Highlanders.

The one above now shows that all five have now had the extra coat of the Tamiya Acrylic Gloss product (X-22), overbrushed on top of the Humbrol varnish. I hope it shows up - as my photography is notoriously poor - but is easy to see - and feel the difference when you see thereal thing. Best product I have found in years and gives a finish that looks and feels almost like porcelain - and I can't speak too highly of it! jb

 

[MarkeytMaker]

If there is anyone interested in getting a really deep shine on their glossy TS - then check out this picture - with the previous one that I posted of the five Gordon Highlanders.

The one above now shows that all five have now had the extra coat of the Tamiya Acrylic Gloss product (X-22), overbrushed on top of the Humbrol varnish. I hope it shows up - as my photography is notoriously poor - but is easy to see - and feel the difference when you see thereal thing. Best product I have found in years and gives a finish that looks and feels almost like porcelain - and I can't speak too highly of it! jb

JB,

These look perfect!!!

Thanks for the info on paint...where do you buy your supplies? I went to Hobby World USA but the store I went to had alot missing in colors...someone there needs inventory control!

 

[johnnybach]

I spend a lot of my time in South West France - and have found a Model Shop on the south side of Bordeaux. Not exactly handy - as it takes two hours or so to get there. Fortunately, it is relatively close to the Airport - so what I do, is keep a running record of what paints I will soon need to buy or replace. When I go there, I build in the time to go and collect them from there. If your shop doesn't stock them all - you may get the guy to order for you by emailing him/her with a list. It isn't uncommon for stockists NOT to stock the lot, but they will usually order them for you. Same with brushes too. Try to get hold of one of Humbrol's Colou Charts - which list all of their products ( and show you the colours) - if you want to use them - if not do the same for whatever paint you intend to use.(Visit Humbrol on www.humbrol.com)

When I make trips to the UK - there are normally better stocked Model Shops around - and I know a few of these - so I generally stock up there with Humbrol paints and better brushes too. BUT - due to rules about liquids in hand luggage - can't take 'em back that way now - so beware of that if you fly anywhere. It sometimes seems to me - that folks seem to want to make our hobby - as difficult as possible, sometimes. However - that's just the way things are.

If you get really keen - you will find a way. Can the Treefrog Shop help you out with the full range of Humbrol paints? If so, maybe they will post you what you want from online? Otherwise - just scout out where your best local shop is ( ask the other Treefrog members closest to you) and KEEP A LIST of what you want. Don't forget the basics either - Blue/Yellow make green....Red/Yellow make orange....Brown/black make Dark Brown etcetera. You won't need every tinlet they make - if you learn to mix a dab of each colour onto a palette with a small stick. ( I collect all plastic tub tops and use those to mix shades).

Hope that helps - and good luck with it when you get started. If you have any questions - ask in the Painters section on the forum - there are a few of us around - and most are better than me - Obee is just one who likes to give a helping hand and advice - if asked - and actuall got me started back in this hobby - although he never knew it! In USA - Brad (Baron) will too - and there are several more - too numerous to mention individually.

Happy painting - johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Next up - is my Royal Horse Artillery(RHA) Gun team of four. These are reasonably well advanced - as I had been painting bits and pieces on them, whilst parts of the Gordons were drying. This is a pretty common occurrence with glossies - as you can't rush the drying process of the paint as you can with other mediums like Acrylics. Glossy painters, therefore, often have several things "on the go" at the same time.

The canon is more or less finished - but the team are at various stages in their development. This is the first time that I have painted the Tarleton helmet - so have been taking a peek at some images - as well as other TS producers work too - to get ideas of how they look. Some way to go with these yet. jb

 

[theBaron]

More great work, John, and the gloss coat really has a depth to it.

Who's the manufacturer on these last batches of castings?

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Brad - sorry - I forgot to mention - one of my favourite manufactureres - Giles Brown of Dorset Soldiers (UK) cast them. In fact, all of my Napoleonics that I have been showing being made up in this thread - came from Giles. I collected them in the UK - about a year or so ago - and created a "stash" - as a back up supply. I don't live too far from his base in Dorset in the UK - so usually shop from his online catalogue - send him a bulk order of bits and pieces that I fancy - and then combine a day at the seaside with La Commandante - and drop in to pick up my order whilst I'm there.

I usually have a good old natter with Giles - and he shows me pieces that he's working on - and I explain ideas of what I like - and sometimes come away with something new too! In fact - I use my UK stays to collect nearly all of what I make up over the year in this way - as well as visiting toy-fairs, car boot sales etcetera - in the hunt for old or broken TS to refurbish too.

This has been a bit of a strategy of mine over the past couple of years - as I have been trying to reduce the high postage charges which usually occur - when manufacturers post to Europe. When you spend around £200 or so, - a 20% postal charge puts another £40 on top - which I would prefer to spend on a few more castings - so I try to plan ahead and minimize postal costs wherever I can. It's not too dificult - just need to plan ahead a bit. As I buy from UK suppliers (mostly), I also try to get suppliers who live too far away to collect from - to post to my UK address whilst I'm over there, which is usually around half of the postal charges for EU areas.

I do get some funny looks at my hand luggage by customs people sometimes when my bag goes through the scanner - but so far - so good. They haven't banned TS yet!

 

[johnnybach]

These are my RHA - 1815 now completed. They were supplied as castings from Dorset Soldiers (UK) and painted in Humbrol Enamels and then varnished with Humbrol Gloss - and a final top-coat of Tamiya Avrylic Gloss ( X-22) applied. A nice little set - which will complement my Waterloo Gordon Highlanders nicely.

I have a lot more French Dragoons put away for a rainy day - but those will involve some conversion work - so they will be for another day. Some different projects next - once I collect my newly ordered castings. So - all for now for this thread........... jb

 

[Hazebrouck]

John,

Can you tell me what colour green you used for your rifle uniforms earlier in the thread? I am guessing it is Humbrol.

Scott

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Scott. Yes you're correct - I used Humbrol. The colour is a mix from two tins. Brunswick Green (Gloss 3) - and I mix that with Black ( I used Coal Black - which is a Satin 85) - but you can use any black to darken it down really. I put a few drops of each colour on a pallet - and mix together until it looks right - then off I go. You don't need much black - so add very gradually - or you'll swamp it!

Usual varnish job at the end! Which you knew about before me - I think! Just LOVE that shine! Happy painting - johnnybach