Stagecoach - The Sequel (2 Viewers)

[johnnybach]

Hi both - He's not finished yet!

Thanks for the uniform details Trooper - as I have downloaded lots of pictures trying to clarify uniform details. Snag is - a lot of artists have confused the issue over the years. I will make this guy a corporal - and thin his trouser stripe down a bit, like the trooper in the super pic below, which is one of the ones that I have been using as guides.

As I have already done it, I will stick with this guidon - so will just fast forward the date to 1885. He already has an "F" in red on his guidon - as I had to give another coat of white to it - and it wasn't dry enough to overpaint the red F when that last pic was done.

Reason for F???? Well - I was once in an "F" Troop myself!

Coming much later on in my schedule for Winter, are some more Buffalo Soldiers that I have obtained from Nick Abalese in America. I have two Standards to paint for them - and one of these is going to be the Old style Stars and Stripes Guidon you mention Trooper - again shown in the pic below. The other will be a Standard for the other Regiment - 10th. I will then have three of them.

My guy is now completed - but currently drying before getting a coat of varnish. Should be ready tomorrow for a final pic of him - Many thanks for the advice though - as usual - very much appreciated. johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Thought I might show how it's all beginning to develop, now that I have some of each element either completed or as a work in progress. From the left, the "Buffalo Soldier" Corporal Guidon Bearer of the 9th Cavalry (F Troop), is painted and drying - ready for varnish tomorrow. The two attacking Indians to the front are not completed (horses are) - but both well on the way. The Indian Chief on the Rearing Horse is completed - as are the three cowboys manning the defence of the stage, although looks as if Curly is about to get the chop!

It's certainly going to be colourful! ........................johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Morning has come - my two figures' paintwork is now dried enough - so they have both received their first coat of varnish (Humbrol 35). Two views below.

I'm very encoraged by how these are turning out thus far. I will try and finish the other two Indians today (from Irregular Miniatures) - so can then start off 3 more chasing Indians (from Tommy Atkins this time) and some more Buffalo Soldiers, (Dorset Soldiers adaptation). Hope you like 'em, so far - and many thanks again Trooper for keeping me on the right path with the uniform................. johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

I had a bit of spare time last night (When "Strictly" was on!) - so I put together my Tommy Atkins (TA) horses for their Indian Braves. I thought you might like to see them in the raw - as unpainted castings. In the background you can also see my painted versions so far. The last two "Irregular Miniature" models have been mounted securely on their respective mounts - and just need tweaking of details to finish them off.

In the front rank - you may note that the TA models use the same horse for all three figures - which looks a very animated mount. (Good solid base too - I like that). Shouldn't matter too much - as the other three are all different. Note that the new riders are all different though. One carries a muzzle loader, one is using a bow, whilst the last figure carries a lance. I left the one model in bits - so you could see how they arrive. I will be working these up - as before - and hope to start off a Buffalo Soldier trumpeter as well. His horse is currently being pinned securely to a fabricated base - as I like all of my horses this way, to keep them more stable.

I have been suprised at what memories have been provoked (again) by making up these figures. I have been recalling my Saturday morning "Threepenny rush" visits to the Regent Cinema in Cardiff - to watch the Saturday matinee dose of "Cowboy and Injun" shorts that they used to show. I must have been around 9 years old back then. Pre-TV days those - but wonderful for all of the kids! jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

Looks like you are having a rootin tootin good time with these pardner Very nicely done as always JB.

Thought this site may be of use to you http://www.whitetowerminiatures.co.uk/ not sure if they provide casting though, would be cool if they do........they have a cowboy band !!

 

[thebritfarmer]

They do sell casting !! Yippe Yo Ki Eeeeeeeeee get some bought there's a good chap

 

[johnnybach]

Last picture for today is this Casting of the 9th Cavalary Trumpeter ( F Troop) who is a little bit special. He has several features which make him so.

First up is his head - which has been specially modified by Giles Browne at Dorset Soldiers - especially for me, to show the brim of his stetson blown up flat - a characteristic of many Buffalo Soldiers you see in many photos and pictures. Thanks Giles for that little detail which was much appreciated.

His right arm can be seen unattached at present - holding his trumpet. Another non-standard part supplied from another figure.

Next is a lovely little casting of a carbine. This was a gift from a friend who can't remember where he obtained it! Bother!! - but many thanks. It is very slightly over-sized for the figure - but what the heck!

I have modified the figure - who is wearing a cross belt with a swivel - and have drilled and pinned this in order to attach the carbine to it. He then has his hand free to put trumpet to lips - to blow the Charge! Should look rather special - when he's complete. I have also made up an empty scabbard for the carbine ( to match the other figures), though these were frquently not carried by most cavalry troopers at the time, just carried in hand or attached by swivel to the cross-belt.

Now - I can get on and do a bit of painting! See you later..............johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Holy Toledo Scott! They've only got Hoppy on a his Hoss!!! - and Gabby too!!!!!!

Gotta tell ya pardner - those are on the next order list.

I must admit that I goldurn clean fergot about those..........as I didn't remember them doing castings.

A quick look confirmed...Roy Rogers, the Cisco Kid, Gene Autrey, The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Tom Mix - and many more booties.

Yup - pardner - the 12 piece Dodge City Band looks like a mighty fine bunch'o'dudes too!

I have a bucket load of projects lined up for this Winter - with well over 100 castings (lost count of exactly how many in my stash.

Including -------------- Cherry Pickers mounted band (11th Hussars)

Napoleonic Battery of six cannons with 33 battery members

Currasssier mounted Band

Dragoon Band

Buffalo Soldiers

Richard 1 / Saladin Chess set

and a few odd surprises.

Then - I'm off to New Zealand next Spring - with a date to see the guys at Regal in Greytown - hoping to liberate some TS from them ( and hope I can talk 'em in to letting me have them as castings).

So .....ooooo.....................looks like June/July to order some Cow-punchers when I'll be back in the UK - with a view to starting another round of Cowboys around Autumn next year.........Yup! Cowboy Band around then - with a few Western Film Stars too. That suit?????

Cheers Pardner - mighty nice of ya to tip me the wink! Yore old pal.....

Hoppalong Johnnybach

 

[aujj65]

Hi Hoppalong!

This has turned out to be another fine thread. {bravo}}

I think you should proceed with the Napoleonic Gun Battery next.

Do carry on. :wink2:

Jeff

 

[johnnybach]

Well, Jeff - I sort-of have really begun them - as I have been putting together the cannons......... But.....they are not my favourites at the moment.........
I will get there - but they may have to wait for a while. I have bought a lot of things that I fancy doing - but am going with my preferences for now........Be patient.......By the way...... Where are your brushes ????? C'mon .... Mr Green???????? ..jb

 

[johnnybach]

My group seems suddenly to be getting bigger! At the front are the three newest horses and figures (Tommy Atkins) - and also the US 9th Cav. Trumpeter. I think this front view show his new head and hat much better. I have first coated the horses - so will leave to dry awhile. Keep forgetting to paint the figure with tomahawk's hair black! Will do it next!!!

 

[johnnybach]

It's been a dampish sort of day here today, and paintwork always seems to take that bit longer to dry completely, so I can't get on with as much as I would like. However, with a largish group - there's always something to do next, so I made another base and drilled and pinned another Buffalo Soldier onto it. Also made a couple of holsters to go on their gun-belts.

I thought you might like to see how these progress - with at far right a basic casting, then the latest new one ( just placed his arm with six-shooter raised for now - to see how he looks; then comes the trumpeter I have been working on - and finally the completed figure. I always like to complete one figure first - as I always "learn" how to do the next one a bit better that way. I like the new heads with the upturned brims - wish I had asked for more than two now.

Difficult to resist playing with the completed ones a bit - so why bother resisting - see you later.................johnnybach^&grin

 

[thebritfarmer]

Very nice JB, those Tommy Atkins figures look awesome.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Scott - yes they are very nice indeed. I changed one of the tails for one from my "spares" box - just to put a bit of variation in - as all three are in the same pose. However, each rider figure is very different - so, with mixing them in with the other three - the effect won't be so noticeable.

Not really a problem - as all six of my Buffalo Soldiers rides the same horse casting.

Thanks for the tip yesterday - I've been making a list for June next year^&grin jb

 

[aujj65]

Hi Johnny, these are coming along ^&cool

Jeff

Btw, I will be painting some more Alma Crimean War figures, but some time next year.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Jeff - yes, they are coming along okay - will be good to see your painting again - as I like to see how I'm doing!

Many thanks for all the pics recently at the show too - jb

 

[johnnybach]

Just wanted to see how the parts fitted together for the trumpeter. It's quite useful to photograph - and then take another look. I had to reposition the Springfield carbine on the swivel - as it didn't fall right. Re-drilled small hole and re-fitted. The weapon is really slightly too big - but I like the detail. What the heck - it's a TS!!!! It's staying............jb

 

[johnnybach]

I was a bit busy with real life today - so just had a bit of time to do a bit more with the Trumpeter, though splashed a bit more paint around some more horses too.

Still a bit more detail to go before he can be varnished to seal it all in - but progressing. jb

 

[johnnybach]

It's a handy tool - this photography. I hadn't noticed that the pants of the Trumpeter were a different shade to the Corporal - until I looked at the photo. Mixed the wrong blue with white. So re-touched - and he's a better match now. Some brown straps and buckles to do yet - should finish him tomorrow.

 

[johnnybach]

This pic shows that the Trumpeter of the 9th Cav (F Troop) has now joined his Guidon Bearer - and is on escort duty to the Wells Fargo Stagecoach. Looks like it's just as well - as my three completed Injun Braves, are just taking exception to the Stage passing through their Hunting Grounds!

This latest figure (Trumpeter) has been a nice one to work up - as I have had him in my minds eye for quite awhile.

I have three more Indians and four more Buffalo Soldiers to complete yet - with some different weapons - so keep an eye out for more to come yet. jb