The Blues And Royals ‘BIG BAND' (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

Over the last few years I’ve found myself collecting all kinds of ‘CEREMONIAL’ toy soldiers.

Perhaps one of the reasons for this is to give myself a little creative respite from the thousands of ‘ACTION’ figures King & Country has been producing for all these years.

Now although I still enjoy and appreciate our own ‘Action’ soldiers it’s good to have a break away from all the ‘blood, gore and bullets’ and go back to a more colourful and formal aspect of soldiering… the world of ‘parades, pomp and pageantry’.

That was personified in the most impressive and spectacular style of the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral just a few weeks ago.

Another part of the appeal of ‘Parade’ figures is quite a simple one… As a wee boy back in 1950s Scotland I could not, and certainly my parents could not, afford those big collections of Guardsmen, Highlanders and many other famous British regiments beloved by Britains that I used to see in the toy sections of big department stores up in nearby Glasgow, especially at Christmas time.

Well, jump forward many decades and now I can collect some of these ‘parade soldiers’ and have built up a modest collection.

One thing bugged me though… with a few rare exceptions most of the toy bands were just too small, in numbers of musicians… I wanted more!

Take, the William Britains ‘Blue & Royals’ Limited Edition Band… just 12 x assorted figures and NO Bandmaster.

These 12 dismounted musicians seemed pretty ‘lonely’ and not sufficient to even be called a band. So, I bought an additional set which gave me 24 musicians in total, however my enlarged ‘BIG BAND’ did not require 2 x Bass Drummers or 2 x Cymbals Players.

So, I decided to convert one of the Cymbals Players to the Regimental Bandmaster who was conspicuously absent.

To do the conversion I asked my good friend, Mr. John O’Brien of Western Australia to handle this task. Now, John, or ‘OBEE’ as he is known here on the Forum, is extremely talented and within a week had completed the job and dispatched the finished piece up to Hong Kong which I rec’d a couple of days ago.

Here are a few pics of the project I thought some of you might like to see.

Congratulatory thanks to John and best wishes to one and all.
Andy

 

[Northgate Woods]

Andy mate,

Great looking Band cobber. Would love to see K&C produce a Matt version of this Blues & Royals Band. Obee has done a fantastic job with that conversion, but then I would expect nothing less from a man of his talents. Having seen a photo of your Ceremonials on parade on your Dining Room table I was wondering where you will fit this Band in??

K&C Ceremonial Range is a real winner. 65 to 70 years ago when only a lad these Ceremonial Britain figures were all that could be purchased at the local Toy Soldier Shop and this Band brings back memories of a happy TS childhood. I look forward to seeing more of this K&C range in the future.

Cheers Howard:salute::

 

[paxtoysoldier]

I think Andy has a great product here. Hope to see more ceremonial pageantry. Also, hope it sells well after so many years of "bandless" releases (which happened because of too many releases in the years before - but that was long ago now).
Thanks Andy.
Best Wishes and God Bless Britain.
Paddy

 

[Obee]

Andy,

thanks for posting this thread to show off your complete band.

I was quite surprised when you approached me to do this job for you, but I always like a challenge and so took it on.

When the figure arrived he's has his arms removed, so firstly I rummaged in my spares box and found some spare arms, both original Britains parts to suit and to make him look authentic.



The extra bits I have added are the gauntlet ‘wings’ using metal foil and the NCO aiguillette using fine brass wire and his pouch which is a metal off cut shaped to the correct size.

I matched the paint colour for the coat and needed to repaint the pouch belt and sword sling. I could have added the slings using metal foil, but because he is still in ‘toy style’ and not model, I thought I’d stay true to maker.

I also just had to retouch the painting of the front of plume, even though it is toy finish, but it was just too sloppy !

After your approval, he was posted off to HK to join his regiment on your parade ground. I thought afterwards, it was bit like me 'Sending coals to Newcastle' but I know that there would be one Happy Collector awaiting a parcel today, the same joy we all get on opening a new figure from you. :smile2:

Happy Collecting,
John

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Hi Andy,
Congratualtions to your enlarged band...

And Congratualtions to John on the superb conversion, that if not told we would think it came as a standard member of the original band...

To your point Andy...

It is really a serious oversight of the WBritains design team not to include the Bandmaster and that said it is not that they do not have them...The Royal Marines and the Regular Guards ( Coldstream, Irish and Scottish sets for the trooping the colour ) all have a nice bandmaster with the bandmaster pole, the different additional Regimental details to the tunics etc... why did they miss it here......^&grin^&grin

On a different tone...I hear what you say about "..... a break away from all the ‘blood, gore and bullets’ and go back to a more colourful and formal aspect of soldiering… the world of ‘parades, pomp and pageantry..."
I have gone the other direction....gave my sons all my Regimental bands and I am now focused for the last 10 years on action, blood and bullets......more into action! But do agree that from time to time I pop into their cabinets to remember the endless hours I spent as a young collector setting up the trooping of the colour and all the pageantry that went with it....
Happy collecting.
Cheers

A_C

Hi Guys,

Over the last few years I’ve found myself collecting all kinds of ‘CEREMONIAL’ toy soldiers.

Perhaps one of the reasons for this is to give myself a little creative respite from the thousands of ‘ACTION’ figures King & Country has been producing for all these years.

Now although I still enjoy and appreciate our own ‘Action’ soldiers it’s good to have a break away from all the ‘blood, gore and bullets’ and go back to a more colourful and formal aspect of soldiering… the world of ‘parades, pomp and pageantry’.

That was personified in the most impressive and spectacular style of the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral just a few weeks ago.

Another part of the appeal of ‘Parade’ figures is quite a simple one… As a wee boy back in 1950s Scotland I could not, and certainly my parents could not, afford those big collections of Guardsmen, Highlanders and many other famous British regiments beloved by Britains that I used to see in the toy sections of big department stores up in nearby Glasgow, especially at Christmas time.

Well, jump forward many decades and now I can collect some of these ‘parade soldiers’ and have built up a modest collection.

One thing bugged me though… with a few rare exceptions most of the toy bands were just too small, in numbers of musicians… I wanted more!

Take, the William Britains ‘Blue & Royals’ Limited Edition Band… just 12 x assorted figures and NO Bandmaster.

These 12 dismounted musicians seemed pretty ‘lonely’ and not sufficient to even be called a band. So, I bought an additional set which gave me 24 musicians in total, however my enlarged ‘BIG BAND’ did not require 2 x Bass Drummers or 2 x Cymbals Players.

So, I decided to convert one of the Cymbals Players to the Regimental Bandmaster who was conspicuously absent.

To do the conversion I asked my good friend, Mr. John O’Brien of Western Australia to handle this task. Now, John, or ‘OBEE’ as he is known here on the Forum, is extremely talented and within a week had completed the job and dispatched the finished piece up to Hong Kong which I rec’d a couple of days ago.

Here are a few pics of the project I thought some of you might like to see.

Congratulatory thanks to John and best wishes to one and all.
Andy

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[Johnboy]

Hi Guys,

Over the last few years I’ve found myself collecting all kinds of ‘CEREMONIAL’ toy soldiers.

Perhaps one of the reasons for this is to give myself a little creative respite from the thousands of ‘ACTION’ figures King & Country has been producing for all these years.

Now although I still enjoy and appreciate our own ‘Action’ soldiers it’s good to have a break away from all the ‘blood, gore and bullets’ and go back to a more colourful and formal aspect of soldiering… the world of ‘parades, pomp and pageantry’.

That was personified in the most impressive and spectacular style of the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral just a few weeks ago.

Another part of the appeal of ‘Parade’ figures is quite a simple one… As a wee boy back in 1950s Scotland I could not, and certainly my parents could not, afford those big collections of Guardsmen, Highlanders and many other famous British regiments beloved by Britains that I used to see in the toy sections of big department stores up in nearby Glasgow, especially at Christmas time.

Well, jump forward many decades and now I can collect some of these ‘parade soldiers’ and have built up a modest collection.

One thing bugged me though… with a few rare exceptions most of the toy bands were just too small, in numbers of musicians… I wanted more!

Take, the William Britains ‘Blue & Royals’ Limited Edition Band… just 12 x assorted figures and NO Bandmaster.

These 12 dismounted musicians seemed pretty ‘lonely’ and not sufficient to even be called a band. So, I bought an additional set which gave me 24 musicians in total, however my enlarged ‘BIG BAND’ did not require 2 x Bass Drummers or 2 x Cymbals Players.

So, I decided to convert one of the Cymbals Players to the Regimental Bandmaster who was conspicuously absent.

To do the conversion I asked my good friend, Mr. John O’Brien of Western Australia to handle this task. Now, John, or ‘OBEE’ as he is known here on the Forum, is extremely talented and within a week had completed the job and dispatched the finished piece up to Hong Kong which I rec’d a couple of days ago.

Here are a few pics of the project I thought some of you might like to see.

Congratulatory thanks to John and best wishes to one and all.
Andy

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Hi,
Blues and Royals/Life Guards bands were graded as "staff bands" and therefor had a "Director music" who was a commissioned officer. A "Bandmaster" in the British army was a Warrant Officer !st Class who ran a "Line" band. Sorry for being picky!