Various Hollowcasts in Need of some TLC (2 Viewers)

[DMNamiot]

Super work as always!

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the round up. Wondering when Red Cloud and his band of warriors will show up...

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Dave - or should that be "How".^&grin I do have an old Britains Mounted Chief to restore/repair ( see first page of this thread) - but ran into a couple of problems with him on stripping his old layers of paint (he'd been "restored" by someone before - who owned a six inch brush!). I found that his "Spear" was in fact a piece of insulated wire - and his "hand was in fact a blob of painted putty - which disolved on application of paint-stripper. All part of the discovery process, when you get an old figure.

I have thus decided to hold back on the repairs until I get back to my destination, this weekend - as I have a small "stash" of possible replacement arms/hands, brass rod etc - and I can make a permanent repair to "One hand Red". Good name - as he had a red shirt to begin with.

Once he's fixed up (he may need a name change) - he can then join my growing "Tribe" - and have a bit of fun with the unfortunate cowpoke, taking shelter behind his horse. Great fun, these old figures - and very satisfying to bring 'em back.

So.......as they used to flash up on the screen at the saturday matinee's,

To be Continued...............................see you later.......jb

 

[johnnybach]

As predicted, my lone cpwpoke with the lame horse has wandered into a bit of trouble. A case of wrong time to have a horse go lame in the wrong place. He is having a bit of fun with some of his new chums, from my Western section of the cabinet.

Below see two views of my repaired and repainted old Johillco cowboy firing from behind his horse. His repair was to his carbine, which when found in a amongst a sad cardboard box full of broken chums - was without the barrel from his hand. A bit of handiwork with a drill, paper clip (for the barrel) and a bit of milliput (for the rest) - and Hey-Presto - good as new. I particularly like the rear view - and the care that Hills originally went to, to model in gun-belt with holstered pistol and his chaps. A well modelled piece, from the 1950's (or earlier) - that I was just delighted to find to repair and repaint.

I still have more cowboys and another mounted Injun Chief to come - so will post some more with some of my old favourites when they are fit to show. Johnnybach

 

[theBaron]

Heap bad, Kemo Sabe! Them Hakowi Tribe, plenty fierce, give us heap trouble!

 

[johnnybach]

Baron white-eyes him speak with plenty straight tongue - when he say we not mess about with trespassers..................Hey wait a short breath - there's more of those trespassing geezers nipping across reservation in house on wheels - and them racing dudes too going the other way!

We leave this dude with white horse - and chase them instead. Heap plenty fun today guys! Hoko-hey-yah!

(I didn't read The Eagle all those years ago - without picking up some of the lingo, you know)

 

[GICOP]

Baron white-eyes him speak with plenty straight tongue - when he say we not mess about with trespassers..................Hey wait a short breath - there's more of those trespassing geezers nipping across reservation in house on wheels - and them racing dudes too going the other way!

We leave this dude with white horse - and chase them instead. Heap plenty fun today guys! Hoko-hey-yah!

(I didn't read The Eagle all those years ago - without picking up some of the lingo, you know)

Very impressed with the figures and lingo jb, Merry Christmas to you and your Tribe :salute::

Cheers

Martyn

 

[johnnybach]

Very impressed with the figures and lingo jb, Merry Christmas to you and your Tribe :salute::

Cheers

Martyn

Ugh! - Same-um-you! Big Chief Lacommandante & Little chief johnnybach - Last of the Taff-hicans^&grin

 

[johnnybach]

Another of my restored cowboys is now ready to join some chums - so I've taken the liberty of involving him in a gunfight with some of his new colleagues that you may have seen before. To the right are three members of the Timpo gang, who are trading lead with three of the Posse who are out to get Black Jake.

As you may see, the three Timpo figures are to the right of the pic - whilst the newest repaired figure is to the front left. A Britains Hollowcast - he had originally lost his head, arm with pistol and the trailing rear leg of his horse - so couldn't stand up. As well as the original repaired/replacement parts, I have also given him a new solid stand, - as I believe that many of these old figures get broken by being repeatedly knocked over, and a firm stable base helps stop this happening for the future. Behind him is the restored Johilco figure firing from behind his horse - and a rare Segal figure - again with pistol drawn - galloping into the gun-fight. I haven't given him a stand yet - as he is such a rare figure to find - I thought that I would leave him without one - as intended by the original maker.

I hoped to have had my Injun Chief ready by now - but have had a further small modification to make - so will explain that when he is finished and ready to show - quite soon now, I'm sure. In the meantime - keep your head down - there's lead flying about! jb

 

[johnnybach]

Next update on progress is shown below. From the back - my Britains mounted cowboy with pistol, shows the other side of the repaired/restored figure shown in the preceding post, which shows off the new rear trailing leg of the horse much better.

The centre figure is a really old Johillco cowboy with pistol in hand ( the arm and pistol is a replacement part, as it was originally missing). This figure dates from the 1930's - as the "Rocking Horse" pose betrays. I have put him on a solid base now, as some legs of the horse were showing signs of cracking - doubtless due to years of play by former owners. Repaired and now pinned and glued in place, I have every confidence he will see his centenary - and beyond.

Last figure in the foreground is really a bit of a cheat - as he's a modern recast of another old Johillco figure that I'm in the process of converting - but now fits in so well with my others - I thought that I would show you him. He's not finished yet, as I'm converting him from the original unarmed "Bucking Bronco" figure - to an armed gunslinger! Note the pearl-handled colts at his gunbelt ( he has another on the other side) - and a sheathed rifle. I have added these items - as well as the jazzy Indian style horse blanket - to make him into a more interesting cowboy. Note the enlarged base, which wasn't big enough, to begin with, to keep him from toppling over too easily. As a solid figure, instead of the original lighter hollowcast, he was too front heavy. I have added a bigger base underneath the original. I'll show him off better once he's finished. jb

 

[johnnybach]

I have finally completed my new (to me), old hollowcast Britains Injun Chief. He's the one in the blue shirt - and I call him "Broken Lance", for reasons that may become clear as I explain his transformation.. Note the similarity with my previous Britains repair job that I did around a year or so ago on the very similar figure at the back. He's basically the same figure - with a different arm/weapon.

When I found Lance, - he had a few problems. Firstly, his old arm had a previous rather poor repair which included a hand made of glazing putty (for windows!) and a "spear" made from a piece of insulated wire! This was probably a boyish bodge-up from years ago - but I determined to keep a spear arm - and eventually had to make one. After cleaning the figure up, removing the old paint with stripper - and then filling in a few small holes in the body of rider and horse with milliput and glue - I was ready to begin fabricating a new arm and weapon.

I used a new arm from my stash of spares - and bent it to shape as a throwing arm, by trial and error. I removed the old rivet and part-arm from my figure by surgery, and maneovared the new arm to fit the newly formed socket in the body. After drilling through the hand with a pin-vice, I fitted the new (more robust) spear made from a piece of brass rod - with the spear-tip made from milliput. The feather decoration was made from thin metal sheet (Thanks to Giles from Dorset Soldiers for this sheeting) and both were firmly glued in place on the shaft. I then found that the base - which was originally the same size as the Injun at the rear - was too small to hold my new figure upright - as the long spear had upset the careful balance of the hollowcast figure (they are both still very light). I therefore made up a new base which was slighty wider and longer - and glued it to the old base, making up to a new depth with more milliput. This fixed the balance problem. I then repainted the figure - a little differently to my other Injun Chief figure.

I always had in mind that these two would be attacking my new "downed" cowboy, from the moment I found him - so made up my new "Chief Broken Lance" with his spear at a slight downward angle, as if he was about to throw it downwards. The results are shown below - which I'm more than pleased with. jb

 

[GICOP]

I have finally completed my new (to me), old hollowcast Britains Injun Chief. He's the one in the blue shirt - and I call him "Broken Lance", for reasons that may become clear as I explain his transformation.. Note the similarity with my previous Britains repair job that I did around a year or so ago on the very similar figure at the back. He's basically the same figure - with a different arm/weapon.

When I found Lance, - he had a few problems. Firstly, his old arm had a previous rather poor repair which included a hand made of glazing putty (for windows!) and a "spear" made from a piece of insulated wire! This was probably a boyish bodge-up from years ago - but I determined to keep a spear arm - and eventually had to make one. After cleaning the figure up, removing the old paint with stripper - and then filling in a few small holes in the body of rider and horse with milliput and glue - I was ready to begin fabricating a new arm and weapon.

I used a new arm from my stash of spares - and bent it to shape as a throwing arm, by trial and error. I removed the old rivet and part-arm from my figure by surgery, and maneovared the new arm to fit the newly formed socket in the body. After drilling through the hand with a pin-vice, I fitted the new (more robust) spear made from a piece of brass rod - with the spear-tip made from milliput. The feather decoration was made from thin metal sheet (Thanks to Giles from Dorset Soldiers for this sheeting) and both were firmly glued in place on the shaft. I then found that the base - which was originally the same size as the Injun at the rear - was too small to hold my new figure upright - as the long spear had upset the careful balance of the hollowcast figure (they are both still very light). I therefore made up a new base which was slighty wider and longer - and glued it to the old base, making up to a new depth with more milliput. This fixed the balance problem. I then repainted the figure - a little differently to my other Injun Chief figure.

I always had in mind that these two would be attacking my new "downed" cowboy, from the moment I found him - so made up my new "Chief Broken Lance" with his spear at a slight downward angle, as if he was about to throw it downwards. The results are shown below - which I'm more than pleased with. jb

Your Indians look great jb, must find some :wink2:

Cheers

Martyn

 

[theBaron]

Brilliant work, John! I like the colors on the Indians especially, with the "painted ponies" and the braves' decorations on their leggings, headdress and blankets. But your whole collection is excellent. You have a good eye for these things, as well as a technical cannyness for spotting the problems with the old castings and repairing them. Well done!

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Thanks chaps - glad you like 'em too.

One of the reasons that I like to post pics of my pieces, is to show just what can be done with the most unlikely of pieces to start with. I often note that many folks are sometimes more than a little dismayed at the cost of their favourite Toy Soldiers - especially on some of the more expensive sites to be found on this Forum.

I would just like to point out that the 5 cowboys and my latest Injun Chief were bought from a box of broken figures from Giles Brown at his Dorset Soldier shop - for a total of £12 ( or £2 each). You can also frequently find such items at car boot Sales - or Craft fayres - Swap meets etcetera, often for less - and sometimes even for free! Admittedly, some spare parts were also purchased. Arms at Dorset are 40 pence each - as are heads - if required. A lower horse leg was 30 pence - but nothing to break the Bank there. A large packet of paper-clips (for pinning) come in at around £1 too - whilst with a bit of thought, many household bits and bobs can come in handy as aids to repair and refurbishment.

Paint, brushes and varnish also cost a little money - but the amounts used add very little to the total cost of producing decent figures.
Tools - such as pin vices and fine files etcetera are a one-off purchase, and last for ever.

SO................. the point I am trying to make - is that an enjoyable Toy Soldier hobby doesn't HAVE to cost the Earth - if you are just willing to have a go at it. With a bit of care and patience - a reasonably priced hobby can be found.

Best of luck, anyhow - and have a good and enjoyable Xmas. Hope Santa is kind. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Here are all of my recently repaired and completed Cowboys and one Injun Chief. I have added in the Bucking Bronco and Pony Express rider to the other repairs - although the Bronco isn't a hollowcast or a repair - he's really a modern, solid copy of a Johillco hollowcast - so really a conversion - but I hope you don't mind a bit of poetic license with his inclusion. If I could have found an original to repair, repaint and convert, he would still be there.

I've grouped them by make - so the first three from the left are Johillco. The next three (Sheriff, Pony Express and Chief) are Britains - and the last pair are Timpo. I bought them all based on one simple criterion - because I liked them, and could see their potential, once repaired. All are in imaginative poses, I think, and if you were to find them tucked away in an old toy shop - in this "as new" condition - please let me know where it is!! I'll be around there like a shot. ^&grin

I'm quite delighted with them and have had a very pleasant Xmas Day giving them an outing - along with my Stagecoach, some other Westerners and including my Buffalo Soldier Troop - as well as opening some new surprises for future posts. Hope you had a good day too - see you later - johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Last one - I call her "Calamity" . - That's all folks! jb

 

[johnnybach]

Just when I thought that this thread had run its course............... I returned to the UK, to find that my daughter had been busy on e-bay. Knowing that I had a soft spot for old hollowcast Cowboys and Injuns in need of a little TLC, she had spotted some on e-bay, that nobody was bidding on.

So...............to cut a long story short - and knowing my birthday was coming up........she bid for two lots ( Four cowboys and Five Injuns) - and to her great surprise...........she won on both lots! ( The Injun lot came in at 99 pence - whilst the cowboys cost her a Fiver!!!).

Good Girl!{sm3}

Here are the results of the first three repairs - which I have now fixed and re-painted, after completely stripping back to the metal casting.

The Standing Injun - is an oldie from Johillco, which some previous owner had managed to break, by snapping off his tomahawk. Thankfully, he had the foresight to put both bits in a small plastic bag - so it was pretty easy to repair by drilling and pinning the weapon back to his hand - and then repainting. A nice piece from c.1930's - he's a very welcome new addition to my tribe!

Both cowboys are early Britains ( probably pre-WW2 ), and are the same basic casting. Both horses had broken legs - with some legs missing entirely. Both were repaired by drilling into what was left of the legs and mounting both on new bases ( originals don't have any bases - which is frequently why they get broken in the first place IMO). The missing legs were then fabricated from a pin armature, made from a paper-clip - and fixed to the base with an a strong acrylic epoxy resin adhesive. When dry, the leg was built up using Milliput, and shaped. Blue shirt cowboy was complete with arm - so was a simple repair and repaint. [I have a third one like this - but not completed yet - as he needs more repairs and spares].

Red shirt cowboy had a broken off head and no arm or weapon. His head was replaced with a spare from Dorset Soldiers Spares Department - by pinning, and an arm was found with a pistol from my spares box. This bent arm, ( from a broken soldier), was never fitted to a Britains cowboy ( just the straight version - like blue-shirt), and his head is also non-original and set to look slightly lower than noprmal - so he is a unique piece now.

I'll post the rest when they are completed. jb

 

[aujj65]

Hi JB,
It's amazing what a few spares and a repaint can achieve! Very nice too! {bravo}}

Jeff :salute::

 

[johnnybach]

Hi JB,
It's amazing what a few spares and a repaint can achieve! Very nice too! {bravo}}

Jeff :salute::

It certainly is Jeff, and I get amazed at how well they come out eventually sometimes too.

The "spares" by the way, don't have to be new. I sometimes pick up broken pieces that are way too far gone for repairing - just as donor figures for spare parts. One of the next pieces on my bench is another version of the mounted cowboy you have already seen. He had no head or loose arm - and only two legs on the horse.(sounds like a song - two wheels on my waggon etc....).

This is where my stash of spare parts - often bought for pennies - or thrown in for free with other purchases for their spare parts - comes in handy. First select the part to be used - and cut it out and clean it up. Marry the parts together. A small bit of careful drilling and pinning together - a dab of milliput to fill the joint - and Bob's your father's brother!

As you can see, the results really speak for themselves - but the enjoyment of bringing something back from the brink - just has to be experienced. I'll show some more completed soon.

I'm sure that you know what I mean - from your recent conversions of "Sudan" pieces - where the birth of a "new" piece, can give a similar feeling. jb

 

[aujj65]

JB, I agree with what you say and also they are "one offs" which makes them a little more special! :wink2: ^&cool

You must have quite a collection of Wild West themed figures by now, do you have a group photo?

All the best :salute::

Jeff

 

[theBaron]

Nice renovations, John, with beautiful results, well done!

Prost!
Brad