Washington at Ft Necessity (1 Viewer)

[whdamon]

A couple of photos of a figure I painted recently of George Washington at Ft Necessity. What makes this piece unique is that after cutting off the left hand that was originally cast holding his hat from blowing off, I replaced it with a casting I made using the John Jenkins first club figure. I painted about 20 coats of molding paste (after putting a coat of olive oil first) over the left hand and pistol of the Jenkins piece. Added a layer of gauze to strengthen the mold and more coats of paste. Let it dry for about a month to make sure it was very well firmed up. Slit it open with a very sharpe exacto and pulled it off the figure with no damage (thankfully). Filled the mold with a 2 part modeling epoxy (magic sculpt), let it dry for a day, popped it out of the mold, cleaned it up, super gluded it to the Washington figure, primer, and paint and walla...........

Figure is painted in artist oils over an acrylic undercoat of the base colors. Mounted on a resin base of stockade logs (by Le Meridian of Italy), ground work is putty and various ground covers and grasses (model railroad stuff), then placed on a wooden base. Figure sculpted by Alan Ball (same fellow that did a lot of the Britians Zulus) and cast by Mike Roberts of Virginia.

I must admit...got a big kick out of using toy soldier parts to modify a competition piece. With the high quality of K&C and JJ sculpts, how could I avoid it.

Walt Damon

 

[mikemiller1955]

Walt...ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!

 

[marco55]

Very very well done.
Mark

 

[marco55]

Walt,
Isn't this the NCMSS show figure?If it is isn't this a 75mm?I ask this because I wondered how you made the casting from the Jenkins figure (60mm)fit a 75mm.In any case it looks great.I like it better than the original but i think the Virginia regiment had red coats at the time of the Ft.Necessity campaign but that is a very debatable topic.All the best.
Mark

 

[johnnybach]

Tempted to say - absolutely George-eous! Very well done indeed...........johnnybach^&grin

 

[Napoleon1er]

Tempted to say - absolutely George-eous! Very well done indeed...........johnnybach^&grin

No...no...you...didn't....{sm4}^&grin

 

[whdamon]

Mark.........
Yes this was the National Capitol Miniature Solder Society club figure. I had palnned on bringing this to enter in the club figure category but had the severe leg injury and wasn't able to attend. The JJ figures are in my estimation a bit over 60mm, and this figure a small 75mm, so visually (IE: don't use a metric ruller to be exact) they seemed to work together. (and anything was better than that hand holding on his hat) As far as red coat, I have since been briefed that indeed he may have had the red trousers, vest and coat at Necessity when it first was quickly constructed. My error, unles he got in a tussle here at a later date in his blues.

Walt Damon

Attached is another bust of GW in his Militia uniform I did about 10 years ago. about 1/10 scale, produced by Pony Soldier of Virginia.

 

[marco55]

I was going to buy this figure when it came out but I wasn't crazy about the pose or the size, even though I usually like Alan Ball's work.You have made it a great looking figure whether it's 60mm or 75mm,red coat or blue coat.You have a unique figure for your collection.
Mark

 

[Mister Dave]

Really nice looking figure, Walt. And looks like a very successful minor conversion you've done.

MD

 

[marco55]

I don't know if anyone noticed because Walt didn't mention it but the original had a sword in his right hand.
Mark

 

[johnnybach]

No...no...you...didn't....{sm4}^&grin

Good job I resisted then............jb Still a nice job.............

 

[marco55]

Mark.........
Yes this was the National Capitol Miniature Solder Society club figure. I had palnned on bringing this to enter in the club figure category but had the severe leg injury and wasn't able to attend. The JJ figures are in my estimation a bit over 60mm, and this figure a small 75mm, so visually (IE: don't use a metric ruller to be exact) they seemed to work together. (and anything was better than that hand holding on his hat) As far as red coat, I have since been briefed that indeed he may have had the red trousers, vest and coat at Necessity when it first was quickly constructed. My error, unles he got in a tussle here at a later date in his blues.

Walt Damon

Attached is another bust of GW in his Militia uniform I did about 10 years ago. about 1/10 scale, produced by Pony Soldier of Virginia.

I just saw this bust on ebay.The guy also has 90mm busts of Braddock,Lt. James Halkett,a 75mm Rogers Rangers figure,also 120mm figures of Joseph Brant and Daniel Morgan.Look like some really nice resin kits for painters of 18th cen.subjects.
Mark

 

[whdamon]

I don't know if anyone noticed because Walt didn't mention it but the original had a sword in his right hand.
Mark

Yes, the sword was also replaced. REASON........because it was cast in resin, which always seems to warp. And in this case it did, horribly. In this scale (and others) these "thin" pieces should always be cast in white metal, which is usually a sign of a quality kit. By getting rid of the sword, I also had to eliminate the scabbard, and the scabbard belt that went across his chest (resculpting the vest coat where the belt came out). I replaced it with a hatchet I modified from an axe I took from an old (1971) Squadron Shop armored accessory pack. Got to love the parts box.

Walt Damon

 

[theBaron]

Nice conversion, Walt, and a great finish! Thanks for the description of the mold making process you used, too. I never thought about using olive oil as a release agent.

Prost!
Brad

 

[REVWARBUFF]

Walt,

Simply outstanding!

Mark

 

[Fusilier]

Excellent work sir! From your painting to the modifications, you did a great job.

Noah