USCT 2

Putty was used to shape the figure. When the trousers had been sculpted, thin sheet metal was used to create part of the frockcoat. The buttons were made from a punch and die set.

The saxhorn had to be patiently built up from putty, shaping and sanding until the overall structure was obtained. Additional tubing was made from bent wire and valves were from small discs.

Turkish Standard Bearer

I got this interesting resin kit from a small Polish company, purely random surfing on the web. An unusual subject, the sculpting is also very good. 

However, there are many parts, some of which are very delicately cast and stuck to large resin blocks.  

I decided to change the neck pose on the horse. 

Early conversions

These two figures represent some of my earliest conversions. What is unusual about this pair is that they were done without any wire armatures. I just fitted spares and bits to a blob of putty and it all came together. References for this pair was thin - a very very old Preben Kannik book on Military Uniforms (Blandford). This was a singular and fantastic source of inspiration for me at that time.

The detailing was simple at that time, I just wanted to create unique pieces with reasonably correct proportions.

King's Troop of the Horse Guards - Officer
After a battle, the Officer is wiping the dirt off his boots and spies a battlefield trophy - a helmet.

Large cavalry boots were taken from the Airfix cuirassier. I stuck a couple of these boots onto a blob of putty and stuck a pair of arms. It seemed to work. More putty was added to create the overall shape and a Verlinden head was added. Hat, hair and feathers were sculpted. The large cuffs, cravat, buttons were sculpted later.

The sword was added and the sash was sculpted over it.

Carignan-Salieres Regt. Ensign
This was created immediately following the completion of the Kings Troop figure. An ensign of the renowned French regiment sent over to Canada. I decided to give my ensign a bear mascot.

Flag was plastic sheet folded around the wire staff. Pike head and sash was from Historex. Starting with the legs again, a pair was selected from the Airfix English Civil War set and stuck to a blob of putty. A scalelink head was set atop this putty and arms were added. When the proportions looked right, detail was sculpted in. The bear was taken from a toy set.

US Coloured Infantry

Using one of the Dorset castings, I started to convert it into a saxhorn typical of the ones used during the US Civil War. The flared opening was raised and blasted the music to the troops marching behind.

The instrument was snipped in half, a thin wire was inserted, putty was added and the lengthened tubing was carefully shaped and sanded down. This had to be repeated several times to get the correct basic shape. The quality of the casting can also be improved during this process. As can be seen from the sequence, this was time-consuming and besides sanding down, a very sharp blade was used to pare the surface flat and round. Paring removes very thin slivers of excess material and is easier to control than sanding.

While the instrument was being crafted, I decided to work on the figure. Although there was quite a proliferation of these bands, there are very limited pictures and scant details of specific Civil war bands. At this stage, I decided that it would be an Afro-American to be posed with this instrument. Using a Shenandoah head, I knocked up a pose with an Airfix torso and spare Historex legs.

The trousers were built up with putty. The upper torso was covered partly with sheet metal to represent the typical frock coat which was general issue.

Arms were sculpted from wire inserts and the general sculpting is near completion. Note that there has been considerable improvement in the instrument itself.

Buttons were added from a die and punch set. The photo reference that I have shows nine buttons in front and two on the back. the pose has been finalised.

Basic colour added and there is some cleaning to be done to this figure.

Horse Marine (3)

I resized the horse head and neck, cutting and trimming the proportions down. I carefully built up the hooves and the hind quarters were built up as well. The mane was sculpted. Tail and ears were added.
A saddle blanket was added from sheet metal. The saddle was taken from a kit and resembles the McClellan saddle. Saddlebags are being sculpted.

The figure was similarly resized down. The legs were re-pinned to fit better on the saddle. When I was satisfied with the proportions, I added johdpurs to the trousers and details are now being added to the figure.

This shows the figure being adjusted on the horse.

The legs have been correctly fitted to the saddle, all gaps filled in and sanded down. The torso has been fixed to the legs.

Johdpurs added. The mane has been resculpted. The horse head has been resized as well.

Hooves beeing finalised. Tunic lapels are being sculpted over the johdpurs. Saddlebags are being sculpted.

Horse Marines (2)

Following the mockup, the proportions are now being scrutinised for improvement. For example, the legs are too far away from the saddle. This will be rectified.

Musical Instruments (2)

The fortepiano castings are not perfect, as they are from old moulds. I added putty to smooth out the depressions. Overall, the castings were also sanded down.

Horse Marines

The title is a bit of an oxymoron. there was a mounted unit of Marines assigned to guard the US Embassy in China. They were mounted on small ponies.

I made up this prototype from various bits of kits.

1st Hussars 1813 (3)

I carved and readjusted both arms. Also resculpted the face. Work in progress.

musical instruments

Just received some musical instruments. I have a lot of projects involving musicians.