The Estorff Hussars' horses are finally complete and I'm just waiting for the hands and faces of the troopers to dry before moving to the next stage, which will be blocking out the main colours of their uniforms.
In the meantime, as promised, is a brief overview of my conversion equipment, which is a mixture of things I've been dragging about since my teens and some new-fangled technology acquired over the last two years.
The things that get the most use are the microfiles, the craft knife, the soldering iron, the rotary tool and the toothbrush. Coming in close behind them, however, are the hammer and that very solid bit of steel rail in the top left-hand corner. The rail was a present from my next-door neighbour, Richard, who qualifies as one of the world's top blokes. I needed something for forging flagpoles and sword blades and the like and Richard, being Richard, knew just the chap to supply it. He even sent me a picture of it being sliced off a length of railway line. I can barely remember the last time I was so delighted to be given something.
My latest conversion is below, which is based on a Hinton Hunt PN 81: Prussian dragoon (mounted), charging. He was converted at the request of Mr Lewis Gunner, who desired that he be dressed in a litewka. I thought I'd better practice a bit before tackling him, however, which is why I had a go at that DK Prussian foot guards officer featured in the last post.
You can see Ian S's magnificent regiment of the original version of this figure on his Hinton Hunt Vintage Wargame Figures blog, here.
John Cunnigham has very kindly agreed to cast him, so if all goes well he'll be available to anybody who wants to buy him before too long. John has a much expanded list these days and I'm hoping to add a few more conversions to it from time to time.
If anyone else would like me to have go at converting one of their figures, I'm open to suggestions. I really enjoy doing them. All I ask in return is that you become a follower of the blog and are lavish in your praises!
A word of warning, mind: I don't always get it right. Pictured below is my only irreparable disaster to date. I was attempting to repair his bayonet and his perilously thin little DK musket just couldn't bear the heat. I don't attempt this sort of thing these days unless the part under repair is properly supported!
Yours, as always
WM
In the meantime, as promised, is a brief overview of my conversion equipment, which is a mixture of things I've been dragging about since my teens and some new-fangled technology acquired over the last two years.
The things that get the most use are the microfiles, the craft knife, the soldering iron, the rotary tool and the toothbrush. Coming in close behind them, however, are the hammer and that very solid bit of steel rail in the top left-hand corner. The rail was a present from my next-door neighbour, Richard, who qualifies as one of the world's top blokes. I needed something for forging flagpoles and sword blades and the like and Richard, being Richard, knew just the chap to supply it. He even sent me a picture of it being sliced off a length of railway line. I can barely remember the last time I was so delighted to be given something.
My latest conversion is below, which is based on a Hinton Hunt PN 81: Prussian dragoon (mounted), charging. He was converted at the request of Mr Lewis Gunner, who desired that he be dressed in a litewka. I thought I'd better practice a bit before tackling him, however, which is why I had a go at that DK Prussian foot guards officer featured in the last post.
You can see Ian S's magnificent regiment of the original version of this figure on his Hinton Hunt Vintage Wargame Figures blog, here.
John Cunnigham has very kindly agreed to cast him, so if all goes well he'll be available to anybody who wants to buy him before too long. John has a much expanded list these days and I'm hoping to add a few more conversions to it from time to time.
If anyone else would like me to have go at converting one of their figures, I'm open to suggestions. I really enjoy doing them. All I ask in return is that you become a follower of the blog and are lavish in your praises!
A word of warning, mind: I don't always get it right. Pictured below is my only irreparable disaster to date. I was attempting to repair his bayonet and his perilously thin little DK musket just couldn't bear the heat. I don't attempt this sort of thing these days unless the part under repair is properly supported!
Yours, as always
WM
Thank you herr baron....first good laugh of the day.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Pierre
DeleteA very neat conversion job as usual Matt, and nice to see your tool set laid out, (as the Actress said to the Bishop). Last figure, sad but quite funny!
ReplyDeleteWhen I'd finished turning the air blue, I thought it was quite funny too, Lee.
DeleteExcited to see another post - you'd be embarrassed if you knew how closely I watch your blog for the next instalment. Fascinating to see your tools - why is everyone else's so tidy and well cared for? Mine look like they've been salvaged from wreck. Also, deeply envious of your rail-anvil. Good luck with completing the Estorff hussars - they seem to have slowed you up a bit.
ReplyDeleteIt is an illusion, Rob. They never, ever look like this in real life.
DeleteThe rail anvil is my pride and joy!
Years ago, and possibly somewhere on the shelves is a picture book about Leipzig that featured full colour illustrations of the troops involved. One of the pics.bwas a lovely rendition of a dragoon in litewka, which inspired me, but sadly the HH dragoons are all in koloet...not wrong, but just not a Litewka. So I was delighted to be able to inveigle WM into converting a dragoon, requiring only that I supply a full fat original figure so that we did not end up with shrinkage that would result in the final figure being as lean as a DK. Naturally I am happy that John will make them available pour tout le monde.
ReplyDeleteNow how do I get an officer without all the paraphenalia hanging from his saddle that burdens the trooper?
Je suis ã vos ordres, Chef.
DeleteI'm pretty sure I know the picture in question - if it's the one at the link below then it's one of those inspirational pictures that have stayed with me for years as well...
Deletehttp://www.paulmeekins.co.uk/shop_image/product/54988.jpg
If JC succeeds in casting him I'm definitely going to buy some. What a cracking picture!
DeleteWhy is it that I suddenly must have a piece of rail too? Looking at your conversion tools I suddenly realise how empty my life is!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there was a rail anvil-shaped gap in my reason for being until I saw it either, Matt.
DeleteI need more tools!
ReplyDeleteJohn's list is certainly expanding and I look forward to seeing your figure added.
When you start to encounter vintage Hinton Hunts in all their flashy horror, Mark, the rotary tool will become a must.
DeleteMy example is a cheap Chinese knock-off of a Dremel which my Neighbour (Richard, again) was about to biff out, so I seized it!
Indeed Yes, Rob, that is the picture of a Pruussian dragoon that inspired the request for a conversion!! Well found Sir!
DeleteLG
Finally the perfect marriage of toys soldier and model railway hobbies. Your work bench is as much of a joy to behold as your finished figures are!
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention that, Ian. I was just thinking how well the old Horby set would look on my ping pong table. It would keep all that carpet fluff out of the delicate workings, too. It rarely gets out of the attic these days as our cat, Attila, always tries to kill it.
DeleteAh, I had a rabbit called Attila. Attila the Bun......
ReplyDelete*Laughter*.
DeleteI wanted to call him Genghis Cat, but Mrs WM wouldn't allow it. The kids prefer "Mr Fluffy".
Thought of a way to 'save' this figure.Cut away the musket entirely Rework his left arm and hand with a little squeeze of the pliers and then some fiile work and then make up a bugle for him to hold in his left hand and a sergeants sword to be held vertically in his right hand.
DeleteAlternatively, make him a sergeant, and put a half pike through the old right hand and into the new left hand.
R
http://centjours.mont-saint-jean.com/UniformesBR/Infanterie52(legere).png
DeleteWhat a brilliant idea. Not sure I approve of this new-fangled idea that buff-faced regiments all had buff belts, though. It smacks of modern scholarship and erudition and is just not vintage!
Delete