By Jings, what a busy weekend. I've been shopping, repairing, transporting, cleaning, cooking and fighting a battle, but by some miracle I somehow managed to squeeze in a trumpeter.
He is, of course, a Hinton Hunt FN 102: Cuirassier Trooper, charging (One Piece Casting), converted by yours truly into a trumpeter.
He's almost finished. My brushes are all hopelessly blunt and in dire need of replacement, so there are numerous wee areas that need tidying up. I really must do something about it as the rest of the squadron is not going to go well otherwise.
I can't help feeling a bit guilty about this one as he's the first completely intact, pristine and vintage Hinton Hunt I've ever dared to chop up.
Nansouty is well underway, so there's a reasonable chance that he'll be appearing next week.
I am, etc.,
WM
He is, of course, a Hinton Hunt FN 102: Cuirassier Trooper, charging (One Piece Casting), converted by yours truly into a trumpeter.
He's almost finished. My brushes are all hopelessly blunt and in dire need of replacement, so there are numerous wee areas that need tidying up. I really must do something about it as the rest of the squadron is not going to go well otherwise.
I can't help feeling a bit guilty about this one as he's the first completely intact, pristine and vintage Hinton Hunt I've ever dared to chop up.
Nansouty is well underway, so there's a reasonable chance that he'll be appearing next week.
I am, etc.,
WM
I love the way you say he needs tidying up when I would think it was the best job I’d ever done! A little work of art.
ReplyDeleteIts those skirt pockets, Jeffers. I didn't dare with the state of my brushes!
DeleteCertainly not easy peasy! Cutting up a vintage figure is a hard decision but in this case the end definitely does justify the means.
ReplyDeleteIt was high stakes, Ian, as I didn't have a spare if it all turned to custard!
DeleteBeautifully painted as usual.
ReplyDeleteCheers Rob!
DeleteWhat a wonderful figure! Nothing like a nice, bright yellow. I too must replenish the supply of brushes.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Thank you Stokes!
DeleteDid you drizzle on the Lemon paint to build up the finish.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit like that, Mark. Humbrol yellows are not very adhesive, although the H99 was a lot better than the H154 Signal Yellow used on the cloak!
DeleteGorgeous colour palette - the yellow looks to be mostly H99 but what did you use for the darker tones in the creases? Please tell as I'd like to be able to reproduce it if I ever get some Spanish dragoons.
ReplyDeleteAs you say there's still some bits to do, lace and turn-backs (white?), and touch up, the blob of yellow on the underside of the helmet 'horsetail'. I usually only spot these rogue blobs of paint after varnishing; as my Nansouty is ready for varnishing I'll give him another quick inspection at full magnification (two pairs of glasses).
Is the white 'bulb' (for want of better word) below the tuft at the front of the helmet comb/crest still to be done? Surely it should be brass?
That is indeed H99 Lemon Yellow, Rob. I used a thin wash of H186 Brown for shading it, which was then touched up again with the H99.
DeleteI've seen several versions of the trumpeters of the 8th Cuirassiers, but the one I picked had a white bulb, so I went with that. As you say, pocket details were white, it seems, which is tricky to pull off on a yellow coat.
I didn't spot that rogue yellow spot until you pointed it out!
Your trumpeter looks lovely Matt...
ReplyDeleteA yellow coatee and a grey horse... he will certainly stand out from his more somber colleagues...
It’s amazing what you miss until after you have taken the photo... thank goodness for digital cameras...
All the best. Aly
Thank goodness indeed, Aly.
DeleteGlad you went ahead and converted the figure. For me that has always been half the fun, but not having any spare figures would make it nerve wracking indeed! Especially as I suspect, this is one of your amazing solder trumpets? Too risky for me! Love the bright lemon yellow coatee as well. What a marvelous sense for colour you have!
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing but solder in all my conversions, David. There is a frisson of terror every time I turn on the soldering iron, I can tell you.
DeleteYellow is becoming a bit of a pattern, I fear. This is my third French musician in yellow (see also the 67e de Ligne and the Vistula Lancers).
It’s strange to read your worries about worn brushes and Rob’s blob spotting while ignoring the obvious question. How on earth did you remove a full cuirass and replace it with a frogged jacket?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Archduke.
DeleteIt was all done with just a file and a craft knife. It’s a slow business but it has the advantage of allowing a lot of time for second thoughts before any incisions are made.