Greetings from the 'other side', as they say in these parts.
I was supposed to be painting gunners this weekend but somehow got distracted and ended up doing French line lancer conversions instead.
The trumpeter is a somewhat simpler recrafting of a broken Hinton Hunt FN 118: Light Horse Lancer in crested helmet, charging. Both are for my friend Rob G., by way of a swap and as a thank you for all sorts of vintage 20mm assistance over the last few years years. I may do a couple more like them for myself eventually....
We have a long weekend here in Welly, so there's still another day left to work on the gunners, but as the weather is rather glorious I don't rate their chances too highly.
Yours
WM
Update:
Rob reminded me that the trumpeter really ought to have fringed epaulettes of his own, so I popped some on this afternoon. The gunners never did get a look in.
Lovely conversions Matthew...
ReplyDeleteI can see Rob doing a splendid paint job on these... and of course you need some yourself.
All the best. Aly
It's very tempting, Aly. I don't have any French lancers scheduled at the moment, but they're lovely figures so I may crack...
DeleteI am still amazed at your ability to solder heads onto bodies without melting the surrounding figure. The sword join in particular is masterfully done. Rob is one lucky fellow. For the epaulets did you just essentially blob on some solder in the right area and then carve to shape? The end result is truly impressive!
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly how it's done, David. The soldering is the quick part!
DeleteThese are first rate Matthew which is no less than we have come to expect from you!
ReplyDeleteIt pains me to admit it, Ian, but this was much more fun than actually painting them. It wasn't entirely smooth going, however. The trumpeter's right arm threatened to completely disintegrate at one point, which required some fairly high risk soldering to beef it up again. I probably should have detached it completely to add the trumpet and then soldered it back on again.
DeleteThanks, they’re looking great, that must’ve been some bayonet to make such a great sabre. I just can’t wait to get my hands on them. Maybe I should try a soldering iron on some scrap figures as the results certainly look worth it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a 20mm 'Intermediate Range' job. Their bayonets are outrageous!
DeleteAs for soldering: give it a go! I was more or less forced down this route by the high percentage of really ropey old figures I'd ended up with. There was nothing to lose really as they were all effectively right offs as they were. I'm still very cautious about the whole thing though. I really don't like doing it unless I have at least one more spare in the lead stash, lest it all turn to custard. Having said that, only one figure so far has been a total disaster (a DK British light infantryman), and even he might be salvageable if I put my mind to it.
Ah!... Good old Intermediate Range... Its all about the stabbing with them 😁
Delete*Laughter*.
DeleteNicking the bayonet off what was a perfectly good Minifig in order to put it onto a ropey old DK says a lot about my priorities, doesn't it Aly.
Those conversions are great. My trumpets are either taken of Newline figures or worse still plastic ones.
ReplyDeleteI might try using a soldering iron but will practise on my broken spare figures first.
That would be a very sound approach, Mark. I had almost no idea what I was doing when I started out, which made things a little bit too exciting at the beginning.
DeleteClever little job you have completed there. I have a soldering iron but my results have tended to be a bit of a disaster.
ReplyDeleteYou may be running it a bit hot, Matt. I use a 25 watt iron, which takes a good second or two to have any effect on the figures and allow one just enough time to take the heat off if things start to look dicey. My other secret is to be generous with the solder. Those epaulettes started out as giant blobs which were then cut and filed back, with occasional assistance from a rotary tool. It's a very slow business, involving no end of skin burns, self-stabbings and cursing, but the boasting rights are great!
DeleteA fine couple of figures Matt. They will look tops in their imperial green uniform (or some weathered version thereof). Which unit will they be part of? The trumpeter of the 2e in blue coat with the aurore facings is an attractive one, but so is the rose foncé of the 3e, cramoisi of the 4e or that wargamers favourite of the bleu ciel of the 5e. Of course, not to forget the éclarte of the 1er nor the garance of the 6e (particularly if you take the option of the trousers of the same colour). I like them all, as you may have guessed!!
ReplyDeleteRegards, James
Thank you James. Rob tells me that he wants them for the 6e, which is already underway. I'll ask him to send me some pictures when he's finished. As for my own regiment, when I eventually get to it, almost anything could happen!
Delete