WIP W01 (GSM) Billy Mott ...Let the rework/painting etc begins!!!!

[Nap]

Hi Guys ,

Like a couple of members on PF I have the MMM's "Three Cheers" bust of GSM Mott Welsh Guards .

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Me being me decided that I would rework this a little ...starting with the bearskin insides ................

I completely modelled the initial "basket" support at the bottom using this reference ..this now hardly shows...but its all there!!!!! I used wire and sculpting putty I had hanging around , then it was onto the leather "inserts" which the head rests on ...again very thinly rolled out milliput , left to harden then the tie cord using greenstuff then put in...... after drilling holes ...carefully!!!!
Finally the top edging was worked again using miliput .

Then I decided to redo the chin scales rolling out a thing strip and after wrapping some thin wire around a small drill I had , flattened it out and glued it to the semi hard strip of putty ...then measured the width needed and set it up to harden ......sounds ok ...but it took me several goes before I was happy!!!...I also did some securing straps that hold the chin scales into the insides of the bearskin .

Then I reworked the plume a little ..not sure about this ..might redo it again!!!!

Still to do ..build up the actual bearskin as it looks a lot more bulky in the pictures I have .

Then its the epaulettes to be reshaped ..then the medals ...SA needs a rosette amongst others needing bars and attachments redone as some are on a circle end and not all as cast straight .

Then going to check the collar lace as well as the sash at the hip ...then the best bit the painting !!!!

More to follow when I can !!!!

All comments very welcome of course

Thanks for looking in

Nap

 

[Colin_Fraser]

No that's attention too detail....excellent improvements Nap. This will be a unique piece.

Colin

 

[MCPWilk]

The chin scales on the left of the bearskin are upside down, those on the right are correct.

A nice piece of detailing otherwise.

Mike

 

[Ventress]

Great idea with the chinstrap, will give it a go as I broke the chinstrap supplied.

 

[Nap]

The chin scales on the left of the bearskin are upside down, those on the right are correct.

A nice piece of detailing otherwise.

Mike

I have spoken to a ex Guards SNCO who has advised me that the chin scales are all in one (well his bearskin ones are!!!) , however I understand what you mean , I think the effect works well anyway ..better than the cast ones ...too fragile IMO .

Thanks for your input ...always welcome

Nap

 

[Wings5797]

Hi Kevin,
Great work on the bearskin internal detail Mate, brilliant.
The chin strap is a difficult little blighter to to make but you are right that the rings all lay in the same direction. This makes one side look upside down to the other. Most difficult to replicate is that each ring passes through four others. Mike French of Tiny Troopers. Fame was a master at this task.
Something that did.cross my mind that I cannot confim from hotos I have sort after......I canot recall seeing Mr Mott without his trade mark pacestick? Food for thought Kevin.
Keep up the good work, looking forward to the next. post.
All the best,
Keith

 

[Nap]

Hi Keith ,

Thanks for the comments , you are right the rings are a pain ..Oh if only to be as good as Mike French on this .....but I am fairly happy with the result .

Pace stick ...now there is a thought ...would ned to alter the arm position and that might take away the pose a little if you understand me ...worth thinking about though ......

Will try and update as soon as work allows!!!!

Thanks for looking in

Nap

 

[Wings5797]

Hi Kevin,
My thought wlth the pacestick was to have him just holding it in his left hand with no change to the pose..
Just a thought though.
Cheers
Keith

 

[prhayes68]

Hi Nap,

Given how much of the buff belt is visible you would be able to see the hilt of his sword as well. From the pictures I've seen I don't think this is included with the bust.

Pete

 

[prhayes68]

You can see some of the rear collar detail in this picture.

 

[prhayes68]

Here's another view of a Warrant Officer's collar (Scots Guards I know but the pattern is the same).

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys ,

Another couple of black primed up pics ...

after knocking the bearskin and breaking the chinstrap I redid it again (also widening it at the top) ....with the strap that is secured to the inside of the bearskin (probably can't see it ...but its there ..honest ..much mutterings when doing it .

Also revisited the bearskin agin and bulked it out a bit with greenstuff filler ....worked well I think ....also removed the cast plume and moved it higher and in the correct form as in the reference of Mr Mott but slightly smaller than in the picture.(since the pic I have reworked under the plume area again!!!!)

Also reworked the medals ...will look better when painted up , also redid the epaulettes (still to put the leek back on them!!!)

I will be putting the HQ London District emblem onto the base as well .

STOP PRESS: he will also have a sword hilt and a pacestick ...thanks for the suggestions ...and cheers Jimbo

Thanks for looking in

Nap

 

[Wings5797]

Great progress Kevin.
I like the changes that you have made. He looks more like the real deal now.
Just a little guards querk that you might want to add for realism, once the plume is dressed and placed in to the bearskin the forwad fur is brushed back over the plume. This js a trait that started back to the mid 19th century to not allow the enemy to see which regiment they were facing but the commanders could. This is why plumes for the flanking regiments are on the left and right and the center regiment, Scotts, have no plume.
Keep.pressing on Mate.
All the very best,
Keith

 

[Funky50]

Hello I hate to say this but your plume does not look quite right to me it looks to me a little too high and bunched up almost sat on top of the bearskin ...I know your photo looks a little bit like you u have it but it still comes down the bearskin a little more and has more of an upside down Xmas tree look to it....hope you don't mind me saying ...all the best Funky

 

[Wings5797]

Hello I hate to say this but your plume does not look quite right to me it looks to me a little too high and bunched up almost sat on top of the bearskin ...I know your photo looks a little bit like you u have it but it still comes down the bearskin a little more and has more of an upside down Xmas tree look to it....hope you don't mind me saying ...all the best Funky

Hi Kevin G,
I think that in addition to being awarded the 'Big Badge', following His work for the Royal Wedding, Mr Mott was permitted to use a feather plume similar to that worn by Guards Officers. If so the stiff plume would not have been in His bearskin for this figure.
Cheers,
Keith

 

[Wings5797]

 

[Funky50]

Absolutely..but It still looks A little high and bunched up to me......but I could be and probably am wrong.....nice work on the wicker work by the way like the way you can see into the bearskin...would have liked to have got this bust myself but my old man wouldn't have forgive me being an ex Grenadier.....will watch this post with interest to see how the paint goes on....Cheers...Kevin

 

[Funky50]

Great progress Kevin.
I like the changes that you have made. He looks more like the real deal now.
Just a little guards querk that you might want to add for realism, once the plume is dressed and placed in to the bearskin the forwad fur is brushed back over the plume. This js a trait that started back to the mid 19th century to not allow the enemy to see which regiment they were facing but the commanders could. This is why plumes for the flanking regiments are on the left and right and the center regiment, Scotts, have no plume.
Keep.pressing on Mate.
All the very best,
Keith

David Grieve portrayed that in his Coldstream Drum Major........what attention to detail his figures always had...available from Graham at CGS FIGURES still I think

 

[prhayes68]

Until a few years ago Welsh Guards Warrant Officers wore the bristle plume like the one Funky posted. On the lobbying of Mr Mott (probably about five years ago) the Major General agreed to change to the fuller feather plume. This applies to all Welsh Guards Warrant Officers not just Mr Mott.

Pete

 

[Richie]

Hi Nap,
Some nice enhancements going on with this piece, look forward to a splash of colour on him, I thought this would be right up your street with all those gongs.
cheers
Richie