WIP Critique Cavalry Diorama- Part II

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ChaosCossack

ChaosCossack

A Fixture
Joined
Dec 20, 2011
Messages
4,773
Location
Toronto Ontario
Hey All,

Finally!!!
This figure has been kicking my arse for the last couple of weeks. Now I can move on to the dreaded groundwork.

Anyway, this figure is a 54mm Andrea representing a trooper from the 3rd King's German Legion Light Dragoons. In the diorama, he is charging a French Cuirassier ( as posted here as "Cavalry Diorama- 1/2 Way There").

Starting tomorrow, I will be attempting the groundwork to represent the field at Waterloo, so lots of discarded equipment, a broken cannon wheel and tall rye grass... and mud. In the process, both figures will be heavily weathered to match the environs, as this clash takes place late in the battle.

There is still some touch ups to do post assembly. Please feel free to offer comments and suggestions. BTW, my photograhy still leaves much to be desired and seems to give everything a yellowish tinge.

Cheers

Colin
 

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Very dramatic Colin and nice work all round.

The groundwork is the fun bit:D just let your imagination run wild(y)

Look forward to seeing progress mate.

Dave
 
I think that's fantastic : the movement works very well , and there's absolutely nothing wrong with your photography.
Might I however suggest ( as has been noticed elsewhere on this board ) that his jacket should be a much darker blue ? It appears mid-blue, when in reality such uniforms were nearly black.
Lok forward to seeing the whole diorama.
 
Hi Colin, really nice work, especially on the horse's bridle. Very precise brushwork(y)
Your groundwork will be just as good, I'm sure.
Mary
ps Nick is right about your camera, just change your WB setting. It makes much better photos if you set it manually to the light you're shooting in rather than using the auto WB, too.
 
Colin,what a nice figure!!!,very dramatic and lot of character.
I like the blue,maybe a little lighter as someone said but cloth fade in color,especially in campaign.
If you are happy with the color is good,if not and you want to "darkened" i will suggest a "wash" of dark prussian blue, i normally do the "toning" 1 part pigment,12 drops water.
I am really happy to see this diorama getting almost complete,i love it (y)
 
ChaosCossack said:
Hey All,

Finally!!!
This figure has been kicking my arse for the last couple of weeks. Now I can move on to the dreaded groundwork.

Anyway, this figure is a 54mm Andrea representing a trooper from the 3rd King's German Legion Light Dragoons. In the diorama, he is charging a French Cuirassier ( as posted here as "Cavalry Diorama- 1/2 Way There").

Starting tomorrow, I will be attempting the groundwork to represent the field at Waterloo, so lots of discarded equipment, a broken cannon wheel and tall rye grass... and mud. In the process, both figures will be heavily weathered to match the environs, as this clash takes place late in the battle.

There is still some touch ups to do post assembly. Please feel free to offer comments and suggestions. BTW, my photograhy still leaves much to be desired and seems to give everything a yellowish tinge.

Cheers

Colin
Click to expand...
Top work. This will be a dramatic vignette. I look forward to seeing the finished item.
Gordon
 
Thank you all for your kind encouragement:notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:

The camera tips are very helpful. I'm shooting right on my bench under my worklights... "True White" or "Daylight" compact fluorescent. I'll try resetting the camera.

As far as the blue goes... on research, I found every shade from sky blue to near black. British regiments seemed darker than KGL... very hit and miss. In the end, I went with the blue in this Keith Rocco painting (seems to be the inspiration for the piece). I also want the ground work to follow what's shown in the painting. If anyone has any idea how I can do this long rye grass... PLEASE HELP!!!! The pics of the paintings aren't great but you get the idea.

Also, I want to extend the factory base to the edges of the wooden base I'm using. This will give me some room for the groundwork and the factory base is oddly shaped. What would be a good material to extend this resin base. I want to incorperate the resin base as it positions the two figures nicely and it has some decent detail sculpted in, I just need it a little bigger.

Thanx again for all your advice and encouragement

Colin
 

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Colin , I believe the Rocco painting is supposed to show the Dutch-Belgian Hussars, who did indeed wear sky-blue uniforms.
At the risk of being thought a boring pedant , the KGL were supplied in the UK , and would have worn exactly the same cloths as their British counterparts , which in the case of the Light Cavalry was a dark blue.
Sure, pre-industrial dyes varied somewhat from batch to batch , and field service would create some fading, but the intended colour is not really open to dispute.
Here's a Light Dragoon uniform from a little later, to give you the colour effect :

4thLD1850.jpg


As to the long rye grass, you can get some excellent effects with fake fur, painted if necessary . The pale rye ( which would have been ripening by June ) could be done with a long teddy-bear fur. I've used it for years for bases.
 
Tony

See, u learn something new every day. The sources I found listed British and KGL units specifically as participating in the countercharge against Ney's cavalry, with Dutch, Belgian and Nassau units mentioned as an aside. So I assumed that that the cavalry in that painting (who mostly matched other source plates as KGL) were in fact KGL Dragoons. In my case, painted as 3rd Light Dragoons (white lace and buttons, yellow facings).

I stand corrected... thanks for that. I like to be as historically accurate as possible and I thought I had this one pinned... oh well. I really don't relish the thought of repainting but I may have to try to tone it down somehow.

As for the rye, I have some fur, in individual strands, that have to be added like a hair transplant... I like your idea better, probably much faster:)

Thanks again Tony

Colin
 
Outstanding work, Colin!!!
Congrats. Looking forward to see the finished dio.

ChaosCossack said:
Thank you all for your kind encouragement:notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:

If anyone has any idea how I can do this long rye grass... PLEASE HELP!!!! The pics of the paintings aren't great but you get the idea.
Click to expand...

I used in few instances a interesting product from Build A Rama. See below, it might help. You can paint, cut in strips, etc.
http://www.build-a-rama.com/1_32/BA...32/BAR194_grass_mat_12x12_high_green_32.shtml

Also, I want to extend the factory base to the edges of the wooden base I'm using. This will give me some room for the groundwork and the factory base is oddly shaped. What would be a good material to extend this resin base. I want to incorperate the resin base as it positions the two figures nicely and it has some decent detail sculpted in, I just need it a little bigger.

Thanx again for all your advice and encouragement

Colin
Click to expand...

I used with great success A+B putty. I glued with 5min epoxy the base to the wooden base and then I added the A+B putty to the extend that I wanted. Some blending was required to integrate the fig base. I textured the putty with a wet stone and painted with acrylics.
Hope that it helps.
Cheers,
Zeno
 
Colin,this is my advice:
Mix 1 drop of vallejo dark prussian blue and a dab of blac,watered down with 12 drops of distilled water,before you "toned" the tunic,use 91 percent alcohol,jus brush a little bit of alcohol all over the tunic,almost a drybrush,repeat twice.that will get rid of the sealer or varnish,wash the tunic several times and when you achieve the desire shade then clearcoated again.I hope you understand my advice,I did it on one of my figures and really happy with the result.best of luck
 
Zeno,
That grass mat looks awesome, way faster that one blade at a time for sure. Thanx for the advice on the base, I'm gonna give it a try this weekend. Is the grass mat available somewhere retail near you?

Daniel,
I get what you're explaining, it just took me so long to finish this guy I'm nervous of wrecking it. I'm gonna have to try this on a test figure first.

I really appreciate both of your input
Thanks

Colin
 
I. Understand,as long as you apply the Brush not to loaded with alcohol an soft over the are,like "washing" but not intensively on the same are you will be fine.
Try a small are in one of the arms,just brushed soft and fast just to "moist" that spot,do it a second time several minutes later,then try the "toning"
Trust me,I applyed seveal "washes" to my fig and then the final shade.
If it doe§n't wor“ yoÙ can ofÍcially call me idiot on this forum lol.
Cheers
 
ChaosCossack said:
Zeno,
That grass mat looks awesome, way faster that one blade at a time for sure. Thanx for the advice on the base, I'm gonna give it a try this weekend. Is the grass mat available somewhere retail near you?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately no.
I purchased the product online. You may have a look at BRA-194 or BRA-195 12'x12' Mats and BRA-190 or BRA-191 24'x12' Mats. BRA-190 & 191 is a taller "grass" then BRA-194 & 195.
Cheers,
Zeno
 
Thanx Zeno

They all looked good. The taller the better, it's easier to trim it than to make it grow;).
Where in Ontario are you, if you don't mind me asking? Just curious

Colin
 

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