WIP 120mm Officer Royal North British Dragoons Scots Greys Crimea 1854

[phil_h]

I have to say, there are definitely some things about this kit that look... questionable. That said, there is never any rush; just break it down into small chunks and get each one the way you want it. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress
Phil

 

[JonH]

I suspect in future Keith's horses will come as a complete body with legs and head separately cast. Distortion of large resin castings seems to be a problem for several manufacturers which I have overcome with pinning, filler and sandpaper in the past.

Mike

Hi Mike.
If the main body was available as a single casting I think it would overcome a lot of the concerns about buying the mounted figures. Don't know how easy it would be to do that. The Victory Miniatures mounted figures deserve to be built as they do look very good when finished but at the moment the work involved just to make the bits fit seems excessive. I'd like to have a go at Victory's 11th Hussar and may be I will if I'm confident that the horse in particular is well done.
Jon.

 

[MCPWilk]

I've just assembled the mounted Mountie, due for release, where at Keith's request I did the body as one piece and the legs separately. Providing one is careful positioning the legs, it all goes together well. I have spent about an hour tidying up the castings, but this has been my usual practice with both resin and white metal castings over the years.

I suppose the other consideration is cost. This kit currently costs £51.95. One of Gordon Mitchell's 120mm mounted figures costs c.£75, a white metal 90mm Poste Militaire figure from Bonapartes costs upwards of £100 and a Pegaso 90mm one up to £180!

Mike

 

[Huw63]

Well done for taking the plunge and you're doing a fine job.

Cheers

Huw

 

[clrsgt]

You are off to a good start Graham. Just keep at it. It is a crime really when a kit is cast so poorly. That said I think that a swan may grow from your ugly duckling.

 

[Graham]

Thanks chaps

‘Veterinarian’ supplies have arrived, great service from El Greco as usual for the putty so I can crack on with this one. Need to get it all epoxy resined together first.

 

[MCPWilk]

It is a crime really when a kit is cast so poorly

I cannot comment on this particular kit, but when horses are cast in two halves, the mating sides need to be sanded down with the sandpaper on a flat surface. If not sanded completely flat, then there will be gaps around the edges and the horse will be too wide for the rider's legs. This is a problem with large, solid resin castings, much less so with hollow castings (e.g. MiniArt or Airfix injection moulded plastic horses).

I'm looking forward to this build.

Mike

 

[polyphemus]

Just an aside but does anyone else think the horse resembles a Historex horse? I know they're hugely different in size.

Good start Graham & just think what it'll be like when you have it finished and you've won the battle.

Geoff

 

[Graham]

I cannot comment on this particular kit, but when horses are cast in two halves, the mating sides need to be sanded down with the sandpaper on a flat surface. If not sanded completely flat, then there will be gaps around the edges and the horse will be too wide for the rider's legs. This is a problem with large, solid resin castings, much less so with hollow castings (e.g. MiniArt or Airfix injection moulded plastic horses).

I'm looking forward to this build.

Mike

First thing I did was to flat sand the sides. With a couple of pins, the sides do go together reasonably well, just requiring filler. However, the misaligned profile did require grinding down, especially on the saddle ‘humps’.

It is now Epoxy resin glued together and clamped up, coming along nicely. Thanks for your input Mike, much appreciated

 

[Graham]

Just an aside but does anyone else think the horse resembles a Historex horse? I know they're hugely different in size.

Good start Graham & just think what it'll be like when you have it finished and you've won the battle.

Geoff

Thanks Geoff, it will be completed. All this filling and sanding is stopping me worrying about how to paint the grey horse when I have done lol.

 

[TERRYSOMME1916]

Graham when you finish this kit you will be in the right frame of mind to build the Golden Gate Bridge out of matchsticks lol
TERRY

 

[Graham]

Sorry Terry but i

Graham when you finish this kit you will be in the right frame of mind to build the Golden Gate Bridge out of matchsticks lol
TERRY

Terry, If ever I get into that frame of mind, I would jump off the Golden Gate Bridge Seriously though, as I have said all along, I am learning so much from this build and, perversely, really enjoying it

 

[Graham]

I have been thinking of the stance of the horse, and the single hoof contact with the ground. What I would like is a more rearing stance with both rear hooves in contact with the ground to give a stronger, more secure join.

This is roughly how it is intended to be, more of a gallop



Could I get away with a cut at the left rear ‘elbow’, lower the hoof down and pin the joint with putty to re build the gap at the front as in,?



I suppose to do this more accurately, I would need to cut below the hip joint and lower the upper leg as well but this would mean more extensive re modelling which is beyond me.

 

[bagelman1952]

I think it would require more than a simple cut as you describe. For a horse to achieve the stance you are looking for requires it to splay both rear legs outwards to maintain a balance. This would require a rotation outwards at the hips and a rebuild of muscle structure to look natural. My view is this horse has been scaled up from an existing sculpt and fails anatomically. The head and mane pose is of an at rest animal. And if you study pictures of horses at a gallop they do not do it as the horse is depicted. I feel this has been used to keep price down with accuracy suffering as a result.

 

[Graham]

I think it would require more than a simple cut as you describe. For a horse to achieve the stance you are looking for requires it to splay both rear legs outwards to maintain a balance. This would require a rotation outwards at the hips and a rebuild of muscle structure to look natural. My view is this horse has been scaled up from an existing sculpt and fails anatomically. The head and mane pose is of an at rest animal. And if you study pictures of horses at a gallop they do not do it as the horse is depicted. I feel this has been used to keep price down with accuracy suffering as a result.

Sadly, it is what it is. Extensive re modelling is way beyond me but, as it is incorrect anyway then I may as well have it incorrect in the stance I want it. The rearing up pose would be more horizontally static which would be better for the mane as it would not be ‘flying’ in the wind.

As in

 

[MCPWilk]

I've often repositioned legs in such a way. I find that a metre of electrical cable provides several year's worth of stout copper wire which is malleable and yet strong enough for a repositioned limb, especially once the gap has been filled in with Milliput.

Good luck

Mike

 

[Graham]

I've often repositioned legs in such a way. I find that a metre of electrical cable provides several year's worth of stout copper wire which is malleable and yet strong enough for a repositioned limb, especially once the gap has been filled in with Milliput.

Good luck

Mike

Wasn’t sure if thick copper wire was strong enough, I was going to try bending a nail lol. Copper wire would make it easier to get into position. Thanks for that Mike

 

[Nap]

Hi Gaham

Good on you for going for this ...but all I see is legs ...lol

Certainly going to be a nice piece once finished ...l.and it's on a grey horse as well ....enjoy

Following with interest

Nap

 

[TERRYSOMME1916]

Graham remove the waste bin from your modelling den and get yourself a supply of Calms tablets and don't be tempted to reach for the booze.
TERRY

 

[Graham]

Hi Gaham

Good on you for going for this ...but all I see is legs ...lol


View attachment 311097


Certainly going to be a nice piece once finished ...l.and it's on a grey horse as well ....enjoy

Following with interest

Nap

Thanks for that.... really done my head in looking at that