20th Georgia Infantry, Gettysburg 1863

[garyjd]

I've decided to do a small project to warm up for the long overdue Sculpting 101 sbs figure that I'll be doing once this little guy is done. Often you read accounts of soldiers, both North and South that have worn out their shoes and are forced to go barefoot. So with that in mind I decided to do one, given I either sculpted or purchased a stock head that would go with the project. I purchased a set of spare heads sculpted by Taesung Harmms (Alpine Miniatures) that was produced by Tiger Models (hope that's the name). I immediately found a head with that Southern look that would fit a "barefoot" Confederate perfectly.

The figure The figure is a one off 1/35 scale Private belonging to the 20th Georgia Infantry that formed part of Brig. General Henry L. Benning's Brigade. The regiment participated in the assault against Devil's Den where they engaged the 124th New Youk Volunteers (Orange Blossoms) and helped capture several guns of Smith's battery. I have skipped over the construction of the armature as it was done using the methods I've used on my other 54mm or 1/35 figures. Here is a picture of the roughed in armature with wire showing the positions of the arms. I posed the figure with a Shenandoah rifle which will be replaced by a Dragon/Dml 1/35 rifle from their Union infantry set.

Sorry if some of these pictures are not so great.

 

[garyjd]

Another view.

 

[garyjd]

Fast forward to a large portion of the trousers completed. The trousers will be rolled and cuffed at the bottom so the edges will be left raw until I do that part. Though it may not show well, the waist on these trousers is fairly high. The waist on trousers during this period was higher, typically around the navel.

 

[Dan Morton]

Nice one Gary! I like the idea and what you've done so far.

all the best,
Dan

 

[garyjd]

At this stage a "skull cap" that will eventually become a "porkpie" hat is formed. I did this by coating the bare head with a thin skin of vaseline and then pushing a blob of A&B putty over the head. Once the putty cured a bit I trimmed around the base of the crown to even it up. Porkpies were very low crowned hats that gave the wearer a little "attitude", which is what I'm going for here.

I also added the portion of the shirt that may be visible as his frock coat will only be buttoned at the top exposing the front of the shirt.

 

[garyjd]

Close up.

 

[garyjd]

While waiting for the crown to completely cure I decided to do one of the feet. This is my third or fourth attempt, and I can tell you it's a bear to do in this scale. I finally settled on doing each toe separate and blending it into the roughed out foot shape. Fortunately I only had to do the big toe and the one next to it, with the remaining three done with a single little blob of putty. Sorry if the pics are bad.

 

[garyjd]

One more view.

 

[garyjd]

Porkpie After the "skull cap" cured I lifted it from the head by carefully pouring boiled water over the head to loosen it (kids don't do this without mom or dad's help!). This method works like a charm just be careful.

Here is a picture of a reproduction porkpie from hatmaker Tim Bender.

 

[garyjd]

I then took the crown and pressed it into a disk of Aves putty that I had rolled out on a piece of tile. A piece of copper wire surrounds the crown so when I turn the crown up it's more of a rounded shape not just angled. I propped pieces of sculpey around the outside to keep the brim in place.

 

[bonehead]

Gary,

Those DML Civil War figures are actually supposed to be 1/32 scale. I have not measured them to check for accuracy but they are obviously larger than their 1/35 scale figures.

Mike

 

[Calvin]

Hi Gary, now I see what you mean with smooting, what do you use ?
I'm trying with a soft brush and a mix of water and alcohol, but for what I see there is a critical point, if the putty is too cured the brush removes it as microscopic balls, if too soft the brush leaves its mark.

 

[garyjd]

Originally posted by bonehead@Jun 24 2005, 11:37 AM
Gary,

Those DML Civil War figures are actually supposed to be 1/32 scale. I have not measured them to check for accuracy but they are obviously larger than their 1/35 scale figures.

Mike

Mike, Thanks for the heads up. Jason Whitman has told me that the muskets go well with Hornet heads, and this one is the same scale. I could still go with a Shenandoah piece if need be as it's is not out of proportion to the figure which could just be a reb of short stature.~Gary

 

[Evan August]

Looking great so far Gary. Always a pleasure to watch you create your little people!

 

[fsdesimone]

Looking good Gary. Something about that hat is really funny... maybe you should sculpt an Ed Norton figure next.

I once had to sculpt 54mm barefeet for a Roman figure... it was really difficult. Luckily, most of my mistakes were covered by all the straps for the sandals.

Francesca

 

[garyjd]

Originally posted by fsdesimone@Jun 24 2005, 02:12 PM
Looking good Gary. Something about that hat is really funny... maybe you should sculpt an Ed Norton figure next.


Francesca

Heeeeeeeey Ralphie!

Thanks Francesca.~Gary

 

[garyjd]

Originally posted by Calvin@Jun 24 2005, 12:19 PM
Hi Gary, now I see what you mean with smooting, what do you use ?

Luca, sometimes water and or vaseline (which makes it less sticky. If you use vaseline do not cure it by putting it in the oven, it will bubble and blister from the heat. I mostly use very fine sandpaper, fine steel wool or scotchbrite to get a smooth finish.~Gary

 

[garyjd]

Dan and Evan, thanks a lot.~Gary

 

[garyjd]

After the hat cured I ran hot water from the sink over it and slowly pushed a razor blade under the bottom of the brim to lift the hat from the tile. I then turned it over and positioned a round ended tool over the area where the head goes into the crown. Remeber I pushed the crown shape into a rounded sheet of putty earlier. The edge of the crown almost shows through the brim. I tapped the tool with a small wooden block and this knocked out the putty from the inside of the crown. I then sanded and cleaned up the edge of the brim giving it a scale appearance. The hat is about 70% done with a little work remaining on the top of the crown.

The other foot has also been roughed in and awaits clean up.

I also broadened the sides of the torso at the top, and then sanded it down a bit as I like the slender build of the figure that gives him a period look.

 

[garyjd]

Here's a close up. I also started to file an indentation where his waistbelt containing his cap box and cartridge box will go.