Completed Carabinier - after Detaille

[Briggsy]

There seems to be some reluctance to fully accept figure modelling in this country, tanks and aeroplanes are good model railways are better, but figures are just toy soldiers, damn Britain's and the legacy they have left!

Cheers Simon

 

[Merryweather]

There seems to be some reluctance to fully accept figure modelling in this country, tanks and aeroplanes are good model railways are better, but figures are just toy soldiers, damn Britain's and the legacy they have left!

Cheers Simon

Yes, my kids continually roast me about 'playing with my toy soldiers' !
Water off a duck's back ....

 

[NigelR]

Enjoying the progress here. Keep up the good work!

I remember trying to convince the proprietor that Historex kits were the future. He seemed unconvinced.

This made me smile. I convinced a small toy/hobby shop in Haywards Heath to stock Historex kits in the early 1970s. They got a small number in stock, I'm pretty certain I was the only person to buy any!

 

[Paul Handley]

Old man moan alert incoming. . .

I don’t think one could really label model soldier’s ‘cool’ and as a society that seems committed to playing it cool, model soldiers just aren’t going to get on the agenda. But I also think that to build and paint a figure well requires immense practise, patience, painstaking and a willingness to experience failure (a lot of failure) - and anyone that’s has a serious bash knows exactly what I’m talking about. Consequently, in a culture of instant gratification and immediacy, ‘uncool’ model soldiers aren’t going to get much of look-in. I suspect it’ll remain the preserve of us uncool old gits who will also have the joy and satisfaction and knowing what it feels like to do something very difficult very well.

 

[Paul Handley]

Enjoying the progress here. Keep up the good work!


This made me smile. I convinced a small toy/hobby shop in Haywards Heath to stock Historex kits in the early 1970s. They got a small number in stock, I'm pretty certain I was the only person to buy any!

Exactly. I think I nearly sold him on those Historex Collector’s Series kits that came in a fancy box in the late ‘70s. He’d probably worked out that they’d all end up in his window . . . built by me. You can’t blame me for trying.

 

[Le Capitain]

Sorry for the sloppy post. Love me some Histotex

 

[marco14]

that is coming nice together

 

[Paul Handley]

A little bit of progress. @Simon (Briggsy) the micro files and fibreglass brush worked great - many thanks for the heads up.

This is turning out to a very long job and the next project will be as ‘out of the bag’ as I can manage. I’ve started to have some very dispiriting experiences with the Milliput that seemed to struggle to cure after smoothing it with water - and when it did (sort of) cure it was crumbly and I was unable to file it. Has anyone else experienced this? Can Milliput go out of date for instance?

Anyway, I’m having a couple of days off to recharge my enthusiasm batteries before I rework the saddle ALL of which has to be done again (aaargh! etc.).

 

[Nap]

Hi Paul

Every bit of progress is good to see , annoying ref the crumbling , possibly time to resupply rather than risk it happening again

Enjoy the recharge

Looking forward to seeing more

Have fun @ the bench

Nap

 

[NigelR]

This is looking very good, do keep going despite the challenges.

I’ve started to have some very dispiriting experiences with the Milliput that seemed to struggle to cure after smoothing it with water - and when it did (sort of) cure it was crumbly and I was unable to file it. Has anyone else experienced this? Can Milliput go out of date for instance?

I don't use Milliput for sculpting, I would only use Magic Sculp on its own or mixed with GreenStuff, which I definitely prefer (if it's OK for Bill Horan, it's OK for me!). I have used some 20+ year old Milliput for groundwork and filling seams on 1/32 aircraft and it was fine, but I was only using it in small quantities.

 

[Paul Handley]

This is looking very good, do keep going despite the challenges.


I don't use Milliput for sculpting, I would only use Magic Sculp on its own or mixed with GreenStuff, which I definitely prefer (if it's OK for Bill Horan, it's OK for me!). I have used some 20+ year old Milliput for groundwork and filling seams on 1/32 aircraft and it was fine, but I was only using it in small quantities.

Many thanks for that Nigel. Is it possible to file and mill Magic Sculpt once it’s cured and can it be used with water or another dilutant? One of the reasons I like Milliput is that it’s cures like rock and is (usually) very amenable to filing or milling with a Dremel. I’ve found Green Stuff useful for various small and textured items but it can’t really be filed as it just goes furry.

 

[NigelR]

Yes, MagicSculp can be filed but it is harder and smoother than Milliput. However, it is much easier to sculpt into folds than Milliput before it sets as it holds its shape and isn't as "sticky". But you can smooth it before it goes off so you don't have to much filing/sanding after it has set. I've never tried mixing it with water though, I don't think that would work (but I use sprue goo or something like Mr Hobby dissolved putty if I need a liquid filler).

 

[Briggsy]

Agree with Nigel that Magicsculpt is far superior to milliput, and as I have the bad habit of wetting my sculpting tools by mouth it also doesn't taste as bad! To be perfectly honest I would never use milliput again. Not sure on a shelf life for milliput but I'd suggest it depends more on the environment it has been kept it, on the other had I have found that Magicsculpt does have a shelf life.

Of the two parts, and I can never remember which is which, the lighter part can get a hard glaze over the surface if not kept sealed, this can get to be as much ad a millimeter thick and is utterly unusable. The dark part can become very stiff over time, 2 plus years, even if kept sealed but a few seconds in the microwave will cure that.

The best stuff on the market IMO is Sculpey Firm, but like the old Super Sculpey has to be baked, I would use it but don't trust my gas oven not to burn it, past experience speaking. Though I did boil Super Sculpey to harden it in the past, but this probably won't work if it's attached to soft plastic like Historex. So really this last paragraph is moot so not sure why I just wrote it, oh well.

Cheers Simon

 

[Paul Handley]

Thanks Simon - that’s very useful. I’ve just ordered some Magic Sculpt - and the Mr Hobby liquid putty Nigel mentioned. I notice there’s a product called ‘Magic Sculpt’ and another called ‘Magic Sculp’ - presumably they’re different products? The one I bought is in the pic.

The Carabinier is turning out to be a bit of test bed for various tools, techniques and materials which I’m sure will stand me in good stead for future projects - although I’ll probably give the Sculpey a wide berth; a Historex/oven situation is just going to end badly.

Anyway, I’m just off to clean up that wretched saddle and see if I can restore my seriously compromised modelling mojo. Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[Briggsy]

Thanks Simon - that’s very useful. I’ve just ordered some Magic Sculpt - and the Mr Hobby liquid putty Nigel mentioned. I notice there’s a product called ‘Magic Sculpt’ and another called ‘Magic Sculp’ - presumably they’re different products? The one I bought is in the pic.

The Carabinier is turning out to be a bit of test bed for various tools, techniques and materials which I’m sure will stand me in good stead for future projects - although I’ll probably give the Sculpey a wide berth; a Historex/oven situation is just going to end badly.

Anyway, I’m just off to clean up that wretched saddle and see if I can restore my seriously compromised modelling mojo. Thanks again for all the advice. View attachment 485308

Not sure about the magic sculp I've only ever known it as magic sculpt, unless it's just another brand of the same thing. The picture you posted is the stuff I use, got mine from El Greco but GSW are a good company and are pretty quick with getting orders out.

My fix for a blunted mojo is red wine, that's what I'm doing now as I've just had three days on the trot looking after my not very well Granddaughter which has left me exhausted and not able to do any modelling. Then tomorrow I get my monthly eye injection, no Granddaughter but I won't be able to see out of my right eye very well! Mojo seriously knocked for six.

Cheers Simon

 

[Merryweather]

Sorry to hear that Simon, hope tomorrow goes smoothly for you

 

[Briggsy]

Sorry to hear that Simon, hope tomorrow goes smoothly for you

The Granddaughter is on the mend and at her other grandparents today, phew!

As for the eye, must be coming on a couple of years now that I've been getting the monthly injections. A bit of high blood pressure caused a bleed inside the eye, the injections control the spread of fluid and stop it settling on my macula where it would really affect my main vision. So as breath stopping and toe curling as the injections are it's a small price to pay to keep my eye sight. Still on the only day this week when I could have painted the timing is crap, such is life. Cheers though for your concern, much appreciated.

Cheers Simon

 

[NigelR]

I don't think there's a lot (if any) difference between Magic Sculpt and Magic Sculp.

And don't forget what Bill Horan and many sculptors do, which is to mix Magic Sculp(t) 50/50 with GreenStuff. This is great for larger areas of cloth and clothing because you get the best of both putties.

 

[Paul Handley]

The Granddaughter is on the mend and at her other grandparents today, phew!

As for the eye, must be coming on a couple of years now that I've been getting the monthly injections. A bit of high blood pressure caused a bleed inside the eye, the injections control the spread of fluid and stop it settling on my macula where it would really affect my main vision. So as breath stopping and toe curling as the injections are it's a small price to pay to keep my eye sight. Still on the only day this week when I could have painted the timing is crap, such is life. Cheers though for your concern, much appreciated.

Cheers Simon

Really sorry to hear that Simon - it sounds pretty unpleasant. Hope you’re feeling better soon.

 

[Briggsy]

Cheers, it's extremely unpleasant, but over quickly and better than losing half my sight. It's just a bit of yin and yang, some things hurt and some are truly pleasurable, just got to get the balance right.

Cheers Simon