Drummer, 56th New York Vol. (10th Legion)

[garyjd]

Here's something on the bench that I have been working off and on for a while. It's a 100mm size figure of a drummer from the 56th New York Volunteers. The 56th was also called the 10th Legion to reflect the fact that the unit was made up of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The unit had an interesting shield that was worn on the uniform. The shield had a dark blue X on either a light blue (infantry), green (riflemen), red (artillery), or orange (cavalry) shield.

Though I prefer to work in a particular scale, but the yet to be named manufacturer wanted it to go with 100mm figures. Being that the figure is supposed to depict a boy I sculpted him in a size that reflects his youth. The main thing here is I wanted him to look like a kid and not a cartoon of a kid. All to often miniatures of children look cartoony, no doubt in no small part to the small size one has to sculpt. The somewhat ill fitting jacket and trouser help to give him that youthful look. Better pictures of the face/head are on the way.

 

[garyjd]

The following two images show the initial stages in building up his kepi. I coated the top of his head with a bit of vaseline and then trimmed the "bowl" around his head. After curing the putty was carved or sanded down where it sat too high on the head. A plastic disk that forms the top of the cap was cut to size and glued in place. The other images show the trousers in progress. With the exception of the kepi the entire figure at this point is Sculpted with Sculpey III. More to follow.

 

[garyjd]

These photos show continued progress on the trousers along with initial work on the New York State jacket the drummer will be wearing.

 

[garyjd]

The next round of postings will show further work on the kepi and body portion of the jacket.

NOTE usually I show the construction of the armature. The problem with this is I built it four times before I felt it would suit the project. The fact that I've done very little sculpting in the past year or so has not helped. After clearing this hurdle the rest came back to me without too many problems.

 

[captnenglish]

This is going to be commercial piece; YIIPPEEEEEEEEEEE!

 

[Uruk-Hai]

This project looks promising. I like that you have captures the features of a young boys face very well.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[Sokol]

Absolutely stunning work!
Send more SBS-pics please!

Cheers,
Miklós

 

[bucsfan21]

56th NY Drummer Boy

Gary, Outstanding work! I can't wait to see more. Your attention to detail is right on! Any idea when the kit will be on the market? Glad to see you back at sculpting figures. Always enjoy your work!

All the Best, Terry Martin

 

[garyjd]

Thanks a lot guys, I sure do appreciate it. I forgot the most important picture. That is the one the inspiration for the figure comes from. I'm working on this figure along with a few paintings for the APG show in August. After that I have a number of 18th and 19th century subjects I hope to get to.

The drum will be the most daunting part, which if I figure out a fairly simplified way of doing it will be an sbs all it's own.

 

[Joe Hudson]

Gary,

Looks really nice. I love the folds in the pants. Glad to see you back sculpting.

Joe

 

[John Belcher]

Hello Gary,great to see your sculpting again.Very nice work as always.I am enjoying following your sculpting process.

regards,John

 

[MattS]

Nice work, Gary. He's looking good so far. I'm sure this will be a great piece when you're done. Do you have a painter lined up...(hint..hint)???

Matt

 

[rej]

That's a great piece Gary and the boyish look is spot on!! Welldone and don't be away for this long as I enjoy your work quite a lot!!

Ray

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Sculpting of the face and legs is very good.

Youthful features captured.

As for the drum, why not do it in some sheet plastic, curled into a tube?

Like curling a piece of paper, short edge to short edge. Unless you can find a tube close to size and cut it down to length.

looking forward to the rest

cheers

 

[garyjd]

Nice work, Gary. He's looking good so far. I'm sure this will be a great piece when you're done. Do you have a painter lined up...(hint..hint)???

Matt

Matt, Thanks. Actually I do and the manufacturer has given their okay and the painter already knows he's got dibs on the boxart. Their are a few other figures I'd like to do for commercial production and they'll need painters too at some point. ..(hint hint). ~Gary

 

[Alex Lopez]

Looks good so far Gary.
I`ll waiting for news about this boy...

Alex.

 

[Black Army]

Great SBS Gary!
Keep us posting!

Congrats!
Balázs

 

[Mark S]

Gary,It looks great, you've not only sculpted an accurate youthful face but you've also captured in his face the pride one of these boys would have felt when chosen to perform that task.
Well done indeed,I'm looking forward to seeing the finished piece.

 

[whdamon]

Gary, So glad to see you are back in the saddle........I have many of your pieces and certainly look to adding a few more.......especially if 18th century pieces.
Walt Damon

 

[Jim]

Gary:
Like I need another figure in my ACW gray army...but I'm definitely going to get this one! A drummer boy in that scale has long been needed and your sculpt really looks great!