Completed French Legionnaire & Spanish Officer, Colonial service

[Briggsy]

I have started the tunics of both figures using my trusty post it note paper, yellow this time.

For the Legionnaire who wears a double breasted tunic I started tacking the paper to the figure with PVA glue on his right side to show the inner part of the opening. Using more PVA and water to wet the paper I carried the on fixing it in place back to the right hip. To make the paper conform to the contours of the figure requires water and PVA to tease it into place mostly with a soft brush.



I often stiffen the paper with superglue but this time I have taken Paul Handleys suggestion of using plastic gloop.



Now onto the Spanish Officer, this chap has trouser stripes, so a 1.5mm strip was cut, I attached this at the bottom of the trouser leg with PVA before wetting it too much.



This once fairy well stuck.in place was wetted with water and a brush so I could tease the paper into place following the bend in the leg. Once in place the paper was pressed into.the trouser creases with a small brass rod sculpting tool and finally given a coat of plastic gloop.



This chap wears a single breasted tunic so I had a different approach to adding the paper. I started by tacking it to his backside with PVA. Once firm I wet the paper and took it around to the front of the tunic. The deliberate mistake here of ther not being enough paper to make the front open the skirts here, its in fact my cock up. I cut the paper too short.

I should be able to add little strips of paper or tease the Magicsculpt out to make this look right, as the fella will.have 'hand in pocket', (No copyright infringement on the Pretenders lyrics was intended) I will have to remodel part of the tunic skirt anyway.



All pictures are thumb nails so click to enlarge if necessary.

Cheers Simon

 

[Nap]

Hi Simon

Fascinating to see how you use the post it paper ........have you tried other types of paper as well ?

Bu gloop I presume you mean cut up sprue in a soliution like MEK ( think that’s what was used in the Stan Catchpole book of hints ?)

Very well explained and the results certainly show how it works

Thanks for taking the time

Looking forward to seeing more

Have fun with the gloop

Nap

 

[Briggsy]

Hi Simon

Fascinating to see how you use the post it paper ........have you tried other types of paper as well ?

Bu gloop I presume you mean cut up sprue in a soliution like MEK ( think that’s what was used in the Stan Catchpole book of hints ?)

Very well explained and the results certainly show how it works

Thanks for taking the time

Looking forward to seeing more

Have fun with the gloop

Nap

Hi, cheers Kev thanks for that, as for the paper no I haven't used other types and there is a vast difference in paper types. Apart from weight, thickness and weave, official letters from solicitors etc tend to be heavy and thick, not easy to mould to the figures contours. Photocopy or printing paper is very tightly woven to prevent paper dust building up in the machine. The post it stuff though is quite loosely woven probably longer fibres making it easier to manipulate when wet.

The gloop, yes sprue melted in EMA plastic weld, very Stan Catchpole I agree but just because it's an old method doesn't mean it's no good. It fills small gaps, smoothes rough surfaces and can be used to build up details, really good stuff, just don't spill it the plastic weld will melt most things!

Back to granddading tomorrow, so I'll be back at it on Friday.

Cheers Simon

 

[SUPER ANTO]

Hi Simon.

Sorry so much for my late reply, busy week after comeback to work.
I attach photos with info on the spanish officer at Philippines.
I hope help you in your brilliant sculpt work.

Cheers!!!!!....

 

[Briggsy]

Hi Simon.

Sorry so much for my late reply, busy week after comeback to work.
I attach photos with info on the spanish officer at Philippines.
I hope help you in your brilliant sculpt work.

Cheers!!!!!....

Wow some great detail there and a whole different figure to make, that braided jacket is awesome. The helmet is a big help as it is very different from the British version, I'm going to enjoy making this.

Hope your work settles down to normal.for you and great.big thank you for he reference images.

Cheers Simon

 

[MarquisMini]

Well...that is an interesting choice of figures and with the mastery of Mr. Simon.
Keep up the awesome work!

 

[Briggsy]

Well...that is an interesting choice of figures and with the mastery of Mr. Simon.
Keep up the awesome work!

Thank you Daniel, definitely the odd couple but I like the similarities of these two, even if they are poles apart.

Cheers Simon

 

[clubcat]

I do enjoy watching the progression of your work, you use techniques and materials I would never have considered to brilliant effect. Keep doing what you are doing. Excellent, Simon.
Melanie

 

[Briggsy]

I do enjoy watching the progression of your work, you use techniques and materials I would never have considered to brilliant effect. Keep doing what you are doing. Excellent, Simon.
Melanie

Many thanks Melanie, I just use what makes sense, though what makes sense to.me is usually down right odd to sensible people!

Cheers Simon

 

[Briggsy]

I have had a slight delay in production, trying to keep both figures at roughly the same stage is a bit of a pain.

The Legionnaire has a cummerbund and belt, I may be wrong in this but I was under the impression that such extensive waist sashes were thought to protect against cholera in the 19th Century. Anyway I first made the part below the belt and had to wait for that to set. The belt is wine bottle foil fixed in place with superglue. I could then add the upper part of the cummerbund. Also added a start to the upper portion of his tunic.



The Spanish Officer had his upper tunic done while waiting for the Legionnaire. I have added some creases to both tunics, though they might need revising a bit once the arms are done.



I have marked a section of the tunic skirt that needs reworking as the figure has one hand in his pocket but I will need to do that once his arm is in place.

Both figures are in desperate need of some facial hair.

Cheers Simon

 

[Nap]

Hi Simon

Nice update on these fellows , both coming along nicely in my “ no legs “ opinion ,..lol

Good idea to use the foil for the strap .......reason to possibly test the bottle contents it came from !

All credit to you for going for the double , though I’m sure there’s more walking around your bench !

Interesting about the sash and cholera , I would imagine it offered a bit of protection against wounds as well being so thickly wrapped

Look forward to seeing more

Have fun at the bench

Nap

 

[Nap]

Had to have a search

Found this interesting and informative website http://foreignlegion.info/traditions/

Nap

 

[MalcC]

Your Sculpting just gets better and better, love the creases and folds on the trousers.

Malc

 

[Briggsy]

Hi Simon

Nice update on these fellows , both coming along nicely in my “ no legs “ opinion ,..lol

Good idea to use the foil for the strap .......reason to possibly test the bottle contents it came from !

All credit to you for going for the double , though I’m sure there’s more walking around your bench !

Interesting about the sash and cholera , I would imagine it offered a bit of protection against wounds as well being so thickly wrapped

Look forward to seeing more

Have fun at the bench

Nap

Damn I've been rumbled, if anyone ever finds my stash of wine bottle foils I'll be banned from buying more wine.

Yes I have a couple of projects on the go, one is a long term(ish) for a vignette i want to do and the other started because I had hours free at the bench but was waiting for putty to dry on everything else!

Now I am doing scientific research, I need to know if Malbes still tastes the same as the last bottle I had!

Cheers Simon

 

[Briggsy]

Taking advantage of the school year starting, more time at the bench.

Looking at the Spanish officer first, I have given him his left arm, or at least the start of it, first though I had to remove a portion of his tunic skirt. Then using paper clip wire I fastened a basic armature of the arm with super glue.



I made a small groove in the waist of the figure to secure the bottom end of the arm, then built up the trousers to show the outline of the hand in the pocket. Then the rucked up portion of the tunic skirt was added with Magicsculpt, so far the hand is still paper clip wire but this will be addressed once everything is cured.

I then went on to flesh out the arm a little to give me a solid base to craft the drapery for the sleeve. Then the front opening of the tunic and a shirt collar, the tunic collar will follow once this is cured.



Then moving onto the Legionnaire with a simpler bit of work, his left arm is to be behind his back, so again paper clip wire and this time a 1/30th hand from Figure in Italy. The arm was again bulked out a little for the next stage, his tunic front was added along with a collar.



Now I can't really do anymore until the Magicsculpt cures properly.

Cheers Simon

 

[Merryweather]

I like the way this is shaping up Simon

 

[MalcC]

I agree, this is shaping up very nicely.

Malc

 

[Briggsy]

I like the way this is shaping up Simon

Thank you Neil, it's going OK so far, no major reworks required yet!

Cheers Simon

 

[theBaron]

A great pair of subjects for your next project, Simon!
I was off last week and part of vacation time these days is staying offline as much as possible, so I missed your initial posts. I'm getting caught up now. I always enjoy your in progress threads to see your techniques-and your solutions to the odd challenge or two that emerge. I look forward to following this one, too.
I'm curious-do you know what made people in the 19th century think that a sash around the belly would help against cholera? For me, anything tight around the waist just makes me need to go more often, especially since I no longer have the waist of a 25-year-old
Prost!
Brad

 

[Briggsy]

A great pair of subjects for your next project, Simon!
I was off last week and part of vacation time these days is staying offline as much as possible, so I missed your initial posts. I'm getting caught up now. I always enjoy your in progress threads to see your techniques-and your solutions to the odd challenge or two that emerge. I look forward to following this one, too.
I'm curious-do you know what made people in the 19th century think that a sash around the belly would help against cholera? For me, anything tight around the waist just makes me need to go more often, especially since I no longer have the waist of a 25-year-old
Prost!
Brad

Better late than never Brad, glad to have you on board. As for the sash, absolutely no idea why a tight wrap around the waist would help with anything apart from a hernia. Mind you it wasn't unusual for doctors to bleed their patients, which is never a good idea I think. So much medical knowledge was suppressed or lost over the centuries since the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians, even folk remedies could get you burnt at the stake thanks to the church. I suppose it was a case of if it hurts strap.it up, therefore strap it up so it never hurts, a fair assumption no matter how flawed. Still the sash/cummerbund does look good on these figures!!

Cheers Simon