WIP Imperial Gallery 24th Foot - Rorke's Drift

[Richie]

This looks really impressive Richie.....you've done a magnificent job on this so far ...can't wait to get my hands on one.....Hope I can do it justice like you.....Kevin

Hi Kevin,
Thank you for the huge compliment, hopefully won't be too long before you get your wish mate, I'm sure you will do a fine job. It is a precise build as it is very well engineered, but well worth it, I have really enjoyed working on this.
cheers
Richie

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Richie - I love the photos against the painting. He looks real. You have done a great job on this piece....I especially liked the close-ups of the Martini.

Colin

 

[Richie]

Richie - I love the photos against the painting. He looks real. You have done a great job on this piece....I especially liked the close-ups of the Martini.

Colin

Hi Colin,
Thank you mate, I will take that as a great compliment from someone of your talent. The back drop as previously mentioned does set him off a bit, I wish I new how to use one of the photo packages so I could put in the picture better.
cheers
Richie

 

[Wings5797]

Hi Richie,
I totally agree with Ron your greatest yet.
At first I thought that you had gone for a diorama and gone for the film based white helmet. On closer inspection it came clear that the regiment are the lids on your paints. Should have gone to spec savers.
Seriously Mate this is a really great piece and you should be truely proud of what has been achieved here.
I can hardly wait for you to do your magic with the horsehair.
Good work Richie,
All the very best,
Keith

 

[Richie]

Hi Richie,
I totally agree with Ron your greatmate yet.
At first I thought that you had gone for a diorama and gone for the film based white helmet. On closer inspection it came clear that the regiment are the lids on your paints. Should have gone to spec savers.
Seriously Mate this is a really great piece and you should be truely proud of what has been achieved here.
I can hardly wait for you to do your magic with the horsehair.
Good work Richie,
All the very best,
Keith

Hi Keith,
Thank you mate, I might just have another one of these when I build my big dio that you lot have been goading me about . I just might have to have a sprig or two of the old horsehair?
cheers
Richie

 

[pte1643]

Great work.

I'm currently (Very slowly) working on the similar Verlinden 24th figure.

Can I just ask... The helmet staining is a given, but I was planning on doing the Slade Wallace equip White and Brass... Is it preferred in White or Stained and Blackened?

 

[Richie]

Great work.

I'm currently (Very slowly) working on the similar Verlinden 24th figure.

Can I just ask... The helmet staining is a given, but I was planning on doing the Slade Wallace equip White and Brass... Is it preferred in White or Stained and Blackened?

Hi pte1643,
Thanks for looking in and the nice words, I like that Verlinden figure you are working on, I have done a couple of conversions from them but have not built one as a 24th figure as it should be, as yet, anyway the only thing that really lets it down is the beard/head.

As for the valise equipment, it is up to your personal preference but I would stain, but black definitely not. Black was worn by the rifles as I remember but not by the 24th in 1879. Generally on active service the equipment would be stained or pipeclayed. The main reason is the red tunics would have faded to all shades and from a distance as viewed by the Zulu's they would have looked brownish so if the equipment was stained they could not determine if the soldiers far off were Colonials or regulars.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your figure.
cheers
Richie

 

[ChaosCossack]

This is awesome Richie!
I really dig the rifle stock... looks like real wood. All the uniform colours, fleshtones, helmet, base... I believe this is my favourite of your recent figs. They all look great but this one I love

Git 'er done (That's 'merican for Carry on Mate )

Colin

 

[pte1643]

Hi pte1643,
As for the valise equipment, it is up to your personal preference but I would stain, but black definitely not.

Cheers Richie.

By Blackened, I meant a generalization of "Darkened" metalwork (Buckle and clips etc.), rather than actual black. I probably could have been clearer.

Even with stained equip generally the buckles, etc, still remain "bright"?

Cheers for your help, not really that clued up on the Zulu Wars.

Mark.

 

[Richie]

This is awesome Richie!
I really dig the rifle stock... looks like real wood. All the uniform colours, fleshtones, helmet, base... I believe this is my favourite of your recent figs. They all look great but this one I love

Git 'er done (That's 'merican for Carry on Mate )

Colin

Hi Colin,
Thanks mate, actually it's the best Martini I've done so far! I think is down to two recent acquisitions of colours, Vallejo ochre brown for the base and Vallejo rust, the sprayable one for the washes before a couple of washes of burnt umber.

Don't you worry my mate I'll Git 'er done
cheers
Richie

 

[Richie]

Cheers Richie.

By Blackened, I meant a generalization of "Darkened" metalwork (Buckle and clips etc.), rather than actual black. I probably could have been clearer.

Even with stained equip generally the buckles, etc, still remain "bright"?

Cheers for your help, not really that clued up on the Zulu Wars.

Mark.

Hi Mark,
Any time you want some help just shout mate. I would leave the buckles etc brass, they were not that advanced then. As for being clued up on the Zulu wars neither am I mate compared to some, honestly, it's just something I love..................bloody Cy Enfield.
cheers
Richie

 

[housecarl]

Looking good Richie.
Got me feeling guilty now, although mine is nearly done.
Carl.

 

[1969]

This is starting to come together very nicely mate, excellent work on the rifle, will be watching

Steve

 

[Wayneb]

Hey Richie......it's all looking great.
This whole thread is going in my file......If you decide to "bleach"or tone down the red;I'm leaning that way myself on a revisit of my Reid bust and would appreciate a tip or two on the best way to do that without getting into too much trouble.
Looking forward seeing the finished work on a box and on my bench.....Keep it going friend..........Wayne

 

[T-34/85]

Excellent job Richie! Ron's right, the backdrop photos add to the desperation the figure represents

 

[Richie]

Cheers Richie.

By Blackened, I meant a generalization of "Darkened" metalwork (Buckle and clips etc.), rather than actual black. I probably could have been clearer.

Even with stained equip generally the buckles, etc, still remain "bright"?

Cheers for your help, not really that clued up on the Zulu Wars.

Mark.

Hi Mark,
Forgot to add if my brass parts do look a little bit too bright, I tend to tone them down slightly with a thin wash or two of black, it also helps to get into the crevices and lifts the detail more.
cheers
Richie

 

[Richie]

Looking good Richie.
Got me feeling guilty now, although mine is nearly done.
Carl.

Hi Carl,
Thanks mate, I'm sure yours will look the business.
cheers
Richie

 

[Richie]

This is starting to come together very nicely mate, excellent work on the rifle, will be watching

Steve

Hi Steve,
Thanks mate, I no there's no excuse now for not painting your rifle's to the same standard
cheers
Richie

 

[Richie]

Hey Richie......it's all looking great.
This whole thread is going in my file......If you decide to "bleach"or tone down the red;I'm leaning that way myself on a revisit of my Reid bust and would appreciate a tip or two on the best way to do that without getting into too much trouble.
Looking forward seeing the finished work on a box and on my bench.....Keep it going friend..........Wayne

Hi Wayne,
Thanks mate, I'm gald this is being of some use to you.
This is the way I do mine, other people will have there own methods and mixes and you will probably find what is right for you.
My base coat for the tunics in acrylics is always Vallejo Vermillion and Reaper Clotted Red, to lighten I then use thin washes of the Vermillion first to the parts I want to lighten. Then to this I add a tip of Vallejo light orange and again very thin washes over the same areas. The final coat is the light orange on it's own and this is really thinned down, should be just like a tinged water, again built up with many washes until I get the desired effect.
Sometimes if the blending or tones need to be altered I may go over certain areas again but in oils, again using similar colours and the final layers in thinned oil glazes.
I remember on my bust I also dry brushed the creases etc this helped give it a an even more worn and toned down look.

Hope this helps, if you need anything else just ask mate.
cheers
Richie

 

[Richie]

Excellent job Richie! Ron's right, the backdrop photos add to the desperation the figure represents

Hi Tom,
Thanks mate, I think I'm going to ask my bother-in-law to show me how to use a photo package so I can drop a figure in the actual picture and not just stood in front.
If I can learn how to do this, as soon as I have 12 pieces finished I could find appropriate backdrops and make myself a Zulu War calendar
cheers
Richie