Completed Legionnaire

[Briggsy]

Hello fellow modellers, just joined this week and thought I may as well jump straight in and get my boots wet. I started this current project a couple of weeks ago but thanks to agreeing to write an article for a mate I have some pictures.

My current MO is to take a Dragon/Masterbox/Miniatures etc 1/35th plastic figure and strip away all the detail on the legs and torso. Yeah I know I could make a proper armature but I'm just not patient enough. I also tend to batch build, which is great for longer sessions at the desk as parts on one can be left to cure while I get on with something else. Down side is I'm either just sculpting or just painting, still keeps me out of mischief.

 

[Mike Stevens]

This should be interesting; I like to see folks doing cool things with conversions.

 

[Briggsy]

So from the bare dolly I build up detail from the bottom up, detailing boots, leggings and trousers or occasionally kilts.

I'm as cack handed with my figures as I seem to be with anything more technical than a hammer and chisel, so I'm pretty slow and methodical doing one bit at a time, any more and I'd put my thumb in whatever I'd just sculpted.

This is why I do more than one figure at a time, sometimes up to 5 or 6

Oh yeah, the subject of this build started life as Gen de Gaul, he will end up a Sgt of Grenadiers "1st Regiment Entrangier", in 1858 at Bougie. I admit I haven't researched where Bougie is or what happened there, very remiss of me.

 

[Briggsy]

Mike, thanks for looking in, hope my poor IT skills don't make this all unreadable.

Best for me to just crack on. The next image is a bit further advanced. The subject is first on the left, I have added the gaiters and trousers over the to of them. Also the skirts of his tunic and using the foil from one of my many bottles of red wine I added a belt. Ignore what is on his head because when I took another look at it I cut most of the upper portion of the kept off. The peak is made from a couple of small slips of post it notes superglue together and attached with again superglue. Once secure it is carefully trimmed with scissors and sanding sticks.

 

[MalcC]

Firstly, welcome to the Planet, a great place to be.
I look forward to following the progress on these.

Malc

 

[Briggsy]

Just time for a quick additional image that really should have been put in before the last one. It shows how I built up the skirts of the tunic using yet more post it note paper, note to self try using a better colour of paper!! Also notice the kepi I mentioned, this is while building up the first iteration trying stretched sprue for the cording on the top, yeah it looked awful.

 

[Briggsy]

Cheers Malc it's good to be here.

 

[Rob]

Wow, this takes me back a few years. They are great.
I remember learning how to stretch sprue (more which sprue to use) and de-tension paper (real Basildon Bond) for tunics, cloaks, and flags from a show demonstration by Roy Dilley a long, long time ago. Please say you use plasticine as a filler!

Shame that with all the aftermarket stuff these days most "modellers" really just assemble other peoples product rather than model their own. There will always be a place for unique one-offs. At least until the 3D design programs become plug & play enough for luddites like me, then everything will be one off.

 

[Viking Bob]

These look very nice, following with interest.

 

[Briggsy]

Rob, cheers. I seem to remember Roy Dilly only ever turning up at the end of a show to spout a few words (without a microphone so no one could hear him) and in time for Wendy to get a bunch of flowers. The old guard of the BMSS are falling fast these days.

Anyway, no I don't use plasticine sorry, I actually use super glue and bicarbonate of soda. Partially fill the hole or gap with superglue then drop the bicarb into it, it sets instantly. Repeat till the hole is full then sand it down, it sands easily and is rock solid. Apparently mixing superglue with talcum powder makes a workable paste but I haven't tried that yet.

I do have a 3D printer, my youngest got it for me last christmas but I haven't dared to try it. Ideally I'd like to print muskets, swords and the like rather than make them fresh every time but that means learning 3D sculpting and as you can see my IT skills leave something to be desired!

 

[Mike Stevens]

Those are pretty cool! Some of my favorite periods.

 

[Briggsy]

Mike, mostly British Victorian up to WW1 with lots of leeway on either side but since my wife and kids insisted I have a phone (I did but it was a flip phone that I never knew where it was) I got more addicted to Pintrest and now want to do the French, Germans, Italians, Spanish and the list goes on.

 

[Nap]

Cheers Malc it's good to be here.

It's good to have you here Mr Briggsy ( sorted pics out ..always happy to help )

Loving this thread .....going to be lots of fun following

True oldstyle modelling here and good results

Bicarbonate as a filler + superglue

.....bets there's some plasticine somewhere in the bench area and a piccy of Roy https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/roy-dilley-british-model-soldier-society-rip.203568/

Looking forward to seeing more on the figures

Enjoy the benchtime and have FUN

Nap

 

[NigelR]

Welcome! Lovely too see conversion work like this and hacking 1/35 figures about is a great thing to do! Excellent progress here.

 

[Briggsy]

It's good to have you here Mr Briggsy ( sorted pics out ..always happy to help )

Loving this thread .....going to be lots of fun following

True oldstyle modelling here and good results

Bicarbonate as a filler + superglue

.....bets there's some plasticine somewhere in the bench area and a piccy of Roy https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/roy-dilley-british-model-soldier-society-rip.203568/

Looking forward to seeing more on the figures

Enjoy the benchtime and have FUN

Nap

Ha yeah no picture of dear old Roy but I still use a lot of his uniform articles in Mil Mod as reference. The last time I used plasticine was making molds when I very briefly made and try to sell my own home made flats, influenced by another Roy, Mr Hunt who was always a good friend.

NigelR, many thanks I hope to please.

Cheers Simon

 

[Redcap]

I am always envious of those with figure scratch /conversion skills and I wish I could do it. Impressive work mate!
Gary

 

[Briggsy]

Cheers Gary, been a long road to get reasonable results, I start trying simple conversion as far back as the 80's with mixed results. Dipped in and out of this through the years as I variously tried my hand at other genres like flats, tanks and space ships! Sods law though I get to where I'm happy as my eye sight is starting to call it a day.

 

[Mike Stevens]

Cheers Gary, been a long road to get reasonable results, I start trying simple conversion as far back as the 80's with mixed results. Dipped in and out of this through the years as I variously tried my hand at other genres like flats, tanks and space ships! Sods law though I get to where I'm happy as my eye sight is starting to call it a day.

That’s why they make optivisors with various strengths. I couldn’t paint without one.

 

[Briggsy]

Yeah I have one, trouble is I'm short sighted so distance is the main issue, up close is OK but a recent bleed in my right eye is the issue. Currently I am have an injection in it every month that may very easily be a permanent thing, still seeing the needle coming at me as my eye is clamped open as horrific as it is, is better than losing that sight. Still Roger Saunders only has one good eye and nobody has ever said his Hornet heads are'nt up to spec, also one of the Perry brothers (of Perry Miniatures) only has one arm and still.is a fantastic sculptor . So there is hope should the worst happen, as Monty Pythons say "Always look on the bright side of life"

 

[Briggsy]

Now then enough of the morbid thoughts, did some work today, not much though as my wife has had me cleaning and sorting ready for our daughters Hen do which kicks off here next weekend. LOL got to survive my soon to be son in laws (tame version) Stag do this weekend.

I'll skip a little ahead, the next image will show that I have built the upper part of the tunic, simply laying on more Magicsculpt in a thin coat and gently adding some folds and creases. To do this I will press a suitable tool into the soft putty then even more gently tease out the edges with a damp fine brush. Not always but most often the next step is to add a small amount of putty either between the creases or towards their ends to represent where the cloth in the crease has been pushed to. Then back to the brush work to smooth everything else out especially the joining of the extra putty.

I have also added his ammo pouches, I may have made a bit of an error as I have given him 2 pouches, not many of the reference piccies I have show 2, oh well live and learn. Though if anyone knows if it should be the 2 or just 1 I'd appreciate the stear. Also you may note some wine bottle foil making up the lower portion of his webbing braces.

It was here I realised I needed to sculpt the arms so I could add the fringed eppulets because the webbing braces sensibly go over the top of these.

That's why he has wires sticking out of his shoulders. I added the left hand after extensive searching under my desk for it, however his left hand needs to hold the Rifle
So after positioning the hand minus the fingers I glued the Rifle to it, once set I very carefully cut through the wrist so I can work on the Rifle separately before re-attaching it once all the painting is done. We'll that is the plan, needless to say it doesn't always work out that way.

I have since added a layer of Magicsculpt to the paperclip wire as a base to build up the sleeves of the tunic on. Hoping to get a little bench time in the morning before I have to quaff copious quantities of Hogsback Ale as the brewery is where tomorrow's shenanigans commence.

Thanks all for watching it's nice to be a part of a community of like minded folk again.

Cheers Simon