Les Grognard 1/16 sculpt

[Ron Tamburrini]

the busby of the grenadiers, the drawing is completely wrong in shape

View attachment 264286View attachment 264287View attachment 264288View attachment 264289View attachment 264290View attachment 264291

Don't know if the bearskin is wrong Ivo, I have seen this shape used before on miniatures , Ray Lamb used this style a lot , after many foldings in haversacks and such this shape could occur .

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

This may be of interest , pic from Le invalids
came out side on just one of the faults with apples new system . photo

 

[Ybrossculpts]

This may be of interest , pic from Le invalids
View attachment 264681 came out side on just one of the faults with apples new system . photo

Hi Ron,
Many thanks for the picture, it will definitely come in handy, and now I'm getting really confused with the buttons. I've got a few numbers ranging from 9 through to 7, I never thought I'd say this but, I think I've become a real button counter .
In Ivo's defence Ron, I don't think either versions are wrong or right and I did end up changing the shape to what I originally was going to do. I think as you point out though these bearskins would have been abused in many different ways whilst on campaign though.
Regards
Chris.

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Hi Ron,
Many thanks for the picture, it will definitely come in handy, and now I'm getting really confused with the buttons. I've got a few numbers ranging from 9 through to 7, I never thought I'd say this but, I think I've become a real button counter .
In Ivo's defence Ron, I don't think either versions are wrong or right and I did end up changing the shape to what I originally was going to do. I think as you point out though these bearskins would have been abused in many different ways whilst on campaign though.
Regards
Chris.

Yea the button thing is confusing ,they are more like saucers on that coat , I wonder if the museum curators added them , not unheard of , I was in the Metropolitan museum in New York this year and was privileged to get into the inner sanctum of the armoury as my daughter in-law works there; and they do mix and match a bit

 

[Ybrossculpts]

Thought I'd add a quick post before Christmas ground zero. This is where I got up to.....

And this is where I've ended up....

I came to the conclusion that less is better than more. I felt it was looking too creased for my liking so did a bit of shaving and sanding and have started all over again. Will attempt to get on track with this shortly.

Cheers
Chris.

 

[Nap]

Chris

This is great to see the way you are working and learning with every bit of bench time ....well done , I liked the folds myself but all credit to you ..the end result is going to be great and I am sure that this will not ( hopefully) be your last sculpt .
Seasions s greetings

Nap

 

[1969]

Chris one of the most important lessons of sculpting is that sometimes you have to remove work you have already completed because you are not entirely happy with it, it is far easier to just leave it and find a reason for it being that way, well done mate it's a brave step to take and it will always pay off in the long run.
You might find Duro (greenstuff) is not great for sanding/carving due to it's soft nature, if you mix it 50/50 with Milliput or magicsculp you will find it a lot easier to work with, also best thing for smoothing prior to putty setting is Vaseline(petroleum jelly) for folds creases use a small paint brush coated with very small amount of Vaseline to do the job, large areas can be smoothed out with fingers etc again with light use of Vaseline.

You are doing well Chris, keep it up mate

Cheers
Steve

 

[Ybrossculpts]

Chris

This is great to see the way you are working and learning with every bit of bench time ....well done , I liked the folds myself but all credit to you ..the end result is going to be great and I am sure that this will not ( hopefully) be your last sculpt .
Seasions s greetings

Nap

Thanks for your positive feedback on this Nap. I was looking at it thinking the material looked almost like a thin linen instead of a sort of stiffer wool. The jacket had too many rolls in it and the pants too many creases in them, sort of wet looking. I started referencinging pictures of woolen coats and pants and saw how there was minimal amounts or hints depending on stance or coats opened or buttoned up. So we'll see how I'll be able to replicate this on the figure. Hope you have a Happy Christmas, and here's to a great 2017!
Regards
Chris.

 

[Ybrossculpts]

Chris one of the most important lessons of sculpting is that sometimes you have to remove work you have already completed because you are not entirely happy with it, it is far easier to just leave it and find a reason for it being that way, well done mate it's a brave step to take and it will always pay off in the long run.
You might find Duro (greenstuff) is not great for sanding/carving due to it's soft nature, if you mix it 50/50 with Milliput or magicsculp you will find it a lot easier to work with, also best thing for smoothing prior to putty setting is Vaseline(petroleum jelly) for folds creases use a small paint brush coated with very small amount of Vaseline to do the job, large areas can be smoothed out with fingers etc again with light use of Vaseline.

You are doing well Chris, keep it up mate

Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your thoughts, advice and encouragement mate. I have tried that mix, and think it's worth revisiting again especially for doing material. Do you think it goes off quicker with this combo though? The vasoline is definitely something I'd like to try as I've been using the glycerin which has been working ok but interested in how that goes. I definitely haven't lost the hunger to persist with the figure so hopefully full steam ahead (fingers crossed). I hope you have a great Christmas and a happy and successful 2017.
Regards
Chris.

 

[1969]

Not sure if cure time is accelerated to be honest but quite possibly, trick is to break sculpt down to manageable areas to do, that way you have plenty of time and no waste of putty.
I usually when doing drapery will break legs down to one leg at a time, upper torso I will break down to front and rear for main part, then lastly add any collars pocket flaps etc.

Merry Christmas to you also mate and a Happy New year.

All the best
Steve

 

[Ybrossculpts]

Hi PF'ers
Just a quick update on this fellow. Have managed to get further than where I was when I decided to hack and sand his partly done coat and trousers, I am reasonably pleased with my second effort and feel it's more of an improvement. Thanks again Steve for the advice again, it's been helpful and has made the job less painful and more enjoyable. I've been putting it in the oven to help speed things up so it's all been a new process. So hopefully I can keep it going, and will see where it leads.

Regards
Chris.

 

[Nap]

Chris

Blimey you have progressed with this , I am learning from you by following your work and the comments ...and enjoying it a lot

Is that MS you are using for the belts ?

Happy 2017 to you mate

Nap

 

[1969]

Well done Chris, much better the second time around

Steve

 

[Ybrossculpts]

Chris

Blimey you have progressed with this , I am learning from you by following your work and the comments ...and enjoying it a lot

Is that MS you are using for the belts ?

Happy 2017 to you mate

Nap

Hi Nap,
I'm using the same for the straps as I'm using for everything else, milliput/GS. Just thinly rolling it out and then flattening it and shaping. Actually ended up having to make them wider after I thought they were finished.

The buttons I ended up using the same technique with rolling out thinly the putty mix but ended up using the tubing from a cotton bud for the diameter. Then trimming off excess glueing to the coat and sanding down.
I'll have to make the sabre and bayonet from scratch as I can't find the packets of resin tubing and flat pieces, they're somewhere in my mess.

Cheers
Chris.

 

[Ybrossculpts]

Well done Chris, much better the second time around

Steve

Thanks Steve.

 

[Ybrossculpts]

Another update....
Re-did the straps at the back making longer and lower. Also made the sabre and bayonet and have stuck them in situ with bluetack.
The arms are looking pretty ominous, I'm hoping I can get over that hurdle. Not sure how to approach it but anyway will see how I get on?

Cheers
Chris.

 

[Ybrossculpts]

Happy New Year PFer's,
Another quick update, and I've managed to start on the arms. I firstly attached half done arms in position then removed them as I have now decided to add to the torso more. I felt he needed a little bulking out around the midriff and will need to reattach buttons as well as re-do some straps, but I think it's a little improvement. I'll then be looking at finishing the arms then onto the pouches and then finish with the hardest part...
The hands

Cheers
Chris.

 

[Scotty]

I think you were right thickening him up, presumably he would have a tunic on beneath his coat? Lovely work, I will definitely be getting the sculpey out again in the new year.
Thanks, Scotty.

 

[Ybrossculpts]

I think you were right thickening him up, presumably he would have a tunic on beneath his coat? Lovely work, I will definitely be getting the sculpey out again in the new year.
Thanks, Scotty.

Hi Scotty,
Thanks mate, yep it was definitely a good decision to do that, still not sure whether I should adjust the opening of the coat. Anyway sounds like a new years resolution for getting the sculpey out then?
Happy New Year
Chris.

 

[Ybrossculpts]

An update and due to that four letter word....
Work....
I've been time poor along with it being the Christmas school hols but in saying that I've managed some time to try and keep this sculpt going. Anyway Ive been taking two steps forward and one back, sanding, puttying, carving, sanding, puttying, etc etc. I've added more on torso, sanded off more around the coat to give shape to front knee. Tried tidying area's and correcting others. I've been going slowly with the arms, concentrating on the folds around the elbows, with which I'm reasonably happy with. Keeping in mind I still need to add to both inner forearms and also the shoulder blades on the figure and I have still left the arms removable to access them. I'm now looking at the back equipment along with how I'll be approaching the hands.

Cheers for now,
Chris.