WIP Marine of the Imperial Guard

[Cannonball]

This is my start on the very recently released bust by Stormtrooper Miniatures depicting a Marine of the Imperial Guard. I think it’s safe to say this is going to be a very popular bust and it’s a super sculpt by Carl Reid. The detail is very crisp and casting is very good with only a small amount of clean up needed. It’s a great subject and promises to be quite colourful with the blue dolman style jacket and red waistcoat. The aurore lace and cords on the shako are just in undercoat at present. I’m using the Osprey men at arms book and Paul Dawson’s work on the Infantry of Napoleons Imperial Guard as references.

 

[clrsgt]

Still waiting for mine to find its way across the pond. Yours is off to a good start and I will be following closely.

 

[Cannonball]

Still waiting for mine to find its way across the pond. Yours is off to a good start and I will be following closely.

Many thanks clrsgt. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed when it does arrive.

Neal.

 

[misfit151]

Hi Neal ...thought you would be off to a flying start on this one..... I'm having to wait a bit to start mine...moving into my new painting work room in the garden....only waited 40 years LOL..... great start liking the colours already.....crack on.... Mike

 

[Nap]

Hi Neal

Following this real close

As always a fine start , flesh looks great , like the 5 o'clock

I take it that's a orange for the aurore basecoat ....going to be interesting how you approach it

As you say a colourful subject and Stu @ Stormtroopers has hit the nail right on the head with choice and Carl's sculpt is great as is the casting

Noticed there is 2 rosettes on it as well

Happy bench-time

Nap

 

[Cannonball]

Hi Neal ...thought you would be off to a flying start on this one..... I'm having to wait a bit to start mine...moving into my new painting work room in the garden....only waited 40 years LOL..... great start liking the colours already.....crack on.... Mike

Hi Mike. Can’t be bad if you’ve managed to get a man cave in the garden! I’m still stuck in the spare room and space is rapidly being swallowed up by kits and books. Couldn’t resist cracking on with it when I opened the box.

Neal

 

[misfit151]

Spot on Neal...I have been shifted from room to room and the boss said she wanted her conservatory back... the stuff you accumulate is unbelievable looking forward to your posts Mike

 

[Viking Bob]

I wish I had gotten to the bookies, you were odds on to get in first with this cracking bust.
Excellent start, the flesh tones are fantastic. Following.

 

[Nap]

I wish I had gotten to the bookies, you were odds on to get in first with this cracking bust.
Excellent start, the flesh tones are fantastic. Following.

Me too Bob ...but don't get one me .....I will be a late runner ...trying to get out the stalls ...lol

Happy benchtime all

Nap

 

[Luca Anelli]

Good start!!

 

[Cannonball]

Hi Neal

Following this real close

As always a fine start , flesh looks great , like the 5 o'clock

I take it that's a orange for the aurore basecoat ....going to be interesting how you approach it

As you say a colourful subject and Stu @ Stormtroopers has hit the nail right on the head with choice and Carl's sculpt is great as is the casting

Noticed there is 2 rosettes on it as well

Happy bench-time

Nap

Hi Nap, thanks for the comments. I’ve gone a little lighter with the oils for the aurore on the shako. The Osprey book Napoleon’s Guard Infantry vol.2 describes the lace as orange yet the reference pictures in the thread previewing the release of this bust show the lace as quite light almost a gold colour but don’t know if that’s due to fading. I’ve attached a picture from Dawson’s reference book of a piece of aurore cloth which is just post the Napoleonic period. I’m assuming the two rosettes either side of the shako are in National colours.

 

[Cannonball]

I wish I had gotten to the bookies, you were odds on to get in first with this cracking bust.
Excellent start, the flesh tones are fantastic. Following.

Many thanks Bob, really appreciated.

Neal

 

[Cannonball]

Good start!!

Many thanks Luca.

Neal

 

[Nap]

Hi Neal

I was looking at that swatch of cloth yesterday ...a interesting colour

Found this on PF ...might help https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/chasseur-aurore.51069/

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Cannonball]

Hi Neal

I was looking at that swatch of cloth yesterday ...a interesting colour

Found this on PF ...might help https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/chasseur-aurore.51069/

Happy benchtime

Nap

Spooky- I was looking at the very same thread yesterday. Seems it’s open to a bit of interpretation ranging from a yellow tone through to the orange.

Neal

 

[Richard Baxter]

For what it's worth, aurore means "dawn" so you're aiming for the colour of the first rays of the new rising sun. In my wee black book, I have a note which says it should be pale orange with a touch of pink: I think that I had this from Ray Lamb many years ago. Or maybe not. From someone much wiser than me anyway.

 

[Cannonball]

For what it's worth, aurore means "dawn" so you're aiming for the colour of the first rays of the new rising sun. In my wee black book, I have a note which says it should be pale orange with a touch of pink: I think that I had this from Ray Lamb many years ago. Or maybe not. From someone much wiser than me anyway.

Thanks for that Richard, really helpful.

Neal

 

[Cannonball]

Some progress shots. I’ve blocked in the cross belts and the main dolman colour has been added in oils. The shoulder scales have got a base coat and will be detailed shortly and the main waistcoat colour has been blocked in. I’ve gone for a lighter tone of the aurore on the shako lace/cords and will look to replicate that when I come to the dolman lace.

 

[Nap]

Hi there Neal

Now were talking ...looking really good , like the way you've done the shako aurore

Intrigued about the 2 rosettes ?

Thanks for updates

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Richard Baxter]

The rosettes are actually the usual cockades in the traditional blue centre/red/white outer concentric circles used throughout the French Napoleonic army. As far as I know, the Marins de la Garde were the only unit to wear them on the side of their shakos as opposed to the front, which was the general rule (units wearing helmets or bearskins had them on the side too, of course). However, I can only recall them being worn on the left side of the shako, I can't remember ever seeing an illustration with them on both sides. Am prepared to be educated further on this point, of course.