New Fellow With Several Questions, Gentlemen

[Old Man]

Long ago, I enjoyed figure painting, doing mostly Staddens, which I expect dates me disastrously, as I can find no mention of the company nowadays, though fifty years ago they were the cream of it. About the first figure I bought was of an English officer on the Northwest Frontier towards the end of the nineteenth century, extended arm holding a big revolver, which had a lanyard from its butt. I expect I made a pretty fair hash of it, and it is long gone. With the prominence of Afghanistan in the news, I have found myself thinking about the thing, and recently saw a figure in a similar pose in a hobby catalogue, but something about the sculptured pose did not strike me as quite right. It did, however, decide me to pursue the matter, and start hunting up figure suppliers looking for something on this line. I have been doing models of old aircraft in 1/72 for years now, mostly Great War and Golden Age types, many of them scratch-builds, and employ a lot of tonal variation in addition to straight weathering.

The figure I am intending to acquire is by Art Girona, No. AG134, depicting an officer of the 66th in the Second Afghan War. It is a 54mm figure in white metal. My first question is simply is this a good manufacturer? Is it likely to require assembly, or to be in one piece? In short, what am I getting when I get it?

My second question is, does anyone have a good mix recommendation for the basic khaki color of the uniform? It is a color that admits of many variations, and some guidance would be appreciated. I will be working with acrylics, the Pollyscale paints I use for my aircraft.

My third question is in regards to priming. I remember long ago specific primer coats were sold, and were said to be necessary to keep the paint from reacting with the metal of the figure. I have seen no mention of this in current discussion of painting, in which priming is recommended, but as a sort of even base-coat for color, and for better adhesion of the finish paint. Is there nowadays no need for a protective primer? I was thinking of using a matte enamel for priming, if no protective covering is needed now. Is this a good choice? Would it be a good idea to use a medium brown for this purpose, and to 'pre-shade' by putting some darker brown in shadowed places of the uniform and deep yellow on its highlights, before commencing to put on the thin coats of khaki?

My thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

 

[housecarl]

Having had a look at the figure I would guess you would have to attach the arms, not much else. Great choice by the way. I'm not familiar with the paints you suggested so I can't help regards colours, as for priming I just use Gray primer from an Auto store. A fraction of the cost of hobby primer.
Welcome to the Planet, if you want any assistance you're guaranteed to find get here.
Carl.

 

[jcichon]

I also use flat auto primer. It's cheaper than hobby primer and just as good. I dont use acrylics, i use oils but Vallejo has a HUGE assortment of acylics for pretty much any uniform. Colorado Miniatures sells a ton of Vallejo paints if your in the U.S.
Assembly of your figure is pretty straightforward just use care in prepping as metal can be very unforgiving. Art Girona is a very good company. Andrea is another fantastic company as well as Helo Miniatures. Colorado minatures carries a ton of brands and very reasonable in price. Good luck and remember, it's a hobby and supposed to be fun!!
Jason

 

[Mark S]

G'day Old Man,
Just on the topic of Stadden figures,I've got a few I painted back in the carboniferous era but you can still pick up the odd figure on Ebay.
If you search as Stadden or 80mm you will occasionally find some of the old ones.
As far as priming goes you will need to do that,I just use an acrylic but any of the aforementioned primers will do.

 

[Old Man]

Thank You Very Much, Gentlemen!

I appreciate your helpful answers, and your welcome.

I have ordered the figure this morning, from Colorado Miniatures, and am glad to hear both the maker and seller have good repute.

I will use spray automotive primer as advised; there is an auto parts store on my block, so it will be no problem to acquire. I expect 'white metal' nowadays does not employ lead, and it was reaction of enamel paints with lead we were warned against back then.

One note on the khaki: I have been looking up the circumstances of the 66th in the Second Afghan War, where they were cut up badly at the Maiwan fight, and it seems the 'khaki' was still ad hoc dying of the white summer uniforms at that time and place, and a great variety of colors ensued, as the dyes (stainings, actually) employed ranged from strong tea to a slurry of curry powder. There would also have been a healthy admixture of the dusty dirt of the Helmand plain as well, even on a junior officer, in the circumstances of the campaign.

To reminisce with Mr. Stiff briefly about 'the carboniferous era': I was fortunate to secure an after-school job at a large hobby shop near our home, that I haunted buying model airplanes, and they had a case devoted to figures, which is where I first encountered both painted and unpainted ones. The place is long gone now, of course, its space mostly occupied by an electronics store....

 

[jcichon]

Well with Khaki colors you can find pics of uniforms in various stages of washed out color. I think as long as your in the ballpark with the color you'll be ok. Glad to see you looked into Colorado Miniatures. I almost exclusivly order all of my models from them. A great company. Good luck and post some pics of your progress.

 

[Old Man]

The figure arrived today, Gentlemen!

It is a very nice item. There are some very minor surface imperfections, but the thing over-all is very crisp and pleasing, and clean-up should be minor. The left leg, both arms, and the head are separate, but the fit is good, the nearest thing to a problem being a little nub on the bottom of the neck. The barrel of the revolver, also, is a separate piece, which I almost over-looked, but that is a nice touch, as that sort of thing can bend and break easily. I intend to use epoxy to assemble the figure, and will put it into one piece before priming.

I will put up some pictures once I have got to work, hopefully by early next week.

I will of course continue poking about here for tips on techniques....

 

[housecarl]

I bet you fingers are itching? Hope you enjoy your self, and please post some photos so we can watch developments.
Again enjoy,
Carl.

 

[Einion]

My second question is, does anyone have a good mix recommendation for the basic khaki color of the uniform? It is a color that admits of many variations, and some guidance would be appreciated. I will be working with acrylics, the Pollyscale paints I use for my aircraft.

Obviously you have to start with an idea of the specific colour you're aiming for in mind. Although I'm sure there are some aircraft colours that'll be pretty close to some shades, if you want to mix from scratch then try a mix of yellow, red and black, with white.

There are numerous ways you can do this:
mix an orange, then dull it down with the black (this will tend to shift the colour slightly toward green) then adjust value with white;
mix a green (yellow + black) and then dull this down with a little red, then add white.

For shadows I'd suggest adding in the same basic mix you started with prior to the addition of white, for the highlights I'd try just adding in white + a touch of yellow and if that doesn't look right white + orange.

My third question is in regards to priming. I remember long ago specific primer coats were sold, and were said to be necessary to keep the paint from reacting with the metal of the figure.

This is essentially no longer an issue for the reason you mention - little or no lead in casting alloys.

I was thinking of using a matte enamel for priming, if no protective covering is needed now. Is this a good choice?

Not really.

Primers have very good adhesion, much higher than paint typically. I also recommend auto primer since it's both cheap and effective, but in the US Rustoleum make a primer that's widely available that a number of modellers use. In terms of colour my preference is usually grey, some people prefer white.

Einion

 

[IIICorps]

Welcome. These days, Stadden figures are collectibles. Did you happen to hang on to the ones you had back in "the Dark Ages"?

 

[housecarl]

Welcome. These days, Stadden figures are collectibles. Did you happen to hang on to the ones you had back in "the Dark Ages"?

I've got the piper Scots Guards, any resonable offers considered.
Carl.