Completed Officer of Dragoons Franco Prussian War.

[Briggsy]

OK so here I go again, be nice to paint a professionally sculpted figure again, they usually tend to paint up nicer than my efforts.

So a 54mm Metal Models casting of their French Dragoon Officer in a very elegant pose. I have loved this figure for a long time so when my daughter asked what I wanted for christmas this is what I got.

Very nice casting with minimal mold lines which considering the age of the figure is good. The only thing I didn't like was the supplied horse tail for the helmet, I couldn't figure out how best to attach it, so I made my own. I also took the opportunity to add a bit of movement and the horse tail.is flapping a bit in the wind. I had a bit of gap filling where the head attaches as I repositioned it to be looking down and slightly left as opposed to the extreme left looking position it's meant to have. Playing front row rugby has left me unable to turn my head that far, so if I can't I don't see why he should!

Cheers Simon

 

[marco14]

bring it on mate,another special one

Mario

 

[Briggsy]

Ha yes a nice one this is, I have just sprayed him with cellulose car primer and I need to give it time for that to dry and cure now. This means I can't do anymore until tomorrow, I really don't have the patience I used to have but I must resist the temptation to crack on.

Cheers Simon

 

[MalcC]

that's a nice looking figure.
Naturally I'm following with interest.

Malc

 

[F Troop]

Working on the same figure myself. Always loved it and picked it up recently. Same deal with the horse tail and I'm sculpting new one, also turned the head a bit more forward and filled the gap. Watching your progress with interest.

 

[Briggsy]

that's a nice looking figure.
Naturally I'm following with interest.

Malc

Thanks Malc I shall do.my best.

Cheers Simon

 

[Briggsy]

Working on the same figure myself. Always loved it and picked it up recently. Same deal with the horse tail and I'm sculpting new one, also turned the head a bit more forward and filled the gap. Watching your progress with interest.

Wow what a coincidence, but then it is a really attractive figure just proves we have good taste! I should like to see how you progress too.mate, mine though won't have such an extravagant base, I prefer to keep that all nice and simple, OK lazy modeller but hey I enjoy what I do.

Cheers Simon

 

[Nap]

Hi Simon ...and Rick

That's a lovely figure , great pose as well , following this closely

Looking forward to seeing more on both versions

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Waterlooman]

Another nice one to follow.

W.

 

[NigelR]

Another one hits the bench! Looking forward to this.

 

[Briggsy]

Hi Simon ...and Rick

That's a lovely figure , great pose as well , following this closely

Looking forward to seeing more on both versions

Happy benchtime

Nap

Thanks Kev, I'm sure we will try not to disappoint.

Cheers Simon

 

[Briggsy]

Another nice one to follow.

W.

Glad to have you on board.

Cheers Simon

 

[Briggsy]

Another one hits the bench! Looking forward to this.

Nigel happy to see you watching this.

Cheers Simon

 

[clubcat]

Having seen your work 'up close and personal' so to speak I am sure this will be another belter.
Melanie

 

[Briggsy]

Having seen your work 'up close and personal' so to speak I am sure this will be another belter.
Melanie

Cheers Mel, I shall do.my best, just discovering how difficult the eyes are to get to at the mo.

Cheers Simon

 

[Rob]

Nice looking figure to work on, I think reducing the turn on the head was a good idea as you have a very natural body position now.
Only thing I dislike is the unfringed epaulette. They never look "right", not your fault, or even the sculpt, just a really bizarre uniform quirk that this era produced, always looks like something is missing.

 

[Briggsy]

Nice looking figure to work on, I think reducing the turn on the head was a good idea as you have a very natural body position now.
Only thing I dislike is the unfringed epaulette. They never look "right", not your fault, or even the sculpt, just a really bizarre uniform quirk that this era produced, always looks like something is missing.

I agree the turn of the head as it's intended to be is far from natural, a contrived pose for the camera maybe, did they have cameras in those days?

As for the eppulets, yes a little odd but correct none the less, that said it's little quirks like this that I like in figures, call me odd but I quite like it.

Cheers Simon

 

[Briggsy]

I spent a few hours today painting the face and underpainting all the uniform colours with thin washes, which is why he looks like he's been done in watercolours. The face isn't all that easy to get to with the head in this position, the eyes especially, they are painted though. I had to resort to doing some of it upside down, the figure not me. As a rule doing any painting on an upside down figure isn't such a good idea, no matter how well it looks while painting it's not going yo look right the right way up. He has fairly pale skin at the mo, not sure I want to put too much colour into him though.

My main mistake was sculpting the new horse tail straight onto the figure, all thr delicate ends and thin strands have already snapped off, oh well never mind.

Oh and by the way I'm not planning on doing the metal work with NMM, the yellow is just underpainting.

Cheers Simon

 

[marco14]

that are looking very nice colors already,and it's going fast,the more I paint,the slower it go
lovely work mate

Mario

 

[theBaron]

Great progress, Simon! As others have noted, it's a great casting, and your adjustment to the pose gives him a bit of an attitude, too.

Prost!
Brad