Questions for Bill Horan

[Alex M.]

Bill,

Thanks for the help !

I was referring to the actual 54mm pistols as i thought the shenandoah colts were a little large for a late 19th c. british revolver.
As for the canon ball, i hadn't even though of using graphite to make it shiny, i was trying to figure out how to highlight/shade it

-Alex

 

[Alex M.]

Forgot to ask, How big would a 54mm canonball be ?

 

[Billhoran]

Small enough to barely fit down the muzzle of a 54mm cannon!

Bill

 

[gordy]

Alex, find a known measurement from books or the 'net and calculate the scale by using "the Scaler" (there's a link at the top of the page too)

 

[Luis R.]

Hi Bill,
From some of your SBS pics, it seems you use straight Duro to sculpt facial features on some of your figures. How do you manage to get a smooth transition from Duro to the resin/metal of the original head?.

 

[Billhoran]

Luis, I have actually just used my toothpick sculpting tool and occasionally a small paintbrush with a bit of moisture added (water, thinner, saliva). This seems to work pretty well.

Bill

 

[Billhoran]

I don't have a single favorite, although I have a couple dozen that are ones I am particularly proud of. Jackie Robinson is in there with Rogers Hornsby and Johnny Vandermeer, but the recent French Chasseur and the French Marine Trumpeter, "Incident in the Waterkloof", "The Best Man in the Army", Lord Bingham, last year's 58th Foot Officer in New Zealand are all favorites. Of my vignettes, I think "The Souvenir", and "Into the Wilderness" are among my best. The 4th U.S. Infantry Private in Mexico, 1846 is one of my better action figures. General Griffin is a very simple figure, but I am especially proud of him.

My affection for certain pieces doesn't have so much to do with their flashiness, but more with the overall effectiveness of the animation, character, painting and subject matter ... and especially if it came out better than I originally envisioned it.

Bill

 

[Guy]

Bill has joined our friends at Lilliput and has established a gallery there for all to enjoy.

Congratulations Bill, Our friends at Lilliput are also our good members of the planet from Europe and the world.

Here is a link to Lilliput's Home Page where you can view Bill's Gallery by clicking on his name at the left under Ultimus Galerias

 

[Jason W.]

Originally posted by ColoradoMiniatures@Jan 6 2005, 08:33 PM
... what about doing some Orioles ballplayers? ...Brooks Robinson?

Yeah! How about one of him diving for a "grounder" toward the third base line? Though he was a bit before my time, I always enjoy seeing his highlights...Phenomenal in-fielder!

 

[Billhoran]

Like this one? (hope the picture appeares - my first try!)...

 

[Guy]

Ahhhh.....Brooks.......many a ballgame I went to to see Brooks play. Thanks Bill, Your first upload was a success. Now you know you can go larger yet with your pics. The ones you sent me by email were not reduced at all and came right from your email into the forum without being re-sized at all.

 

[Billhoran]

This is a little bigger ...

 

[Jason W.]

That will work, Bill! "Hoover" at his best!

 

[Andyfettes]

Hello Bill,
Can I just say firstly how much of an insperation you have been to myself and many others.
My question...
Can you elaborate further on the process on making the eyes better on your figures,
Many thanks in advance
Andy.

 

[BESPJL]

Hi Mr. Horan,

I must repeat the (sincere) words that I read, and share, of appreciation for your work.

I met your work thru the articles in Military Modelling and from the start I was amazed the balance your figures, vignetes and dioramas showed, the painting and their originality.

I'm currently embarking on the "make your own" cruise because I would like to make figures that show the military history of my country.

I already have both of your books, the new one from Mike Blank and the one of Mr. Paine.

But I still have some difficulty on the transition of some of the steps that you all show in your books.

So I'm coming to plea if there is any chance of making a "movie" of a project, because one thing is seeing on a picture-by-picture basis, and other is to see the real thing with no frames missing.

Unfortunately I can't go to Chicago to assist to any of the workshops.
I'm trying (with all my heart) to visit Leon Rampante this year (which you'll be attending too) to learn something about this new worls I'm embracing.

That is all for now.

Thank you for your time and your work.

Paulo Liberato

 

[pgarri27]

Hi Bill,
As everyone else has said, thanks for all the inspiration you have provided to the hobby with your gift for creating masterpeices we all enjoy. I am lucky enough to have admired your work in the' flesh', it is much more impressive than the photographs show.
When you say you complete a figure in 7-10 days, would you mind converting that to hours?
Also, I have about 20 or more tins of old Humbrol that may still be good. If you would like them, please email me a shipping address and I will send them to you.
Pete

 

[BESPJL]

Mr. Horan,

Is it possible for you to say which manufacturers are more compatible with each other, i.e., you stated that Shenandoah is more suitable for the Hornet's head than the Historex's ones.
Could you please include in this comparison more parts and manufacturers?

Thank you.

Paulo Liberato

 

[Billhoran]

This is a complicated subject, as the definition of 54mm has become very confused. One can buy three different figures advertised as 54mm and find that no two of them are the same scale. Hornet is really 1/35 scale. Shenandoah is more like 1/32nd. Historex is closer to 1/30th scale, etc. Metal Modeles is probably closer to Historex in scale. You just need to look closely at the kits available and decide for yourself which are most compatible with the scale in which you would prefer to work.

Hope this helps...

Bill

 

[BESPJL]

Hi Bill (can I change from Mr. Horan to Bill?),

thank you for your reply.

Yes, it helps a bit.

The only problem is that here in Portugal you can't go to a shop a compare the different figures because the figures aren't available at stores for immediate buy. You have to order them based on what you see on the catalogue, an article or the likeness of a particular one.

I'll have to invest on the buy of one of each to make that comparison.

I'm trying to go to Madrid this year.
Will you have time to exchange some ideas with me?

And what about the movie clip idea? Any chance?

Thank you for your help.

Paulo