WIP USMC Band Drum Major - Need some help.

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Nick Majerus

A Fixture
Joined
Oct 19, 2005
Messages
656
This is a project that I have been working on. It is 1/9th scale. My rendition of the U.S.M.C. Band Drum Major of “The President’s Own”. The head and body are done, but am still working on the Mace. I need some help on that if any Marine or someone out there can help me out I sure would appreciate it! My questions are, What is the full inscription around the Mace? I can make out Band... President’s Own... and that is about it. Second, what are the insignias on it? I can make out the USMC and US Army but can not see the other two. I think they are the Air Force and Navy but don’t know. All help accepted!

Dscn3938.jpg

Dscn3939.jpg

Dscn3940-1.jpg

Thanks.
 
Hi Nick,
I doubt theres too many former Marines out there that will be able to help from personal experience. I'm guessing few have ever been real close to it or paid much attention to all the detail. You might try e-mailing them from their website and see if you can get the details you need.

http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/

BTW, I think the bearskin hat on your guy needs to be a little more straight sided, its a little too egg shaped IMHO. The real thing seems to be a a bit more straight sided, a little taller with a rounded top. The sides don't bulge out so much. I think the fur could be a little "furrier" as well, though making it more furry but not making it look unkempt can be a challenge. Interesting project
Cheers
Jason
 
Hey, if you want I can get in touch with the drum major and see if he can make some photos...(y)
 
That bearskin would look superb on a Guardsman, the shape is just right for a SNCO or officer. The tunic looks very similar to a Royal marine bandsman......

Mike
 
Tom,

I would love to have some pictures for more details! I tried to reply to your PM but not sure if I did it right.

Nick.
 
No problem...I hope you don't mind but I copied and forwarded the first photo in your post so Bill can see what you are working on.

Looking good! as an aside, I would love to have a bust Of John Phillip Sousa to paint someday. I actually want two...one of him as the bandmaster of the Marine Band and one as LCDR in charge of the Navy Band at Great Lakes during WWI.

Anyone out there looking for a subject for your next project?
 
Tom,

No problem on the photo! I'm in Rochester, MN, retired and a night owl! LOL!
I can't sculpt that well to do a real person likeness so someone else will have to do Sousa.

Nick
 
Paul,

I didn't think of Mike, and I know Mike from the Miniature Shows. That was dumb of me! Another senior mement, I'm 68! LOL!

Nick
 
Nick -

I agree with Paul, try Mike Stelzel. However, having been up close and personal with the Drum Major of the Commandant's Own, the U.S. Marines Corps Drum and Bugle Corps, I can tell you for certain that your chevrons need to be re-done. It appears that you are trying to depict Master Gunnery Sergeant chevrons. They have three (3) stripes and four (4) rockers with an ordinance bomb in the center, gold on scarlet. If however, you are trying to depict a Master Sergeant, the stripes and chevrons are correct, but you'll need to put two (2) crossed M-1 rifles in the center. The Preident's Own has a Band Director (or Director of the Band), and the Commandant's Own has a Drum Major.

I would also check out the official site for the President's Own and the Commandant's Own. There should be ample full color photos. If you ever visit the Washington, D.C. area during the summer months try to attend the Friday evening parade at Marine Barracks, 8th & I, or the Tuesday evening performance at the base of the Marine Monument at Arlington National Cemetery. It is well worth your time and they are both free to the public.

Semper Fi - Ron Reynolds
MGySgt, USMCR, ret
1970-2001
 
Ron,

Thank you for that info! However the chevrons are correct. It is nor a ordinance bomb but a "Harp" that is in the center. Without it being painted I can see that it may resemble a bomb. Everything that is on the uniform is taken from a picture of the Drum Major in front of the USMC Band. Picture is from the U. S. Defence site, which I presume that is correct.

Thank you for your service to our country!

Nick
 
Nick -

You are absolutely correct about the ordinance bomb. So please accept my appolgy for the mis-information as I continue to wipe the egg off of my face. To further my description of the rank chevrons, the chevron you are depicting is that of an E-8 musician. I am not sure as to the actual rank (they are probably the same as the rest of the enlisted paygrades), as members of the President's Own are "contract musicians" that have advanced degrees in music from upscale colleges and universities like Julliard, etc. After successfully participating in a formal audition, they enter the Marine Corps at the equivalent rank of an E-6 pay grade - Staff Sergeant. They do not go through boot camp as all enlisted Marines do at either MCRD, Parris Island, S.C., or MCRD, San Diego, CA. But go through an orientation as to who to salute and when, Marine Corps Customs and Traditions, and what uniform to wear under what conditions, plus intense training in close order drill for the ceremonies that they participate in year round. All of the chevrons worn, from paygrade E-6 through E-9, have the Lyre (not harp) centered between the chevrons and rockers, and are colored scarlet and gold for the Dress uniform as I described earlier. Colors for chevrons worn on the Forest Green blouse and khaki shirts are the same as other enlisted Marines, Forest Green on khaki for the shirts and Forest Green on scarlet for the Class A blouse.

When I got home from work yesterday I started to look through my USMC uniform references. If you can get a copy of "SEMPER FI" by Colonels H. Avery Chenowith and Brooke Nihart, there is excellent color photo reference of the the bandsmens uniforms, both historical and current. On the third plate into the book is an excellent closeup of the baldric worn by the Drum Major showing most of the bullion embroidered insignia embellishments. No help regarding the baton, or mace as you are referencing. I would continue to check the websites for more details on the baton, good reference should be out there somewhere. I'll continue to search myself, as I expect to be able to pick up a casting of your figure should you market it. Almost all of the figures that I have in my collection are those that depict Marines, U.S. and others. So keep on plugging, what I see so far looks outstanding.

Semper Fi - Ron
 
Nick -

The conditions of "enlistment" described above are for the members of the band, not the drum and bugle corps. The Drum Major and many of the "field music" personnel that make up the Commandant's Own are made up of regular Marine personnel pulled from the Division and Wing bands.

Semper Fi - Ron
 
Ron,

Thanks again for all your information. I also have a copy of "Semper Fi" and several other USMC books. It has been very difficult to find anything on the Mace. I even e-mailed the USMC Band website and received no reply. So I have turned to Planet Figure for help. I do plan to release the figure.

Nick
 
Nick -

Good to hear that you will be releasing the figure in the future - I want one. I will try and tap some of my friends back at Quantico for some info on the Baton.


Semper Fi - Ron
 
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