Here are more of the damaged and paint bashed play-worn scrap or repair figures to join Army Blue (as H.G. Wells would call them).
These are Imagi-Nations paint schemes, channeling mixed uniform influences of American Civil War Union infantry, Danish Guards and late 19th Century Belgian, Prussian and Danish Infantry.
Some of the Blue Danish Guard inspiration came from John Patriquin of the Wargame Hermit blog, which I have successfully used on past Airfix HO/OO Guards figures. http://wargamehermit.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/distracted-once-again.html
https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/more-redcoat-toy-soldier-inspiration/
https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/19/airfix-british-redcoat-infantry-1960/
Close up you might notice a range of Army Blue troop types.
Above: The first two were once Britain’s Redcoat Guards marching with rifles at slope, followed by two Britain’s Redcoat Line infantry, a Fimo base repair to a damaged footless US Marines figure, (Home cast? type) Officer with pistol and one of my recent Home cast infantry.
From the back – The simple white belts, equipment and cross belts show up more than practical black and gives a proper toy soldier look.
Basing and Painting
A variety of basing can be seen, experimenting with bases for these soldiers to be part of future Close Little Wars skirmish games on the games table or in the summer garden.
Four of them are based on 2p coins, although I am still experimenting with the best adhesive. Wood Glue might not be strong enough. Whilst it was still wet and white, I mixed in some flock to see how this worked. Flock basing is not very traditional toy soldier but then the two pence bases are practical, suitably light but weighty enough, inexpensive and more importantly, to hand.
http://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/single-figure-bases-cheap-bases.html
Figures still need their final coats of varnish and any final details.
I wanted to get a shiny factory first-grade everyday paint look, not overpainted with fine details, to look as if they might once have appeared from a toy soldier factory.
Failing to find an acrylic Gloss flesh, the faces were a Matt Flesh Revell acrylic mixed with some of their Fiery Red Gloss and some Revell Clear Gloss. The Matt Flesh in itself is too pale.
Eyes and moustaches were put in with cocktail sticks. Other fine line details such as chin straps and cross belts were put on using the fine points of cocktail sticks as well.
The Before Photos
The original state of some of these figures can be seen in the following ‘Before’ photo, before restoration, repair and repaint.
Rather than strip them back to bare metal, I gave each figure a quick wipe over to remove ancient play-dirt and dust and then used several layers of Revell Gloss Acrylic for depth of colour.
Some of the unusual colour schemes such as the green bonnet and kilt legs and red coat Highlander will stay as they are, for future reference.
Some of the half finished figures can be seen on a previous blogpost:
https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/2016/11/18/the-old-toy-soldier-remount-department/
More rescues and remounts from the Lead Graveyard …
A sneaky peek at some of their shiny renewed Redcoat opposition saved for another blogpost:
I really like the Army Red White inspiration over at the Tradgardland blog: Guaaards!
http://armyredwhite.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/guaaarrdds.html
Blogposted by Mark, MIN Man of TIN blog, March 2017.
The blue paint scheme looks impressive and brings the scruffy old figures back to life.
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Thanks James, the Blues turned out much better with white cross belts than I expected.
Mark, Man of TIN blog
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These old figures look really good. I have an article on restoring old Britains from a ‘Military Modelling Annual’ if you would like a copy?
Also, if ever you do want to strip paint off old figures, try soaking them in ‘Dettol’ (but make sure it is the traditional brown sort) for a couple of weeks. Sounds odd, but it works. Also, you can get cheap metal washers for basing from Wilko stores – they do (last time I went in) a hardware ‘pick and mix’ where you can buy a big bag of steel washers for less than a penny each
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Ian
Thanks for the brown Dettol figure stripping tips and Wilko washers pick and mix tips. I will keep an eye out on my regular flit through Wilko looking for any new ranges of cheap plastic pound store warriors.
You have already very kindly sent me scans of an old Mil Mod article by BS Armstrong called “Old Britain’s Never Die” with some great hints on repairing damaged Britain’s cavalry, which I look forward to ordering Plastic Padding and trying out. I thought I would start simple with foot soldiers.
Many thanks,
Mark, Man of TIN
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Ahh, I was more efficient than I realised! (Age, short term memory…….)
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Great work there and they rose phoenix like from the ashes. Must get another Spring parade arranged in the Duchy soon…
Alan
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Huzzah for the Duchy!
Mark, Man of TIN blog
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Mark
I second the Dettol. Takes a while, but works and is much less messy than other paint strippers. I tend to scrub remaining paint with a nail brush, but recently picked up a secondhand electric toothbrush which is much easier!
After stripping paint, I like to ‘polish’ old castings with a wire brush on my Dremel. They come up lovely and shiny – a joy to handle and prime. It also gets rid of minor corrosion.
Jon
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Jon
Thanks for the dremel and electric toothbrush tips. Must give this a try with a suitable figure!
Mark, Man of TIN blog
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