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Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 9th, 2018, 1:54 am
by TimJ
Nice looking horses.

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 9th, 2018, 2:19 am
by JohnRatzenberger
I spent some time this afternoon with a search engine and confirmed the saddle provided is close enough to a McClellan to be useable - the only thing missing are the stirrup hoods which are easily crafted. The bridle and such appears close enough also.

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 10th, 2018, 10:27 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
Well, not happy.

I cleaned up the assembled horses and have decided they both, but particularly the Indian pony, have rather pronounced shoulders and/or skinny necks.

Image

I have slathered on putty. The cavalry mount may be workable at this point, but I think the Indian pony may need more filler and some serious sanding down of the shoulders to blend properly. I only hope I don't sand through the plastic and have even more work.

Image

Sorry about the picture quality ...

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 11th, 2018, 6:48 pm
by iggie
They do look a little thin and weedy above the shoulders that's for sure! Your filling certainly has improved matters!

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 11th, 2018, 9:43 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
I gave the cavalry mount a 2nd layer and I think it'll be fine once sanded/blended. I also gave another coat to the Indian pony but do believe, as I stated, it'll take removing some plastic to make it work.

I have started the Indian scout figure and it seems to be going together OK.

The cavalryman is an odd duck. The figure has stripes on his sleeves but also rank epaulet on his shoulders. His mustache isn't very 1880's officerish and the hat (vs the cap) doesn't have cavalry brass. He is also carrying a carbine on a strap. So bottom line, the figure seems more designed to be a sergeant, but I had a vision of an officer. I can fix all this but the unplanned work keeps piling up.

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 12th, 2018, 2:52 am
by fredk
Sounds like the designers took their ideas from the cover of a dime novel about the 'West'

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 12th, 2018, 10:33 am
by rob_van_riel
fredk wrote:Sounds like the designers took their ideas from the cover of a dime novel about the 'West'
You know, you might actually have a point there. Their Napoleonic cuirassier is based on a painting, the other two Napoleonics look like the box art at least came straight out of some collection of colour plates showing uniforms. Maybe they are basing their products on artwork in some cases, for example where primary sources are hard to come by or non-existent, and this can lead to artistic licence squared.

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 12th, 2018, 4:05 pm
by Purplethistle
The adjustments you've made certainly have improved the body shape of those horses. The one on the left now looks more like a Mustang and not a Corsair! ( 1960's British car reference )

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 13th, 2018, 2:59 am
by JohnRatzenberger
Here is a print that illustrates some of what I mentioned about uniforms. It is one of the "American Soldier" series meant to illustrate uniforms/events over time, this being 1886.

Image

I put some more of the Indian scout together. I started on the cavalry officer, glued legs together and cleaned most all the parts. I converted the mutton-chops into a more respectable mustache and removed the sergeant rank from the sleeves. So far so good, but now I need to make a decision on the body -- to scrape off the weapon belt(s) or leave them on and have an oddly armed officer. Of course the print shows that the saddle blanket provided is for enlisted so I might have to modify that a bit.

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 13th, 2018, 9:05 am
by fredk
It wasn't unheard of of h'officers carrying long arms.
But cavalry mostly carried their pistols on their left, drawing the gun with the left hand in what is called the 'Trooper's Twist'.
J. B. 'Wild Bill' Hickok carried two guns with butts forward and drew them using the 'Trooper's Twist' with each hand. It appears he started doing this after his first stint as a Cavalry Scout.
I have a book on holsters and 99% of cavalry holsters in it are for the left side; to be drawn either straight or with a twist, or rarely, the cross-draw.
Although there are a great many photographs out there; do not solely rely on them unless you know if they are Daguerrotypes / tin types or not. Tin types show a reversed image of the real.

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 20th, 2018, 1:44 am
by JohnRatzenberger
Pix Sunday.

I have put filler in the horses, then sanded, mostly to fix the neck/chest issue discussed above. Today both horses got a coat of primer and I think the shape issues are good, but I now have to fix up little niggles here & there and then I can start painting.

The Indian figure is assembled. Probably needs another look and some seam filling. I am not happy with the hair, I think the braids are too straight and stick out a bit. I will try to adjust them. Then I'll be ready for primer.

The cavalry officer finally has body, legs, and arms. I couldn't work with him until I got done fiddling with his horse. As mentioned before I took off the sergeant stripes and the crossed belts. I do not think I like the way he sits in the saddle - not relaxed enough -- but I'm not sure I know what/how to fix it.

Running a bit longer than I expected, but once I get past primer than I can go into painting this plus Teddy.

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 22nd, 2018, 1:57 am
by JohnRatzenberger
Picture, as promised.

Image

So, tomorrow I need to look for and fix any flaws the primer exposes, then we can get on with painting.

I have taken time to flatten out the Indians braids a bit, but I need to do some more work fitting the cavalry guy to his horse.

This figures show the scene I envision. The Indian scout is on the ground as shown, the Cavalry officer is mounted and will be holding the reins to the Indians horse. An alternative might be to have the Indian hold the reins and just sling his rifle across his back. There were two right arms for the cavalry guy and I chose the one that is more leaning back, perhaps resting on the saddle or roll behind.

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 22nd, 2018, 3:58 am
by fredk
The horses look a lot better

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 22nd, 2018, 9:06 am
by iggie
fredk wrote:The horses look a lot better
They do indeed; nicely done 8-)

Re: Cavalry Scouts

Posted: January 23rd, 2018, 2:16 am
by JohnRatzenberger
Well, I did some thighmaster & butt-trimming work on the trooper and he sits his horse much better.
All 4 pieces have had seams & such cleaned and were re-primed -- you don't need to see the same picture again.

Ready to start painting.