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Completed 24th of Foot, Natal, 1879.

Discussion in 'vBench (Works in Progress)' started by Geoff Charman, Jun 5, 2020.

  1. Geoff Charman A Fixture

    This is the second 1/6th bust I purchased from Bonapartes Military Model Shop, a very nicely sculpted bust by Richard Bailey of a member of the 24th Foot in the Zulu War in South Africa.

    I do think there are some mistakes in this bust, but please correct me if I am wrong.

    There was a lanyard around his neck and down his front which I would have made him an officer, but if he was wouldn't the epaulettes be different from soldiers ones with the 24 on them?

    The helmet has only 4 unstitched panels covering it, like the US ones had, not the 6 stitched seam panels I always thought the British ones had, which would be correct please?

    I have managed to remove the lanyard without too much trouble but sadly there is no way I want to spoil the helmet by filling the seams and adding the stitched ones so that will have to stay wrong if it is so.

    P1140524 (3).JPG P1140525 (2).JPG

    I have added a base colour to the helmet.

    Another coat of Ivory to the helmet, base colour to the chin strap and to the collar tabs, shadow added to the tunic and face painted with base colour to side burns and tash.

    P1140528 (2).JPG P1140530 (2).JPG P1140531.JPG

    Some lovely detail on the helmet badge which seems as if was possibly worn or not.

    P1140529 (2).JPG

    Cheers for now

    Stay safe
    Geoff
    elanlane13, Jed, Martin64 and 10 others like this.
  2. malc PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    England
    Always a pleasure to see what you come to the party with Geoff and as usual you have not disappointed.

    Will watch as I always do with interest.

    P.S what a great period.
    Geoff Charman and Nap like this.
  3. valiant A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hi Geoff - a bone of contention with me, the fact that these appear with only four panels. All references I can find state six for the FS helmet, but there are those who say four panel versions exist. My theory is that when the war artists drew them, they depicted them as only having four panels, due to the angle of view, if you get my drift..?! If you can imagine being a milliner in Victorian times, six is the minimum number of pieces you can comfortably curve around the compound curves of the frame, without getting creases in the non stretchy cotton drill material. Using four panels would be almost impossible with such material. QED!!!(y)
  4. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi Geoff

    A great start on thus bust

    Richie is the man about the uniform but as far asI can remember the 6 panel is correct but I am more than happy to be corrected

    Ref epaulettes ....found this ...some officers might have worn ORs tunics ...making them less obvious

    image.jpeg

    image.jpeg

    Following with interest ....esoecially when your painting the red

    Happy benchtime

    Stay safe

    Nap
  5. valiant A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    My personal take on this is that it is an artistic misinterpretation, stemming from the War Artists of the time, that has been perpetuated by contemporary illustrators. Im not saying four panel versions didnt exist, but were certainly not authorised or manufactured for issue.(y)
  6. Scotty A Fixture

    Country:
    Scotland
    That's a good looking bust, despite the inconsistencies. In that painting the martini looks very long, surely that's wrong?
    Scotty.
    Geoff Charman likes this.
  7. Grod A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Great subject Geoff. This will paint up well.
    Cheers
    Gordon
    Geoff Charman likes this.
  8. Viking Bob PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    You are on a run , lovely bust which in your hands will look great. I have the fostens book on the 24th, I will look it out.
    Geoff Charman and Nap like this.
  9. Viking Bob PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    55b9137d6b002e109528016f0add618d.jpg 6289a72b6325cd3d1fd347bbfbd6f493.jpg Screenshot 2020-06-05 at 18.36.52.png
    From the Fostens book / unknown / Osprey Infantry equipments

    It would appear your bust wears the O.Rs tunic
  10. Geoff Charman A Fixture

    Many thanks guys for all your feedback it has helped me a lot.

    Valiant, there was a 4 panel helmet but was in American issue use I have a photo of it in a book by Col. Robert H Rankin called Military Headdress, and is called US enlisted man's Summer helmet Model 1880 and is credited to The Smithsonian Institution and I am sure he wouldn't have one of those.

    He is certainly wearing an OR tunic but I was unhappy to not make him an officer due to the facial hair which I sure looks as if it is officer looking and does look like Lt. Bromhead in a sketch in the Osprey Zulu War book.

    As I said I will not change the helmet as I don't have the skill with the sticky stuff but I am pleased I removed the lanyard as I have seen quite a few pics of officers with holsters and no lanyards

    Many thanks again, you lot are great.
    Geoff
  11. Geoff Charman A Fixture

    I have made an executive decision, I am going to get the Milliput out and fill the existing 4 seams and have a go at making the the raised 6 stitched ones and the one around the helmet rim otherwise it with annoy me no end and spoil a super model.

    So wish me luck and if it works Nap you may have some competition making them medals;):LOL:

    Cheers
    Geoff
    NeilW, valiant, Scotty and 1 other person like this.
  12. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England

    Good on ya Geoff sure the helmet will look really good and you will be much happier with the piece ...as for medals ...fill your boots

    Happy benchtime

    Nap
    Geoff Charman likes this.
  13. valiant A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Geoff - try using thin solder, lead wire, plastic strip or rod for the seams - much easier, IMO!!(y)
    Geoff Charman, Nap and polyphemus like this.
  14. Geoff Charman A Fixture

    Thanks, that is what I have done with plastic strip. I did use Milliput to fill the engraved seams them thin strip glued down the dome, and just about to start the edging with some very small square strip.

    Pics later.
    Geoff
    valiant and Chris Oldfield like this.
  15. Geoff Charman A Fixture

    Finally added all the thin strips,not easy with shaky hands, but really pleased I decided to do it.

    P1140534 (2).JPG P1140535 (2).JPG P1140536 (2).JPG

    Thanks again for all the reference material you looked up it really did help me.

    That's it for today

    Cheers
    Geoff
  16. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi Geoff

    Looks good to me ...treat yourself to a cu of tea and a slice of cake

    Happy result well worth doing

    Think the actual top needs a little detailing ?

    Happy benchtime

    Stay safe

    Nap
    captnenglish and Geoff Charman like this.
  17. Geoff Charman A Fixture

    Thanks mate, I've just done that, Helen had made Lemon Drizzle Cake earlier so that was just right.

    Yes it does, I shall do that and any tidying up in the next few days, it will not be an officers type top just the rounded cloth covered one.

    Cheers
    Geoff
  18. valiant A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    its a round, flattened dome button, with four nicks in in, N, S, E and W - if that makes sense...?!(y)
    Geoff Charman likes this.
  19. Viking Bob PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Well done Geoff, that's the bee's knees.
    Geoff Charman likes this.
  20. Geoff Charman A Fixture

    Thanks, yes I know mate I have painted quite a few.

    Cheers
    Geoff
    Nap and valiant like this.
  21. Geoff Charman A Fixture

    Many thanks Bob, I am very pleased with it, just a bit of tidying up to do.

    Cheers
    Geoff

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