Greetings all! Welcome to my first project back on home soil. This figure depicts a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment after the surrender of the Boers under the command of Piet Cronje. I based this figure on a painting by R. Canton Woodville called "The Dawn of Majuba Day", so named because Cronje's forces surrendered on the anniversary of the battle of Majuba during the first Anglo-Boer War.


I used a hornet head and some historex hands, and after that I was on my own. On this sculpt, I tried to concentrate on getting the pose just right. As soon as I was happy with the pose, I started in on the uniform. I tend to start from the bottom up, beginning with the legs. I made use of Tamiya tape for the puttees.



Next was the bottom part of the uniform jacket, and moving up to the torso. I forgot to take pictures of just the torso, so the next photo jumps right to the nearly completed figure with sleeves and webbing equipment all complete. Here you can see my method for fabricating ammo pouch covers (that's sheet brass). I used Duro putty for the webbing and many of the other fines details.



So after finishing up a few small details like buttons, laces, and buckles, the figure was ready for priming....


And finally, the semi-finished product.....clearly his left hand is still primed and conspicuously empty. I am waiting for the arrival of a 1/32 WWI SMLE rifle and bayonet to arrive from Chuck at Red Lancers, which I will convert to the appropriate Mk. I version of the weapon and glue into place. he'll be all done when I re-sculpt his thumb. But I couldn't wait to share the progress with you, so it is what it is for now.




This took about a week and a half from start to finish. Mind you, that's me on holiday time, I suspect it would have taken a lot longer if I were back in the classroom. I am definitely hooked on this scratch-building stuff and will be doing more in the future. Of course I would be happy to entertain any and all questions you may have. Thanks everyone for having a look.

Stunning work, and thanks for showing the progress!
My Great-Grandfather was in the Second Boer War and then served in The Great War.

Thanks Gordy! Seems as though the Boer War is becoming as bit more popular, judging from a few other posts depicting Boer soldiers. I forgot to add that this is a 1/32 figure for those who were wondering.

Glenn - great and unusual figure feom our "brave little army over there."

Colin

Glenn brilliant piece ! I like the movement of the pose and all your making . Making scratch stuff is really absolutely magnificent !

My congratulations

Costas

Glenn,

Congratulations on a superb piece of scratchbuilding, the way you've constructed the equipment is inspiring & the pose is brilliantly animated.
One tiny piece of feedback though, & it is constructive - I like your use of Tamiya tape for the puttees, great idea & very realistic, but I think the securing tapes are a bit too thick at the tops.
Other than that, this is one of the best scratch figures I've seen for a long time. Keep 'em coming!

Regards,
Chris

An outstanding bit of sculpting, painting and imagination Glenn. You must be inspired now that you're back on home soil.

Fantastic work in every aspect!

Cheers

Peter

Nice job you focused the position. Well done

Luca

awesome work

Brilliant! This figure and the Greek soldier in the Crimea are two of the reasons this site is so great; heroes of many nations. Wonderful idea and beautifully executed. THANKS!

Hi Collin, Costas, Tony, Peter, Luca, Dan and Steve; really glad you all enjoyed the post and I appreciate the comments. The book in the first picture is chock full o' good figure ideas specifically relating to Canada, so watch for some more of the same. Chris, I admire your sharp eye, as I thought the straps around the puttees were a little thick as well. Lesson learned for next time. Cheers everyone!

Glenn, great sculpting and painting and thanks for the sbs.

Cheers Ken

Glenn,I really like this piece of work. Among your inspirations from the Boer War may I suggest Arthur Richardson VC of Strathcona's Horse.
Tom

Excellent Glenn!

Cheers,
Jon.

Thanks very much Jon and Ken, most kind of you to take a minute to leave a comment. Great suggestion Tom, the story of Richardson's VC in the same reference book I used to make this fellow. Perhaps when I feel up to the challenge of a mounted figure, which may be sooner than later

Great piece Glenn, congratulations.

Glenn lovely job on creating this figure, nice to see the Canadians represented within the hobby, great job.

Steve

Thanks Christos, I saw your superb 75mm Boer sculpt as I was working on this one. I wonder if maybe more people will be interested in the Boer War?

Thanks Steve, Canada has a proud military tradition closely tied to Britian's as well as of our own making, so there are many possibilities that I hope to explore.

Outstanding figure!!

All the best,
Dan