Hi All,
back in the summer I was asked if I'd thought of making a bust of a Sailor of the Naval Brigade, during the Victorian period, especially during the ZULU Wars (1879).
So this started the cogs warring in my head......as some may know it's a field of interest to me the Victorian era and having a few members of family that served in the Senior Service, coming from Chatham and it's wealth of Naval history.
What could I do but get the reference books out, go on line and search as you do.
Some years ago I made a Naval boatswain Crimean war (1854-55) these guys did a very similar job manning gun batteries either afloat or on shore during this campaign, in effect being the forerunner of the Naval Brigade.
So the bust I originally made, I took one of my castings and unboxed it thinking could I possibly use any part of it as a base?
It would speed up the prosses, firstly a new head without a shadow of doubt and it's the bit I enjoy most.
The torso? little was kept only part of the collar and that was extended, the shape of the shoulders was altered and the overall length of the bust was changed to add extra detail.
The straw sonnet was altered slightly and the ribbon shortened for this period, there is some evidence they wore a soft white cap with a black ribbon with HMS or a Pith Helmet in Africa.
My thoughts were if I used the sonnet it will cover a longer period, I think the equipment ie the leather belts stem from the Second Ashanti war 1873-74 till the Boxer Rebellion 1900 onward, I'll stand corrected!
Ok I hope to with pictures and a SBS of painting this new bust will be of interest to some, The Royal Navy have been part of virtually every conflict the British Isles has ever been part of, and this Naval Brigade is still celebrated today in The Royal Military Tournament, the Royal Navy field gun teams.
Always worth a look on youtube.
Thanks for looking.
Best Regards
Paul

Hi Rick,
Thanks for posting, that sounds awesome that you have an original medal and it’s history.
I’ve not seen one to be truthful, if you could spare the time to take a picture that would be great.
Regarding the bust I received my first casting yesterday for me to paint for my box art, so when this is done it will be available.
Thanks for your interest.
Best regards
Paul
www.paulblaberminiatures.co.uk

Hi Kev,
Thanks for posting and correcting my images always happens
I’ll not be adding any more to him, you can add rank in the painting process or medals as you wish, i did think of adding a weapon but one of my other sculpts is carrying one.
So plane and simple rating he is.
I will hopefully start painting him very soon for the box art, I’ll sbs here, I’m looking forward to it, it’s an interesting subject as you said sadly overlooked.
Best regards
Paul
www.paulblaberminiatures.co.uk

Hi Rick,
And thanks for sharing this, it’s fabulous I’ve only a few medals nothing as exciting as this to be honest, I’ve a Grenadier Guard camel corp medal from the Sudan campaign hidden away somewhere, my grandfathers WW1 medals and his wounded flash from his wounding on the Somme.
Also a few odds and ends.
Old photos are always of interest especially of early use of the camera on military subjects,the people are real not an artist impression like the 18th century.
I’ve a photo postcard of my Great grandfather a Naval rating who manned the first of the Iron Ships in the Royal Navy out of Chatham Dock he’s hometown.
Interesting characters in that image, a thing of note was his arthritic hands all clawed up, hard life at sea!
I enjoy bringing characters to life in a sculpt not every one looked like Clarke Gable in the day, some of the faces looking out from a Victorian photograph they are worth bringing back even if it’s only elements of their character.
I’m always interested in back stories if you’re happy to share this that would be awesome, on here or via email.
Later I’ll post some images of “Thomas “ as he’s being referred to at home, as part of this SBS on he’s painting.
Best regards
Paul
www.paulblaberminiatures.co.uk
paulblaber63@outlook.com

Hi all
Well after a few hours at the beach in my studio, from raw casting, errrr with an onlooker (I was making sure that the figure was balanced,I’ll talk more on that pice some other time) “Thomas “ the bust was deflashed washed and undercoated Tamiya flat coat gray, then the eyes if that goes ok it encourages me to press on with the rest, blue eyes it is, I painted them in acrylic (I really should bin my acrylic’s they are so old most are solid now) the flesh underpaint was also squeezed out of Vallejo flesh and English red mix, hairdryer this dry and walk away. Well for at least a few hours!
I’d come to the thinking that fair hair and ginger/blonde beard so he’s complexion would be moderately fair even if he’s fighting in Zulu land African scrub.
The face was painted in artist oils, it’s old school miniaturist painting and I’ve not used these for some years, as I normally paint in Humbrols enamel, there’s many stages to achieve something the resembles a human, lots of soft blending lowlights to adding highlights, anyway after all that popped him in the oven aka David G Lane likes to do, still worried the life out of me!
Then back to the studio after it had cooled to add more highlights to the forehead cheeks nose, and tone out some of the redness.
Hair and beard was mainly painted in Humbrols the highlights were in oils, although still work in progress, it’s a update on Thomas I hope you enjoy.
Best regards
Paul
www.paulblaberminiatures.co.uk
paulblaber63@outlook.com

Thanks for the pictures Rick, atmosphere of the iron sides i think the only restored one left in the UK is HMS Warrior in Portsmouth?
Cetshwayo after he’s eventual defeat traveled to London in an attempt to reinstate his Kingship of the Zulu land, that had already been carved up by the British and he’s other enemies,on he’s returning he only had a few years to lord over what was left with support from he’s followers.
Died of heart attack?? Or was it poison??
Anyway I’m long overdue a trip to Portsmouth Maritime museum. HMS Warrior in all her glory!
I managed a little more painting before 2021 and all it’s problematic strife of Covid-19 and world issues is put on the back burner and welcoming 2022 in, with vein hope’s for a better year ahead??
“Thomas” is gradually taking shape, still working the artist oils on the face, the sonnet is in Humbrols, the canvas smock was blocked out in acrylic Vallejo Prussian blue/black mix the rest was Humbrols.
Happy new year and thanks for looking.
Best regards
Paul
www.paulblaberminiatures.co.uk
paulblaber63@outlook.com

Excellent rendition of a Tar. Painting the blue between the white tapes on the collar is a pain in the backside! I'd love to see more fulls figures of Naval Landing Party sailors (see below):







Happy New Year,

Mike

Hi Mike,
thanks , in this scale it shouldn't be too much of a problem?
and your right there isn't enough Naval figures out there, but the top right image was rendered by "Elle's Miniatures" in 75mm"(if its still available I'm not sure), once back in '70's/80's there was Ensign Miniatures the majority of their catalogue was Naval figures in 54mm.
I was told that Naval figures are not really commercial, not great sellers but to be fair if I sell a few and those recipients enjoy painting them what's not to like in my eyes, I personally enjoy the subject, having a Naval thread through my family helps, my father at any excuse would take a very young me to Chatham Navy Days, loving every second, fond memories were had.
Admittedly the Dockyard is a shadow of its former self now days.
It's always tempting to do more, though those images are inspiring I will admit, as I said in a previous post the Royal Navy has played part in nearly every conflict and referred to as the Senior Service for good reason.
I'll update more progress later.
Thanks for responding to my post.
Best Regards
Paul
www.paulblaberminiatures.co.uk
paulblaber63@outlook.com

Hi Kev,
The idea was that campaign look, in the dry scrub of Natal Zulu land, I’m not a parade ground lover, but do understand what the Victorian photograph’s will emulate clean uniform polished buttons and medals gleaming.
Although Rodger Fentons photographic studies of the Crimean war were rather gritty, depicting the fighting man in all he’s campaign glory.
I had a mind melt the other month when I painted a ww1 German pilot clean boots no mud smart leather jacket for me nearly unheard of.

A little more updates on project “Thomas “ Royal Naval Brigade painting the sennet (spelling correct this time) based in Humbrols mix of natural wood and black more black on the underside, highlights to the top and brim in natural wood and stone.
Then detail with stone and a little more natural wood dots and more dots, when this is dry I’ll uniform the colours with some Rembrant artist oils to remove the ping effect so it should look like darker original.
I also toned back the redness in he’s skin tone.
As always thanks for looking comments;-)
Best regards
Paul
www.paulblaberminiatures.co.uk
paulblaber63@outlook.com
P.S. thanks for correcting the rotation of my pictures x

Hi Kev and Rick,
Wee update on young Thomas, I’ve honeyed the straw sennet and blocked out the torso a little.
Hmmm HMS Boadicea it could be the clincher?
Best regards
Paul
www.paulblaberminiatures.co.uk
paulblaber63@outlook.com

Hi Kev,
I’m working on it, painting to a half decent level to complement the sculpt no matter who made it, in a world of sublime artists i thank you for your kindness.
I will have to do the ribbon freehand but need to work out which font it would be?
I’ve found a few examples ie the ones I’ve posted, italic Roman script???
The Crimean sailor I did was Roman lettering HMS ALBION
The torso and leather work I’m on the home straight ha! ha!
See how long i can drag that out or be satisfied.
Best regards and thanks for looking commenting.
Paul
www.paulblaberminiatres.co.uk
paulblaber63@outlook.com