Some more progess. Embroidered his collar oak leaves with yellow sculpey - same method as previously used on Marshal Ney.

Colin

Following this one Colin. Nice start!

Pedro.

Colin

An excellent start and some challenges to come. No doubt the references you have will help you to make something special out of this.
John

Some. I found useful resources on cuirassier generals from this useful string:

http://www.napoleon1er.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18133.

First one is D'Hautpoul from Bucquoy.

Personally I perfer the Minerva style helmet... much more elegant

Colin

That's what I settled on. I just had to make sure that they were available to general officers as early as 1807.

Colin

Started his Minerva lelmet. Quite a challenge. It looks imbalanced but I think it is OK. He just has it on slightly squint, which can happen with something so heavy.

Next step to add chin scales and the lion embossed roundels to the tops of the chin straps.

Colin

Absolute cracking helmet and cuirass

Man, this is going to be awesome!!! I figured the helmet would be the biggest challenge of this project... the crown in particular... but you are pulling it off famously. Look forward to seeing how you tackle the helmet crest.

Colin

Colin That's not easy to get a crisp round helmet shape. Very nicely done sir. This will be really impressive with the plume on top.

John

Chin scales done.

Colin

Thanks Nap. I think I work too quickly for commercial work....specifically I may be a bit sloppy for casting my stuff. I also do a lot of the detail in paint rather than sculpting it. That would frustrate painters. Finally, I work in a larger scale that would probably not be a big seller. Now that I have retired my production has increased and I may consider selling completed pieces or taking he odd commission in future.

Thanks for the compliment.

Colin

Hello Colin, I was wondering if you were going to add the turban portion of the helmet, it looks great. The helmet is really taking shape, the chin strap looks amazing. Colin, not to get ahead of your work on the helmet, Did D'Hautpoul, have any other ornaments on his breastplate armor other than the crest? I have posted a brestplate worn by Calkoen, French made, to show the detail. The oak leaves are the same as on D'Hautpoul's collar. Thought it was interesting. Regards, SG

Hi SG, I have seen French cuirassier general officer armour with gold leaf added but have not seen any depictions of D'Hautpoul wearing this sort of ornamental armour. Actually all of the pictures of D'Hautpoul I have seen just show the frontal emblem as cuirass decoration. So I will go with that. The Minerva helmet was a bit of a guess but it is shown in a couple of pictures of the general. I will sculpt him down to just below the top if his sash so I get a chance to paint it a bit. Thanks for taking the trouble. Here are a couple of shots of a general's armour from Pigeard's Encyclopaedia of Napoleonic Uniforms.

Colin

Completed the form on which the comb detail will be sculpted after additional sanding and smoothing. Tough to get an acceptable shape and slope. He has developed a small bump under the right eye that will require surgery - the perils of baking sculpey too many times. FYI - I notched the helmet with a dremel to seat the comb into it in order to increase stability and durability.

Colin

Colin Looking very nice already. I'm looking forward to see this with its metallic finish.
John

Thanks John. BTW I saw your posting on Currie on the MM forum. I noticed your detailed account of moving to Jo Sonja's. I want to try them as well. Have you tried them with a stay wet palette. That should defer drying time and keep the colour mixes alive longer.

Colin