Returned Commission Figure - Sold 28 years ago

[Guy]

A couple of weeks ago I had an email from a good friend Jack Muldoon inquiring if I would be interested in having back a figure that was sold over 28 years ago. As soon as Jack mentioned Carl Gruen, I remembered instantly that this was my first figure I had ever sold. How odd It was to have the chance to have him back. I responded to Jack that I would love to have the Brunswick Dragoon, 90mm by Superior Miniatures back.

Today I received the Dragoon in the mail and like a kid at Christmas, opened the box to gaze at my painting technique of almost 30 years ago.

After opening the box and carefully unwrapping the Dragoon I noticed what at first looked like Oxidation all over the figure. I took my index finger and rubbed the shoulder a little .......and removed 28 years of dust.

Above is how the figure looked after unpacking the figure and base from the shipping box. As you can see the reddish dust over the shoulders and especially the groundwork.

Above is the underside of the base where back then is where I signed my figures and you can see my name and the date of July 7, 1981.

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Now the clean-up progress started. I heated up some water and with warm water and a Q-tip started gently scrubbing the surfaces that were covered with dust. Above you can see the right rear shoulder cleaned off while the left shoulder remains still covered with 28 years of dust.

Above is the figure now all re-assembled and cleaned and now resides back in my showcase after a 28 year journey. My special thanks to Carl Gruen for thinking of me and finding out if I wanted to have it back.

As many of us know it is the hardest to sell the first figure. They become part of us...like family....and to part with one.....was hard. Well, the Brunswick Dragoon was my first figure I ever sold and it feels great to have him back home again.

Thanks Carl.

Guy
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[Christos]

This is figure can tell a lot of stories my friend,such things are priceless.
I like the painting also.I gave my first figure when I painted as a gift so I can't take it back.
Looks beautiful!!!

 

[megroot]

Great story Guy, i really enjoying reading it.
I had once the opportunity to sell a figure but i didn't. In my club they find me a loonetick, i could paint the same figure 15 times.
If i read your story i'm glad i did'nt sold it.

Marc

 

[Steve]

Man that is some fine detail work, Guy. Thanks for the view.--

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Interesting. Why did he want to part from it?

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[Guy]

Interesting. Why did he want to part from it?
Cheers
Janne Nilsson

Thanks guys. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to post it or not but decided we all started somewhere with figures.

Janne - He had to move into an "Assisted Living" home due to ill health and did not have room for his collection. An Assisted Living home is one step above a Nursing Home.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Thanks guys. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to post it or not but decided we all started somewhere with figures.

Janne - He had to move into an "Assisted Living" home due to ill health and did not have room for his collection. An Assisted Living home is one step above a Nursing Home.

I see. Lets hope its the best for him even if he has to part from his collection.

Mike Blank told me he sold many pieces to a local collector in his early days. However he also told me this collector didnt take care of the pieces which where displayed out in the open in his apartment and covered with dust.

You should frame this one just like some other guys(pardon the pun) do with their first earned dollar.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[Sambaman]

Very interesting stuff Guy! Fun to see this and what feelings this must have stirred up for you! One thing I see, the sculpting is in no way up to today's standards for sure. Your painting has come a long way my friend!

Jay H.

 

[bucsfan21]

Brunswick Dragoon

That is pretty cool stuff, Guy! I well recall those old Superior figures. Being a big fan of the Rev War I marveled at them...I recall a member of our Atlanta Club having a number of them in his cabinet and I stared a hole through a number of them. The Brunswick Dragoon was one I never could find in kit form. Nor the kit of the British Light Dragoon. Hopefully some day, someone will do a Brunswick Dragoon and a member of the Death or Glory Boys in kit form so I can finally paint them!

I think you did an excellent job on him. I find it pretty cool that you were able to reacquire it and put it back into your collection. Lots of good memeroies I bet....

Good Stuff!

All the Best, Terry Martin

 

[garyjd]

Great story Guy. Back in the day those Superior figures were among the best you could buy. While they could not hold up against most of what's being done today, it's not because of the sculpting. The figures were sculpted by Lionel Forrest. The problem is more a matter of anatomical proportions not Mr. Forrest's sculpting per se. ~Gary

 

[Anders Heintz]

Very cool story Guy!! Congrats to the return!

The funny thing is that I was less then 3 months old when you painted that piece!

 

[Kevin D.]

Just to cool for words!!!!! Excellent Guy, excellent! And I love the piece!

Congrats!

Kevin

 

[gothicgeek]

that must be a strange little figure to look at.....

my first figure ( 26 years ago ) was chewed up by my dog the night after it won my first ever prize at a model show ( junior section )



thanks for sharing that Guy

Mark

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Very cool story Guy!! Congrats to the return!

The funny thing is that I was less then 3 months old when you painted that piece!

Thats the right spirit, Anders! Just rub it in....

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[John Bowery]

Guy,
Very interesting and great story.
Cheers
John

 

[Black Army]

Guy!

It was a nice figure. I also didn't see many of my figures for a long time what I have sold for collectors. Good to see something from our own figure-history. My very first figures have an own place in the show-case. They aren't so well painted, but I like it.

Thanks for show it!

Cheers,
Balázs

 

[housecarl]

Guy, good things come to those that wait. Too true in this case.
An old freind has come home.
Carl.

 

[Marcel]

Great story Guy!
And after 28 years still painting.

Cheers,
Marcel.