Hi Guys,

Some progress pics of my latest conversion! Picked the original up from Tommies War on Saturday at FW and knew instantly what I wanted to do with it.

Based on the attached photo, I have produced a bust of my grandfather (not a huge likeness, more the uniform) as a signalman in the newly formed Royal Signals Regiment, 14th Infy Bgde, Shanghai Defence Force, China, 1927.

The work involved reducing the flare at the back of the helmet, adding a puggaree flash and refitting it flatter, reworking the face, extending the front of the bust so that I could lengthen the arms to show the brassard, reshaping the pocket flaps and epaulettes, and adding the new collar dogs. Still to replace the buttons and give the whole thing a good clean up.

Thanks for looking in

Cheers Nap - hopefully get it cleaned up and primed today, then some basecoats at club tonight - Ill post some more pics as it progresses

Great bit of conversion work Steve. Will you be painting him when it's finished ?

Cheers Ken
Posted the same time, looks like you answered my question about painting.

Thanks Ken! Yes, hopefully I can get it ready for my mum's birthday, as it is her dad. The man in question is 6th from the viewer's left, back row..

Here we go, Mr Talent at it again.

Mick

Thanks Mick - Im blushing!

Nap - can do - maybe my next one, whatever it is, Ill do as an SBS....

Hi Steve,
Lovely start on the bust, will be watching in anticipation.
Regards,
Chris.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

Cheers Chris - hope I can do it justice!

Another great subject to work on Steve.
Gordon

Another nice piece of conversion.
Look forward to the colouring stage.

Cheers,
Andrew

Very well done, really nice conversion.

Congrats......

a great conversion steve and a wonderful birthday present to your mum.

tony

Great looking bust, looking forward to some paint.

Thanks chaps! Didnt quite go to plan tonight, as I ran out of time to prime - looks like a job for morning...!

Steve, I could be wrong but it looks like you have modern collar dogs on it, are you sure they were not inside a wreath.

Cheers Tom - have a look at the attached photo, they don't look like theyre in a wreath - I could be wrong, it's a bit indistinct and I cant find any other reference!

The puggaree flash I always thought was blue/white is actually light blue/green with dark blue thin stripe, by this date - just goes to show!

Right! References on the RCS website say that the cap badge was inside a wreath from 1920 - 1946! Therefore, the collar dogs would be a smaller version of that. Having had the conversation with Tom on Saturday, I also thought they should be oval!!

However, on the forage cap, it was embroidered without a wreath. The officer in my photo clearly shows oval badges, as do some of the clearer images of the ORs - So, the upshot is, I have redone them as oval!!

I now have a choice of collar dogs..!!

Hi Steve,
By you did not hang about, did you start converting this on the drive home from Oundle. I could see from the glint in your eye on Saturday that this meant something to you and a fine fitting tribute to your Granda, you Mother will be over the moon mate. Nice job.
cheers
Richie