Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: War In 15MM on December 18, 2018, 03:25:04 AM
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Since June I have been working on my 15mm Boxer Rebellion which has a 55 Days At Peking look. While I have figures from Preiser HO, Frontier and Old Glory 15s, most of this collection is built around the Blue Moon 15s’ figures and buildings. Having said that, I actually began by scratch-building new walls for the British, French, Japanese, Russian, German and US legations so that I could give those legations two looks: pre-siege and siege. At the beginning of July with those walls built, I shifted my attention to figure painting. As of mid-December I have finished more than 900 figures for this collection: Boxers, Imperial Chinese Army, Chinese civilians, Great Power civilians, and military for British, French, Japanese, Russian, US, and Italian defense forces. With those done, this week I turned to painting the structures that will make up Peking’s legation area plus the buildings that surround that area. I’ve started with Chinese civilian structures… all from the Blue Moon collection. I still have about 10 more Blue Moon Chinese buildings to paint plus some ceramic Chinese structures originally intended for use as decor with potted plants. When the Chinese structures are completed, I will turn to the British, French, Japanese, Russian, and US legations (both pre-siege and siege versions). Since I have not seen any painted versions of these buildings, I’ve decided to share my work on them in an ongoing WIP thread here.(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4869/44545384810_41999c2bea_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aSjJY3)IMG_2265 (https://flic.kr/p/2aSjJY3) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4805/46362075051_8249eecba4_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dCRKFz)IMG_2267 (https://flic.kr/p/2dCRKFz) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4822/46362074941_749ed833c4_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dCRKDF)IMG_2269 (https://flic.kr/p/2dCRKDF) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4826/44545384020_75f7547b21_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aSjJJq)IMG_2271 (https://flic.kr/p/2aSjJJq) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4853/44545383690_b123c48ea4_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aSjJCJ)IMG_2273 (https://flic.kr/p/2aSjJCJ) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr
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Quite lovely work - as always expected from your talented hands. And far out in the lead as also expected. Don't get upset with me, sir: I just may be 'stealing' many an idea displayed through your fingers from your rich imaginative brain. lol lol
I did at least 'touch' some of my Boxer stuff today! Next year, with some luck, progress will resume.
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Your buildings look great- just the right amount of colour. 900 figures is very impressive in such a short period.
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Very nice start! Would you be disappointed if I told you that I prefer the ruined versions? lol lol Very atmospheric. They will be impressive en mass.
Lon
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Very well painted ! That's a lot of flavor !
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Love the buildings.
I look forward to seeing what you done.
I know it will be great.
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Have always enjoyed your imaginative and comprehensive collections and very much look forward to following this thread on one of my favourite periods!
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Thanks to all of you for taking the time to write and for the very kind remarks. I will have several more painted Blue Moon Boxer Rebellion structures painted this week and will post them in the next few days. Please check here for those.
leadboy, I agree it's a great period with the opportunity for lots of great architecture (thanks to Blue Moon). I have wanted the opportunity to do this project for years and hope my work on this project won't disappoint either of us.
Lon, I agree, and ruins are so forgiving to paint.
FifteensAway, it's great to hear that you'll be getting back to the project soon. I'll be looking for your work. You may already be aware of this, but I am posting all of my work on this project on my Weekly Workbench. This week I posted these pictures plus their reverse sides as well. The Weekly Workbench can be seen at www.warin15mm.com
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Beautiful work! Those are lovely castings but unfortunately I had chosen 25/28mm years ago.
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Thanks princeman. I divide my focus between military/historical in 15mm/18mm, and Pulp/Adventure/Victorian/etc. in 28mm. Sometimes that works out better than other times. In this case the figures are pretty basic; nice, but pretty much the basic stuff, but Blue Moon has done a wonderful job providing a lot of great architecture for their 15mm/18mm Boxer Rebellion range if you are interested in the 55 Days At Peking look. I'll be posting more of the finished/painted Chinese civilian buildings soon. Richard
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Work on the Blue Moon civilian Chinese buildings continues for my Boxer Rebellion collection.(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7884/45703921214_1b9f54232f_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cCGxtC)IMG_2276 (https://flic.kr/p/2cCGxtC) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7922/31487278077_50ac5d06f4_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/PYqwLM)IMG_2278 (https://flic.kr/p/PYqwLM) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4838/45703920884_7f649d8b8b_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cCGxnW)IMG_2280 (https://flic.kr/p/2cCGxnW) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7858/31487277627_6ea127c4c2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/PYqwD2)IMG_2282 (https://flic.kr/p/PYqwD2) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7871/45703920514_4d87bf6cd8_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cCGxgy)IMG_2284 (https://flic.kr/p/2cCGxgy) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr
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Very well done, sir!
Especially your work on the stonework and the rubble is top notch!
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DintheDin, thank you. Richard
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Of the second batch, I like the beige one with the blue windows next to the ruin the best. Perhaps that is because it leans strong in the direction I'm planning to paint my own Beijing buildings - or Peking if you prefer old school.
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FifteensAway, before I began the actual painting of these buildings I believed that I was going with the beige look as well. What turned me in the direction I am going is the sculpts themselves. Very few of these Blue Moon buildings are plain stucco walls. They use lots of bricks and stone with some stucco. Since I wanted a look for the city that would blend together in a more unified whole, I decided to do the bricks in Vallejo Saddle Brown, the stone and some brick, in Vallejo Sand Brown, and the stucco in a mix of Vallejo Sand Brown and Beige. From time to time I did some of the stone in Vallejo London Grey, but that tended to be done when I needed some definition around doors and windows that the Vallejo Sand Brown didn't provide. I've tried to stay with red, blue, grey and green for roofs, doors and windows. I think the color combinations will give the unified look I want. This week I've completed the painting of the French and Japanese legation compounds (pre-siege and siege versions), and I plan to begin working on the painting of the Russian compound tomorrow.
I was fortunate to find two appropriately sized Malifaux Foo Dogs for the bases outside of the Japanese legation's main gate. Are you putting something on those bases (if so what) or leaving them clear?
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I continue to paint the Blue Moon civilian Chinese buildings. This group is the last. My next posting will be Blue Moon’s Austrian legation building which I am using as my Hotel de Peking.(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4880/44703089230_b1171ad3f8_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2b7g1ZL)IMG_2286 (https://flic.kr/p/2b7g1ZL) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7807/45606975205_d9e40531d9_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cu8ENH)IMG_2288 (https://flic.kr/p/2cu8ENH) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4843/44703088920_5498537bad_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2b7g1Uq)IMG_2289 (https://flic.kr/p/2b7g1Uq) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7865/45606974945_8f8319c8ac_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cu8EJe)IMG_2290 (https://flic.kr/p/2cu8EJe) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7927/44703088680_e578aebb41_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2b7g1Qh)IMG_2292 (https://flic.kr/p/2b7g1Qh) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr
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I like your greens, especially in the first three pics. Also the mud red in the first.
You achieved great definition on the rooftiles, the bricks and the stonework!
Cheers!
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wonderfully painted ! I see it o on your "weekly progress" on your wall https://warin15mm.com/
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Richard, I have some Foo dogs that I might use in the place you reference but hoping to reserve them for a more Chinese use, perhaps a gate to the Imperial Palace which I just might extemporize as part of my convention game set up.
I understand your choices but I'm still leaning strong towards a whiter/more beige theme for my painting. I do plan to paint in unified groups for the civilian buildings but get my variation through a combination of a wash color matched to a roof color - and probably paint each of my six legations (I'm using the Austrian legation and generic walls for the German legation) to match a civilian neighborhood of in tact and ruined buildings, with one matching the Tartar Wall. So, I should end up with six distinct looks to avoid too much uniformity. Will leave my MBA structure as is to represent the Peking Hotel. What I haven't decided is whether or not my matching legation and civilian neighborhood are adjacent or in different parts of the table - leaning towards the latter. Any thoughts?
And, hey, while you may be way out ahead on the painting front, I will have more civilian buildings than you! Woo-hoo. lol Okay, now you're going to go and embarrass me with all sorts of unexpected flea market deals, aren't you. :( What the heck, as long as we're having fun we're doing it right.
While I will create a generally historical setup for convention games I will also allow for more 'artistic' variations of gaming.
And I still want to create my scratch built Spring Palace of the Divine Concubine! Hubba-hubba. :-*
edit: while doing some research, so called Foo Dogs are actually lions - which makes sense because they look more like lions than dogs to me.
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DintheDin, thanks so much for following along, and for the color comment. I've probably said this before, but despite the dramatic size of the Blue Moon line of figures and buildings for the Boxer Rebellion, I haven't seen much work that has been doing... especially painted buildings. So I hope that by posting mine, I can offer something that is currently missing. I know that when I'm doing a project like this I look for what others have done to help me sort through where I want to go with my work... even if I don't personally like other things that I see, I like seeing how others have addressed it.
militades, thanks for writing and advertising my Weekly Workbench. Much appreciated.
FifteensAway, I think you color choice is probably more accurate than what I am doing although my view on that is heavily guided by the movie 55 Days At Peking. When I began this project I believe I was probably going to do the legation compounds in tans... once again the 55 Days At Peking influence. But I'm going with grays and saddle brown. It might be historically wrong, but I like the look. If one of the several books I've read had given specific colors, I probably would have gone with that but lacking that I'm going with feels good.
I think the MBA structure/beautiful building will be a great Hotel de Peking and your table space will allow room for that. Mine won't so I've decide to use the Blue Moon Austrian legation building for that purpose.
In terms of the number of civilian Chinese structures you will have I'm all for it. Only wish I could have seen your layout before mine concludes... always looking for ideas. As things stand I'm not completely sure how I will be piecing my layouts together on the table. I may have more buildings than I need or I may have to pick up a couple more.
Interesting that you mention the idea of a flea market. This morning on my way to my weekly swap meet adventure I got to thinking about that. I'll have to see what space allows.
I look forward to seeing where you take the project. My only "imperial" style buildings are the few ceramic pieces I've repainted and will probably use that as background (if at all). I really want to see what you do with the Spring Palace project.
Richard
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Richard, you do know you can find my work on my blog, yes? http://steeplechasingzebras.blogspot.com (http://steeplechasingzebras.blogspot.com)
There are images on the main blog page and then more under the Boxer Rebellion tab above, nothing painted there except the MBA structure but some examples of layouts that may be useful. Of course, as I'm sure you've discovered, rarely do two maps of the legations agree on layout so some license just has to be allowed. Oh, and no updates on the blog because, for reasons unknown, I can't log in but I do have an old, test blog I'm posting to but nothing yet Boxer related.
I did add a section of walls from Stone Mountain I will use, about 12" x 12", might be my variation of the carriage park.
Checked out your Weekly Workbench and saw your two legations and very curious on why you changed up the roof colors from the walls to the main internal structures? Not wrong, of course, just wondering what drove the choice?
While writing, if you look about my blog you will find a bunch of non-Blue Moon ruins that will be dragooned into my Peking set-up. As you infer, table size is an issue for you while I'm assembling a convention game that will be a U-shaped 12' wide by 9' (maybe a bit longer) table with a 4' wide space between the uprights of the U-shape for player access - essentially the Jade River/Canal with some of that aforementioned artistic license.
Like the bridges - but are you going to do a wooden one?
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FifteensAway, I haven't checked in on your blog because I thought you were away from the project due to other issues that were demanding your time.
The reasons for the different roof colors is that both the Japanese and the French inner/main buildings appear to have shingle roofs while the coverings on their walls and gate houses are tile. Not an issue with the Russian legation, and I haven't check the situation with the British and US.
I always like the idea of making use of items from other ranges.
I did two scratch built 15mm market places for previous collections: medieval and Aztec. I may try for a third.
I picked up a wood oriental bridge at the swap meet this weekend... lucky find. I'm not sure which bridges or how many I'll be able to incorporate... I'll be using the long end of the table for the canal so 7 feet. While it is not historically the most accurate approach, I think I am going to look at using my large ceramic bridge (very oriental in appearance though not accurate) and two of the PetCo, but a lot depends on how things look when I do my practice set up. That's why I have the third PetCo bridge and now the wooden bridge purchase this weekend. We'll see.
I am going to hold to as many elements of an accurate layout as I can, but I will be fudging a lot... I hope to be offering the basic feel. Again, we'll see.
I think between the two of us, we could offer a couple of very unique layouts... mine because of the two tables: one pre-siege and one siege, and yours by dint of its dramatic size. As you well know, 15s do offer some interesting options not available/practical when dealing with 28s.
By the way, we just modified the Weekly Workbench section on my website so it comes up faster. The Weekly Workbench now reflects only the weeks of the current month. The past Weekly Workbench postings are on the Workbench Archive by month.
Richard
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A little known building in the heart of the Peking legation district in 1900 was the Hotel de Peking. Unfortunately, Blue Moon didn't include it in its Boxer Rebellion range of 15s, but it did provide the separate building for the Austrian legation. Since five legation compounds plus Chinese civilian structures will already be hard to fit on my 5 ft. x 7 ft. table, I decided to use the Austrian building as my Hotel de Peking.(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4863/46511293682_352440ebda_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dS3xbA)IMG_2302 (https://flic.kr/p/2dS3xbA) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr (https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4889/46511293972_d8196d10cd_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dS3xgA)IMG_2303 (https://flic.kr/p/2dS3xgA) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr
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Lovely job on that building. Looks like your setup will have a distinctly red-brown tone to it - though perhaps much mitigated by ground cover. I anticipate the unrevealed surprises we may see when you finally reveal the full set up.
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FifteensAway, you are right about the ground cover. I will be using my tan indoor-outdoor carpets to cover both tables, but in places I will be using, but in places, such as within the grounds of the legation compounds, I will be using some Woodland Scenics Ready Grass (Spring Grass). I've used it before with my Victorians and Gangsters (for the cemetery and park). It's easy, and I like it.
I'm still giving a lot of thought to your comment about scratch building some flea market stalls... probably will give it a try. But the big thing that came out of that thought process was that I needed some Chinese (oriental) civilians seated on the ground. And that reminded me that Peter Pigs' Vietnam/Range 1 includes civilians. When I checked the Peter Pig website I found that pack #46 were seated peasants. While Peter Pig is too small to stand beside Blue Moon, the seated ones should be fine. So I went to Brookhurst Hobbies last night and bought two packs. Once again you have planted a seed that is going to improve this project.
Another unexpected find happened this week when I did a random stop at my local model train shop to look at their bargain table... a long source of wonderful things at great prices. I discovered a couple of different small buddha statues. At first I rejected them because they are rubber, but I was drawn back to them because of their size (one inch tall/seated), the great detail, and the price (79 cents each). I bought all four. They painted up great. When I post my French legation pics today or tomorrow, I'll try to remember to take pictures of them and post them as well. They also had a couple of the Prieser HO Victorians for 79 cents each so I got them as well... more painting to do.
Richard
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Just to clarify - my mention of flea market was about you finding buildings to use in your setup - or other appropriate items. But market stalls sure work - can see them in many of the period photos of Peking.
Now here's a thought though not sure how to 'execute' it: A sword wielding executioner with some headless victims, well, with the heads separated from their owners. A bit gruesome but another element seen in period photos - and a certain movie.
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FifteensAway, while I like the execution idea, I probably won't go there, but your note reminded me that I have a third flea/town market that I made a couple decades ago for my 15mm Sudan collection, and it might just work for this project... if I can find it. I'm having trouble posting pictures here right now, but I hope to resolve that soon and get the French legation posted, plus the little Buddha statues.
I got lucky. The Sudan market stalls were just where I thought they might be. They'll work great... the joy of recycling.
While hunting for the Sudan market stalls I remembered that I had also tucked away (for this project) some Two Dragons' peasant porters carry bales of something. One of the packs (SAM/PES 9) is one porter with a pole over his shoulders carrying two bales. The other pack has a two porters with a pole between them over their shoulders carrying one bale. Nice figures... not sure how easy it is to find Two Dragons anymore. The other thing I found (set aside for this long ago) were some Essex pack camels... just standing/heads in different positions but necks down. I remember seeing pack camels in the movie 55 Days At Peking... hopefully they did their homework.
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In putting together this project I decide to use two 5 ft. x 7 ft. tables. One table will represent the pre-siege legation district in 1900 Peking, and the second table will present the legation district under siege. When Blue Moon put together its legations (French, British, Japanese, Russian, and US), for obvious reasons it did it for the siege period and consequently the legation walls were cast with firing steps. In order to have the pre-siege version of those legations I scratch built walls using Evergreen and JTT plastic without the firing steps. Because the different legations have complex main entrances, I decided that whenever possible I would use the Blue Moon gates with my scratch-built walls. The exceptions are the Russian legation which has a separate gate and the British legation which as the main defensive position among the great powers has a main gate that is bunkered up. Consequently I scratch built the British main gate as well as its wall. The French legation uses the Blue Moon main gate and I hid the firing steps on the attached walls by covering them with removable scrubs based on a Lego skeleton/inner frame covered with Milliput and scored to look like scrubs. The three pictures attached here show the pre-siege version without the hidden firing steps, the pre-siege version with the firing steps hidden by my removable scrubs, and the Blue Moon siege version.
I’ve also included a picture of my bridge options: one ceramic, three resin from Petco and one wooden.
The last picture is of some Buddha statues I purchase off the bargain table a my local model train store. I really like the size and detail, but because they are rubber I almost didn’t buy them, but at 79 cents each I decided to take a chance, and they painted up just fine.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4845/46606648621_3e55eb6899_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e1tfTg)IMG_2316 (https://flic.kr/p/2e1tfTg) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4885/46606648561_34c196ab66_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e1tfSe)IMG_2317 (https://flic.kr/p/2e1tfSe) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7908/46606648541_87dbdf569d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e1tfRT)IMG_2318 (https://flic.kr/p/2e1tfRT) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4905/46606648501_b6e4ccec11_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e1tfRc)IMG_2331 (https://flic.kr/p/2e1tfRc) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4851/45692281645_218727b5cd_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cBETrp)IMG_2330 (https://flic.kr/p/2cBETrp) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr
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That wooden bridge came out real nice - has a very bamboo feel to it which is perfect.
The French legation looks good - very brown which works well with the green tile tops to the walls. And very nice job on the shingles.
Maybe part of why I shy away from so much brown in my plans is because my base cloth is a dark brown - though I plan to lighten it up with lighter colors so it becomes more of a brown background to a tanner topping, dry brushed on most likely - though maybe an overspray (pretty big space to cover). Of course once my plans collide with the actual model buildings, we'll see what happens.
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FifteensAway, I'll be interested in seeing the color schemes you decide on. This might be the first time I have painted a project this size without the benefit of seeing what someone else has done. I probably should have ask you if you knew of any finished Blue Moon Boxer Rebellion collections that I could have looked at. I looked, but found none. That surprised me. The other thing that surprised me was that it appears that the Blue Moon legation walls were made using the same JTT and Plastruct plastic I used to make my pre-siege legation walls... I could even see where they had cut the plastic with scissors just as I had done. They used a wide variety of stone and brick, and in the end dealing with that variety of materials, my color decisions were probably driven by those different stone and brick wall facings and an effort to find colors that would work with the different wall top tiles colors I wanted for the different legations... four of the five legation walls are topped with tile. I think only the Russian legation isn't. My suggestion to you is look closely at the composition of the walls before you begin painting to make sure your color scheme works well with all the different stone, brick and tile you will confront plus the sand bags and wooden firing steps... look closely to see what is really there. I sprayed all the buildings and walls with Testors flat black and dry brushed up from that. When do you think you'll start painting?
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The Japanese legation compound, like the French compound, is done in a pre-siege and siege format. Once again, I scratch built the pre-siege compound walls (without firing steps) using JTT and Evergreen plastic. I retained the main gate section of the Blue Moon compound by hiding the firing steps on the attached walls with a removable scrub covering made of scored Milliput over a Lego skeleton. For reasons I can’t explain Blue Moon provided bases for two Foo Dogs on either side of the main gate, but didn’t provide the Foo Dogs. The Foo Dogs I used are from Wyrd’s Malifaux collection.(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4839/46631207922_bc3b671a2c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e3D8vu)IMG_2319 (https://flic.kr/p/2e3D8vu) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7852/45959187464_af2565d4bf_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2d2fReS)IMG_2320 (https://flic.kr/p/2d2fReS) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4804/46631207582_7c2deffa39_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e3D8pC)IMG_2321 (https://flic.kr/p/2e3D8pC) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4906/45959187214_adc79a6d8e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2d2fRay)IMG_2324 (https://flic.kr/p/2d2fRay) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr
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Hmm, might be the lighting but I'm guessing that blue is going to stick out like a sore thumb in the midst of the rest of your buildings. Might consider toning it down. Or not. Your toys. lol
I do worry that showing us all this before your main photo shoot might be a bit anti-climactic when it finally arrives - then again, all those figures with all those buildings and your creative spark will probably negate that concern. Besides, I expect there will be surprises - right?
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FifteensAway, light probably has something to do with it. It's the same blue I have been using on the other buildings. I long ago came to the realization that 15mm die a lonely death here at LAF... seldom viewed, rarely worth a comment. But in the case of the Blue Moon Boxer Rebellion structures I have been surprised by the fact that I have found only two lonely folks, that would be you and me, who seem to have purchased them. When I began posting the pre-siege and now the painted buildings I thought of it more as a public service because I found no other painted examples and as I have said before I like looking at what other have done when I doing a project. Thus buildings on display, but not figures... lots of Boxer Rebellion figures came be found (mainly 28s).
Actually if there is a surprise in this it will be in the look of the whole layout which I think (never sure until it's done) will be pretty dramatic, but there will also be some little details. Frankly I think the Wyrd Foo Dogs are pretty nice.
Richard
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I'd guess only a minute percentage of miniature collectors read and a much smaller percentage post on LAF (or TMP - that place has been dying a slow death for years) so I caution against reading too much in to how many OG Boxer buildings you see here. I know they've sold them to more than you and I.
As to 15 mm here, sometimes a thread will get traction, sometimes not. But, clearly, 28 mm dominates. This is, I think, more than anything else, a painter's showcase and sometimes a terrain showcase and, more rarely, a game showcase forum. Though it does seem a well put together 15 mm game with good figures and terrain will usually find an 'audience'. And a few very talented painters get a nice following - witness the thread about Blue Moon's Three Musketeers range.
When you do post your full setup, I expect it will be well viewed and much enjoyed. But not all things will be of interest to all - like the whole post apocalypse thing. For me, doesn't matter how nice it might be, I just don't have the interest, even a little bit, so unlikely I will pay attention. But almost anything American Revolution and I'll take a look. This hobby is very broad church but some of the pews are pretty lonely places.
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FifteensAway, after reading your reply I went back and reread mine. Apart from spelling two "to," the thing I noticed was that my tone sounded down. I'm not sure what caused that, but it wasn't intended. At this moment I'm a pretty happy and excited guy. Our granddaughter took her first multi-step walk this week (4 unaided steps) and it wasn't until she registered what she had done and began clapping and cheering for herself that the walk end. I dropped by my local model train shop this week and to my great surprise found that on their bargain table they had a couple hundred Artistta O guage figures (still in their packages) all selling for $2.99 a pack which is to say a figure. Being a true 15s guy I wouldn't expect you to know Artistta, but they have a huge line of wonderfully unique figures... people going about the normal things of the day (mailmen, babies in strollers, kids on scooters and soapbox racers, old folks walking arm-in-arm...), and they are expensive. They tend to start at $5.99 a figure and go up into the $20s from there. At $2.99 and with a large selection to choose from I bought about 25 packs, and smiled the whole time. And finally, for this little moment of confession, I finished the last of the legations yesterday... the British. I'll probably post the remaining three (Russian, US, and British) that I haven't posted as yet over the next week. All that remains now are about 25 more figures (Peter Pig and Two Dragon... mentioned in a previous posting), and some detail work, and this project will be ready for picture taking. Probably will get that done in February.
I'm am sure you are right that lots of the Blue Moon Boxer Rebellion figures and structures have been sold to people other than you and me. What surprised me and prompted this thread of the structures I am doing in their painted state is that I have seen only one building in that range of wonderful buildings painted... the building with the tea bale on the porch; it come with metal awnings. I'll be moving on to a new project soon, but this has been a fun one (fortunately I feel that way about all of them), and I'm looking forward to seeing if I can do it justice on my two tables.
Richard
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As is the case with the previous legation compounds posted here, I scratch-built one set of walls for the pre-siege Russian legation and will use the Blue Moon walls for the siege version. I’ll be posting the US and British legation compounds soon. (https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4916/45856482785_22a31c9698_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cSbsHx)IMG_2328 (https://flic.kr/p/2cSbsHx) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7896/46771608051_13475a65fd_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eg3Hzn)IMG_2327 (https://flic.kr/p/2eg3Hzn) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr
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Observing your attention to detail, I find myself asking "What would it look like if he created a pre-siege version of one of the buildings, say the Russian legation itself?" I'm guessing it would be pretty close despite being one of the more challenging buildings to recreate. Up to the challenge, Richard? ;)
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FifteensAway, I'm afraid that I did all that I'm up for attempting. I built the rear entrances, one of the inner compound buildings for the British legation as well as one of that legation's oriental style gates.
The most complex single structure I built was the British legation's entrance (Legos and Evergreen plastic). Other than doing those, more than two months invested in scratch building the pre-siege versions of the five legations' walls was enough for me. As of this morning I am 14 figures, five flag poles and the Imperial Canal away from being done and ready to do a practice layout in preparation for the photo shoot in February. My mind is turning to the next project. Richard
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wow! wow again! :o :o :o You are doing amazing job! The Legations look great. I wonder how they all look like together! I also wonder about the size of the table you need now ! The result will be spectacular !
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miltidades, as of today I don't know how they will look on my layout table(s). When I began this project back in June, the first thing I did was measure the size of each of the legation compounds and draw a template of each of them on railboard/cardstock. I then laid them out to see if they would fit on my table... six months ago those templates fit so I am hoping the the real thing will fit as well. I have two tables that I use when I set up my collections. They are both 5 ft. x 7 ft. They are composed of two 5' x 7' plywood surfaces and two six ft. folding tables that the plywood surfaces can be secured to during the set up and photography. The nice thing is they can be taken apart and set flat against the garage wall while not in use. For this project I will be using both tables. One will be the pre-siege version (my scratch-built stuff) and day to day life, and the second will be the siege version using the Blue Moon legations. I have about 12 more figures to paint plus a Nordenfeld gun, a breach wall section and five legation flag poles. I hope to be done with all of the painting before the end of next week, and then I will have time to do a practice set up of the tables to finalize how things will fit together on the two 5 ft x 7 ft surfaces. Should be fun. I hope to have the collection photographed in place in February and posted on my website and here before the end of February. I've been with this for 6 straight months and have really enjoyed it, but it's time to move on to the next project.
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Most impressive project 8)
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Size of Project x Timeframe to Completion = Are You Kidding Me!!! This young man is blindingly fast at getting these projects done. And then he dives in for another - and then another - and another... :o
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Looking forward to seeing this laid out together, really good stuff
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smirnoff, thank you. I'll be posting the last two legations soon (US and British). I still have some small detail work left to do no this project, but it should be complete by the end of the first week of February. In February we will do a photo session of the collection in diorama form (two 5 ft x 7 ft tables/one presage and one siege) and post it on my vanity website. I will post some sample pictures on the LAF Colonial Adventures section with a link to the website then. My guess is that it will be very picture heavy... probably a hundred or more.
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The US legation is the fourth of the five legation compounds sold by Blue Moon. As is the case with all the Blue Moon legation compounds, it is made for gaming and has firing steps cast onto the interior side of all the walls surrounding the legation compound. As I have stated in previous postings of the other legations, I wanted a pre-siege version of each of the five legations I am using with this collection so I scratch-built legation walls for each of the legations without the firing steps included. I did this using Evergreen and JTT plastic and based those wall sections in scored Milliput. In the case of the US legation and three of the other legations (Japanese, Russian and French), I used the main gate that came with the Blue Moon compound(s) because they were not bunkered up and retained their pre-siege appearance. In the cases of the Japanese, French and US legations their main gates were cast with wall sections on either side and those wall sections had firing steps, so to hide the firing steps on those wall sections I made removable scrubs based on Legos covered with scored Milliput. Thus those main gates could serve as both the pre-siege and siege version of the main gate just by removing or adding the removable scrubs. All of the interior buildings used in the pre-siege and siege versions of the US legation are those that came with the Blue Moon compound. I’ve provided pictures of both versions.(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4830/31873767277_09c09a09d4_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QyzoxF)IMG_2333 (https://flic.kr/p/QyzoxF) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7898/46815222901_af844e8c75_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ejUfKx)IMG_2334 (https://flic.kr/p/2ejUfKx) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr
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The British legation compound is the last of my five legation compounds sold by Blue Moon. It is by far the largest and is unique in that several of the buildings and the main gate are bunkered up. This is due to the fact that the British legation was the main point of defense in the siege because it was the largest compound, could house the most people in a single compound, and it was not directly under the Tartar Wall and thus not subject to direct fire from above as was the case with the US legation. Because the main building was bunkered up, I elected to use an old Ian Weekley building as the main building in my pre-siege version of this compound. I purchased a second Blue Moon blockhouse-style building and modified it (carved out the sandbags and bricks from the windows for my pre-siege version), and I scratch-built the main gate using Legos covered with Evergreen plastic. Because of the size and all of the turns in the walls, the British legation was by far the most difficult scratch-build task of all the pre-siege compounds I did. A few slight mismeasurements or poor cuts could throw the whole thing out of alignment. There is a sixth Blue Moon legation compound that can be purchased in component parts… main building and individual wall sections. While I did not elect to have a sixth legation compound (identified by Blue Moon as the Austrian legation), I did use the sixth legation’s main building as my Hotel de Peking. I did not buy and paint all of the buildings made by Blue Moon for their Boxer Rebellion range, but the vast majority of them are represented in this thread. I hope that some of you who decide to undertake the Boxer Rebellion/55 Days at Peking using the Blue Moon range of buildings will find some value in what I have posted here. In doing this project I wish I had been able to find pictures of what others had done… alas that was not the case. With this compound complete, the Tartar Wall constructed, and more than 900 figures painted, I have only some odds and ends to finish before this collection is ready to be photographed in diorama layout form. I plan to have that done before the end of February. There will be lots of pictures. If you haven’t seen the results of my finished diorama-style layouts before, there are 21different collections in diorama galleries (both 15mm and 28mm) on my vanity website that can be seen at www.warin15mm.com(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7822/45997956295_96c320415c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2d5FxRZ)IMG_2362 (https://flic.kr/p/2d5FxRZ) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4818/45997956515_24f3963d65_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2d5FxVM)IMG_2363 (https://flic.kr/p/2d5FxVM) by Richard Garretson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158632126@N06/), on Flickr
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Once again I - as I suppose all of us are - am in awe at your rate of production, Richard. And to re-create all five legations in a variant form is unaccountable in dedication and perseverance. To heck with a tip of my hat, I feel obliged to eat it. (okay, I draw some lines! lol)
Perhaps you did not get to see others done before you but sometimes there is merit in being the leading pioneer. There will be photos of the works of others for you to see - of the Blue Moon items. Though mine will look rather a lot different than yours in my anticipation. But, as you pointed out, once I get brush to resin, perhaps I'll change my mind.
Hope the various collections of the Boxer Rebellion others have posted were at least of some help to you - though mostly those were scratch built items by necessity. Before the Blue Moon Extravaganza release, there were no alternate options in 15 mm worth speaking of.
The British legation looks great.
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Superb
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Lovely stuff, and looking forward to the "complete collection" photographs. Couple of points. I seem to remember that the British Legation was also important, quite apart from the factors you mention, because it had a source of water within the walls. I can't specifically remember, but I presume that this must have been some kind of well. More importantly, the British Legation also had a "Bell Tower" - a kind of Chinese Pagoda with a large bronze bell within - which functioned as a vital "notice board" during the Seige, not only for the British but for all of the defenders. And then there was a cemetery within the walls, too, for the poor unfortunates killed during the siege, including at least one of the "Student Interpreters". I could dig out some photos, I think, if you're not already completely familiar with all of the above!
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FifteensAway, I always appreciate your generous comments. I should also mention that your comment about the canal colors has been working on me. I have enough plastic to do two canals that are 7 ft in length. I will paint both with my Testers' Dark Blue/Bright Blue combination... my go-to combo when painting water, but one of the two I will dry brush with a mix of Vallejo Andrea Blue and Brown Violet (a dark olive drab). I used that as the color for my sewer water in my 28mm Gangster Gallery... we'll see.
smirnoff, thanks so much for taking the time to send along the very kind word... doesn't get much better than superb. Much appreciated.
leadboy, to be quite honest after more than six months of working on this project I'm looking forward to seeing the photographs of the complete collection in layout form myself. Let me be very open about the fact that in putting this layout together there are several controlling factors that trump history and facts. One of those is the size of my tables. For years I have used two 5 ft. by 7 ft. tables for all of my big layouts. In terms of the legation area in this collection, that means I will have to do my best to represent as closely as I can the relationships of the key locations, but that will be far from perfect. I will be using both tables, but each table will represent a different phase (pre-siege and siege) not different locations in the legation area. A second controlling factor has to do with the fact that having looked at many photos for this project, I have seen only a limited number that reflect the interiors of the different compounds and many that show the main entrances, and have read only one reference to the color of any of the legations, and that reference stated that the tile used by the British was green. Your mention of the bell sounds like something I have read or perhaps saw in the movie, but Blue Moon didn't make a structure identified as such, and I don't believe I've seen a photo. Quite honestly, after 2 months devoted to building the pre-siege version of the five legation walls and associated small buildings I am drained of any interest in further significant scratch building for this project. All in all this will be far from historically perfect, but if it works out as planned I think it will offer a nice feel for the events. As FifteensAway said, Blue Moon has produced a remarkable range of structures for their Boxer Rebellion line, and I hope to make the most of what they have provided. Thanks so much for writing. I really appreciate your interest. Hope I won't disappoint.
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Richard, one question and one comment. First the comment, on the barricades on your weekly workbench - a lot of the material was silk and the like and from accounts rather colorful. Nothing wrong with what you've done but any reason for not going more colorful. And then the coach, can you recall further details as to its origin? I'd like to add one or more to my Old West set up - at least for my most urban town. And maybe use as a basis for some kit bashing.
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FifteensAway, I did the Blue Moon barricades as I did because lacking any clear reference options I went with simple. As to the carriage, years ago Old Glory 15s Napoleonic packs were large... about 100 figures. Old Glory 15s made three packs of French Marshals. The carriage is included in one of those representing Massena at Wagram. I think it was the French Marshal pack #3... it's been decades. Priester also makes an HO open carriage (or did once), and was unique in that it came in a painted or unpainted options (or did once). I believe it was called a marriage carriage. Richard
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Wow, absolutely impressive, and inspiring!!!
Dan
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Don't know if I've noted this here or not but the Jordan range of figures may be no more. The man himself passed on and someone stated they thought he'd requested the molds be destroyed after he was gone. Hope not but his right to have it done if he so wished. So, if you see one, want it, can afford it - buy it. You may never see it again.
edit: Oh, no! I might upset Richard with this. Sir, are you aware that Presier makes an HO set, 20383, of six dromedary camels? Those would be the two hump variety (double Wednesday? ::)). I know you have some camels with one hump for your Boxer setup. But the photos I've seen show two humped camels as the beasts of burden - or just roaming about. Just thought you should know this. No, no, this is not a ploy to slow you down so I can catch up, never crossed my mind, besides, you are way too fast for that. Just a thought.
What, who, me, evil? Not very often. lol
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Dan, thanks so much for taking the time to write and for the generous words. Much appreciated.
FifteensAway, not only should the camels be two humps, but brown and furry. But I have the ones I have and my local train shop doesn't have the ones you mention... and they usually have it all, so I'll just live with what I have. That said, it will be several weeks before we take pictures... the rain is slowing the process so maybe. And evil never crossed my mind.
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FifteensAway, you cost me 19 bucks. I found the Prieser bactrian two hump camels, and will have them posted on my Weekly Workbench on Sunday. Actually, I'm pretty happy about getting them. I put the single hump camels where they belong... with my Sudan collection. Richard
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Well, perhaps one day I can stand you a drink. And with any luck it will be while waiting to board the Jungle Cruise at Disney! And congrats on the find. I'll have to dig mine out of their closet at some point - at least I know where they are, or should be.
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Until that time...
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Richard, Richard, Richard, "fingers drumming methodically on table", "foot tapping industriously and noise-fully and monotonously". I...we've...been waiting, waiting, waiting. Where is our gallery, sir?
And ply me not with my own lack of progress, sirrah. This is about you making us wait, fellah! :D
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Richard, Richard, Richard, "fingers drumming methodically on table", "foot tapping industriously and noise-fully and monotonously". I...we've...been waiting, waiting, waiting. Where is our gallery, sir?
And ply me not with my own lack of progress, sirrah. This is about you making us wait, fellah! :D
I am sure Richard will show us his own gallery soon. But, fifteensaway, what about your own progress sir ? ;)
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My own progress has been slow excepting in the acquisitions department and even that hasn't been large. However, now that the house remodel is done - finally! - and I'm wrapping up what I hope are the last bits of handling my late mother's estate, progress should improve. That progress will have to compete with spring and gardening season and my model railroad which is demanding some of my attention, happily, and the other periods that I'm working on this year. First up, once I get there, is to build the ramp for my Tartar Wall and then it is just a matter of painting, painting, painting and then, well, some more painting. Here is an image of my most focused purchases for the Boxer set up:
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PppIj51cFaA/XI7MiC3CmuI/AAAAAAAAAD8/beli5Bv89tc3BO3x332SEVC6-K-NHPjYQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1540.JPG)
I did purchase some figures from the Boxer range at OG25 but I'll be using those for my Heia Safari/Slightly Cracked Colonials (European civilians).
And, yes, I'm sure Richard's display will be along surely - just 'poking' him gently to prod him along. I think his sense of humor can handle it.
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FifteensAway, these are some good looking pieces. Here's a strange coincidence. I noticed your posting because I just came on the LAF website to post notification of my finished Boxer Rebellion Gallery (76 pictures/eight samples posted on LAF). Hope you and others will give it and the full gallery a look. Richard