Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: Jaeger on August 19, 2013, 02:23:06 PM
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I'm rekindling a childhood dream of making a tinsoldier army of my own.
My first battalion is shaping up:
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/BelialPhoto/TinRegiment_zps1632b919.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BelialPhoto/media/TinRegiment_zps1632b919.jpg.html)
And more moulds are in the mail:
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRJERgw8Emt3ut3wvNrinv-Ja4rv-pBhrBMVmzun7-EWWwWhMXk)
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6RtfuhDhaZItYPcFRXipn4zf-rXXZKqCUjxAAGvrEX1eK2MTxhA)
(http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server5100/k2mrpdoj/products/274/images/649/931__83838.1344532353.1280.1280.JPG)
I'm thinking Blackpowder rules for wargaming but nothing determined yet.
/Jaeger
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Ohhhh, thats takes you back.
Will follow this with great interest.
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Where are you buying the metal from for moulding?
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I think I have a mould of a fast marching musketeer (musket shouldered) from my casting set from many years ago.. somewhere.... would you like to have it, if I can find it? Or maybe you have it already?
I think it would go nicely with the drummer and standard.
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Where are you buying the metal from for moulding?
Originally i used the Model Metal from Prince August. I tried a cheaper alternative buying 60/40 lead/tin alloy awailable in hardstores.
But the succes rate of casting dropped dramatically and details were very poor at best.
I therefore added 30% Bismuth to the alloy and have a 100% cast rate with excellent details now. Bismuth is rather expensive though, so I'm trying a lower percentage. 20% was to Little, but 25% seems to cut it.
@Argonor: I'd love it. Don't have it yet. :)
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I'll see if I can find it... I have a ton of cr.. fine old stuff to sort through, partly from about 3 years ago when we moved to our house, partly from last year when we emptied my deceased father's house.
I know I ran across some Prince August stuff recently, though, if I can just remember where... ::)
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Sounds great.
Just let me know if you find anything.
Meanwhile I'm contemplating which paint schemes/nationalities I want.
Naturally I'll be needing a Swedish army, but for an opponent I'm torn between Danes/Saxons or Russians.
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Danes.
Nothing like an good old Danes vs Swedes fight is it? ;)
No but seriusly, eather one would be nice but the Great Northern war was so much more then the standard Russians that you usually sees.
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Danes.
Nothing like an good old Danes vs Swedes fight is it? ;)
Ha, ha. How true. Poor show for the danes in that particular war though. Oh well I'm not aiming at 100% true to history setting.
In the end I might do both the danes and the russians.
I've been casting some more musketeers, but think I'll take a brake from casting until my new moulds arrive. :)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/BelialPhoto/TwoBattalions_zps8d612b51.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BelialPhoto/media/TwoBattalions_zps8d612b51.jpg.html)
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I think there's a special technique involved when painting these half-flat figures to make them look natural?
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I'm not sure, but I'll personally be using heavy black lining. They are tinsoldiers and should really stand out imo.
Besides I'm personally a big fan of heavy Black lining. Too much mud and grizzle just doesn't cut it for me when looking at miniatures on a gaming table. A personal fancy of mine.
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Aaahh, this brings back memories (mostly of ruined stoves, miniatures without heads, feets or muskets, burned fingers and so on ;) )!
Great project! I'll vote for Danes and Swedes too :D
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Burnt fingers I can relate to. When I was younger, I moved a mould before the alloy had cooled and spilt the liquid alloy over my finger. That really, really hurts.
I just received the 3 new moulds and the Work nicely. Only trouble is the standard bearer. It casts with the banner pole bend and it breaks every time I try to straighten it out.
I've tryed when warm and cool, but nothing seems to help. I might replace the pole with a brass rod or something. But first I'll try to weld it together with an old hobby welder (unsure of the correct English term. The ones used for Electronics).
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I think there's a special technique involved when painting these half-flat figures to make them look natural?
Personally, I would not bother. I think these are more suitable for the classic toy solder pj, you know the glossy primary colour look. But that is of course a matter of taste.
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Aaahh, this brings back memories (mostly of ruined stoves, miniatures without heads, feets or muskets, burned fingers and so on ;) )!
Great project! I'll vote for Danes and Swedes too :D
Me to.
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Only trouble is the standard bearer. It casts with the banner pole bend and it breaks every time I try to straighten it out.
I've tryed when warm and cool, but nothing seems to help. I might replace the pole with a brass rod or something. But first I'll try to weld it together with an old hobby welder (unsure of the correct English term. The ones used for Electronics).
I also found the flagpoles a problem when I did some of these figures. In the end, I replaced the flagpoles with a brass rod and made my own flags.
Great work by the way. One source of metal is of course all the unpainted 28mm figures that will never get done - the lead pile... I certainly reduced mine!!
Phil
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You and Aly Morrison! Or at least I think he's using a similar thing right? (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=52968.0)
Looks like a fun project. :)
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I've tried the lead-pile, but I encounter the same problems as the lead/tin alloy. Casting succes rate is very poor and details are not quite as good compared to the Bismuth-added alloy. I will try to add Bismuth to the lead-pile, but the lead/tin alloy is quite cheap, so not much saved.
Ah. Morrisons project is really amazing. I don't think I'll be using gloss paint though. :)
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The new casts:
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/BelialPhoto/Tin1_zps25ab40f8.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BelialPhoto/media/Tin1_zps25ab40f8.jpg.html)
Fixing the Standard Bearer:
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/BelialPhoto/Tin2_zpsd7c51447.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BelialPhoto/media/Tin2_zpsd7c51447.jpg.html)
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I've tried lining up the models on 40x40mm (infantry) and 50x50mm (cavalry):
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/BelialPhoto/IMG_5465_zps5ae17a0a.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BelialPhoto/media/IMG_5465_zps5ae17a0a.jpg.html)
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Another test with 6 man for each 50x50mm base:
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/BelialPhoto/Tin3_zpsf93d1bed.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BelialPhoto/media/Tin3_zpsf93d1bed.jpg.html)
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Hi Jaeger...
My wargames butterfly landed on Prince August molds a few years ago and I have been casting when I have the time ever since ...
I find it very relaxing and it takes me back to when my father first showed me how to make my own molds ..
I have managed to paint a couple of sample bases but not much else...
I am hoping that by following your thread I shall be encouraged press on and finish enough for a game... :D
Have you seen the Ilkley Old School Blog?
Lots of inspiration
http://ilkleyoldschool.blogspot.co.uk/
All the best Aly
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I find it very relaxing and it takes me back to when my father first showed me how to make my own molds ..
My father had a host of the old Holger Eriksson moulds, and I fondly remember our time together when casting and playing. I've been involved i wargaming for many years now, but I think that my interest for miniatures hails from those days.
Amazing blog. Very inspirational. That's a lot of lead! :o
I'm awaiting an order of Bismuth right now, so casting is off for a few days. I'll see if i can get a few hours of painting in instead. :)
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This is great stuff Jaeger.
I recently added a gallery of my own Prinz August project to my Classic Wargaming blog. Although I painted mine matt. I also experimented with different basing styles... always an issue!
http://classicwargaming.blogspot.co.uk
Best rgds
Phil
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Jaeger....
I blame you.... >:(
I had the day to myself yesterday ,so I decided to get the Prince August moulds out...
Over a hundred miniatures later........ lol
Now I have to find time to paint them...
Have you noticed that on the double moulds it is always the the model you dont want that works every time...
All the best. Aly
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He, he. Guilty as charged. :D
Since using the Bismuth add-on I have a cast succes rate of 100% (bit it's expensive as h...). I never cast more than one of the doubles at a time btw. The heat opens up the mould and you get an awful lot of flash on the later.
I've settled on this regiment as my first:
(http://www.tacitus.nu/karoliner/slag/images/Sve-inf/Enhetsuniform-massing.PNG)
Pretty standard Swedish regiment (several use these colours at the Battle of Gadebusch).
@Stormwatcher: That's a lovely blog. Lots of great inspiration. Thanks for sharing. I think I'll contemplate some more on the basing, but that won't stop me from casting and painting. :)
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Ahem. Painting status: 1 model primed...
But I got my shipment of Bismuth and my first Cavalry unit is beginning to grow:
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/BelialPhoto/TinCav_zpsbb3890c6.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BelialPhoto/media/TinCav_zpsbb3890c6.jpg.html)
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I am strangely attracted to the idea of collecting my own battalion of these. I think I have a few moulds somewhere. It must be an age think. I mean, at a certain point you leave these things behind because of the lack of definition and the boring conformity of casting the same soldier post over and over but ... here I am being attracted to the order, conformity and DIY of the thing. As we get older we regress....
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He. I know just what you mean. Normally we want a lot of different poses for our miniatures, but when fielded in BIG battalions, a uniform unit stands out.
Here's my forces for now (2 Battalions infantry and a Squadron of Cavalry - still missing some officers and stuff):
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/BelialPhoto/LotOfLead_zps7ac492f7.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BelialPhoto/media/LotOfLead_zps7ac492f7.jpg.html)
I've noted that I'll need another set of moulds to field the Danish infantry as they had different uniform types.
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Lucky day.
Went exploring in my fathers attic and found all the old tin soldiers:
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b361/BelialPhoto/OldTin_zps7a752e09.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BelialPhoto/media/OldTin_zps7a752e09.jpg.html)
This is just a Little sample. There's 2 kg worth of miniatures and lead/tin Sticks. Tried to cast with them. Failed horribly. Added a Little Bismuth and they were perfect. Bismuth is really a Wonder metal. :)
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I actually found my Prince August stuff when sorting out stuff.
I have the marching musketeer mold, complete with the 'label'-drawing :)
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I have been casting Prince August for a while and just melt down old any old wargaming figure I don't want and it seems to work . http://tinsoldieringon.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/40mm%20SYW
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Cracking work. Despite running GNW in different scales, we can at least swap uniform details ;)
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@Argonor: I seem to have missed you at Horisont, but now I see your new avatar I know what you look like at least. :)
@Mosstrooper: Lovely blog. I've tried to cast using old miniatures, but I can't seem to get it to Work without the addition of Bismuth. Don't know if I'm doing it wrong.
@Janner. Indeed. It's always nice to get inspiration from Fellow gamers.
I've receivede a lot of old models from Sadomator (is that his LAF nick too?), so I'll be casting some more in the near future. A lot of them are very, very soft, so I guess they contain mostly lead. Maybe I'll mix a Little of them into the pot at a time. I also got an older commander model. My moulds are the new generation Prince August with more details and a bit thicker, but I guess they'll blend anyway.
So far I still haven't painted anything, but maybe I'll find time in the holydays. :)
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First question, no doubt in many:
What colour sashes did Danish officers wear?
Regards,
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Don't know if you can find anything useful in here:
http://archive.org/stream/dendanskehaersh01vaupgoog/dendanskehaersh01vaupgoog_djvu.txt
The naval officers wore a sash in the colours of House Oldenburg (the royal family), red and gold, I would imagine that the same was true for the army officers..?
There's a pic of Peder Wessel (Tordenskjold) , seeming wearing such a sash, a bit down the page here: http://forsvaret.dk/ssg/sotraditioner/danskeuniformer/Pages/default.aspx.
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Excellent, thanks Argonor :)
Is skærf correct for sash?
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Excellent, thanks Argonor :)
Is skærf correct for sash?
Yup, that's the word!
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7 years later and I've only just begun painting. Now that's a long term project. :D
What image host/server do you guys use? I used photobucket back in the days, but 6 dollars a month seems a bit over the top for me.
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I use Flickr as an image host works well.
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Thank you. It seems to work. :)
Swedish Infantry (Dal Regiment)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51809081226_dd0903d953_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWc5R9)
Swedish Artillery
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51809441339_c065b306a0_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWdVTZ)
Swedish Grenadier and Danish Artillery Crew
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51809441644_6d525ce7d3_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWdVTZ) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWdVZf)
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These look truly excellent! Gott mit uns - for sure.
I have a big spot in my heart for that certain Prince August style (also used in the Mithril line), but it is the paintjob that makes these truly shine!
Now you‘ll have to decide how to base them.
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Thank you kind sir. :)
They will be based on 50mm bases (4 men pr base) and Cavalry 60mm. A bit larger than "normal" Black Powder, but otherwise it will be impossible to change formation.
I'm still waiting for more moulds to finish the unit. An officer and command models for the Cavalry.
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I love the look of those! You've done a great job with the blacklining.
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Thank you. It's actually "reverse black lining" Start with a black base and paint to the crevises of the miniature. It's a real pain with yellow and red, but somehow it works for me.
I have a drummer and standard finished too:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51809441514_f373f44fbd_k.jpg)[/url] (https://flic.kr/p/2mWdVX1)
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Great work, they look lovely. Well done sir!! :)
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Thank You. :)
Just finished these:
Västgöta Cavalry Regiment:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51809847291_c48587cc34_k.jpg)
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That painting style works really well with these figures. They look great.
But, matte ???
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What size/scale are they?
Lovely work by the way.
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Thank you sirs. :)
These are 40mm
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40mm is an itch I have yet to scratch.
I have picked up some oddments off e-bay,
but not done anything with them yet.
I like what you are doing & have been
looking at Spencer Smith similar ranges.
Might follow the Grant vibe (Imaginations).
Thanks for posting. :)
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You're welcome. Glad you like it. :)
I'm currently waiting for more moulds, so I can finish my units with the right command personel and Grenadiers on the flanks.
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Two battalions are nearly complete. One battalion from the Dal Regiment and one battalion from the Östgöta Regiment. I'm currently waiting for more moulds (officer, pike, and kneeling grenadier) to arrive, so I can finish these.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51823056143_28e3e6e840_k.jpg)
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Like these!
They have a certain stylistic charm which I like. How do you plan to add the pike? A base to the rear?
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The pikes will be in the center with the command group. Only one of the battalions will have pikes as not all unit used pikes anymore by 1712.
I also took the time to paint the first Danish Cavalryman.
Livgarden til hest (mounted lifeguard):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51824579570_a9675b02d4_k.jpg)
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The Swedish Brigade is almost finished.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51846690620_b2ca53314f_k.jpg)
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They really stand out well from a distance. The block colours and blacklining is a good technique for the 'big battalions' period I think!
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Yes it really works with these semi-flats.
The Swedish Brigade is now finished (minus bases).
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51860144691_240a83a6d5_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51859189712_194c1c6cac_k.jpg)
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Fantastic project - I fondly remember molding Prince August Miniatures - I have a few still.
Prince August have some promotions at the moment which may be of interest - see: https://shop.princeaugust.ie/sales-and-promotions/
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All these figures look great! Well done!
On a side note, we had a chance to visit the Prince August factory/store when we vacationed in Ireland in '03. So glad we did...
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don't they look fine. excelllent. :-*
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See Luke from Geek Gaming Scenics melt down GW minis to cast some Prince August.
He had loads of fun and for anyone who has never cast their own I suggest they give it a try - gives one such an appreciation of miniatures and the processes involved in making them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNCei_vZ8rk&ab_channel=GeekGamingScenics
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:o
Fun video but so not the way to do it lol
This thread has given me the push to pick up a couple of those old 25mm PA moulds for the fun of making some goblin orcs for my LotR project. I have not done any home casting for many years but should be able to hide my own efforts amongst massed bases of plastics fairly well.
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Indeed, his process could be better. For a start I found that cutting extra channels into the mold and covering the sides of the mold with bits of wood to help tighten the mold helped a great deal. I probably breathed in and handled far too much lead lol
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I've found that adding Bismuth really enhances the casts and drilling vent channels in the mould.
I must admit that I too have recast GW minis, but only those that was left over conversion bits.