Bashi-Bazouks 54mm Plastic Conversions WIP

[Mike Blake]

Some shots of WIP on the mounted and foot figures at

http://s654.photobucket.com/user/MikeBlake/library/Bashi-Bazouks%2054mm%20Conversions%20WIP

A couple of tasters if I can remember how...



Not really a B-B, more some sort of emir who has hired them...

[Marine0846]

Nice work with the green stuff.
Look forward to seeing more.

[Mike Blake]

Thanks Marine0846 - did you look at the Photobucket album?
http://s654.photobucket.com/user/MikeBlake/library/Bashi-Bazouks%2054mm%20Conversions%20WIP

There are 7 or 8 mounted and 12 or 13 foot figures.

I don't plan on doing any more right now, what I need to do is get to grips with painting them. No approach seems right - either too uniformed or too wild! I've put them aside to do other things in the hope when I come back to them it will click.

[Marine0846]

Mike, I could not get on yesterday, computer would not let me.
But today it would.
Boy you have lots of cool stuff.
Thanks for showing it off.

[pbjunky1]

These (& others on photobucket) look fantastic, thanks for showing them.

[Arundel]

Amazing work. I especially love the emir. Will you be using them for your Sudan games?

[Mike Blake]

My original intention was to use them in the Sudan game-it was the incentive to get on and do them...but reality caught up with me and I had to abandon the idea.

It now looks like they wont get finished until I want them for another game, possibly a Napoleonic Black Powder Ottoman-Russian one. I have the Russians, but need to get some Ottomans done.

As I've said, painting them has proved a real challenge! I just cannot get the look right (to me). They either seem to 'uniform' and much too wild. I keep looking at what others have done in the hope of seeing a paint job that works for me.

Right now the priority are figures for a BOB/RCW game we are doing at the Derby World's con/show, 'Czave the Czar': Rescuing The Romanovs!

[Arundel]

Very interesting, Mike. When you get them looking to your satisfaction, please post your painted efforts--I'm sure many here, myself included, would love to see them. Your "Czave the Czar" game sounds like great fun! Follow up efforts could be "Gad-zooks, It's the Bashis!" and "Roamin' With the Romanovs".

I'll be leaving now...

[Mike Blake]

...yes, get your coat.

[Arundel]

Before I do, could you give some advice?

I generally paint metals, but have recently broken down and got some of AIP's camels to provide a pack train for my Colonial project. As my experiences painting plastic have generally been gruesome, with flaking paint and wails of lamentation on all sides, I'd appreciate your looking over the following for any mistakes:

1.) Throw them in the dishwasher to clean. (Never tried this, but have heard it's an easy way to get any remaining agent off the figures.)

2.) Prime with plastic primer (here in the States probably Rustoleum or Krylon).

3.) Paint.

4.) Seal with two coats of gloss lacquer (going for a toy soldier look--will use Model Masters/Testors).

Do you see any mistakes here? I'm especially nervous about the dishwasher trick. I would obviously like an durable finish to them and would appreciate any words of wisdom!

[Mike Blake]

Dishwasher - ouch! That seems a mite extreme to me and might well produce some distortions if the heat was too high. I have never gone that far and would be very loath to do so. FWIW my approach is:

1) soak in ordinary vinegar at least over night, wash with washing up liquid or household spray cleaner, dry.
2) as you propose or apply a coat of slightly diluted white (dries transparent) PVA glue
3) undercoat (grey, black or white) with artist's acrylic gesso or a good quality (ie not the cheapest) matt spray paint; then paint.
4) as you propose or coat with slightly diluted white (dries transparent) PVA glue.
5) re-matt with matt artist's acrylic varnish (I want a matt not a gloss finish).

[Arundel]

I think I'll follow your system. To be honest, the dishwasher idea was making me rather nervous as well; vinegar and soap sounds far safer. Many thanks for the tips!

Daryl

[Mike Blake]

I should perhaps point out it is best to do any conversions with modelling putty after the vinegar soak as it can have an odd effect on it...and yes, that is the voice of experience talking!

[Shipka]

They look excellent

[Arundel]

Excellent tips. Thank you again!