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'A Gentleman in Khaki' - Boer War Soldier

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  • Airborne01
    • Mar 2021
    • 4097
    • Steve
    • Essex

    #1

    'A Gentleman in Khaki' - Boer War Soldier

    Have just decided to forego wheels and tracks for a while and turn to a more esoteric subject - a Boer War soldier - wounded but defiant! It is modelled on the Caton Woodville painting of the same name

    The manufacturer and sculptor are unknown as the figure was gifted to me by a late friend's next of kin; the figure is approximately 5" (13cm) tall which scales out at about 1:12 for a 5'6" person disregarding boot sole thickness. (!). Cast in a smooth cream-coloured resin the casting is generally fine with clearly defined detail except for a hideous attachment for the rifle sling, slight imperfections in the inside of the collar (easily remedied) and a bayonet which is crude and lacking detail such as a fuller -and (finally) no trigger! The trigger could be slightly problematic and may necessitate removal and re-attachment of the trigger guard to allow fittting a made part; I'll probably try scratching a replacement blade for the bayonet as well. (I forgot - he has two right legs - he is now christened 'Jake)

    The figure wears khaki Service Dress that had replaced the earlier scarlet clothing about 1886/7, he also wears 1888 pattern Slade-Wallace buff- leather personal equipment and is armed with a Mk II Lee Metford rifle. The Lee Metford is .303" calibre and is fitted with a 12" single edged bayonet and a 10 round box magazine; the figure appears to be manually loading a (brass) cartridge - perhaps his last one?).

    The colour palette may be challenging and to succeed will require tonal variation, careful shading, and a thoughtful approach - wish me luck!
    Click image for larger version

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  • Valeron
    SMF Supporters
    • Jan 2022
    • 952
    • Mike
    • St Albans

    #2
    Looks interesting. I'll be watching

    Comment

    • Airborne01
      • Mar 2021
      • 4097
      • Steve
      • Essex

      #3
      Originally posted by Valeron
      Looks interesting. I'll be watching
      Hope I can deliver Mike!
      Steve

      Comment

      • Jim R
        SMF Supporters
        • Apr 2018
        • 15921
        • Jim
        • Shropshire

        #4
        Quite a change for you Steve. Looks a nicely done sculpt. I'm sure there's a simple answer but "three legs"??

        Comment

        • Guest

          #5
          Nice introduction Steve ,but like Jim I'm confused ( easily theses days ) with the 3 legs ?

          Comment

          • Steve Brodie
            • Sep 2014
            • 4652

            #6
            Chair pulled up.

            Comment

            • Airborne01
              • Mar 2021
              • 4097
              • Steve
              • Essex

              #7
              Originally posted by John Race
              Nice introduction Steve ,but like Jim I'm confused ( easily theses days ) with the 3 legs ?
              Me too John - obviously a packing error or a nod towards that Rolf Harris (Mmmm :sad: ) song 'I'm Jake the Peg, with an extra leg ....' Mind you, on the way back from the Mess, with a 'few' beers under my belt, I've cursed my extra leg in the (distant) past ... !
              Steve

              Comment

              • Airborne01
                • Mar 2021
                • 4097
                • Steve
                • Essex

                #8
                Originally posted by Steve Brodie
                Chair pulled up.
                Only got 'Hard Tack' biscuits on offer I'm afraid ... (Use them as Dunkers in tea and apparently they're not too bad)
                Steve

                Comment

                • rtfoe
                  • Apr 2018
                  • 9195

                  #9
                  I love dunking my biscuits in tea,coffee or any hot beverage so I'm joining the crew Steve for this one with all three legs. Will be quiet for a while busy with present dio duties.

                  Cheers,
                  Wabble

                  Comment

                  • Neil Merryweather
                    • Dec 2018
                    • 5219
                    • London

                    #10
                    That's a very inspirational Caton-Woodville print. I have a 54mm white metal version which I painted in my teens.
                    I'm very much looking forward to this, I'm sure you will do him great justice

                    Comment

                    • Neil Merryweather
                      • Dec 2018
                      • 5219
                      • London

                      #11
                      Sorry for the slight hijack , but I thought this would amuse you all

                      Click image for larger version

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                      The bloodstains are actually my own blood, an opportunistic application when a knife blade snapped (I must have been about 16 at the time).
                      I think it was made by New Hope Design (probably NOT a reference to a certain space film franchise, given it must have been the early seventies).
                      Carry on please, Steve
                      N

                      Comment

                      • Tim Marlow
                        SMF Supporters
                        • Apr 2018
                        • 18994
                        • Tim
                        • Somerset UK

                        #12
                        Now, that looks good Steve. Have fun with it.

                        Comment

                        • Airborne01
                          • Mar 2021
                          • 4097
                          • Steve
                          • Essex

                          #13
                          Update: spent some time cleaning up (minimal) mould lines, undercutting areas such as pocket flaps, jacket front overlaps etc. Primer on main part of figure - rifle and hands to follow later as the rifle is slightly warped, bayonet needs attention, and the fragile sling is beyond redemption and will need scratching. This is current state Click image for larger version

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                          Comment

                          • rtfoe
                            • Apr 2018
                            • 9195

                            #14
                            Definitely different moulding from Neils figure.

                            Cheers,
                            Wabble

                            Comment

                            • Andy the Sheep
                              SMF Supporters
                              • Apr 2019
                              • 1864
                              • Andrea
                              • North Eastern Italy

                              #15
                              I'm quietly joining the audience, Steve.

                              Comment

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