Monday, May 7, 2012

Prince August Conversions: 40mm Semi-Rounds

Finished these two figures over the weekend.  First, took a shot at converting older series Mould # 41 to a French dragoon. For this, GNW Mould # DK-101 served for the donor head, from the grenadier.  I filed this down a bit to form more of a stocking cap, also converted the turnbacks to a full coat.



Not too bad. The cap isn't quite right, probably need to file down the top a bit more and extend the stocking portion.  This head would be good for a Spanish cavalry figure as is, I think.  I'm also wondering if the head swap is really necessary at all for a somewhat later French army, ca. War of the Polish Succession. Some of my sources show the French dragoons wearing tricornes as often as not.


Next we have Mould # 12.  This officer seems to me quite possibly intended to represent Charles XII, in any case he's certainly attired in the plain Swedish style. My idea was see how he looks converted to a general in richer contemporary dress.  Hence the Green Stuff periwig and full coat instead of turnbacks.

"Soldats, là-bas sont les Ennemis !"

Yes, I'm already waffling on the GNW project idea. ;-)  First, I already have some units painted as French vs. starting from scratch painting Russians.  Secondly, I won't have to deal with pikes if I steer clear of the GNW.  Next up, the "Kropotov" cavalrymen.

6 comments:

  1. Inspiring stuff ! have some of the Prince August molds I must give them a go .

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  2. Thanks, Mosstrooper. Yes, by all means give the PA's a go, not difficult to cast for the most part and fun to paint. I know the semi-rounds aren't everyone's cup of tea but the effect can be quite pleasing en masse.

    Regards,
    Steve

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  3. Yes Mosstrooper do get some done, you can always nip over to Ilkley for a game.

    Cheers

    Mark

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  4. The conversions look good. Really good job on the full coats. I'm going to have to do some of that I think.

    I was a little surprised that you went to the trouble of a head swap for the dragoon but the grenadier cap used was a good pick. I hadn't thought of converting the tricorne to make French Dragoons. I get the impression that by the WAS, the Tricorne was increasingly used in the field as well as on parade but having seen it, I am now thinking!

    I have been planning to make some militia in stocking caps but was planning on just cutting off the tricorne and modelling the caps in putty.

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  5. Thanks, Ross !

    Yeah, I'm also still undecided as to whether or not the French dragoon head swap is worth the effort. My French army is intended more for the Regency period or War of the Polish Succcession (making the full wigs on some of the officers a bit more plausible). I think even that early the tricorne was increasingly in use. But the advantage of the stocking cap is it's good from 1700 on.

    Regards,
    Steve

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  6. fabulous stuff, particularly like the officer

    cheers
    Matt

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