Easy..remove the frilly bits on the jackets, replace the heads, paint and base.
I liked the look of the Sabres so I left them on.
The one moving the wheels ended up a bit defunct due to the basing.
I know, White belts? Since I started this project I´ve found out a wee bit more about ACW uniforms etc but the White belts will remain. Anyway, they probably wouldn´t be carrying sabres, especially if they are servicing the gun. Historical accuracy? Pah I say :-)
Bloody hell, would never guess they used to be nappies???
ReplyDeleteGreat conversions Paul and now I need to ask, what colour should the belts be? Not that it matters, they look jolly smart to me. :)
ReplyDeleteThe water bottle straps were often White (Union and confederate and across all arms, artillery to infantry) but generally, sabre or other Equipment belts/straps were black/Brown leather. I suppose I could have either;
DeleteA painted the belts up black or;
B removed the Sabres and replaced them with water bottles but;
having the belts black would Point to me having done a bit more Research than I intended and therefore some sort of striving for historical accuracy (which I´m trying to avoid) and adding water bottles is a conversion too far in the Spirit of old School.
TBH, I´ve having fun painting up ACW bods and have been casting an eye over other sets but I´ve got way too many other things to get finished or started to get bogged down with this Project.
Excellent conversions. Painting is also very good.
ReplyDeleteThey look very cool to me! Keep the white belts as they are.
ReplyDeleteWonderful...terrific...splendid...simple conversions with massive impact...great stuff Paul...
ReplyDeleteWell done Paul, nice conversions!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely superb stuff!
ReplyDeleteall my ACW figs have White belts too. Just Looks nicer tha black.
Best regards
Adrian in Münster
Thanks Adrian. I´ve recently tried out black/Brown belts on both a Union and a confederate. On the Union uniform it doesn´t Show up well (in this scale) and on the confederate it looked ok but not as "old School" as the White ones.
DeleteJust caught up with your blog Paul. There are some lovely conversions and of course the painting is superb. I am working on my artillery limbers and riders - a soul destroying process!
ReplyDeleteBob
Thanks Bob. The limbers are a bit annoying to paint..worse still, the wagons from the wagon Train sets. I´ve got two (as supply elements) base painted but at the Moment I can´t find the will to finish them.
DeleteI believe and I`m always right on these historical issues,that they liked dragging and tripping over those sabres! And had much fun while doing it. After all that is what period piece toy figures love to do. Splendid painting Paul. BB
ReplyDeleteExcellent conversion, I would never have thought of it, the result is terrific !
ReplyDeleteOne question please: what color did you use for the trousers ? My own experiments are not very convincing, but I like yours.
Thanks Phil.
DeleteThe trouser colour. I´m lazy and also try to save Money on the Hobby so I use only a few colours red/yellow/blue/black/Brown/european flesh, White/metallic silver and gold and mix on a pallette to get the ones I want.
I also try to use the last colour I made to save time..so the colour for the Jackets for the Union bods (blue with black added, slight Highlight with just blue)is the same that i use for the trousers of both the Union and the confederates. I mixed a bit of White to the dark blue jacket colour so the mix on the pallette Looks almost Grey. When painted on, the blue of the Union jackets and the Grey of the confederates seems to make the blue in the almost Grey mix stand out. Then I add a tiny bit more White and blue to the Grey mix and drybrush the Highlight.
PS..the end the bods are all first based with black..another base colour could alter the result, but I assume (looking at your bods )you use a black base as well(?)
A really great idea, wish I had thought of this a year ago when I was in need of a bit of variety for my ACW artillery guys on my ACW diorama , great job again Paul
ReplyDeleteBeen slowly catching up, Paul. White "belts" are perfectly fine. The haversack used by many soldiers was made of stiff cotton and not the oil skin that is often portrayed. So, you would indeed see a white strap across the shoulder during the Civil War. It's a bag handle. The actual belt around the waist is still leather, either brown or black.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info John. Without trying to get too deep into the subject, I´ve looked a a few pics (period photos, colour plates, re-enactors etc) and the White belts do turn up so I assumed I was on safe ground..more or less..and even if they were never used..they look pretty good on the Little plastic fellows.
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