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Thursday, 19 January 2017

Airfix ACW Wargaming - Artillery conversions

Some additions to the artillery..conversions using bods from the Airfix Waterloo British Artillery set.
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.
Union.
The one moving the wheels ended up a bit defunct due to the basing.
Confederate
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 :-)
A total of six guns and Now I´m looking for a couple more Limbers...although, a Little bird has told me, some may be on the way :-)
 

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17 comments:

  1. Ray Rousell19 January 2017 at 08:41

    Bloody hell, would never guess they used to be nappies???

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  2. Michael Awdry19 January 2017 at 09:00

    Great conversions Paul and now I need to ask, what colour should the belts be? Not that it matters, they look jolly smart to me. :)

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    1. Paul´s Bods19 January 2017 at 09:59

      The 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;
      A 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.

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  3. Umpapa19 January 2017 at 13:14

    Excellent conversions. Painting is also very good.

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  4. Rodger20 January 2017 at 01:34

    They look very cool to me! Keep the white belts as they are.

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  5. Duncan in Berlin20 January 2017 at 06:33

    Wonderful...terrific...splendid...simple conversions with massive impact...great stuff Paul...

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  6. Phil20 January 2017 at 08:53

    Well done Paul, nice conversions!

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  7. Anonymous24 January 2017 at 04:00

    Absolutely superb stuff!
    all my ACW figs have White belts too. Just Looks nicer tha black.
    Best regards

    Adrian in Münster

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    1. Paul´s Bods24 January 2017 at 10:27

      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.

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  8. Bob The Old Painter25 January 2017 at 13:12

    Just 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!
    Bob

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    1. Paul´s Bods25 January 2017 at 23:09

      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.

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  9. Paul Howes28 January 2017 at 16:05

    I 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

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  10. Philotep4 February 2017 at 01:46

    Excellent conversion, I would never have thought of it, the result is terrific !
    One question please: what color did you use for the trousers ? My own experiments are not very convincing, but I like yours.

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    1. Paul´s Bods4 February 2017 at 02:16

      Thanks Phil.
      The 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(?)

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  11. AccioConfetti15 March 2017 at 01:59

    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

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  12. John10 April 2017 at 06:32

    Been 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.

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    1. Paul´s Bods10 April 2017 at 07:58

      Thanks 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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