Airfix 54mm Napoleonic French Line Infantry

[Neil Merryweather]

I've never kit bashed miniatures before so I'm really interested to follow this thread. I normally buy Perry's or victrix but I like the detail in the airfix

I look forward to seeing what you come up with, Bill.
The secret is to get the anatomy right, so maybe start by copying a pose you like, rather than making one up out what bits are available... .With mixing and matching of arms on torsos you need to watch that the shoulders follow what the arms are doing. It can look strange when an arm is raised but the shoulder is at rest.
With legs it's the hips that move with the change of weight. And with a standing figure the head is usually more or less over the weight-bearing foot.
I would say just dive in and see what you can do.

[Billski]

Thanks for the advice I'm defo going to give it a go

[Neil Merryweather]

So, let’s get on with Fusilier 5.
I made the piping from 0.3 lead wire as before, stuck with CA. Sadly my cheapskate button punch(0.7mm propelling pencil) has died, so I thought I would try the hobnail technique, but this time using plastic rod.


I drilled 0.8mm holes and used 0.75mm plastic rod. Glued in with EMA model weld, and left to dry overnight.
I guess it worked but I think I will go back to the old way next time.
Anyway, here he is with his hair and kit, ready for priming.





Also, as promised, Fusilier 2 has a hair on his new head.



His ramrod and musket need a bit of TLC…..

So I’m going to knuckle down and get the painting done. It’s over a year since I last had a go, but I’m sort of ready now, and I’m not going to work on any more figures till these are all painted.
Thanks for looking
Neil

[Tim Marlow]

So, let’s get on with Fusilier 5.
I made the piping from 0.3 lead wire as before, stuck with CA. Sadly my cheapskate button punch(0.7mm propelling pencil) has died, so I thought I would try the hobnail technique, but this time using plastic rod.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1182865[/ATTACH]

I drilled 0.8mm holes and used 0.75mm plastic rod. Glued in with EMA model weld, and left to dry overnight.
I guess it worked but I think I will go back to the old way next time.
Anyway, here he is with his hair and kit, ready for priming.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1182867[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1182869[/ATTACH]

Also, as promised, Fusilier 2 has a hair on his new head.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1182870[/ATTACH]

His ramrod and musket need a bit of TLC…..

So I’m going to knuckle down and get the painting done. It’s over a year since I last had a go, but I’m sort of ready now, and I’m not going to work on any more figures till these are all painted.
Thanks for looking
Neil

Looking good Neil. The way you’ve done those buttons is how I used to do boltheads on my railway stuff before nut and disc punches had been invented. Problem I had was that plastic rod at that time only came in 10, 20, and 30 thou, and I really needed 15 thou :disappointed2: so they never looked quite right….
A wrinkle I used once they were in was to drill a suitable hole in a scrap of plastic sheet of the right depth for the nut, place it over the rod, and slice the excess rod off to leave a nut of the right depth. Gave a good even finish so might help with the buttons.

[Jim R]

Looking very good Neil. Work like this really must take time and patience.

[yak face]

Superb skills as always neil ,fusilier no2 still giving me Cesar Romero vibes though :smiling5: , i dare you to leave his hair green !

[JR]

Its the movement that your able to capture with the alterations Neil that's so good.

[Mini Me]

Talk about late to the Party..........Hi Neil. just had a read through and ketchup on this extraordinary little scene. Your "eye" for all the little details that go into this fantastic, "action" packed skirmish is mind boggling! I have no doubt this is going to be a "Winner" when you get to the end Sir. I shall sit tight and watch the rest of the drama unfold. :thumb2:

[Billski]

This is a great thread, I am learning lots

[Neil Merryweather]

Looking good Neil. The way you’ve done those buttons is how I used to do boltheads on my railway stuff before nut and disc punches had been invented. Problem I had was that plastic rod at that time only came in 10, 20, and 30 thou, and I really needed 15 thou :disappointed2: so they never looked quite right….
A wrinkle I used once they were in was to drill a suitable hole in a scrap of plastic sheet of the right depth for the nut, place it over the rod, and slice the excess rod off to leave a nut of the right depth. Gave a good even finish so might help with the buttons.

cheers Tim
I had an unexpected bonus from work so I've actually bitten the bullet and bought a punch set...OMG!

[Neil Merryweather]

Looking very good Neil. Work like this really must take time and patience.

Thank you Jim, but doesn't every aspect of our hobby take time and patience? I think it's just that my subject matter is just a bit more left field for this forum

[Steve Jones]

Outstanding Neil! Luvin your work my friend

[Neil Merryweather]

Talk about late to the Party..........Hi Neil. just had a read through and ketchup on this extraordinary little scene. Your "eye" for all the little details that go into this fantastic, "action" packed skirmish is mind boggling! I have no doubt this is going to be a "Winner" when you get to the end Sir. I shall sit tight and watch the rest of the drama unfold. :thumb2:

You're no less welcome for being a year late, Rick:tears-of-joy:
Glad to hear you are enjoying it

[Neil Merryweather]

This is a great thread, I am learning lots

Thanks Bill. I'm delighted to think that someone can learn from it

[Neil Merryweather]

Outstanding Neil! Luvin your work my friend

Very kind, Steve, thanks.