Happy New Year!

A drummer of the First Dublin Volunteers, a specially commissioned figure
(as always click to embiggen)

I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

I haven't found the time to blog of late, but we've been having a wonderful time. I was working over Christmas which was quite busy, but I had a few days off afterwards which were a welcome opportunity to spend some time with Mrs Kinch.

My handed over my drummer figure yesterday, the recipient was gratifyingly pleased with the results.

Mrs Kinch's cousin Basil, newly on the strength
(as always click to embiggen)

In other news, Mrs Kinch's cousin Basil will be living in our spare room for a while. He's a good sort and we share a taste in movies.

Cutting a dash in profile
(as always click to embiggen)

This was probably the most challenging piece of painting I've ever done. The white uniform was very tricky. I must thank Stokes for his assistance, though I discovered that his technique using black lining and a grey basecoat doesn't really work on such a large figure. However, I found his advice about using a tan undercoat covered by successive very thin coats of white, to be very effective. The trick I think with larger figures is to forget about highlighting, as the figure is so large that natural light does the work for you.

A rear view
(as always click to embiggen)

Painting the lace and the chevrons on the arms in red were particularly difficult as mistakes were very hard to cover up. I painted the drum separately and then pinned it to the rest of the figure.

In the meantime, my pledge to make a donation on each of the Twelve Days of the Christmas is going well, though I'm beginning to run out of charities. Any suggestions can be left in the comments below.

25th December - Temple Street Children's Hospital
26th December - The Capuchin Day Centre
27th December - The Salvation Army

28th December - Kathryn Casey Memorial Fund
29th December - Jack Vasel Memorial Fund
30th December - Peter McFerry Trust

31st December - Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
1st January - Our Lady's Hospice, Harold's Cross

Drummer 1st Dublin Volunteers - Mr Johnston - Part 1

A rather ham fisted photograph of a rather special figure

There are some debts that can never be repaid, but it behooves us to try. Mrs Kinch's uncle rescued us when we were in dire straits some years ago. He's a man who appreciates a large scale model soldier. I had purchased some 120mm figures for him a while ago, but when I saw this, I knew I had to get it for him.

This is number 8 of 200 specially made resin figures made to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Irish Model Soldier Society. Mrs Kinch's grandfather and great uncle were founder members, but Mrs Kinch the uncle hasn't attended in years. The figure is a drummer of the 1st Regiment Dublin Volunteers. These were territorial troops raised during the 18th century to stave off Frenchy while the proper redcoats were off in America. A muster of the Volunteers was painted by Dennis Wheatley and the figure was modelled on one of the men pictured. The chap in question has been identified as a Mr Johnston, who later became a porter at Carton House. The picture currently hangs in the national gallery.


I took the pieces apart and gave them a wash with warm soapy water and then trimmed each piece with a stanley blade. I must say this was a great deal easier than my last effort. The resin cut more easily, the detail was finer and the model required hardly any filling at all.

Mr Johnston, ready for undercoating

You'll notice I've placed a small blob of blu-tack at Johnston's waist. His drum attaches by means of a pin and I thought it best to mask the hole so that when I do glue it in place, I won't be gluing it to paint and I should therefore get a strong joint.

With most of the work that was so time consuming with my last figure done, I'm looking forward to launching straight into painting.