Eichhörnchen's Armies

[Eichhörnchen]

Originally Posted by ET2SN

The idea behind a metallic undercoat is to give a slight "shimmer" effect to replicate fine cloth. This can also be handy for painting more realistic hair. Just thin down your top coat colors more than you normally would and apply light layers until you build up to the effect you want

I took your advice in painting Drupus' hair during his makeover - and I must say it looks miles better than it would've had I just painted it brown. I applied a base coat of brassy enamel then painted over this with a couple of coats of acrylic raw umber, thinned slightly with acrylic gloss varnish - great tip, ET!

[ET2SN]

[Eichhörnchen]

There are 3 more figures which I don't yet have in this set from the 1960s. Cherilea figures were large compared to many at 65-70mm and they had very imaginative poses with great animation - even if they weren't always very accurate. Cherilea are always fun to look at and some are very rare now (all repainted)

Found this one recently

[Eichhörnchen]

I only have these two members of Lone Star's Merry Band - there are 2 more of Robin's men and a set of enemy soldiers, including the Sheriff of Nottingham who (unusually) is shown falling with an arrow in his side. And this must be the only Robin Hood set of all the many that there were not to feature Friar Tuck! Very odd that

These were not sculpted by the greatest talent but have their own charm - plus the advantage of being well known friends to us since we were kids. Come to think of it, many of the poses are reminiscent of medieval manuscript figures



This complete set above was for sale on eBay recently

The strange poses of some of the sheriff's men is owed to the fact that they were produced to man a couple of rather naff looking siege machines. These men-at-arms are pretty good compared to the merry men figures I think

[Eichhörnchen]

I found this old castle 'ruin' - from a play set probably - in a charity shop today, chucked in a box with a load of other toys. Perfect backdrop for photographing my medievals. What's more they gave it me for free!

[ET2SN]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

I only have these two members of Lone Star's Merry Band - there are 2 more of Robin's men and a set of enemy soldiers, including the Sheriff of Nottingham who (unusually) is shown falling with an arrow in his side. And this must be the only Robin Hood set of all the many that there were not to feature Friar Tuck! Very odd that

These were not sculpted by the greatest talent but have their own charm - plus the advantage of being well known friends to us since we were kids. Come to think of it, many of the poses are reminiscent of medieval manuscript figures

Your archers could use some bow strings.

Believe it or not, there are a couple of ways to do this.

The first would be sail rigging. This is very fine yet elastic string used in ship models. A pin vice with some very small bits could be useful for drilling "cheater holes" in the bow and the archer's hand.

Another way to go would be to find 30 gauge "bread board" wrapping wire.
While its a very fine wire, it has an almost ideal quality where it can hold a shape. With "wire wrap" its also easy to strip off the insulation if you need a finer diameter and much easier to paint.
Its easier to paint, much stronger, and easier to make it look like its under tension.

[Eichhörnchen]

I would consider that for model figures but not these since they are toys and, my repainting aside, I like to keep them as true to original as possible

But when model-making I use fishing line for rigging biplanes, for example. Have you tried that for bowstrings yet? I haven't

[Eichhörnchen]

Here is the English archer from the Swoppet Knight range. He is so well sculpted that despite being another toy with a base to stand on, he's often used and converted by modelmakers (repainted)



(Looks like someone stole his sword)

[Eisenwurst]

"Looks like someone stole his sword".....Don't nobody leave the room.

That's one good looking figure Glynn. Lots of detail you can bring out with innovative detailing. At the end of my painting "career" I was undercoating the figures with matt black ( Placka I think ) and doing lots of Dry Brushing, and using Graphite and inks to produce some damn fine looking figures.

Sold them all for a lo$$ , My eyesight's pretty bad compared to what it was. A laser beam attack in '96 didn't help either.

Essex made some gorgeous 25/28 mm figures in the very early '90s, particularly their "Macedonian and Punic War" range. A bit chunky but wow...the detail. I checked out their website recently and those particular figures are discontinued. Shame, I would've liked to show you my hoplites.

[Eichhörnchen]

You keep yer hoplites where they belong

[Eichhörnchen]

These knights are relatively recent and from the Italian firm of Italeri, more well known for their plastic construction kits over the years. They're classed as toy soldiers (in polythene) but as they seem to fall into an area between toys and models - realistically sculpted as they are - I've painstakingly painted them in shiny gloss and satin 'toy' colours

[Eichhörnchen]

Two lads mincing through the greenwood together on a lovely sunny morning - and there's nothing wrong with that is there, no sirree

More Robin Hood - this time from Dulcop of Italy, painted by me

[Eisenwurst]

[ET2SN]

Originally Posted by Eisenwurst

Does he have a girlfriend named Olive Oyl?

[Eichhörnchen]

I don't think this one has a girlfriend, mate