"A tip on Cavalry Standards" Topic

I am finally getting back to painting after a hiatus of a year. Specifically four light cavalry regiments for the Princess Trixie of Saxe Burlap und Schleswig Beerstein. These are the Magnol Horse, Lord Blackenblue's Horse, the Winged Hussars, and the personal Guard of the Princess, "The Helle's Belles. All of these have had extensive conversion, including the adding of Pelisse to the Helle's Bells etc. The big job in each is the converting of figures for the musicians of the regiment which are trumpeter, ensigns and drum horse. For the Magnols this is a camal with six druma round the rider, and a long pole with a rack of gongs and various symbols hanging off a cross piece. The others have trumpeters etc. But the other exceptional one is that of the Helle's Belles which has a long pole supporting the huge jingling johnny and xylophone (plus rack of cowbells, and a drum on the one side and a piano on the other.

The tip though is the poles that hold these extravaganzas up. It's a piece of #501 hard wire. What I do is make a 9-0 degree bend in the standard. Then I drill a hole to receive it right through the saddle into the body of the horse. This right angle is glued in with two-part expoxy and the hand acts as a support. This forms a very secure base to fasten the modeled pieces which won't fall down or get knocked off with casual handling.

As for the "contraptions" I use frames of soft florist wire (which you can get at any art store). It's remarkably flexible and can be modeled to any shape. This is then attacked to the "mast" or the standard pole like I mention above with thread, making a single knot around the add on and the mast. This is then stiffened with 2 part 5 minute epoxy. I use one of those clip holders to position it right till it dries.

The winged Hussars are not what you think. The trumpeter has a pair of wings rising off the saddle, but each of the hussars has the plume removed from the mirliton and a small piece of wire drilled into its place, with a crosspiece.,On this there is a gaudily colored parrot. I got the parrot from an HO railroad figure set up.

The standard for that one has an O scale parrot as its filial.

Some photos?

Judging from my ex-cavalry mates, I'd say that they have very low standards…

;)

Drinking while ordering wargame figures causes strange behaviour and dead brain cells. You just gotta show some pictures.

Photos please! And thank you for the 90 degree bend trick. I shall use that one.

I can't afford a photo server.

photobucket it free?

JF – and here I was, thinking that cavalry added tone to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl…

You wouldn't say that if you've met the QDGs…

;)

Otto, no need to pay for a photo server- Imgur.com is totally free, fewer ads than Photobucket, really easy to use and gives you a choice of links, including one that lets you copy and paste into a forum comment- like this:

Photos or it didn't happen.

Umm, I'm still making the figures, it's a tedious process.
What do you need a photo for to simply make the 90 degree bend in the wire, drill the hole and insert with glue. The figures above will take weeks to do. They're not the point, its the tip on making the standard rigid so it is secured tot he figure by more than glue.

Now you'll never get a photo of them.