Tuesday, 15 October 2019

Cuirassiers mounted, and a request for help?

The 13th Cuirassiers are now painted and mounted, the final job will be to add the reins and here I am asking for advice. All my other S&S cavalry came with cast in reins but I know there were issues with them not reaching as far as the riders hands which might explain the switch to this method on latter additions such as these and the Carabiniers. The horses are superb, big chunky castings packed with animation and the riders fit well into the saddles.

I'm really not sure how best to add the reins, what material to use, without doing any damage to my paint job. Thin black card has been suggested using PVA glue, I note that Superglue can tend to react with the varnish leaving a white mark so I'm kind of tempted to try the card/PVA idea. Before I do so, any ideas from you chaps who might have done this job please? Thin wire hammered flat? black thread? Rob, I'm  sure you mentioned rolled foil?

Once the reins are added I'll get them based up in 4's as usual.

 


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11 comments:

  1. Ray Rousell15 October 2019 at 04:45

    Not sure what you could use to be perfectly honest? I'd be tempted to leave them as they are?

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  2. Rob15 October 2019 at 09:36

    It's hard to see in the photos exactly what the reins would fit to. Foil (heavy duty from TV dinner trays) but might be a bit thin as the harness straps look quite thick on these larger figures. Being a larger scale you will need to attach the reins to the bit in a visually convincing way - but I do think they have to have reins or it will look odd.

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    Replies
    1. 'Lee.16 October 2019 at 01:25

      Hi Rob, I might give the foil idea a try anyway. I had considered thick thread if only because it could be easily added without damage but I'm going to try foil first because it could be cut into strips. I'll avoid superglue though!

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    2. Millsy16 October 2019 at 02:45

      I was going to suggest thick foil too but the kind from bottles of "adult beverages".

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    3. Rob16 October 2019 at 08:49

      Millsy's got a point the 'lead' foil you get around bottles of Port and the like would probably be ideal. I cut my foil with a Stanley knife and a metal ruler - makes it easy to create strips of the required length/width.

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    4. 'Lee.17 October 2019 at 05:33

      Thanks again Rob, and Millsy :) I went with strips of black card in the end, I was concerned that foil could scratch the varnish/paint if I was clumsy. I'll get some pictures up as they are now based and just waiting for the glue to dry!

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  3. caveadsum147116 October 2019 at 10:17

    Looking good! Another vote for foil, preferably from a malt!
    Best Iain

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  4. 'Lee.17 October 2019 at 05:37

    Thanks Iain. I have the cap foil but went with black card. You should see how cheap even imported single malts are here, and as for local red wine very drinkable selection for 2 euros or less! Sorry for the digression, I was of course thinking about the supply of foil :)

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  5. Steve-the-Wargamer19 October 2019 at 01:10

    Sounds like you have a solution but just for future thoughts/idea's, in the old days they alwas used to recommend the metal toothpaste tube material, toothpaste tends to come in plastic these days, but an alternative, at least here, is tomato puree that comes in tubes.. cut flatten and wash?

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  6. 'Lee.20 October 2019 at 04:34

    Thanks again Steve, more useful ideas :)

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