BGT Colt 1860 Army Upgrade

feeds@yuku.com (markh166) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:28:07 GMT

The cylinder on the BGT Colt 1860 Army is small for the gun. The rest of it is beautifully done, and it is the only one I'm aware of, so here is my quick fix.

The top pic is the "issue" BGT 1860. Good size, nice detail, but the cylinder is puny. I cut away the front section of the cylinder with a razor saw. Make your cut just behind...

DS "Trapdoor" Upgrade

feeds@yuku.com (markh166) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 06:00:07 GMT

This is a long-winded rundown on my method of upgrading the DS "Trapdoor" Carbine. Photo #1 shows the original carbine (A) as it came from Dog Soldier, and it needed blued metal (B), but it still looked like a toy. When I learned how to paint wood grain, it was great ( C) - until you try to pose a figure firing it. After measuring, it comes up about 5 scale-inches short - two in the butt stock, two between the receiver (action) and the rear sight and one on...

Photo-Etch Details

feeds@yuku.com (markh166) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:58:13 GMT

I finally tried my hand at photo-etching detail brass parts, and here are the preliminary results. I'm certainly not posting as an expert, but I did have some success on the first try, and maybe someone else would like to try...
My brother and I went in on a photo-etching system from Micro-Mark (priced about $120) a year and a half ago. I've been fighting and tweeking and agonizing over the artwork off and on the whole time, and finally last week settled on what I wanted to...

Help w/ Painting HS?

feeds@yuku.com (markh166) — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:51:49 GMT

Can anyone point me towards a good tutorial on painting HSs? Or better yet, do you feel like posting one here? Any help is appreciated!

From 3" to Type II James to 3"

feeds@yuku.com (billto) — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:04:18 GMT

I was excited when SST brought out the 3" Ordnance Rifle because I knew it could be converted to my favorite Civil War artillery piece, the mostly forgotten James Rifle (Sherman took more James Rifles with him on the march to the sea and beyond than any other artillery type). A little lengthening, a little reshaping, a bigger bore, and I would have the prettiest Queen of the Battle on my shelf.

I got My drawings and tools out, cracked open my 3" only to discover that the...

Upgrading the SST (Sideshow Toys) cap pouch

feeds@yuku.com (Mohawk03) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:56:47 GMT

This tutorial is to help add a bit of realism to your...

POT TOPPERS

feeds@yuku.com (valkyrie6) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:03:39 GMT

HI, last October someone mentioned that they used a product called Pot Toppers to create the grass that their figure was standing on. I can't remember who posted (thank you). Anyway, I found some in Michaels in the floral section.They will be hanging on the wall. These are pretty neat they come in 4 and 6 inch sizes and there is enough in the 4 inch to do 4 of the bases like the 2 ACW figures are on. 2 brown ground cover and 2 grassy.

Using/Studying period photographs for your projects

feeds@yuku.com (Mohawk03) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:01:24 GMT

I am finishing up a project I posted last year, my first post actually, on a soldier from the 7th Wisconsin (Iron Brigade). A lot of us are inspired to do a figure based on a painting or a photograph that moved us and got the creative juices flowing.

What I am showing here is what I did to get the figure I wanted and have him historically correct. I wanted to portray an early war soldier, say 1862 and before the Battle of Antietam. I wanted my soldier to be your average...

Advice on BGT Chevrons?

feeds@yuku.com (markh166) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:24:39 GMT

I'm looking for some advice on the best way to attach the BGT chevrons to a uniform. I bought a couple uncut types to modify, but wasnt sure if fabric glue is the best way to go. Thanks - Mark

Weathering tips

feeds@yuku.com (WestBatman) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:35:29 GMT

Mainly for military models but could be used in our hobby as well.

http://www.missing-lynx.com/rare_world/rw05.htm

Making a a French shako:

feeds@yuku.com (Tony Barton) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:23:37 GMT

Making a French Shako :

This is really for Napoleonic buffs , but I thought you people here might be interested as well : this will work for any style of shako made of felt and leather.

This is how I make any conical shako , particularly the French model ; but of course it can be used for Prussian and Russian models as well.
This one uses the ornaments from the plastic shako from DiD " Frank " .

You will need some thin vegtan...

Shirt collars without snaps

feeds@yuku.com (Mohawk03) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:13:42 GMT

Not a real "sexy" tutorial but one that can help you out by reducing the bulk snaps add to your figures, making for a better presentation, improving upon the realism of your figures. So in lieu of making a functioning button and button hole you can use this....

I am always one to give credit where credit is due and this technique was inspired by Augie of Battle Gear Toys who presented his shirt sleeves without snaps. Great idea, makes for a more convincing presentation......

Generic Styrofoam Bases (MANY IMAGES)

feeds@yuku.com (egonzinc) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:11:25 GMT

feeds@yuku.com (Tony Barton) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:40:17 GMT

DiD " Frank " : some very basic improvements.

At the request of Cortney Able , here are some very basic pointers to improving the DiD Napoleonic French Infantryman " Frank" .This is NOT a high concept rebuild , just a few basic necessities.

This is from the Osprey on French line Infantry, by Don Fosten , showing the 1812...

Pattern Material & Stiffener

feeds@yuku.com (markh166) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:02:14 GMT

Reading some of the posts, I notice a lot of mention of making patterns for clothing and such. My favorite material is old x-ray films. Light, see-thru, easy to cut, stiff enough, and you can write on it, I use it for all my 1:1 and 1:6 leather patterns. Would also make a good stiffener. The problem is, everyone is going to digital, so get it while you can! Usually all they care about is that any patient info is cut off. I prefer the blank or fogged ones.

Weathering/Improving on SST Weapons

feeds@yuku.com (Mohawk03) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:11:02 GMT

First, please go to this site.... http://pagesperso-orange.fr/onesixthgallery/tutorials/tutorials.htm

and start there. One of the best tutorials on weathering weapons I have come across. I want to add that while doing steps one and two take time to remove the mold or seam lines. Stop after step three of this tutorial if you want to use acrylics.... If you are using oils, continue on...

Civil War Ambulance Part 2

feeds@yuku.com (snake2698) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:34:42 GMT

Back to business, today we will start out by making the back pieces,

and here you can see a close up of the joint

...

Upgrading SST Union Cavalry Jacket

feeds@yuku.com (markh166) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:38:14 GMT

I notice there hasn't been much action here lately - then I remembered I haven't posted anything in months. I was excited as anyone when SST released their excellent 6th Michigan trooper, and was even happier when BGT added their 1854 Cavalry jacket, which has the correct collar for Volunteer Cav. Now the figure I was working up for a Gettysburg dio can be more accurate. But, since I'm basically a dyed-in-the-wool Indian Wars guy, I wanted a REGULAR cav uniform...

SST water canteen sling replacement/upgrade what product do you use?

feeds@yuku.com (civwarbuff) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:46:31 GMT

What do you guys use to replace the stock almost satin like ribbon used as a sling on the Sideshow ACW water canteens? I noticed most people use some sort of white tannish cotton sling any recommendations on where to get some, thanks.

Manual of Arms (Customs/Tips)