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I finished my 7th WI after several months, the first time I posted him he was a work in progress. After studying work by Tony Barton and some lengthy discussions with WestBatman I "pulled him in" and sort of started from scratch. I wanted him to be as historically accurate as possible and took on the challenge of making the equipment as authentic as I could. I went back to the drawing board, did some research (http://sixthscaleamericanhistory.yuku.com/topic/2046 ), experimented with some new techniques and material. The figure was inspired by the book "A Brotherhood of Valor", by Jeffry Wert. I highly recommend the book. Well written, informative as well as entertaining and a good history of both the Iron Brigade and the Stonewall Brigade.



My figure represents a soldier of the 7thWI around mid-August. The command is under Gibbon who gave the brigade their trademark "black hats". It was under Gibbon's command that they received their nickname the "Iron Brigade". Mid-August of 1862 was just before the battle of Brawners Farm, considered by historians as the brigade's baptism of fire. Here we see a soldier who has spent the last couple of months chasing General Stonewall Jackson around the Virginia countryside. They skirmished with some Confedrate Cavalry, endured incredible heat-humidity tore up some railroad track at Frederick's Hall Station, VA. Their raid there was just a glimpse of what they would face soon.

Anyway, here are a couple of photos to show you how I started with him so you can compare;




Below are some "AFTER" photos


His gear has changed somewhat;
- the coat and trousers and socks are scratch made
- the Federal Issue shirt is a tailored Sideshow shirt liberated from their British soldier figure...almost PERFECT for the 1:1version, some minor tailoring required.
- the Hardee Hat is another blank form purchased from "Hobby Lobby" formed to resemble the Hardee hat with the crown "punched up", the two rows of stitching and leather sweatband added
- the Cartridge box is Battle Gear Toys modified, I made a scratch sling for the cartridge box and made the eagle and "US" emblems like the 1:1 versions so they could be mounted that way
- the brogans are Newline Miniatures and are laced with some rawhide laces I cut and colored using lamp-black and shoe balm (bee's wax mixture) to color them
- the belt is scratch made, the buckle is a Sideshow buckle I modified to resemble the "puppy paw" type seen, I added the leather keeper as that was common for this time frame.
- the cap pouch is Sideshow, I modified it to look like the original, adding leather straps and even adding a brass brad for the closure stud
- the Springfield is Sideshow, repainted with oils and acrylics after MUCH studying of Valkyrie6's weapons
- the canteen and haversack are Sideshow, the haversack modified with a working buckle simulating the Japanned roller buckle, I replace the strap with one I made from scratch to better simulate the 1:1 straps seen The canteen was modified by removing the flocking, adding a real metal spout and strap/sling keepers. I put on a real cover and made the stopper from bamboo. The canteen sling is two of the original Sideshow slings bleached, sewn together and weathered.
original "puppy paw"(left) and my 1:6th scale on the right

On the left is an original infantry bugle for the Hardee hat and on the right is my 1:6th version, I wanted to recreate the 1:1 version the best I could, I used some fine brass wire

BGT Cartridge box modified, you can see the eagle emblem modified to resemble the 1:1 version, in other photos you can see where I painted the inside of the cover a good "flesh" color to resemble the 1:1 originals. Small wire loops were set into both the US and eagle emblems, small pieces of "rawhide" inserted into the metal loops



detail showing the working buckle and weathering on the canteen cup, scratch made strap showing the stitching seen on the originals

my scratch made socks and leather laces for the Newline Miniature Brogans


I did some mods to my original paint job to the hands and face. I added some more color, freckles to the face using pastels/pigments. It helped a lot and really brought him to "life". I experimented with a new technique called "noodling" to paint the veins on the hands and successive light layers of flesh color are added over them, again it makes for a lifelike appearance.

Hopefully you can also see that I took some clear satin gloss and applied it to the hands and face by "stippling" to give the sheen of perspiration to both hands and face.

I have gone on long enough. Thanks for looking, constructive criticism appreciated, the goal is to improve..............Jim