Painting Figures

[Chris Walker]

Keith,
they're both looking like they just left the Pub on a Saturday afternoon....

[Keith Hayes]

Well, they left Joe Hocevar's and got distracted talking in front of the D&RG depot. I think Andy is wondering if he can get on the west end extra board?

Great figures, and easy to paint. I got a bunch of coal miners to work the Penrose. I hope they take to hard rock mining!

[Chris Walker]

You painting 'em shades of Grey?  

[Keith Hayes]

Not exactly,  Chris,  but this image is really helpful. I started out with the image in my mind of yellow slickers and protective gear. The photo reminded me that hard rock guys in the era were more apt to wear denim and canvas.

More important,  you reminded me that the haemrd hats would be the brown fiber stuff or aluminum rather than the bright yellow we have become accustomed to.

With some planning the painting goes very quickly. I did thes six fellas in under an hour with some breaks to work on other stuff.

[Chris Walker]

Keith Hayes wrote

but this image is really helpful.

Good observations Keith,

 image in my mind of yellow slickers and protective gear
 well if they were at the Face operating the Drills post "widowmakers", they would be, or in a very wet Mine.  The Downtown mines were extremely wet, and required constant pumping below a certain depth, but whether the wetness required slickers in the Penrose, I can't say, the time period of operation seems rather early.
The image I posted was via the Yak Tunnel and I think was taken in the Penn group of mines(I didn't note it down).

reminded me that the haemrd hats would be the brown fiber stuff or aluminum rather than the bright yellow
Just like the various time periods of the Loco Headlights and Stacks, the Hardrock Miners headgear changed in distinct decades, with some overlap and lingering of earlier styles.
Basically anything goes 'til around end of WW1 with the introduction of the hard leather cap, then in the '30s the "real" Hardhat, known as the "hardboiled" emerged, the aluminium versions being '50s onward. **  A recorded exception to this; the Clear Creek and Gilpin Tunnel Mine series of views in the DPL, show no hard hats on any of the crew, mid '20-s-early '30s.
EDIT:FACT CHECKED.
Apparently I was looking at what may have been a "Survey" or "Sampling" crew as I found another set at the same place.

Senor Jodphurs is off the right in the full view.



Same goes for the Lighting as well; Candlesticks, Carbide, Electriclamps.

And Coal Miners were a breed apart in headgear shape, even in the Colorado coalfields.

At Creede Mining museum, they had an example of the '20s version.

[Keith Hayes]

For no good reason, I started painting some figures this weekend and realized I had a bunch started but had not finished.

The five on the left are Modeku people. They are finely detailed,  and I like the variety of hats and coats. They will fit right in to the 30s era on the layout.

The two on the right are Aspen: I hear that Lyle had a skew of new 3d prints at one of the recent shows. I am interested to see what Aspen has for sale now, as it is not on the website.

[Keith Hayes]

I got this lady from Modelu. She seems to be dressed to take the train to Denver to visit family. The long dress practically asked for a pattern, so I channeled my best Vance Kirkland and made some spots. She really needs a coat, though.

[Mike Trent]

Excellent, Keith! But I'll bet she'd prefer a shawl so as not to cover up all those great spots. Probably a Westbound passenger. It's warmer in Denver!

[Keith Hayes]

Characters Count Mineatures was at the Narrow Gauge Convention this year. They have a slew of resin printed figures, and I bought three sets. I spent the past couple of weekends painting some.

Here is a favorite:


I asked for some ladies; the clothing is more TOC than my era, but these will work.


There were several railroader sets.


And some town folk


That last fellow with the Graflex is Bob, as he resembles my Dad.

It is great to have more figures on the market in S, though we need some different poses. They were taking photos at the show and there will soon be a very small Norm Acker roaming about on a couple of pikes. The figures have lots of supports, and demand care in de-sprueing. If you look closely,  you can see some supports I missed.

Also a fun find at the show is this 1:20.3 aerial tram bucket,  available from Banta.


All we're shot with black primer, highlighted with white from above,  and colored with acrylic washes. I did a dozen figures,  and it helps to have that many to work on so you can let one figure dry while moving on to the next.

[Geoff Hamway]

Hi Keith --

Thanks for sharing your report on the Characters Count Miniatures and more examples of your outstanding painting techniques -- a great inspiration to those like me who dread figure painting!

Geoff

P.S.  If you decide that any of these are indeed "too TOC," I'll volunteer to provide a loving home for the cast-offs!