Lady carrying wood (Lemax)

As mentioned before, Red Coats & Ruffles is constantly on the lookout for female figures in 18th Century garb. (see http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/search/label/Female%20Figures)  This woman was released by Lemax for their 2022 Christmas collection, under the name of "Carrying wood for the fire".  

Despite her 19th Century styling, she clearly had potential to be transformed into the 18th Century.  The major change needed was to change her bonnet into a cap.  Lemax figures are also very tall, so some of her dress was trimmed to give her a height closer to the rest of Redcoats and Ruffles.  Notwithstanding this, she is still a tall lady.

Her outfit's colors are based on a background character from Sofia the First who is also a woodcutter's wife.  Their outfits were unusually similar.  The pose is a useful background character, whether gathering sticks from the forest or preparing to replenish her stove.

Figure by Lemax; painted with acrylic paints.

Moses (Liberty’s Kids)

This jolly freedman, named Moses, is a hard worker wherever he goes.  In the show “Liberty’s Kids”, Moses can be most often found in Benjamin Franklin’s print shop.  He knows the newspaper business from top to bottom, and his knowledge helps make James, Sarah, and Henri better reporters.

His skills are not confined to newspapers, as he is also a wheelwright as well.  Finally in 1781, he enlists with the Continental Corps of Sappers & Miners and marches to besiege Cornwallis at Yorktown.

This figure began as a blacksmith from Safari Ltd "Jamestown Settlers" tube of figures.  Little conversion was required, other than removing the original figure's beard and cap.

Figure by Safari Ltd., painted with acrylic paints.

Liberty's Kids character "Henri Lefebrve" (MPC)

Henri Lefebrve is the last of the three main characters from the TV show Liberty's Kids.  His companions James Hiller and Sarah Phillips have already been featured on Redcoats and Ruffles (at http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2018/05/libertys-kids-character-james-hiller.html and http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2018/01/sarah-phillips.html).

Henri is a spunky and optimistic character.  Originally from France, he was brought to the colonies as a slave, but rescued by James and Moses.  I enjoyed him because we both shared an intense admiration for the Marquis de Lafayette.








  The original figure began as a MPC militiaman running (similar to the one on far right, who was changed by lowering his musket to a "trail arms" position).  His coat was removed and changed into an unbuttoned waistcoat.

(The middle figure is another conversion from the same pose.  He is one of my earliest conversion works and a favorite of mine.  The hoop was a water bottle cap.)

Henri was painted in acrylics with the exception of his shoes, which were painted with a glossy enamel.

Baileywick & Sir Bartleby (BMC)

These two gentlemen are attendants for King Roland and Queen Miranda (previously featured on http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2019/06/royalty.html)


The gentleman in the greyish-blue coat is Sir Bartleby.  His duties include commanding of one of King Roland's companies of guards. Though he earned his knighthood, it is likely that he is a knight baronet (and so his knighthood is hereditary).  This is an important point, as he is related to the royal family by marriage.  He wears five medals on his coat, which is also decorated with a golden chain lace piping on the hems and cuffs.

The other gentleman is Baileywick the castle steward.  In addition to overseeing all activities within the castle premises, he acts as an unofficial advisor to King Roland.  He will also defend the royal family if it becomes necessary.  He carries a pocket watch and is busy consulting it though his pair of silver spectacles.  Both Baileywick and Sir Bartleby tie their cravats in the old-fashioned (c. 1730s) style, with large bows.













King Roland II, Queen Miranda, Baileywick the steward, and Sir Bartleby are deep in consultation.

Royalty

These two figures are the first glimpse of royalty here on Redcoats and Ruffles!  Meet King Roland and Queen Miranda.

Always on the lookout for more figures from the distaff side in 1/32, this figure of Queen Miranda caught my eye.  She is a perfect match for other 54mm figures.  However, the lot I purchased her with also included her consort King Roland.  After some thought, I drafted him into my collection as well. My sister helped choose which outfit he should don for his royal duties: the red coat with the light buff breeches, accented by several medals.

While his outfit looks vaguely Regency, he still belongs in the Redcoats and Ruffles world of the 1770s-1780s.  While tighter cut coats were coming into fashion in the 1780s, this one is still ahead of its time.  Likely as a monarch, King Roland was always seeking up-and-coming styles.

Figures from Disney’s “Sofia the First” collection.  They were painted with a mix of acrylic and enamel paints and sealed with Mod Podge.

Gaston Toy Soldier (Mattel)

"No one paints up like Gaston!
Makes a swell miniature like Gaston!
No one rocks a red shirt and gloves like Gaston!" (parody of "Gaston" by Menken & Ashman)


This figure is a delightfully bizarre addition to the world of Redcoats and Ruffles.  Even though his outfit is completely unhistorical, I still enjoyed painting him and adding him to my collection.



In "Beauty and the Beast", Gaston is the villain of the piece, with an uncanny ability to quickly rally a mob.  His other abilities (including shooting and expectorating) are recounted by his lackey Lefou in a delightfully ridiculous song. (left)


In the world of Redcoats and Ruffles (following Beauty and the Beast), Gaston is enemies of both Belle and Beast.  Does that mean that he would support King George III or the Patriots?  Probably neither.  Rather than following one side, he would have no qualms switching if they failed to support him in his goal of defeating Belle and Beast.

This Gaston figure was originally released by Hasbro in 2002.  Gaston was part of a five-figure pack that included Belle and Beast in human form.  Figure painted with enamel and acrylic paints, sealed with Mod Podge.

What new adventures lie ahead?

Liberty's Kids Lady Phillips (Disney Cinderella Keychain)

The first figure of 2019 is finished!

This elegant lady is an English gentlewoman known as Lady Phillips.  She appears in the animated television show Liberty's Kids.

Lady Phillips lives in England while her soldier husband serves in America.  But unlike some Britons, Lady Phillips is good friends with Benjamin Franklin and certainly does not favor coercive measures towards the colonies.




Lady Phillips' daughter is the sometimes feisty Sarah Phillips (who was featured on Redcoats and Ruffles at http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2018/01/sarah-phillips.html).  It is unknown whether Sarah was named for her mother.

(Sarah is a recast Marx "Cilia" figure, giving some idea of scale between her and Lady Phillips)

Lady Phillips was previously featured on this blog as a work-in-progress (see http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2019/01/lady-phillips-work-in-progress.html).  Her base is marked "(c) Disney, C.I.I., Made in China".  I have no idea what company CII is; however she is an excellent match to other 54mm figures and worth tracking down.

Painted with a mix of enamel and acrylic paints; varnished with Mod Podge.



Lady Phillips prepares for a visit to a wealthy friend or neighbor and bids you good day.

Beauty and the Beast (Hasbro)

I am always seeking to bolster my collection of civilians.  After all, no world is populated only by soldiers.  But finding suitable figures in 54mm (or 1/32 scale) is not dissimilar to finding hen's teeth.

However these two figures of Belle and Beast from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" fit the bill.  They both look vaguely like they belong in the 18th Century and have suitably plain clothing.

Both figures were produced by Hasbro in the early 2000s.  I gave them a complete repaint, but kept them in their original movie outfits.

Now these two figures join my other movie characters to populate this 18th Century world. (For more movie characters, see http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2018/05/libertys-kids-character-james-hiller.html, and http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/search/label/Beyond%20the%20Mask).

I have been toying with some special wargame rules for these characters (Does Belle's book knowledge allow her to predict what the enemy might do?  What is her attack and defense score?).  These two promise to add color to any wargame, as well as interest to dioramas!

Figures by Hasbro; painted with Testors paints.  No conversion was required (besides carving the Hasbro logos off Beast's legs!)

"Liberty's Kids" Character James Hiller (Marx)

This figure is based on one of the main characters from the television show Liberty's Kids.  James Hiller is an orphan who works as a reporter for Benjamin Franklin's newspaper.  He and his two comrades (one of which has been painted already; see https://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2018/01/sarah-phillips.html) view the great events of the American Revolution, from the Boston Tea Party to the signing of the United States Constitution.  Mysteriously, the characters never seem to get any older...

The original figure was a recast Marx "Johnny Tremaine."  The original head was swapped for the head from a Marx recast "Rab Silsbee."  After this rather drastic change, the character's pigtail was sculpted, a quill pen was sculpted in his right hand.  His left hand had been removed for another conversion(see https://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2017/02/young-philadelphia-gentleman.html), which necessitated sculpting another hand.  I chose to give this hand a piece of paper.  Now James Hiller and his companion Sarah Philips are ready to jot down all the latest news from the Revolution as it happens.

"Liberty's Kids" Character Sarah Phillips (Marx)



Miss Sarah Phillips scouts for news in a colonial town.
(click picture to enlarge)

This figure is based on one of the main characters from the television show Liberty's Kids.  In the show, three youngsters serve as journalists for Benjamin Franklin and report on the major--and sometimes minor--events of the American Revolution.  This figure, Miss Sarah Phillips, is the daughter of a British Army officer serving in America.  In the first episode, Sarah comes to America to find him.  During the ongoing show, she provides a British/Loyalist perspective to much of the reporting done.

The figure herself began as a recast Marx "Cilia" figure.  Much change was required to transform her into Sarah Phillips.  From top to bottom: the cap was removed and hair sculpted, golden locket added, neckline squared off, shawl removed, quill pen sculpted, flair and length added to sleeves, pointed bodice, piping down front of dress, and paper to record news.  Whew!  This is some of the most work I have ever done to convert a figure.  However, I believe that the final product was well worth the effort.



Original figure on left; Sarah Phillips on right.
(click picture to enlarge)