Greg Liska’s August Conversions New Figure News, Greg shares some conversions of cannons and MPC western figures. Next, we share a photo of some 60mm Indians from Russia. Sadly they did only 30 sets. We have posts of Mars and LOD Enterprise
Greg Liska’s August Conversions Cannons and Figures
Greg is back with some of his conversions. We will start off with conversions of BMC cannons to 12 pounder howitzers. Here is what Greg said: In defense of the ‘cheap’ BMC cannons, they are easily attained, inexpensive, and can be modified in many ways. The cannon itself was ridiculed as ‘the pencil gun’ but it was obviously made in the image of the 3″ Ordnance Rifle (see pics) and simply painting that cannon portion black, gives it a whole new look. I did that years ago. The latest use came to me after visiting the Kentucky battlefields. At Wildcat Mountain there was a 12 Pdr. Howitzer on display and I had extra guns laying around. I believe Call to Arms made one, but the gun didn’t snap into the carriage and by comparison, was quite expensive, probably more so now and hard to get a battery worth. After I got home, went to work. I cut the barrels down by 1/3, then cut the muzzle off the remnant and glued it back on the shorter gun. The gun was then painted bronze. I made a battery for each side. I hope it inspires more ideas, hope you enjoy it, and thanks for looking. What do you think?
MPC Figure Conversions
Greg sent me this photo asked me if I recognize the figures. The figure on the right I recognized as an MPC cowboy as I get them for a party. Greg advised me that the other mounted figure is also MPC see well. here is what says on these figures. Both are about 50-50 cowboy and cavalry. Rifles are model kit pieces. The artilleryman is a china copy Ltd color bearer with a homemade rammer and a china cowboy arm. I like how Greg reuses what would be considered junk figures.
Russian Indians
Vivat Toys did this very limited set of 60mm Indians. You can see some of the poses are based on Marx 60mm Indians. It is a shame they only did 30 sets as I am sure some of my readers would want them. They already advised they can not do anymore as the master molds are no longer available
Links to New Items
The Mars Polish Napoleonic is out. Various dealers including Kent Sprecher will have them for sale.
Rahway reports that LOD Enterprises has for sale the Bazso Collectibles fort Ticonderoga and the fortified Abbey foam items for sale. You can see them here
If you are into casting Prince August has castings in 40mm for the Seven Years Wars
Very nice conversion work by Greg. With that many cannons, this was not so much a conversion project, more a production line, so I wondered, did you do one cannon at a time from start to finish before moving to the next one, or did you do them in parallel, i.e. cut all the barrels at the same time, then glue all the muzzles, and so forth? I prefer the parallel option as it may be tedious but the final results are more consistent. I hope the barrel offcuts ended up in your spares box – be sure you will find a use for them.
Thank you both. I did al the cuts, then gluing, then painting. I did 8 howitzers, 4 in ‘Federal green’ and 4 in brown. I had to do some reconstruction and painting on the limbers, too. Not all started out green and some needed wheel repairs. I just got back from the SC toy show and now have enough Marx wagon horses to pull the limbers for both batteries.
I wish Paul would have out up the side view pic of the 12 Pdr. howitzer. He posted the front 3/4 view of the 3″ ordinance rifle. The howitzer is bronze and short like my conversions.
Great work on the cannon conversions. I would have made a silicone caulk mold of the expensive howitzer barrel and then cast replicas in tin – pewter. It casts well and is more akin to die-cast zinc in weight and hardness. Far superior to lead castings.
I like all Greg conversion ,included those mounted troopers ,they looks as new figures ,would no see them close I will be hunting for it .
Polish -Lithuanian -duchy of Warsaw nation army soldiers by MARS are a good addition and will sale good ,this army had been covered in sets by Poland vintage sets made in 60s-80s only and one pose by Replicant .This set represent the army from 1806 -1815 they fought in almost all main battles and all wars with Napoleon army .Will be great they do the early legion units in older more polish traditionally uniform from 1797 as well.
Some great conversions; some great ideas on the BMC cannons. It’s always great to see your work. Thanks to Paul for sharing these.
Very nice conversion work by Greg. With that many cannons, this was not so much a conversion project, more a production line, so I wondered, did you do one cannon at a time from start to finish before moving to the next one, or did you do them in parallel, i.e. cut all the barrels at the same time, then glue all the muzzles, and so forth? I prefer the parallel option as it may be tedious but the final results are more consistent. I hope the barrel offcuts ended up in your spares box – be sure you will find a use for them.
Thank you both. I did al the cuts, then gluing, then painting. I did 8 howitzers, 4 in ‘Federal green’ and 4 in brown. I had to do some reconstruction and painting on the limbers, too. Not all started out green and some needed wheel repairs. I just got back from the SC toy show and now have enough Marx wagon horses to pull the limbers for both batteries.
I wish Paul would have out up the side view pic of the 12 Pdr. howitzer. He posted the front 3/4 view of the 3″ ordinance rifle. The howitzer is bronze and short like my conversions.
Great work on the cannon conversions. I would have made a silicone caulk mold of the expensive howitzer barrel and then cast replicas in tin – pewter. It casts well and is more akin to die-cast zinc in weight and hardness. Far superior to lead castings.
I like all Greg conversion ,included those mounted troopers ,they looks as new figures ,would no see them close I will be hunting for it .
Polish -Lithuanian -duchy of Warsaw nation army soldiers by MARS are a good addition and will sale good ,this army had been covered in sets by Poland vintage sets made in 60s-80s only and one pose by Replicant .This set represent the army from 1806 -1815 they fought in almost all main battles and all wars with Napoleon army .Will be great they do the early legion units in older more polish traditionally uniform from 1797 as well.
Thanks, Erwin. Also; thanks for helping ID that castle I found. It IS a Schleich.
Always a pleasure!!!