Removing Paint from old figures - before and after

Many old classic Napoleonic figures that I have collected often came heavily layered with old paint and varnish. I have tried various paint stripping methods but have settled on using cheap full strength bleach from my local supermarket.

When using Bleach please make sure you wear protective gloves. I use a glass with good lid.  I allow between 8 and 12 hours depending on how much paint needs stripping and during the bleaching period I shake the jar and check how the stripping is going.

To remove the paint I use a good old stiff tooth brush, washing up liquid and plenty of water. Once the figure is dry I remove any stubborn paint with a fine file.

So how effective is it and is it worth it. I will leave you to judge.

The pictures below show the before and after dipping on this original Hinton Hunt Brunswick Hussar which  is covered in old chipped paint. If a figure is not to bad I would consider a paint rennovation. In this case this figure is beyond paint rennovation.

Having left the figure in bleach and after clean up the figure detail emerges in all its original glory. The detail is impressive and will be delight to paint.

French Voltigeurs

I have had a some Douglas Miniatures French Voltigeurs for a while now. I kept looking them and thinking 'I am not sure about these' as the figure pose looks like a bass guitarist.

Anyway as I don't have any other Douglas figures in my collection, and I as my aim of the collection is a homage to these  classic figures, I decided to see how they would look with some paint slapped on.

The officer is Hinton Hunt figure and he looks at home.  As I use half scale Charge units these 12 figures represent a Light unit of 2 companies. They can be used as a single unit or 2 independent 6 figure companies.

Closer view shows the detail.

And how they would have looked back in the day of black an white photos.

And how they did look back in the day

On Manoeuvre

I have a few items on the painting table but they are not yet finished. Instead I share some views of my classic Napoleonic collection so far.

In all the collection consists of 10 infantry battalions each of 24 figures, 4 cavalry regiments of 12 figures, 6 batteries of artillery with 4 crew. There are also 4 companies of skirmishes each of 6 figures. Finally there are 7 generals and a few odd single figures. 

In all there are 347 figures mostly Hinton Hunt, both original and recasts, Alberken, Les Higgins and Garrison and the odd Rose and Douglas figure.