Hi everyone, I have a couple hundred assorted figures but really not sure if they cab be made to fit into 20's 30's era I'm modeling. What makes for older era characters? I know back then the men wore a certain type of hat and women at least I think wore longer dresses maybe. So how do you's deal with your eras for people ? Is it clothing color, pick skinny compared to heavier people or how? I'm really not financially able to purchase all new figures as it is a large layout with many scenes.
Thanks
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
Lynn,
Men wore suits and ties and hats - even to baseball games. Women wore very stylish dresses.
I just did a Google image search on "clothing of the 1920s and 1930s" and came up with this:
https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1760&bih=875&q=clothing+of+the+1920s+and+1930s&oq=clothing+of+the+1920s&gs_l=img.1.1.0j0i30j0i5i10i30j0i5i30j0i8i30l2.3285.10463.0.13021.27.21.1.0.0.0.501.2527.0j9j2j1j0j1.13.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..14.13.2339.2SuXzBOfjB4
Perhaps that will help...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Hi Lynn:
The following is purely my own opinion based on what I have seen in pictures from the era, so don't shoot me if I get something wrong.
One thing I think you have to recognize is that ladies fashions changed significantly from 1920 to 1939. In 1920 there would still be remnents of the full length dress style with numerous layers of under garments to fill the dress out. By the mid 20's 'flappers' were wearing practically nothing underneath by comparison, and the general public was wearing much simpler garments with shorter hems. Women would not often be seen in public in slacks.
Men's fashions changed less but colours got somewhat more varied and some hat styles went out of vogue.
I think clothing colour is one key factor. Bright colours were relatively rare so most people would be in browns, blacks, dark grays, with black being predominent in 1920. The exception might be people who were on their way to or from sporting events, expositions etc. Light coloured jackets and pants were common for men on those occasions. However, I think the popularity of the light coloured suits died out in the early 30s (what didn't die out - it was the Great Depression).
You are right about men wearing hats. Fedoras were the most popular (think Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Arc) but flat brimmed straw boater hats were in style for less formal occasions, often for men dressed in the aformentioned light coloured suits (think barber shop quartet). The majority of men wore hats in public especially if they were in business suits. The boater hats could be easily modelled with a '0' (Edit - the best size for HO is 4mm) washer and a bit of styrene tube. Washers could also be used to mimic the brim of a fedora by bending them a bit. I would use brass washers. They will be easier to bend.
Women also wore hats in significant numbers. In the early 20s the hats were still rather large but by the late 20s that trend was on its way out.
One thing I can say for sure is that the colours used on most figures imported from the far east are absolutely out to lunch, regardless of the era!
Yes, "Colours" with a 'u' - I'm Canadian eh!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Lynn:
If I can suggest, I think you should keep the task as simple as possible given the numbers of figures involved. Focus on the colours. Somehow I doubt that people will notice that not all the men are wearing hats. All you need in that regard is a few foreground figures with details like floppy fedoras. A simple splotch of colour on the ladies heads would suggest simple hat designs. That could be done easily for most of your female figures.
One other consideration is the actual paint that you use. I use Humbrol almost exclusively for painting figures because it always covers thoroughly in one coat. You don't want to do anymore touching up than you absolutely have to.
If your figures are not still on sprues I suggest gluing them feet first onto wood strips an inch or so apart so they can be held easily for painting. If they are still on sprues, leave them on until the painting is done.
Making men's hats quickly and easily still seems to be a challenge. I'll put my thinking cap on to see what I can come up with. I'm modelling in the late 50s but lots of men were still wearing hats then too.
hon30critterThe boater hats could be easily modelled with a '0' washer and a bit of styrene tube. Washers could also be used to mimic the brim of a fedora by bending them a bit.
That's a good idea, Dave. I wonder if the Kadee #209 .010 fiber washers would work? The hole is probably larger but with a little Squadron putty then some sanding once everything dries might work?
I don't know if you are familiar with Shorpy? It is a fun and informative site that displays 2 or 3 new photos a day from archives of WPA, OWI, and Library Of Congress among others. There are thousands of photos that can be "blown-up" for better detail.
Here's a crowd scene where the gentlemen seem to be sporting quite a few boaters!
http://www.shorpy.com/node/12738?size=_original#caption
There are frequently photos posted that are of interest to modelers and railfans alike, especially some of the Jack Delano work. Take a browse, I think you'll like it.
Hope that helps, Ed
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
hon30critter Lynn: If your figures are not still on sprues I suggest gluing them feet first onto wood strips an inch or so apart so they can be held easily for painting. If they are still on sprues, leave them on until the painting is done. Dave
Thanks again Dave for a great suggestion, although I do have many men with hats just not so much Harrison Ford floppy hats and the women not so many with the long dresses. lol I don't think I ever would have came up with the idea to make hats , this is very very creative.
Ed and Jabear terrific links, I can recall coming across Shorpy's years ago but never would have thought of checking it out now, thanks.
Mel that is a most excellent idea for holding the little people. After painting close to 400 people I must say it shows, nice work. I really enjoyed your Blog and spent quite a bit of time on the memeory to John Allen link. I have always been a huge fan of John Allens work and always make time for viewing.
Mel I have never really understood Blogs but when I got to the bottom of that first page and started clicking on the links I was amazed but also disappointed as I didn't come across any links of you painting the figures. Just kidding , totally enjoyed myself and will continue on.
So guys so far I've gotten some great ideas and good direction and I think it all got me thinking about myself and my layout. I look at my layout and what I have accomplished and although I realize I am not as dedicated as many with sticking to an era I think I am going to have to become even more freelance on not only area I'm modelling but also quit kidding myself with what is actually correct. really the only thing that is making my layout 20's is the Jordans I will be building, the steam engines I run and the mostly wooden structures. Thanks for opening my eyes.
If you are willing to paint your own miniatures, there are regular townsfolk that are mixed in with the "Call of Cthulhu" miniatures so popular with tabletop gamers. Some are quite good and very detailed, and in a pulp-'20s style.
Julian
Modeling Pre-WP merger UP (1974-81)
fieryturbo If you are willing to paint your own miniatures, there are regular townsfolk that are mixed in with the "Call of Cthulhu" miniatures so popular with tabletop gamers. Some are quite good and very detailed, and in a pulp-'20s style.
Thanks , Yes I am quite willing to paint my own miniatures. When I googled Call of Cthulhu, I found many links but none that pointed to the individual peoples?
A rather fun way to do research is to search online (you know where) for the early 2 reeler comedies from actors like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy, W.C. Fields, even Charlie Chaplin (before his ego got too big), and many others.Assuming the film is set in then contemporary times, and not the Old West" or "Medieval" periods the producers of the era were quite fond of (although the Old West was kind of around in a fashion at the time of the pre-WWI movies), while the main characters may or may not reflect "common-man" fashions depending on the movie ("), the extras and other background people often do.At the very least, when they do location outdoor scenes you get plenty of great vintage views of Los Angeles back when it was really cool (and yes, the "big red cars" of the Pacific Electric are everwhere in those scenes)...
wickman Mel I have never really understood Blogs but when I got to the bottom of that first page and started clicking on the links I was amazed but also disappointed as I didn't come across any links of you painting the figures. Just kidding , totally enjoyed myself and will continue on.
wickman Thanks , Yes I am quite willing to paint my own miniatures. When I googled Call of Cthulhu, I found many links but none that pointed to the individual peoples?
fieryturbo wickman Thanks , Yes I am quite willing to paint my own miniatures. When I googled Call of Cthulhu, I found many links but none that pointed to the individual peoples? Sadly, I'm having some trouble finding them, though it looks like what I thought was 20mm (1/87) is actually 25-28mm, which is a bit oversized. I was able to find 20mm gangsters, but that's it. EDIT: Actually Preiser makes some of what you want: https://www.reynaulds.com/catalog/dept_344.aspx
Thanks, yes I have came across the preiser figures but really can't put out the $ for prepainted figures. I do now have a better understaind ing of what I should be looking for now. Just have to pinch the penny to make it go farther.
Ed:
I checked out the Kadee fibre washers. Unfortunately they are too big. They might work if you were doing sombreros if you could figure out a way to curl the edge.
I just went through my washer inventory and I found some 4mm washers that are the perfect size. They are fibre to boot so shaping will be easy. Trouble is I can't remember where I got them. Digi-Key has a slightly larger washer available (4.75mm).
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en/hardware-fasteners-accessories/washers/2097338?k=36-3111-ND
Note that the washer is .032" (.081 mm) thick which is not ideal.
Thanks Dave . I just may have to bite the bullet and buy a hundred unpainted figures. I think if I can find them for around $1.50 a pc in the 30's era I would be doing good.
Anyone have some good suppliers?