By using kepi and turned-up-floppy hat styles and different colors, Civil War uniforms were converted to depict Terry's Texas Rangers. Note that the Regiment's distinctive emblem, a white star, has been added to the front of each hat also.
Further customization is possible by changing the facial hair of each figure (i.e. adding a beard, moustache, goatee, etc.) or hair color. This is particularly attractive if a collector wants several figures of the same pose.
Conversion is a special service available from some miniature manufacturers that allows collectors to take an existing pose and modify it extensively through the use
of paint and physical changes to produce a figure very different from the original.
Customization is a special service available from some manufacturers that allows collectors to make minor changes to an existing pose such that similar poses look slightly different from the original and not as though they had been produced by a cookie cutter technique. Customization is usually accomplished by changing hair colors, facial hair styles, hat styles or head positions.
Both conversion and customization are available from LeMan's. Fees depend on the
extent of the modifications requested. The pictures below depict some examples
of conversion and customization.
Spillway Toy Soldiers
43 Radnor Ave.
Croton on Hudson, NY 10520-2629
(914) 271-9796
Copyright: Spillway Toy Soldiers August 12, 2003
Hessians
The original Hesse-Cassel Hessians from the LeMan's Collection were modified to produce figures representing the first Hessians sent to fight in America, the Brunswick regiment (left), and Colonel Johann von Rall's regiment (right) which fought the Americans during the American Revolution at the battles of White Plains (Chatterton Hill), Fort Washington and Trenton. Modifications included the use of different colors for vests, helmets and cuffs as well as handlebar moustaches and different hair colors. Note that a heraldic lion and horse were also added to the front of the helmets.
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Wounded Trapper
Created by cutting a "V " section from the middle of a standard trapper before bending body forward. Solder used to fill cracks. Hole drilled to accept brass rod which served as an arrow. Right arm bent to hold arrow and hand painted with red to represent blood. Arm with musket added to left side.
Woodland Indians (Mohawks shown)
Ball club replaced by torch (Left figure)
Musket elevated to aim at top of fortification (Right figure)
"Old Joe"
VMI professor leading cadets into battle.
Custom Regimental Unit
Confederate uniform painted to match customer's requested colors.
Custom Iroquois
Roger's Ranger and Virginia Culpeper Militia figures converted to Iroquois using Iroquois head and/or different uniform colors.
Confederates Climbing Over Fence
Customization involved use of different hat styles and paint colors.
In upper left is an artillery figure which originally had the soldier holding his ear with his left hand as he pulled a lanyard with his right. Figure was painted as an infantryman with hand near ear to depict a bullet whizzing by. The lanyard was replaced with a musket.
In the lower foreground is a figure of a soldier firing a musket with his right hand. The original figure had a pistol.
A new figure was created on the right foreground in which the legs of a standing figure were bent into a kneeling figure firing a musket.
A pistol was added to the colorbearer on the right foreground.
Plains Indian Scalping Set
Iroquois scalping set converted by using Indian head with bonnet & wounded 7th Cavalry trooper.
Civil War Poses Used for 7th Cavalry
Civil War artillery figure used to create dismounted 7th Cavalry figure by replacing kepi hat with trooper hat, adding flag to pole and carbine to right arm.
South Carolina Zouave Cadets
Regular inventory repainted according to picture provided by customer to portray SC Zouave cadets.
Custom painting and hat (trooper vs kepi) /weapon (pistol vs rifle) selection.
Plains Indians
In the 4 pictures shown above, diversity can be obtained by changing headstyles, weapons, warpaint and clothing. Additional figures can be seen behind some of the front figures. When this occurs, you can see how these components were changed to provide additional figures and avoid the
"cookie cutter look".
Longstreet converted to Jeb Stuart and Bufford
Jeb Stuart required cape and hat with feather to Bufford required officers epaulettes &
be created. accessories.
Sherman with binoculars & cigar
Converting wagon drover with whip (center) to
wagon/limber guards or sitting riflemen.
Artillery limber set with new horses, driver & guard.
