Frugally Challenged, over at Trundlingthroughlife blog asked how I made these little soldiers, so I have cobbled together these instructions. If anything is not clear, please do ask. Thank you for all your comments on my previous post, I will be replying, as soon as I have a little time.
The little soldiers with the wooden hats (original version) are easy to make, but you will need two types of dowling, a drill, and a vice for holding things steady.
You need to cut a piece of the thicker dowling (I think mine was 18mm diameter) which will become the hat. Drill out some wood, so that the hat will sit on top of the peg, like a hat. Then drill a smaller hole, the thickness of the smaller dowling, right the way through the hat and also down into the top of the peg.
This will allow you to secure the hat to the peg. You could simply use wood glue, though I am not sure how secure and long-lasting that would be.
Fix them together and then cut the thinner dowling level with the hat. That is the tricky bit completed.
While I was out walking Toby, yesterday, planning how to present this, I came up with an alternative version, one which doesn't require dowling or drills. You probably spotted the new boy in the line-up...
Why not make a Busby? Dark brown wool made into a pom pom, then severely trimmed to make the shape of a hat. Glue this in place. Much easier, but maybe not quite so secure. Equally charming.
That is the construction side, but let's not forget the painting.
I use acrylic paints because they give good coverage and are long-lasting.
I also neaten up the edges with permanent markers, very fine tips - these are particularly useful for finishing off the faces, but be careful not to smudge and be sure to leave them to dry - I speak from experience.
Work them in stages.
I draw the design on, then block fill them in, gradually adding more and more detail, neatening and refining.
Final thing will be a tiny hoop which I will screw into the hat, then I will loop a golden thread through, ready for hanging as a decoration.
Have fun!
