Please note: This is not my work, I have included it on my pages to help my fellow modellers.
I found this snippet of information, and I contacted Tony Barton about how he adapted his figures. And he very kindly allowed me to make this page, as I feel this will help us all to make better figures.
The text in italics below are the instructions from Tony Barton himself.
Following experiments with Hairy William (see above), I have been emboldened to have a go at putting “real” hair on a couple more figures . This only works with heads where the hair style is long: I don’t think that a short haircut can be done like this: however, if , like me, you are into Napoleonic’s and earlier “Hairy” periods, it has real potential.
The HAIR: you can use the fine acrylic hair from Doll’s House shops: Blonde, black, but not much in between: about £2 for a packet big enough to do two heads. Crepe hair from Theatrical suppliers; or fur-fabrics, though again, you will have to hunt for the mid browns, and avoid the more lurid tones. Soft toys, to be had for £1 at Charity shops, are a great source.
You will need a clear adhesive: Bostik or similar. UHU strings, so avoid it. My preferred type is HMG glue, which is quite “slow”, has a really fine tube, and doesn’t string.
You comb out a tuft of hair, clean off any fluff, and cut the end so that you have a neat, sharp-ended bunch. Apply a small puddle of glue to the head, and push the cut end of the tuft into it: let the glue take it, and gently arrange the tuft so that the hair is going in a natural direction.
Each head takes about twelve tufts, and remember to work from the edge inwards, so that the hair overlaps naturally. Repeat until finished !
It’s best to start at the back of the neck: this means that as you work, the hair overlaps in a natural growth pattern. Carry on round the sides, don’t worry about the ridiculous appearance. Try to keep the density even, and flowing in a natural pattern.
Carry on until you’ve done the back and sides, now do the radiating crown bit at the back and carry on until you are all done. OK, it looks ridiculous! I might send this one off to a Prog-rock band (below right).
Do not despair, gentle Reader, just have faith. A rough cut (I have a friend whose hair looks like this naturally: sorry, Tim!). Now wet the whole thing, using a little washing up liquid to “wet” the hair thoroughly, you will shed a fair bit at this stage. But if you have put it on thick enough in the first place, it will not be a problem. Comb with a soft toothbrush to set the flow of the hair. Let it dry you can gently warm in a very low oven, or even use a hairdryer. In fact, a little heat (not above 100 C ) seems to “set ” the acrylic hair in place. Comb with your toothbrush to get rid of the loose hair, and he’s starting to look the biz. A little hairwax, or possibly hairspray, will help make the hair look more natural.
Here’s the other chap: prodigious Whiskers (using a slightly coarser grade of hair), and thinning a bit in front.
I would advise a few experiments with an unwanted head before ruining a treasured one, and obviously you need a bald head to start with. Carve off the moulded hair, or use a router if it’s a resin head. Nothing ventured, Nothing Gained.
Here’s the finished Hairdos:
And here’s where the hair for the younger figure came from above right. Appropriately, Little Leo, The British Lion…….!
NO SOFT TOYS WERE HURT IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS POST (well not much, and he had enough to spare anyway……………)
Many thanks to Tony Barton for the idea, and his kind permission to use the images above.
Tony’s Website – Tony Barton