Mauryan War elephant 5

The Mahout has arms being added.

Copper sheet was used to drape over the elephant. The simple howdah was completed with runners and glued on top.

Thin rope was used to tie the howdah to the elephant. The copper sheet was painted matt red.

ECW Drummer 8

After adding the hands, the coat skirts were added from copper sheets. Copper sheets were also used to simulate the unbuttoned false sleeves used by drummers and musicians. The drum was pressed against the body and the left sleeve was draped on it.

 A feather was added to the hat.

The tunic was further built up and the drum was painted with base colours. I intend to paint and rig the drum with thin rope for this piece.

The figure was sprayed with matt white to highlight the areas that needed more work.

Kato Kiyomasa 16

I noticed some imbalance in the left shoulder and pared down the area.

Some final painting has begun.

Poilu 3

Putty was added to fill in the gaps and then the body pose was reshaped.

Marlborough 16

The lower thighs were built up.

ECW Drummer 7

I added a brim for the hat.

ECW Drummer 6

The figure was further shaped. The voluminous arm sleeves are being modelled. Collars were added. The ears were sculpted. Some hair was added to the back.

Marlborough 15

I sculpted more on the pistol holsters. The figure is being further detailed.

Kato Kiyomasa 15

I sculpted the left shoulder and reattached the left hand and spear. The figure is now ready for final painting.

An Update on the Ethnic/Oriental theme

All of my figures are placed on shelves behind glass doors.

I tend to arrange my collection by themes. So far, this is the status of all the figures on this shelf.

Mauryan War Elephant 4

Worked  more on the three figures.

More putty was used to reshape the figures.

The mahout is to be a fatter figure.

Poilu 2

I changed the pose of this figure.

71st Highland Piper

This figure was also resculpted.

Nap Bri Inf 5

The back of the coattails was sculpted.

Kato Kiyomasa 14

I used a suitable size washer for his hat ornament.

I decided that the left arm and spear pose had to be changed so as not to cover the face. This was reposed and the whole left shoulder is being resculpted.

JB 14

After the oils have dried, I studied the figure and am now starting to correct the defects. The ears are being reshaped.

Marlborough 14

I played with the pose a little. The arms are being sculpted. The coat was cut back and is now being remodelled.

The pistol holsters were attached.

Putty was used to create feather plumes along the brim of the hat.

ECW Drummer 5

A brim was sculpted from putty. When hardened, this was filed down to shape and size and a hole was drilled to fit around the crown of the hat. Surplus putty was used to shape the figure torso.

Marlborough 13

I picked up this piece and gave it a thorough examination. It is clear that the horse head and short does not give the impression of a showy animal, which is presumably what the Duke would have ridden.

Hence I selected another horse head and substituted it for the horse. I then built up the forequarters to create a majestic looking animal. The mane was built up to blend in the neck with the saddle.

The figure's legs were also shortened by a couple of mm. I also filed the seat so that the figure would seat lower in the saddle. The back of the skirts were built up with putty.

ECW Drummer 4

I've started to sculpt in the skirts for his jacket.

Mendi 10

I completed painting this piece. It is signed for posterity.

Here are several views of the piece to highlight the groundwork from all angles.

Huli tribesman 4

I made some further highlights to the groundwork and base, fully blending both together.

This piece is now completed and signed.

The first date is when it was first made and the second date is when it was refurbished.

Mendi 9

I added foliage to this piece. A sapling trunk was added to balance the scene. Roots were embedded into the groundwork. Various grass stalks were planted. Brass-etch leaves and ferns were added to the headdress and the groundwork. This will be painted next.