Samurai 3, 4

7/29/14

The groundwork was painted. Grass was added to this scene with white glue.



However, the figure still looks rough. Hence I decided to work on the figure. The flattened nose was built up with some putty.

The scabbard was sanded down and trimmed.

Marlborough 7

The coattails were carved to blend in with the figure. The waist area was trimmed down. Saddle fringes were completed. Putty was added to the legs to give a better seat to the figure. The collar was built up.

WWII Japanese Cyclist (5)

More groundwork was added.

Rommel 4

Waist pockets were added to this piece.

Marlborough 6

The coattails were modified to suit the uniform.

Huli Tribesman refurbished 2

Foliage was added with white glue. some putty was added to the wood base itself for decorative purposes. This will be painted over to resemble bark.

Crow White Woman 2

The figure was pinned and attached to the base. Some rocks were attached with white glue.

Louis XIV drummer 11

After waiting for a few days, the oil paint was sufficiently dry to add lacing and over painting. The coat was shaded with yellow ochre and browns.

Huli Tribesman refurbished

I had made this piece in 1992. I have always thought that the original setting was too pedestrian and the same height of the two figures did not display them to their fullest advantage.

I have decided to remount this piece onto an unusual wooden base to enhance its appearance. The figures were carefully removed from the original setting. Groundwork on the new base was sloping to create a sense of dynamism. Work in progress.

Crow White Woman

This figure, featured in an earlier post, was mounted on a simple base comprising an old electric socket base which was too pedestrian and unsuitable for the figure.

I've decided to remount this piece onto an unusual wood base. I enhanced the wood base with additional groundwork created from epoxy putty to represent natural rock formation.

Marlborough 5

The front of the figure was built up. The waist coat, the collar, the sash and hair was sculpted from putty. Fringes were added to the saddle. The coattails were initially defined in sheet metal and, later, substituted with Historex parts.

Russian Medieval Knight 8

The final painting of the figure has begun.

Samurai 1, 2

7/15/14

This was an old New Hope Design figure made about 20 years back. I have decided to re-furbish it for posterity.

The sculpted quality is a little rough but is typical for that period of production.

The figure appears static and is merely standing on a base of grass. The colours appear dull.

The base painted red appears garish. Overall, the colours do not harmonise.




With some trepidation, I used a screwdriver to prise out the figure from off the base. This was not too difficult as the figure was cast in one piece together with its stand. The new base is an oriental looking base and very well-made.

I decided to elevate the overall piece by raising the groundwork.

Knight in Armour 4

The groundwork for this piece was done next. White glue was spread over the top and ground debris and dirt was pressed on the glue. When this had dried overnight, a layer of varnish was applied. This creates a very tough and textured ground surface.

Louis XIV Drummer 10

The second round of painting was done.

Louis XIV Drummer 9

The defects were scrapped off and repaired. The drum was removed for painting separately. Buttons were added.

Louis XIV Drummer 8

The cuffs were refined further and I drilled tiny holes to insert fine wire for the hands. The figure was given a basic undercoat at this stage to check for defects.

Louis XIV Drummer 7

The outer cuffs were sculpted with the drum in position. Buttons to be added next.

Knight in Armour 3

The copper sheets were animated.

Knight In Armour 2

The base was puttied over. Copper sheets were cut to represent the cloth barding, and putty was added to smooth out the surface. The knight was placed on top and immediately, it was obvious that the legs were too short. These were cut off, drilled and pinned to represent longer legs.