ARAPAHO WOMAN SHAMAN

This figure was last updated in August 2014, I have collected all the photos and a summary text here.

This is an Arapaho Indian shaman figure (New Hope Design) bought, modified and painted in 1993 with an alkyd resin oil paint, compatible with enamels and oil paints. As can be seen, the colours dry quite matt and are still vibrant despite the years. An interesting figure, the scale is slightly bigger than 1/32. 

I've recently rebased this figure on a new base. During the ceremony, the shaman would be blowing a whistle to summon the buffalo. On this piece, I removed the moulded whistle from around her neck and I made a new one out of thin tubing, inserted with a fine wire and attached this to her mouth which was drilled out to take the wire. 

Celtic Warrior

I last updated on this piece in 2015. Here are the collected updates with a summary text.

This figure was modified from an old Time Machine Miniature kit. The scale is slightly smaller than the usual 54mm and was sculpted by Rendall Patton. 

The pose was drastically converted as I wanted to depict a fighting mad berserker. A Pegaso head was substituted for the original head, which was too small. The body appeared to be too flat from the side and I built up the back musculature and midriff. I have also built up the hair to create a swept-back limed effect. The pants were resculpted because of the new pose. I also substituted a larger round shield for the small rectangular shield.

All the pictorial references that I have show the scabbard suspended on the right side. The mode of suspension was either the belt or a cross body leather strip from the left shoulder to the right hip. The sword, if held, is almost always in the right hand.A belt was created from a thin metal strip.

The hairstyle was re-sculpted several times to reflect a swept-back limed effect. I painted the fringe in oils, using an impasto technique to suggest hair strands. I created a tear in the trousers for interest and painted the trousers and the shield designs. 

I worked on the groundwork for this piece, adding grass, branches and brass-etch ferns. The figure was carefully mounted on the base through the long wire, which was carefully concealed by the foliage. The scene is that of a Celt leaping out to ambush his protagonist.