With the half-term hols drawing to a close, I can turn my attention to the group build.
I have been wanting to paint a model of my alter ego for some time. However, I think he really needs his surf board to look the part. This may well mean that my command stand is just one man and his board on a 2p coin!
I have a few points to resolve:
- what size to make his board (the photo below shows the 9' board printed at 1:100 scale, which is both quite tall to be held upright by the model and a little narrow visually)
- whether to try and shape / chamfer the board properly (which would necessitate free-hand painting) or to make it from flat card and stick on coloured prints
- how best to have Colonel Bill holding his beloved board: I'd thought of bending his arm gently and twisting the wrist to suit, but am conscious that something might break in the process!
(https://i.postimg.cc/bSTGD3Dj/20210605-224225.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bSTGD3Dj)
I will now sleep on these weighty matters...
Simon
A weighty conundrum indeed Simon!
However you choose to do it, I'm looking forward to the result. For what it's worth, I think a flat board with printed details is what I would go for.
The other way is the take his arm off and replace with metal rod and green stuff and then you can make his arm and hand in a desired pose ?
Miles
That's a great project Simon. I'm looking forward to seeing the result. Great stuff.
I look forward to seeing the completed Group Build model. What an excellent subject. I hope the eventual post will include a sound effect - "The Ride Of The Valkyries".
Mike
Thanks for all the suggestions and encouragement, chaps. Decisions, decisions...
Simon
Greenstuff and/or superglue sounds the way to go Simon.
I know that would be the right thing to do, but I'm lazy / unskilled at sculpting. I may see how far I go with gentle bending until something breaks :)
Simon
It's not to difficult, tell you what bring it down with you when you visit the Cabin and I ll do it while you have a coffee ?
Miles
Miles,
That's very kind of you, but it might breach the unwritten ethical code of this group build :)
Simon
I think some co-operation is even better for the exercise?
More to chat about and brings members into contact.
martin :)
@Miles: I am not ungrateful, and will still take that coffee ;D
@Martin: the discussion to date has already been a great help. And the Group Build itself has helped me to stop procrastinating!
@Julian: that is a great idea. Too many options now...
Simon
Is the colonel on sand though? If not then bend the arm upwards.
I think he'll be on sand, as he's about to go surfing. Until someone nicks his board and takes off with it in a PBR, of course!
Simon
In fact, if this build works, maybe the PBR also waiting to get painted should have a board on board?
Now that's an excellent idea. With a 15mm Martin Sheene on it too hopefully!
I'd always assumed that Martin Sheen was the middle sculpt in the character pack. But I may of course have got that wrong!
Simon
After a little thought, I've decided to go with Julian's excellent suggestion. Not only does this simplify the project, but it should make the board more robust as can anchor it in the "sand", and I can leave Martin's little Colonel Bill as he was sculpted. Not to mention that it saves me a world of pain and hassle.
I would normally have based the figure on his 2p piece (no expense will be spared for this project), but since I don't quite know yet how I'll position him relative to the board I will prepare the two bits separately.
I use milk bottle tops for various purposes - they make a great temporary figure stand, especially for fat or clumsy fingers!
Col Bill first received an undercoat of white Stynylrez:
(https://i.postimg.cc/B8tyT6Nz/20210607-220307.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/B8tyT6Nz)
I then used a mix of Games Workshop Lahmian Medium and Vallejo 70862 Black Grey to do the black bits. This produces a kind of poor man's Contrast paint:
(https://i.postimg.cc/30hncJCY/20210607-214155.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/30hncJCY)
Then a similar process with my favourite 20th century green: Vallejo 70924 Russian Uniform:
(https://i.postimg.cc/JGrWy1wf/20210607-215556.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JGrWy1wf)
I love the "auto-shading" effect with minimal effort.
Finally for tonight, a splash of Coat d'arms 103 Sun Yellow at the throat for Col Bill's T-shirt:
(https://i.postimg.cc/62fmwvQy/20210607-220153.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/62fmwvQy)
There's not much surface area, so I wanted this to be bright!
I will paint and shade the flesh as normal in my next session.
Simon
Great start Simon!
Looking good Simon. Nice shading.
Looking good.
Simon,
Looking good and nice to see a step by step of your painting progress.
Best wishes,
Martin Buck
Thanks Martin - I wasn't sure whether it was too much for just the one figure, but if it's helpful I'll keep going like that.
I'm timed out for tonight, but hope to make some progress on board and/or figure tomorrow.
Simon
The surf board has been causing me a few issues - cutting the pattern neatly and getting the "board" to match.
I first printed out a bunch of backs and fronts of the boards (good job too, as I've had several failures).
I then roughly cut out one side, stuck it to thin plastic card and cut round both. And then repeated several times when I messed up.
(https://i.postimg.cc/14Vt8VqC/20210609-221750.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/14Vt8VqC)
Cutting the reverse side of the board and then pasting it neatly (I used thinned PVA glue, applied with a thin rush) caused a few more mis-steps...
Simon
Here's where I've go to so far - front and back and a quick gloss varnish to protect the delicate printing ink (easily scratched off with a clumsy scalpel, as I discovered...):
(https://i.postimg.cc/TpwXKZFR/20210610-111209.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TpwXKZFR)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7JPrMcLn/20210610-111257.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7JPrMcLn)
Lots of white edges to get painted over, but I'm considering having another go as it looks quite rough at the moment.
More tonight?
Simon
Very nice Simon.
The board is going to be eye catching feature Simon.
Bright sand base effect?
martin :)
Thanks Martin, and yes - absolutely.
Or possibly "Mekong Murky Sand".
Simon
Mixed success with the board. I mixed Coat d'arms #145 Ruby Red and #214 Suntanned Flesh to get a pretty good colour match to the board edge:
(https://i.postimg.cc/7CBp1F9N/20210610-221251.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7CBp1F9N)
(https://i.postimg.cc/njCN33wf/20210610-221300.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/njCN33wf)
The problem is that this now shows up quite how rough the edges are. I'm toying with the idea of starting again - maybe with thinner card.
Simon
I'm rather happier with Colonel Bill. I have added:
- Coat d'arms #214 Suntanned Flesh, adding in some Vallejo 70819 Iraqui Sand for highlights for face and hands
- Iraqui Sand for the base
- Vallejo 70918 Ivory for teeth and pistol grip
- Vallejo 70863 Gunmetal Grey hat badge and tassels
- Vallejo 70801 Brass belt buckle and ends of hat tassels
- Vallejo 70836 London Grey highlights to the hat
I'll do a light flesh wash next and the unit shoulder patch. And maybe stop there?
Simon
(https://i.postimg.cc/mtJ3987F/20210610-221322.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mtJ3987F)
I'd say Kilgore is looking incredible.
And the board... I'm sure I can speak for everyone else, it's fab. Any imperfections you can see, are those of the artist, not the viewer. Really excellent work.
Thank you Sean. I'll have a noodle...
Simon
Without adding to your workload Simon how about picturing your figure with a still from the film in the background?
I can probably do that for you if that helps?
martin :)
Good idea Martin - I can have a pop at that.
Thanks,
Simon
Looks to me like you can bury the front of the board in the sand, and then pop the colonel next to it as is to finish the job. The actual basing will then enhance the model.
Thanks Andy - that is broadly the plan!
Simon
I've tried another board but haven't improved much on the first, so I think I'll stop here.
(https://i.postimg.cc/DWBdd48R/20210613-145332.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DWBdd48R)
Col Bill has now had a flesh wash (Coat d'arms #133 thinned 50:50 with Daler-Rowney flow enhancer).
I followed that up with some dabs of Army Painter Strong Tone (50:50 thinned as above) in the eye sockets, ears and mouth.
Varnishing and basing to go...
Simon
(https://i.postimg.cc/nsJpYM6K/20210613-145307.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nsJpYM6K)
Think that should now be your avatar on here now. Looks real groovy mahn!
Derek
If you watch the Redux version of Apocalypse Now there is an "interesting" scene in which the US liaison is explaining to the villagers "we are your friends" whilst a tank in the background is flaming and crushing the village
Point well illustrated.
martin ???
Yes, that is a good scene. Looking at a bunch of stills for this project, Col Bill seems to have a range of different hats, depending on the scene, too. I don't know whether that's another little joke or very poor continuity!
Simon
Quote from: Moggy on June 13, 2021, 03:50:41 PM
Think that should now be your avatar on here now. Looks real groovy mahn!
Derek
I may indeed do that, Derek. I might need to work on the photo with screenshot backdrop after the deadline, or I may not get it all done in time though.
Simon
I'll need to re-varnish, as the Humbrol Matte I used wasn't.
Meanwhile, it's all coming together on the base, complete with custom surf board attachment jig. Again, no expense has been spared in the making of this one-man command stand.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Mn1bpLDd/20210613-214907.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Mn1bpLDd)
Simon
A couple of coats of Vallejo quick drying Matt Varnish has taken the shine off the Colonel.
Almost there now, after spreading around some Vallejo Rough White Pumice (#26212).
(https://i.postimg.cc/2b9cCWBp/20210615-222159.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2b9cCWBp)
Simon
Just wonderful, Simon. Well done.
Quote from: Julian Bonny on June 15, 2021, 10:40:17 PM
very nice colonel.
i see you went for the "economy of work rate" option for the board's positioning.
i was thinking about surfboards for some vehicles for my Air Cav Executive mercenary army for AK47. Did you make the board ? or purchase ?
julian
Julian,
Yes indeed - your idea saved me a rake load of work!
I made the board myself. There's a picture in this thread (10th June) of how I started by gluing a print onto some plastic card. The tricky bit was to get the prints aligned on both sides - my second attempt was no better than my first.
I found cutting round the board shape with scissors to be rather more effective than a scalpel, though.
Hope that helps,
Simon
Quote from: Sean Clark on June 15, 2021, 10:51:45 PM
Just wonderful, Simon. Well done.
Thanks, Sean. Just the base painting and a final photo to go!
Simon
Very nice work Simon. Looking at this I am just getting a whiff of Napalm this morning....
Mike
That works Simon
martin :)
A quick coat of Vallejo Iraqui Sand 70819, dry-brushed Ivory 70918, and I hope the job's a good'un?
(https://i.postimg.cc/K1vdTmfc/20210616-220333.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K1vdTmfc)
Simon
Wow! ..
Really nice work, Simon 8)
The Hueys add that iconic touch - a stunning model.
You may have started a trend here. Our own Forum Avatars as figures. We just need Martin to sculpt them all.
Mike
Thank you chaps. This is possibly the longest thread yet on a single figure!
This group build was very helpful in getting me to finally start a project that I'd had in the back of my mind for years.
Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas, without which this would have turned out rather differently - or maybe not at all!
Simon
You are here by awarded the "Croix du cochon" in honour of your work.
Quote from: Big Mike on June 17, 2021, 05:23:28 AM
The Hueys add that iconic touch
Thanks Mike. After all, what is Vietnam gaming all about without Hueys?
Simon
Quote from: Sean Clark on June 17, 2021, 07:17:52 AM
You are here by awarded the "Croix du cochon" in honour of your work.
Merci, Monseigneur ;)
What a great figure Colonel. Something to be proud of. I hope you were listening to 'Ride of the Valkyries' at full volume whilst painting him.
Thank you John. I should probably make that track my phone ring tone!
Simon
Superb !
Great idea and superb work !! :)
Sensational work Simon. Definitely made this group build a worthwhile endeavour.
Thank you Paul and Xavier. It kept me away from finishing off the basing for my Crete paratroopers - a task I wasn't relishing but to which I will soon need to return. After which it's going to be more Vietnam, with a subject closer to Paul's neck of the woods.
Simon
You've put the colonel into a great setting.
Simon,
I feel we may have similar ideas on where we are taking our Vietnam games. Having said that I'm still keen to try and do a recreation of Hue. I've just bought a lovely Vietnamese shop from Timecast as a test piece.
Sean,
Timecast do some lovely stuff. I need to complete all the Vietnam scenery I have bought over the years - the next big push!
Simon
Simon, the poll for the second Group Build is open, vote for terrain and make a start on Vietnam. Apologies if you've already voted.
I'm glad this group build has produced a good result for you and I like the Huey's in the back ground.
Best wishes,
Martin Buck
Thanks Martin, I have, and I have :)
Simon
You might use him as your PBI company commander Simon
martin :)
I might indeed, Martin. He might be using a different ruleset from his opponents, though?
Simon