Red Skull #2--Preliminaries (3)

An update to the update. . .

The new head is coming along splendidly. . . Some additional scaling remains to be done, but definitely on track.

The main news is that I have attached the tails of the greatcoat to the torso, and fitted the former to the legs subassembly. This required that the locating pegs on each of the 4 component pieces be ground off, and the corresponding slits on the legs filled. It also required that the tails be reshaped somewhat to allow them to fit over--as opposed to around--the legs. There is considerable surface finishing to be done, but nothing unexpected or out of the ordinary considering the number of pieces comprising the tails. It should be noted that any finishing will be tentative until I see a full-body still from the movie: all I have right now is the concept art, which--I am delighted AND relieved to say--has proven to be remarkably accurate to date.

More to follow. . .

Red Skull #2--Preliminaries (2)

This is more of an update than a "new" posting per se, with considerable time having been spent on the head. I somehow got ahead of myself and ended-up losing my way around the base head; so now we essentially go for an original sculpt. While I am inclined to believe this will yield a superior likeness, it might even prove to be easier in the long run. In the short run, however, I will be forced to resculpt the eyes.

I have removed the "electrodes", etc. from the sleeves of the great coat. The right and left arms were provisionally tacked in place (CA+), and sectioned and pegged (including the hand), respectively. This step was critical since the figure will be interacting with what is being held in the left hand.

All in all, save for the cranial detour, I am very pleased with the progress to date. Unless more stills get released soon, I will be forced to put the project aside until the release of the movie as I am fast approaching the point of no return. No biggie. . . more time to work on the bust!

Revenant

The last week has been trying at best--dealing with the day-to-day while feeling markedly less than 100% makes for long, hard days. It also means that there is considerably less time to be spent at the bench, which is not necessarily a bad thing. . .

As much as I have enjoyed planning and "designing" the Gaslight Birds of Prey, it is time to move on to less monopolizing pursuits. Thus the ladies have been securely withdrawn from the bench, freeing up much needed space and providing a wide-angle view of what could potentially lie ahead. In no particular order. . .

I spent a productive hour or so yesterday with the ip movie version of the Red Skull. If you recall, this will be a full figure. . . a 1/12th-scale full figure! I roughed-in the salient landmarks of the face with MS, as well as removing the collar from the "plastron" of the upper coat, and permanently attaching the same to the torso. I will hopefully have some time--and the "ganas"--to work on the face this weekend and post a graphic update. So far, this is proving to be an ideal kit for this conversion!

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of Mike Hill's bust of Bela Lugosi as Dracula, produced by Forbidden Zone. You might recall the difficulties I had acquiring one of its two companion pieces, the Frankenstein Monster (the other being the Wolf Man from one of the sequels to the 1941 classic) . . . this acquisition was much easier, as a colleague was looking to part with his. For some reason, the 'Classic Monster Bug' has sunk its fangs into me, and I feel compelled to spend some time with my old childhood friends. Unless I am gravely (pun intended) mistaken, I am hoping to have this one cleaned, primed, and on the painting bench within a fortnight, give or take. . .

Along with at least one of the Smart Max SP offerings. . .

Stay tuned. . .

Red Skull #2--Preliminaries (1)

Well, with ongoing weather-related connectivity issues, it afforded me some general bench-time. And it was well-spent familiarizing myself with the kit, and getting the project underway. . .

• Assembled the legs and filled the seam
  
• Removed the electrodes(?) from the boots
• Roughed-in the cranium on the head
• Finished filling the unnecessary accessory attachment points
• Provisionally pegged the lower legs/boots
• Pegged the head
  

I foresee a couple more of these "head-start sessions" before putting the kit away until the release of the movie this Summer. . .

REVIEW-Hauptsturmführer Konrad von Kardsten

"The dark Captain von Kardsten is the commanding officer of the infamous Kommando Parsifal, the armed wing of the Okkultbüro.

Although the very existence of the Kommando Parsifal has never been documented, its men are rumoured to have been the very first to set foot on Thule."

As always, great stuff from Smart Max! The question now is: do we do him stock? Or do we adapt him to some character from Hellboy?? Or. . .

Hauptsturmführer Konrad von Kardsten is a character from Smart Max's Mauser Earth line. Originally offered as a 1/35th scale offering, the 150mm version was released late last year, the third 1/12th scale offering from Smart Max. Interestingly, the 150mm figures appear to be a collaborative effort between Smart Max and DESkit. While not being privy to the particulars, it would appear that DESkit is doing the casting work in these larger scales, as the figure is cast in an olive green resin.

The kit is comprised of 24 crisply cast pieces. One will encounter some air holes, but nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, I am very pleased with the evinced production quality! While somewhat "simplistic", if you will--the kit definitely has a "polystyrene figure- model feel" to it, in this scale it is an open invitation to let your hair down, and have some fun hyper-detailing!

But, alas, not for me. What prompted me to acquire this figure were the first images of the Red Skull from the forthcoming Marvel movie event: this will be the base figure in my rendition of Hugo Weaving as Herr Johann Schmidt, Der Rote Schädel.

Preliminary work is underway, but I don't expect to get rolling on this piece until late Summer at the earliest.

Red Skull preview. . . FF #2?

Just got home from work to discover this image plastered all over the Web . . . just a slight exaggeration. . .


This is, of course, the first "high res" shot of Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt, bka The Red Skull, from the highly-anticipated Summer release of Captain America: The First Avenger.

The fanboys are raising the hue-and-cry on both sides of the fence. Fortunately, I believe most are enthusiastically favorable in their comments. I know I am! Yes, I will agree with some of the detractors with regard to the "futuristic" costume--a little too; and the expunging of Nazi insignia on the person of Herr Schmidt. BUT. . . depending on how they handle the HYDRA connection, and the time/storyline, this might be but a quibble when it's all said and done.

So. . . what do YOU think? Is it a "PASS"? Or are you reduced to unintelligible groans in your disappointment??

One I thing I do know. . . this image has me seriously thinking about Red Skull Full Figure #2. Whereas my first rendition was hard-line historical fantasy; this one would attempt to recreate the character from the movie.

We'll see. . .

PS--And the figure I have in mind for this conversion is on its way. . . more to follow!