The Mummy--Step 2: The Mummy Grows. . .

The next step--and the last major deviation from the stock kit--is "adjusting" the proportions.

This type of reconstruction is never "easy", irrespective of medium, subject, or scale. One should never dive into this blithely, and the old saw of "measure twice, cut once", is especially apropos. In this instance, it wasn't so much the cutting, as where to cut. After repeated measurings--head-to-toe and vice-versa--I determined that the indicated place to section the legs was slightly below mid-thigh, just past the locating hole for the loose wrapping (see green-tinted area in image in Step 1). This was done with a fibreglass-reinforced cutting wheel on a Dremel: remember that I am cutting through not only the polystyrene "shell", but the PUR core.

Once sectioned, I proceeded to drill a 1/8" d. hole into either section and then inserted a tin-solder spacer, effectively increasing the length of the femurs. Assuring myself of the new proportions and adjusting the pose ever so slightly, I then packed the gap with MS. Filling the space is a minimum two-step process: pack the gap and lock the pose; and then finish the surface in successive steps. One down. . .

Finally, I removed all traces of what passes for the scarab ring. The relief is perfunctory and the detail sketchy at best. With the remaining MS I carefully created a slightly oversized "blank" that will be sized and carved in the days to come.

More to follow. . .

The Mummy--Step 1: Solving the Riddle of the Mummy. . .

With the head now well on its way, and knowing that I was nowhere near a stopping point, it was time to consider my next step.

The coffin is not a very good candidate, as this is a project-within-a-project. . . or is it the other way around? So that leaves me with the mummy itself, and the issue of arm lengths vs. proportions.

The respective arm lengths are correct. The problem lies in the fact that the figure is but 7 heads tall--BUT the proportions are for that of at least a 7 1/2 heads-tall figure! Again, I don't know if there was intermediary shrinkage during pre-production; or production shrinkage. And it is irrelevant: the body is at least a half-head too short, and it is up to the end-user to determine if it is worth correcting or not. Obviously, you know which path I will take.

The first step is to assemble the mummy's body. The fit is excellent and very "positive" (thanks to medial "locking pegs" down the length of the body halves), and assembly of the four components was accomplished in no time. . .The assembled body--minus arms, head and stray wrappings--was filled ~3/4 full with PUR (100cc).


Above you see the assembled body with the scaling grid "Sharpie"'d in, and the Phase II head tentatively positioned on a length of tin solder. By way of follow-up, the arms have been assembled and positioned, with MS used as a filler in the small space between the arms and the torso.

Erik, the Opera Ghost--Act I: [Curtain]

The head is finally done. . .


Or as done as it is going to get at this time. There is still some minor clean-up, tweaking, and detailing left to be done, but I will leave that for when I begin to work on the project in earnest.

Now it's on to Karloff and back to the Wolf Man. . .

Moebius' The Mummy: Reworking the Head

With the Phantom's head all but done, I was ready to resume the finishing on the Wolf Man. . . that is, until I began examining Moebius' latest in the course of preparing the review. As I indicated:

". . . it is not a very good likeness of Karloff--and the ears are HUGE!"

I am not sufficiently familiar with the process of injection molding to speculate if the head-as-provided was a product of distortion that occurred during production; nevertheless, that would be the best way to describe what is before us.


The dorsal (back) half of the head was molded en suite with the body: the first step was to separate it with a jeweler's saw. I then glued the head halves together, and once dry, filled the head with PUR.

The right side of the head is now about 80% done; the left side has barely been touched to provide a comparative view. Note the "original" ear on the latter! I have also reduced the back of the head by about 20% to correct a noticeable parieto-occipital distortion: while cranial deformation was practiced in Ancient Egypt, this was not an aspect of the Pierce makeover.

Check back often for updates to this mini-project. . .

Moebius' The Mummy

This is the dazzling Basil Gogos boxart for Moebius' latest addition to the dungeon of 1/8th scale polystyrene Universal monsters. While undoubtedly one of the finest releases ever in this genre and medium, is it everything we could have hoped for?

The first thing that strikes you--after the artwork, of course--is the size of the box: it is a whopping 12.5 x 9.75 x 5.25 ins.! Inside you will find 43 pieces cast in pale-grey polystyrene. VG+ casting throughout, with zero flash (yes, it is a new kit and flash should not be an issue; but unfortunately we all know better) and minimal "fade". This is most noticeable on the ears, but more on this later... Rounding off the impressive contents is a 4pp, 4-color refsheet by Jeff Bond and Dave Metzner. TOP NOTCH!

The design of the sculpture is very reminiscent of Janus's l-o-n-g OOP Im-ho-tep and Sideshow's Premium Format "The Mummy and Sarcophagus" offerings. The one telling difference is the price. . . and the fact that this is is readily available!

PLUSES:
1) Excellent styrene! I have taken Dremel and blade to it, and it responds beautifully! You won't be able to ramp up the rpm's--any more than you could on any styrene--but it is hardier than most. Quick response to liquid cement--in most instances, you shouldn't need to resort to clamps, tape, or rubber bands: hold for a few minutes, finalize the position, and set aside.

2) EXCELLENT fit with "positive lock" on many of the major subassemblies. There will be some filler work required, but compared to most "large-scale" styrene figure kits, this one can be described as "filler free".

3) SUPERB engineering/design! I was somewhat apprehensive over how the kit would be broken down, especially as I have "plans" which would have been easily derailed if the kit had been engineered otherwise. No worries whatsoever! The kit is designed to allow us, the modeller, to take it as far as our abilities and imagination will permit.

MINUSES:
Really only one. Unfortunately, it (collectively, they) all involve the titular subject. First of all, it is not a very good likeness of Karloff (I appear to be in the distinct minority in this, as most reviews have raved about the likeness. . . go figure)--and the ears are HUGE! I have already commenced the re-modelling of the head, and I will post images shortly to illustrate. Secondly the proportions are off: either the overall length of the body is too short; and/or the arms are too long. Something will have to be done to eliminate, or at least mitigate, the knuckle-dragging look, and hopefully allow the mummy to fill out the coffin a bit more.

This is a MUST HAVE kit! If it is your first monster model, you're in for a treat! If you're an old 'Monster Kid' who remembers the days when you could pick up an Aurora kit for 8 bits, this will take you back to those halcyon days with none of the downsides.

Augie

The week of 6/7. . .

1) The Phantom head--Phase III, posted below, has been further refined and enhanced with every component, including the hair (!), either finished or well in-progress. [UPDATE: save for a few enhancements, tweaks, and [relatively] minor points of detail, which are being worked upon assiduously, the head is DONE!]

2) After much thought and deliberation, ordered and received the Image Entertainment edition of the Phantom of the Opera. A definite improvement over my decades old VHS copy!

3) Ordered Moebius's new kit of The Mummy, arguably the most exciting new injection-molded kit of the UMs in over 25 years!

PS--Item received today (18/06/09). In a word. . . AWESOME!!!!!!

4) Ordered and received Philippe Faraut's eagerly anticipated follow-up volume to Portrait Sculpting: Anatomy & Expression in Clay: Mastering Portraiture: Advanced Analyses of the Face Sculpted in Clay.

5) Ordered PL's Headless Horseman from Burton's Sleepy Hollow. This is obviously a long-OP kit, and based on everything I have seen and read, not a particularly good one. . . but what can I say: I love the subject matter; enjoyed the movie immensely; and the kit is not likely to be reissued/redone.

PS--Item received today (17/06/09). My example was cast in the off-white polystyrene (same as The Wolf Man and Phantom)--I have read in reviews, etc. that some [early?] runs were produced in ABS? If the Phantom is a long-term project, this is a lifetime project! MUCH work to be done . . .

6) Finally, Doyusha has released a 1/4 scale kit of Naoe Kanetsugu's "Love" kabuto. This is the first new addition to their helmet line since I don't know when. . . and hopefully not the last! It is on order.

PS--Item received today (26/06/09). Arguably the best in the series, though I would be hesitant to argue the point too stridently. This might not be my favourite of the Sengoku kabuto, but it is undeniably one of the most interesting. MUST HAVE!

This ought to keep me busy for a while. . .

"The Monster 1931"--INTRO

Thanks to the help of a colleague and fellow UMA and Clubhouse member, my Grailquest for Mike Hill's 1/4th scale bust of the Frankenstein Monster (1931) was successfully concluded this week.

IMHO, this is the best rendition of the Monster in the "smaller" scales. Exquisitely cast in 3 pieces (plus 3 pieces for the base--base, nameplate, and a length of clear lexan rod) by Earthbound Studios, and released by Forbidden Zone, this is some of the finest casting I have ever seen(!): ZERO bubbles; no seam lines to speak of, save for a slight shift at the sprue mouth; and the finest resin I have ever encountered.

While I had some difficulty in locating and acquiring the kit, it is still available via Forbidden Zone. Though some patience will be required, it will be worth it!