so that I might press on. . .
Over the last few days I have all-but-completed the face. Whilst the Web is a great repository of Lincoln iconography, my turn-to reference was Lincoln, Life Size by Philip B. Kunhardt III, et al. (NY: Knopf, 2009)--not perfect, but certainly invaluable, if only as a graphic personal chronology of our 16th President.
There still remains some "wrap-up" work to be done: the collar and tie, and tweaking the face; but the frontal view of the piece will change little in the days leading to priming.
Now for the "other half". . .
I drilled the right hand out when I received the kit in anticipation of having it holding a broad-axe. The problem with this presentation was that the exposed haft threw the figure out of kilter. And given Abe's background, where was the element of supernatural horror? So I decided to add a severed head--with fangs, of course!--that would only be visible when the figure was viewed from the rear. I am still undecided whether to include the axe and his stovepipe hat--the latter with a couple of "martyrs" (Lincoln's term in the book for his homemade Congreve [friction matches--named after, but not invented by, Sir William Congreve] 'flares').
FOLLOW-UP
The face is now just about done--all that is really left to do is the right eye, which then in turn might necessitate a slight rework of the left--depending on how hard I want to "push" the salient asymmetry of Lincoln's face.
I also reduced the size of the buttons somewhat--but not as much as you might think. The buttons appear dramatically oversized in the image, but I assure you they are not. Just needed a slight tweak. . .
UPDATE
The trophy head is now all-but-complete. While there is a bit of minor refining left to do to the hair, this will probably be addressed in situ once the head is permanently mounted, along with the addition of Abe's right thumb, etc.
Save for the right eye, and the final once-over, this figure is essentially done. Not bad for a week and a half of fun at the bench... Unless the addition of the right eye warrants some ip images, the next graphic update will be of the primed figure. . .
UPDATE (2)
With Q2-end looming large, this will probably be my last post until next weekend. . . Abe is now fully-orbed, and all that remains to be done are the lower eyelids on both eyes--I ended-up resculpting the left eye. I still have to give the figure the final once-over, but I am hoping to have it primed in 7-10 days.
FOLLOW-UP
The heads are done and awaiting priming. I decided to resculpt the shoes/boots to provide me with the option to display the figure on a "hard" (finished) surface, or earth; as well as depict a more realistic shoe size--and style. Once the shoes are done, so will the figure be...
15 June 2010
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - part 2
With less than five days into the project, I am very pleased with the way things are unfolding, and especially with how loquacious this figure has been (those of you who know me are well familiar with my "theory" that one must "listen" to the figure throughout the process-whether modelling or painting)!
I've just completed the left column of buttons, and with that I can say that save for the shirt, collar, and tie, the figure is all but done. Oh... there is still loads to do, tweaking here, re-defining there; but for practical purposes, we can deem the core work completed. BTW, for those that might be wondering, I have left Abe bare-headed and beardless, dating him ca. 1860, close to the last time he would be clean-shaven.
To recap, so far I have what is, IMHO, a decent portrait of our 16th President. But what of the "other" Abe? I'm considering a 'composite diptych', if you will: viewed from the front, a portrait figure of Abraham Lincoln around the time of his election; viewed from the rear, a faceless vampire-hunter holding a grisly trophy. I am as yet undecided whether to include the axe--and possibly his stovepipe hat.
I should have images up over the weekend. . .
I've just completed the left column of buttons, and with that I can say that save for the shirt, collar, and tie, the figure is all but done. Oh... there is still loads to do, tweaking here, re-defining there; but for practical purposes, we can deem the core work completed. BTW, for those that might be wondering, I have left Abe bare-headed and beardless, dating him ca. 1860, close to the last time he would be clean-shaven.
To recap, so far I have what is, IMHO, a decent portrait of our 16th President. But what of the "other" Abe? I'm considering a 'composite diptych', if you will: viewed from the front, a portrait figure of Abraham Lincoln around the time of his election; viewed from the rear, a faceless vampire-hunter holding a grisly trophy. I am as yet undecided whether to include the axe--and possibly his stovepipe hat.
I should have images up over the weekend. . .
11 June 2010
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (54mm)
Upon my return from work, I was welcomed by the arrival of Andrea's 54mm Undertaker, 1880's. Chuck (The Red Lancers) came through once again--no surprise there!
What was surprising, given my usual experiences with this manufacturer, was the overall quality of the casting! At the very worst, I would have to give it a VG+; and if not for some annoying minor mold tears, my sample would earn a well-deserved EXCELLENT!
The kit is comprised of 5 pieces, with the subject a one-piece casting measuring 53mm to the eyes--the only piece in the kit that will probably be used. While I will try to post images over the weekend, I have already begun the preliminary clean-up (usual seam lines--very light) and tweaking the face and the dress. Regarding the former, I have already removed the mustache and begun to "square" the angular Lee Van Cleef-ish look. As to the clothing, I have begun to modify the vest/shirt, coat, and shoes. As of this posting, the only putty work I foresee on the clothing will be the shirt collar, tie, and buttons (relocate three and add five).
The only addition to the kit I foresee making is that of Honest Abe's weapon of choice in his guise as a vampire hunter: a broad axe of the type he would have been more than familiar with as a rail-splitter of note and by trade.
To be continued. . .
FOLLOW-UP
The figure is now pegged and mounted on its working base. . .
As I continued the re-contouring of the face, it struck me that the proportions were a bit off for what I intended. So treating the prospective hunter as one of his prey, I lopped the head off! Now I have ample room to work on the shirt and vest, and I can decide whether to sculpt a new head from scratch, or convert a head from the spare parts bin. And whereas before there was no option--and I would have had to significantly modify the hat, I can now elect to have Abe hatted or not. A~
UPDATE
A quick check of the spare parts bin yielded a perfect base head--1/32nd Airfix--from which to develop my rendition of Lincoln. As of this writing, I have begun to hollow out the cheeks, enhance the chin and the supraorbital ridge, and flesh out the ears. I have also drilled out the neck on the figure, and fitted the head. A~
UPDATE
I would say the head is about 70% done. As the smaller scales (<70mm) are relatively unfamiliar territory, I am not sure how much more there is really left to do. And as the temporal setting remains undecided, I am straddling the fence on whether or not to include the beard. Regardless, progress continues. . .
On more solid ground, I have completed the right column of buttons: the three that were to be relocated--but were resculpted, plus one. Four to go. . .
What was surprising, given my usual experiences with this manufacturer, was the overall quality of the casting! At the very worst, I would have to give it a VG+; and if not for some annoying minor mold tears, my sample would earn a well-deserved EXCELLENT!
The kit is comprised of 5 pieces, with the subject a one-piece casting measuring 53mm to the eyes--the only piece in the kit that will probably be used. While I will try to post images over the weekend, I have already begun the preliminary clean-up (usual seam lines--very light) and tweaking the face and the dress. Regarding the former, I have already removed the mustache and begun to "square" the angular Lee Van Cleef-ish look. As to the clothing, I have begun to modify the vest/shirt, coat, and shoes. As of this posting, the only putty work I foresee on the clothing will be the shirt collar, tie, and buttons (relocate three and add five).
The only addition to the kit I foresee making is that of Honest Abe's weapon of choice in his guise as a vampire hunter: a broad axe of the type he would have been more than familiar with as a rail-splitter of note and by trade.
To be continued. . .
FOLLOW-UP
The figure is now pegged and mounted on its working base. . .
As I continued the re-contouring of the face, it struck me that the proportions were a bit off for what I intended. So treating the prospective hunter as one of his prey, I lopped the head off! Now I have ample room to work on the shirt and vest, and I can decide whether to sculpt a new head from scratch, or convert a head from the spare parts bin. And whereas before there was no option--and I would have had to significantly modify the hat, I can now elect to have Abe hatted or not. A~
UPDATE
A quick check of the spare parts bin yielded a perfect base head--1/32nd Airfix--from which to develop my rendition of Lincoln. As of this writing, I have begun to hollow out the cheeks, enhance the chin and the supraorbital ridge, and flesh out the ears. I have also drilled out the neck on the figure, and fitted the head. A~
UPDATE
I would say the head is about 70% done. As the smaller scales (<70mm) are relatively unfamiliar territory, I am not sure how much more there is really left to do. And as the temporal setting remains undecided, I am straddling the fence on whether or not to include the beard. Regardless, progress continues. . .
On more solid ground, I have completed the right column of buttons: the three that were to be relocated--but were resculpted, plus one. Four to go. . .
09 June 2010
Catching up. . .
It has been an inordinately long time, which just goes to underscore that one can serve but one master at a time. . . Maybe two. But three?
I have ongoing projects on three forums as I write: steady progress is being reported on two of these. Lamentably, it appears as if I will have to decompress a bit from my immersion into the horror/fantasy genre before I can dive in again.
But dive in I will, and I will be introducing a historical fantasy project within the week to get things rolling again on these pages, and hopefully reward your patience and persistence.
As a sneak preview of what is to come, I am about a third of the way through a most enjoyable read: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith (NY: Grand Central, 2010). I stumbled upon this title while "playing" with a colleague's iPad during one of those all-too-rare lulls at work. The reviews are mixed, running the gamut; and, for me at least, the basic premise seemed "forced". And yet. . .
Well, I finally gave in, and I am very pleased to say that I appear to have been wrong on all counts! Admittedly, two-thirds of any book is more than enough to dash what might turn out to be premature zeal; but to date, this has been an engaging, fun read, if somewhat linear and undemanding.
But this is not a literary blog. And you will find plenty of those that have sunk their teeth into this work--pun intended!--if you are so inclined. What this work has done for me is stoked the cooling embers of creative inspiration.
I originally conceived of a 150-200mm portrait figure of Abe, the Vampire Hunter, based on the dj illustration of the book. And while this is still a viable proposition, I decided upon a more modest prologue to this story: converting Andrea's 54mm Undertaker in their Golden West series (S4-F36) to Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. . .
To be continued. . .
I have ongoing projects on three forums as I write: steady progress is being reported on two of these. Lamentably, it appears as if I will have to decompress a bit from my immersion into the horror/fantasy genre before I can dive in again.
But dive in I will, and I will be introducing a historical fantasy project within the week to get things rolling again on these pages, and hopefully reward your patience and persistence.
As a sneak preview of what is to come, I am about a third of the way through a most enjoyable read: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith (NY: Grand Central, 2010). I stumbled upon this title while "playing" with a colleague's iPad during one of those all-too-rare lulls at work. The reviews are mixed, running the gamut; and, for me at least, the basic premise seemed "forced". And yet. . .
Well, I finally gave in, and I am very pleased to say that I appear to have been wrong on all counts! Admittedly, two-thirds of any book is more than enough to dash what might turn out to be premature zeal; but to date, this has been an engaging, fun read, if somewhat linear and undemanding.
But this is not a literary blog. And you will find plenty of those that have sunk their teeth into this work--pun intended!--if you are so inclined. What this work has done for me is stoked the cooling embers of creative inspiration.
I originally conceived of a 150-200mm portrait figure of Abe, the Vampire Hunter, based on the dj illustration of the book. And while this is still a viable proposition, I decided upon a more modest prologue to this story: converting Andrea's 54mm Undertaker in their Golden West series (S4-F36) to Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. . .
To be continued. . .
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