Hawkgirl

First of all, while certainly "presentable" as provided, my patronage of Eaglemoss is driven by my desire to acquire depictions that "strike a chord" of my favourite comic book characters at extremely reasonable prices with the intent to strip and repaint the subject. Let's face it, what is more cost-effective: a US$15-20.00 80-85mm pre-paint; or a US$65-70.00 65-75mm poorly cast and designed kit?

First up. . . Hawkgirl! Growing up, Hawkman and his lady wife and/or companion were one of the few characters that would have me cross into DC territory. They were not only cool looking, but they were armed with ancient/medieval weapons! What more could one ask for?

But I digress. . . Eaglemoss's Hawkgirl is their 63rd DC release (you can get an idea of what you get here). Ironically, this is the poorest example of an Eaglemoss figurine I have received to date: the paint job was well below average, there were glue-streaks on the figure, and the spear arrived broken. The first two are non-issues as the figure will be stripped; the latter come to think of it, is a non-issue as well, as I always intended to replace the spear. So. . . no harm, no foul.

Eaglemoss is very conscientious about cautioning the prospective buyer that these are LEAD figurines! Well, they might contain lead, but the alloy being used is significantly harder than the Marvel kits I have been working on during the second half of the year! RE: health concerns, anyone who has been in the hobby for over 25 years has handled a LOT worse: just use common sense and follow best- modelling practices. These figures obviously contain lead, but no more than the most popular--and common--casting alloys of the 80s and early 90s.

AND. . . this is a multi-media kit! As I was agonizing how to best separate the figure from its base, and the wings from the figure (the spear is provided separately), I discovered that the DC-logo'd plinth and the wings were cast in polyester resin! What might have been a 2-3 hour job was completed in less than 20 minutes! And I found but a single(!) air bubble on one of the wings. The figure is now ready for stripping, clean-up, and detail enhancement!

Before closing, this offering measures 80mm to the eyes.

More to follow!

FOLLOW-UP. . . The figure is now stripped!!! While I will elaborate in the days to come, I just wanted to point out yet another [WELCOME!] surprise: the cheek pieces on the helmet are custom-cut shims of brass individually epoxied/Gorilla-glued? in place prior to painting! This degree of attention to detail on a "mass-market" pre-paint? Boy, is our industry behind the pace!!!

Eaglemoss???

Allow me to cut to the chase. . . I am a huge fan of Eaglemoss. After the arrival today of my latest acquisition, I can say I am an ardent fan of Eaglemoss!

For those of you not familiar with this UK publishing house, Eaglemoss is a partworks publisher. At its simplest, partwork is like a Time-Life series where the publications are "magazines" (more at folios), usually accompanied by a cover-mounted item, which over time will yield a complete set or complete object. While I cannot give you an American example, there are notable part- work publishers in the UK, Italy and Spain.

I've never been very big into the partwork scene--if only because the quality of the cover item is usually quite sub-standard. Enter Eaglemoss. This publisher is producing under license a series of DC and Marvel collectible pre-paints averaging 80-85mm in height that are really quite remark- able--all the more as the average item upon release will retail for less than US$15.00(!), and remember that includes a 20pp profile of the featured character. Now, in today's hyper-inflated figure market, where can you find an 80-85mm figure--to say nothing of a decently sculpted and cast 80-85mm figure--for less than $15.00???!!!

For those who are interested, I will let your fingers do the Google-ing. There are LOADS of sites devoted to these little gems. Feeling less inquisitive? Try Eaglemoss's Classic Marvel Figurine Collection or DC Comics Super Hero Collection.

I am currently the "proud" owner of six releases: 4 Marvel and 2 DC. In the days ahead, I will review my latest acquisition: Hawkgirl, and the surprises therein. . .

Ragin' Cajun -- UPDATE (4)

I was hoping to be a bit further along than I am, but "tis the Season" indeed. . .

As I said in my last update, the clean-up and re-detailing are not going to end any time soon. . . BUT they will end, and progress IS being made.

The overall clean-up is essentially done. I am still struggling with re-scribing the seemingly de-rigeur "bands" on Remy's boots (what is it with all the "banding" on comic book costumes?), but I'm almost there. Otherwise, the legs are all but done.

I am still hoping to have the figure ready for priming by the end of the weekend, though I don't imagine it will get primed 'til next week some time. . .

Until then, my best wishes for a safe and Happy New Year's celebration, and all the very best in 2011.

Ragin' Cajun -- UPDATE (3)

By way of update, clean-up and re-detailing continue. It's not going to end any time soon. . .

I have reworked the waist-belt so that the left third is now an add-on piece. Time well spent, as it would probably not have survived the first couple of days of painting. The head, after reworking the coiffure to my satisfaction (definitely a short-cut expedient on KM's part as provided!), is now permanently attached and the neck reworked to account for the re-positioning. I had to resculpt the index finger of the left hand (using ProCreate) after losing it in a pre-attachment dry-fit run of the bō and left arm. Finally, the legs are well on their way to completion, and I hope to have them wrapped-up this weekend.

Back to the bench. . . !

FOLLOW-UP. . . Left hand completed and left arm permanently attached and drapery adjusted. Save for final finishing and spot re-detailing, torso is now all-but-done.

Holiday Greetings '10

Do as I say, and not as I do. . .

Take some time for yourselves this Holiday Season, and plot out a new project; or make some inroads on an ongoing venture; or simply wrap-up that poor soul that has been desperately clamoring for completion!

But above all, enjoy whatever time you have with family and friends. We're less than a fortnight away from wrapping-up the first decade of the 21st c., and, depending on your perspective, it just keeps getting more and more "interesting"--or downright scary. . .

And with that, I would like to take this opportunity to wish the readership a joyous, restful, peaceful--and, yes, productive!--Holiday Season; and a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY HANUKKAH
FELIZ NAVIDAD
BUON NATALE
FRÖLICHE WEINACHTEN
JOYEUX NOËL
S'ROZHDESTVOM KRISTOVYM
SUNG TAN CHUK HA
WESOŁYCH ŚWIĄT BOŻEGO NARODZENIA

Augie

Ragin' Cajun -- UPDATE (2)

I would say that the putty-work--save for minor touch-ups and "seam swipes"--can now be deemed done!

Over the last couple of days, I have all-but-finished the surface finishing of the trench coat (save for the sleeves/arms), AND added the three-piece waist-belt. Surface finishing of the metal has tentatively begun, employing a coarser buffing pad and burnisher. A lighter touch while using the latter underscores the softness of the metal!

At this rate, this piece might be primed by the first week of the New Year. . .

Red Skull--FINE

Not quite, but close enough. . .

There is still quite a bit of fine detailing and finishing to be done (and, yes, the holstered pistol and the shoulder boards have yet to be added), but these minor tweaks would hardly be noticeable in a digital image unless it were a detail shot. So, as I head off to the bench, I leave you with the "Red Skull". . .

Smart Max has gone BIG! -- Follow-Up

Smart Max has just announced the release of their third 1/12th scale (150mm) offering: Hauptsturmführer Konrad von Kardsten. Much like Captain-Deacon Zaitseva, this piece is in their Mauser Earth range, and it is an up-scaled derivative of their original 1/35th scale offering. I'm gonna have to try to get a hand's-on look at this one at the upcoming Show as it offers many possibilities. . .

Having said that, I was hoping the next 150 would have been from the Smog 1888 range. When I asked Cedric about it on pF, he did not respond. . .

Red Skull--Update (2)

I'm roughly on-track with this one, though given what lies before me, I don't expect to have him primed before the Holiday weekend. In any event, began the detailing of the corrected boots this afternoon, as well as working on the collar patches and the badge to the right of the Eisernes Kreuz, 1 Kl.

The right collar patch has had the Sigrunen removed to be replaced with a Totenkopf on a red background--this has no historical precedent AFAIK. The left collar patch has been converted to represent the rank of Oberst-Gruppenführer, again with a red background. The General Assault Badge is being "converted" to an Anti-Partisan Badge: how well I succeed is yet to be seen. I chose the BA as I felt its design not only [strongly] alluded to HYDRA, but incorporated a skull--as well as reflecting the historical canon.

Back to the bench!

UPDATE 13.12.10. . . The Red Skull should be ready for priming by the weekend: all the insignia, awards, and decorations are now done! And the left arm has been attached and 'filled'--quick swipe of MS will do ya. I still have to "update" the shoulder boards (cast separately), but these can be set aside until an opportune moment arises. Aside from that, all that remains to be done this week is final finishing and giving the figure a thorough once over. . .

Bring on Le Diable Blanc !!!!!!!. . .

PS--In case anyone was wondering, the RK has been enhanced with oak leaves and swords.

Thumbnails

This might be old hat to most, but given the number of visitors we attract on a daily basis, I think it might be worth highlighting.

The majority of images you see on the blog are "thumbnails". No, not your classic thumbnail, but thumbnails nonetheless: smaller versions of the original image. The blog limits the user to a width of 400 pixels. This might be sufficient--and it has indeed proved itself to be so--on standing figures smaller than 120mm, give or take, with relatively small footprints; but for everything else, it is woefully inadequate.

Not a problem! In those instances where I feel a 400-pixel wide image is insufficient, I simply link the thumbnail (350-400 pixels wide) back to the source image. How do you know if the image is linked? Simply run your cursor over the image and if the arrow changes into a hand with an outstretched index finger, it's a linked image! Click on the image and you will be taken to the full-sized image.

Now, depending on the dimensions of your monitor, you might have a reduced-sized image before you. In these instances, when you run the cursor over the image, you will see the arrow change into a magnifying glass with a + sign in it: click on the image and it will go to full-size.

If you have any problems, please don't hesitate to comment.

ENJOY!

Augie

Vampire Bat (I)-- Priming

As I won't know day-to-day when I will have the opportunity to string a thread of meaningful posts together, I am going to [try to] break these sbs's down to their structural components. Thus, step 1 is Priming, and the Vampire Bat is now ready to accept the acrylic undercoating. . .

On to Acts I. . .

The overtures are completed for two of our protagonists (with two waiting in the wings), so as stages are prepared for the respective first Acts (bka undercoating), I just wanted to let you know that the "Vampire Bat" and "Doom" are now primed, and curing. If it's not too cold or humid tomorrow, I might start blocking-in some acrylics. . .

Doom TOO???

It goes without saying that not only will this be a 201? project; but that it will not involve the source of the travails I have yet to put behind me. . .

I was spending some time on eBay the other day, when I ran across Verlinden's 120mm "Eve before the Battle" (#1356) in their Agincourt series. . .


I'm sure most of you can see where this is going. . .

As a man-at-arms/knight of the period--much less a protagonist at Agincourt, there is no way I can recommend this piece. But as the basis for an extreme "makeover" into the Lord of Latveria, it has potential to spare!

The casting was on par with what we have come to expect from Verlinden, perhaps even a little better! The resin quality is certainly a noticeable improvement--and clearly some thought went into the engineering and design! The self-contained vignette is comprised of 29 pieces (including two printed maps) + a sizable chunk of proportionate groundwork--very nicely done, btw! 14 of these have already been culled, 8 of which will end up in the spare parts bins along with the base.

I am rather excited about the promise evinced by this kit. We'll see how things unfold. . .

FOLLOW-UP. . . While waiting for some putty to cure, I began the general clean-up, more at familiarizing myself with the kit. Most of the "block" sprues have now been removed; and the camp chair, the future throne, cast in two halves (r & l), has been assembled. To this point, no real surprises or revelations.

The main hurdle before me is deciding whether to add bulk to the armour. This is a tricky propo- sition, as increasing the surface area of the plate could effectively distort the proportions of the figure. Still there is a happy medium: the question is whether it is worth the additional effort. . .

ATLANTA 2011--FANTASY CATEGORY: Update (3)

The Show site has been updated as of today, so everything is more or less in place. To get to the site, simply click on the Show banner at the top of the page.

Hope to see you there!

Doom's Overture

I give you. . . VICTOR. . . VON. . . DOOM. . .




All that remains to be done is some detailing on, and final finishing of, the gauntlets and arm harnesses. Priming will occur in the next week.

In the meantime, while most of the work done is relatively self- evident, should you have any questions please feel free to ask. That which is not altogether clear will be revealed when I post the primed sub-assemblies. Finally, those of you familiar with the character--or with a very sharp eye--will notice that I removed the crudely-modelled twisted "rope" connecting the clasps, to be replaced by scale chain.

Kelley Jones' Vampire Bat-PAINTING

As priming will not be done until the weekend--later in the week at best--I thought I'd get the ball rolling with images of the pre-primed bust. . . Consider this the overture to what is to come. . .




As I mentioned earlier, the only real modifications to the stock piece was the reduction in height of the base, and the adjustment of the attachment of the bust--and thereby the "pose"of the bust--to the same.

PAINTING SEASON HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DECLARED OPEN!

Doctor Doom -- UPDATE

Save for the usual touch-ups, etc., the putty work on Doom is done!

All that now remains to be done before priming is attaching the right leg to the body. The reworked gauntlet cuffs still have to be finished; but since the arms are to be painted pre-attachment, once I confirm the fit, I can set these aside until the time comes.

What will have to be done prior to priming is the groundwork. Since there are no mounting pegs on the throne itself , the assembled piece will be secured by a central brass rod into the body, and the slight indentations of the outline of the throne on the MS ground- work.

I'm about half-a-day behind schedule--priming is slated for next weekend, give or take.

FOLLOW-UP. . . The "groundwork" has been roughed-in using MS, and the assembled seated figure set upon it so as to leave an impression. Once the MS is cured, the "groundwork" will be surface-finished and detailed. Almost there. . .

FOLLOW-UP (2) . . . The "groundwork" is DONE! And with that, once the final once-over is completed, the figure will be ready for priming.

The gauntlets are all-but-done; just some minor touch-ups and final clean-up remaining. . . Back to the bench!

Ragin' Cajun -- UPDATE

Remy's head, which is provided as a separate piece with a rather tenuous attachment, has been pinned, the collar hollowed, a neck added to the head with MS, and the head repositioned. . . everything has finally come together!

Spidey Noir in 2011

You might recall my less than enthusiastic review of Pegaso's 90mm SS-Sturmbannführer of Artillery, 2nd SS Panzer Division ''Das Reich'', France 1944 in my introductory posting to the Red Skull project. Well, today I received a "used" kit of the same subject from a trusted friend and colleague, and the differences are overwhelmingly obvious! I won't launch into a well-worn rant, but what has the hobby come to when you have to pay more--and get less!!!--with a late-run casting? Maybe this "driving" (as in hunting) approach is the latest marketing theory (read: ploy) in order to recapture the initial investment as quickly as possible. . .

Be that as it may. . . I acquired a second Sturmbannführer as it will serve as the base for a somewhat more ambitious conversion: Spider-Man Noir. This project is green-lighted for next year, and I am very much looking forward to seeing this one unfold.

More on Marvel's Noir alternate reality (S-mN is set in 1933-34) when the project is launched; but in the meantime, those not familiar with this setting can check out the usual sites, or simply Google "Marvel Noir" or "Spider-man Noir".

The Scorpion (Carmilla Black)

I'll keep this short and sweet, but I just wanted to share with you that I have just received a bust of Marvel's female Scorpion, Carmilla Black (picture), from the same source as the Jones "Vampire Bat".

As with the latter, this five-piece bust is cast in my favourite PUR and the casting quality is a solid A. Only one or two spots require extra-ordinary attention and these are quickly dealt with.

As this will be a 2011 project, I intend to make a few minor changes/additions here and there; and I am considering reworking the left arm to depict an expanded gauntlet--but more on this when the time comes.

Back to the heel plates on Doom. . . !