13 August 2011

Baba Yaga - Converting SM's Nibaba

The other day I was discussing what-we-do with my lady, and she brought-up the topic of Baba Yaga and why a figure had not been done of this archetype of Eastern European folklore. She then pondered why Smart Max had deviated so drastically from her usual depiction in their release of Nibaba.

Why indeed? I'm in no position to account for the enigmatic design; however, what I can do is make Baba Yaga from Nibaba!

The figure was designed and sculpted by the very talented Allan Carrasco. The kit is comprised of 8 pieces + base, superbly cast in the grey-green PUR preferred by Smart Max. I will use 6 of the eight pieces in this conversion project, discarding the base and the oaken "legs" of Nibaba.

To date, the figure portion of the project calls for the sculpting of the lower half of Baba Yaga (pelvic girdle and thighs roughed-in); making a mortar (now cast; hollowing and detailing to come) and pestle, and silver birch broom; and resculpting the right hand.

More to follow. . . !

UPDATE - 28.08.11. . . The lower half of BY is now completely roughed in: all that remains to be done is "lock" the pose and "putty"-out the soles of the feet; but that will have to wait until the mortar is completed.

While the right hand will be resculpted, after mulling the matter over, I am not sure if will be a resculpt or an extensive modification: I might simply modify the limb to take the form of a natural silver birch broom. . . A deviation from the canon that might work quite nicely. . .

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