ALVH-Painting - Intermezzo (2): Groundwork.

The "groundwork", as it were, is now done. As I mentioned earlier, all that really needed doing was integrating the kit-provided, modified wooden sidewalk with the display base. This was accomplished by the addition of a 'dirt' (MS) sub-flooring, that serves to anchor the sidewalk.

And. . . Phase 1 of the painting was just completed. P1 involved just the sidewalk and was limited to acrylics. I'm quite pleased to this point. P2 will finish the sub-flooring, etc. , also in acrylics, as an undercoat.

More to follow. . .

Red Skull (Bust)-Painting (8): Home stretch. . .

I'm definitely on the home stretch of this project, but it will be a L-O-N-G stretch, as you might have gathered.

In any case, two noteworthy events since the last posting:

1. The non-metallic portions of the collar patches were completed last night.
   
2. The torso has been transferred to the bust's permanent display base.

Slowly, but surely. . .

Monday. . .

The prep of ALVH's groundwork has been completed. I may have to fine-tune the putty-work a bit once the masking tape is removed and the one-figure vignette is mounted; but, the overall work is done!

Once that was done, I turned my attention to Herr Schmidt. I began paring away at the seemingly endless "minutiae" that must be completed before I can even begin to contemplate the consolidation of the five pieces of this bust.

Today, I tackled the Waffenfarben of the collar patches, painting them a Giftgrün. By the end of this week, I hope to have the collar patches done--or all-but. I also base-coated the EKII ribbon, lightly shading the folds and blocking-in the black outer columns.

I also decided that Divio Juckal will probably not make it to the Show this year. There are less than three weeks to go, and I do not feel that is sufficient time to realize my vision of this piece with but two full weekends between now and the Show. . .

More to follow. . .

Red Skull (Bust)-Painting (6): The Hand

I am fast approaching assembly time, but as "the devil is in the details", the details are giving me Hell!

To make a long story short, this bust probably won't be assembled until days before the Show! The collar patches have to be completed before I can attach the head. The torso details have to be completed before I can attach the forearm. Etc., etc. etc. Thus, the bench will likely remain cluttered until the very end. . .

But the SHOW must go on! Today, I finished the hand. I fully intend to revisit this once the forearm is attached, and before and after the cigarette holder is in place.

That's pretty much it for today. As I said, a largely unproductive weekend. . . but every little bit counts!

Red Skull (Bust)-Painting (5): Trench-coat

I got up early today so as not to lose an entire painting weekend. . . with less than three weeks to go, time is of the essence!

This morning I tackled the leather on Herr Schmidt. The trench-coat was painted using a "cool-ish" mix of Perylene Maroon and Pthalo Green. The more wear-prone areas were highlighted with umbers; the fresher areas with off-whites.

NEXT: THE DETAILS!

ALVH-Painting -- Intermezzo: Base- and Groundwork, and. . .

It's shaping up to be a bit of a slow weekend brush-wise, so I am going to make the best of it and start clipping and tying-off loose threads. . .

First up. . . ALVH's base and groundwork. I am using an Andrea base; PP-05 to be precise. Not a bad base, per se, but definitely not up to "show" standards! So I spent some time with sandpaper, pads, and film, and got it to an acceptable level. I then textured the pedestal with Rust-oleum Black Multi-Colored Textured spray, which helped hide any remaining flaws. While it may not be a show-stopper, it does set off the figure nicely! And that, after all, is the primary job of a base!!

More to follow in the days ahead as the situation warrants. . .

UPDATE - 28.01.2012. . . I began the groundwork today, fairing-in the kit-supplied "boardwalk"--albeit significantly stressed and modi- fied--to the finished base. It's about 60-or so % done: one more session, two at the outside, ought to take care of it.

The collar is now done. All that is really left to paint per se on the figure is the watch chain. The rest is finishing and minor details; and once mounted, the hair.

ALVH-Painting -- Oils (4): The Severed Head.

Not a whole lot of surplus energy today, so I merely took stock of my progress to date, and concluded Phase 1 of the vampire's head. I will undercoat the hair tonight, and decide whether to paint the hair on or off the figure by Wednesday.

UPDATE - 24.01.2012. . . The severed head has been permanently mounted! The hair will be painted in oils in situ. U/cing of the hair is now complete.

ALVH-Painting -- Oils (3): Coat, etc.

I am delighted to report that the first project of/for 2012 has now been effectively concluded. Save for the collar, minor details, and finishing, the figure of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter is now in the can.

Of course, the lion's share of the work remains: base, groundwork, all accessories. But considering where we were a mere 9 days ago, a monumental step in the right direction. . .

ALVH-Painting -- Oils (2): Pants, boots, etc.

The afternoon was spent with Mr. Lincoln. After tweaking the face (one or two more sessions remaining), and glazing the eyes, I tackled the pants and the boots. The pants will probably be revisited once the coat and waistcoat are done; but for now, an auspicious start.

I am going to try to have the waistcoat done this weekend. . .

UPDATE. . . The waistcoat is now done. . .

Red Skull (Bust)-Painting (4): Head, etc.

As planned, the head and the tunic sleeve are off the "to do" list. The head will be revisited once it is permanently attached so as to inte- grate it with the overall flow of the bust; but for now, it is done.

Rather than tie-up the afternoon with another protracted, first phase paint session, I opted to leave the hand for later--later today, tomorrow, or some time next week.

Red Skull (Bust)-Painting (3): Rt. Forearm (I)

With the tunic done in oils, it was time to pause and reevaluate the gameplan: would the forearm best be treated as an accessory? Or would the finished piece be better served by integrating it as soon as feasible into the bust?

After much deliberation, I opted for the latter. The forearm was prepped and primed yesterday, and I undercoated the leather late last night. Today, I undercoated the sleeve of the tunic. But not before I completed a small wedge of visible trench-coat lining using the approach that served me so well earlier this year.

On the slate for tomorrow is the head, the tunic sleeve, and possibly the hand. More to follow. . .

Red Skull (Bust)-Painting (2): Tunic, etc.

Anything major/involved will have to await the weekend, but I did have enough in me to tackle the [Feldgrau] tunic on Herr Schmidt. . . and I am delighted! I am very much looking forward to the decora- tions, insignia, and high-contrast "accents". Last, but not least, I glazed the teeth with tinted Liquin. Detailing and texturing to follow as needed.

White Ape of Barsoom - Painting (2)

1530: Phase 1 of the oils--basecoating the entire canvas save for head, hair and accessories--went surprisingly well. After laying out a rather diverse palette, I just went at it. . . and as in most "free- form" applications, at least with me, I couldn't be happier! The organic tones throughout will be a challenge to preserve through the shading and highlighting processes, but this is what painting is all about!

1920: WHEW!!! Phase 2 of the oils is now all-but-complete. I probably have another hour or so of touch-ups, etc. to wrap-up and then I can call it a night!

A very challenging and satisfying painting session! Phase 3 will be final touch-ups and glazing, and will continue long after Phase 4 (head/hair) is completed. Phase 5 will be "accessories" and groundwork.

We're off to the races. . . !

FOLLOW-UP - 18.01.12. . . Yesterday was a harrowing day back at the "salt mines", but I was anxious to get past that and build-upon the work done over the weekend. To this end, I spent some time glazing the raging simian with Talens' Transparent White and W&N Zinc White. I couldn't be happier! Probably one more session with Transp. White lies ahead, and then the final wrap-up session with Flake White. And lest I forget, Phase 1 of the face was completed!

Day 2 of painting. . .

A VERY busy day. . . and tiring.

The face/head on AVLH is now all-but-done. There will undoubtedly be some tweaks here and there in the days and weeks to come, but it is essentially done.

The eyes on the Red Skull are now finished--all the remains to be done is the final glazing. Ditto for the teeth. While I was at it, I went ahead and painted the visible shirt collar. Once the latter is dry, and I paint the collar on the trench coat and tunic, the head will be ready to attach permanently.

I completed the u/c'ing on DJ, so he is now ready for the oils.

Which brings us to the White Ape. As this will be a L-O-N-G bench session, it's the only thing on the slate for tomorrow.

And now for something completely different. . .

I know some of you had begun to wonder if painting was at all in the cards this "season". . . I assure you that you would be joined by yours truly!

Nevertheless, the [2011-]2012 Painting Season has finally gotten underway, and on Friday the 13th of all days! It is my hope that from these modest beginnings, it can gather momentum with a minimum of setbacks.

To get the ball rolling, it was "Eye Day" at the bench today, with the first phase of the steely blue-greys of ALVH and the Red Skull wrapped-up. These should be completed by the end of the long weekend.

Stay tuned!

Ghost Rider (1): Day 2. . .

The body has been filled with PUR; the legs sectioned at the knees; and the left boot pegged and lengthened. Preliminary putty-work (MS) has begun on the denims, as has reduction on the jacket (collar, ventral volume).

Ghost Rider (1): Day 1. . .

All the basic subassemblies, where possible, have been completed. Now, the introductory “To-Do” List:

1. Rework the struts.
2. Rework the “grill”. [IP]
   
3. Shorten and rework the rear suspension. [IP]
4. Add exhaust pipe/s.
5. Add foot pegs.
6. Reposition and rescale legs. [IP]
7. Rework the boots: notably, lengthen left boot. [IP]
8. Rework the jacket: most notably, the collar. [IP]
9. Reposition handle bars: including addition of basic gauges. And if that works. . .
   
10. Add gas cap/medallion.

And that's just for starters! Once the "basic model" has been finalized, and I imagine 70-80% completed, then I can start figuring out the lighting, basing, etc.

Notable Acquisitions December 2011

KITS
KKMM's kit of "Fresh Catch" (Chuck Needham, 1/8th scale)
Knight Models kit of Ghost Rider (Paul Deheleanu, 70mm)

PRE-PAINT

Eaglemoss Classic Marvel #39 Mystique (???, 75mm)

Toy Biz's Ghost Rider

The New Year has gotten off to a less than auspicious beginning. A brutal year-end at work was almost overshadowed by a waxing fever, a dull toothache, and a visible swelling of the left side of my face. By Saturday morning, the swelling was significant, reaching the lower orbital socket, and the fever would not break; by Sunday (New Year's Day), it was time to call in the cavalry--think Winged Hussars at the Second Siege of Vienna!

My dentist was on Holiday break, but his backup was a Godsend! While Cris was still on the phone with him, he phoned in a prescription for a Z-pack of antibiotics, and I had the initial dose in me within 20 minutes. The fever broke and the swelling began to subside within 6 hrs.--hardly out of the woods, but stable enough to make it to Tuesday and see my dentist. . .

By mid-afternoon, I didn't know whether I was in a dentist's chair--or a torture chamber of the Holy Inquisition. Two-and-a-half hours later, I shuffled out of the office, wondering if the cure was worse than the disease!

So far, so great. . . and it looks like your host will survive the experience. Things are progressing quite nicely, though I am very weak--things probably will not be approaching normalcy until some time this week. . .

So what does this have to do with figure modelling/painting? Well, the plans for a long, relaxing Holiday weekend of painting were summarily dashed. In fact, I did not venture into the studio until late Wednesday. And I probably won't get near the paints until next weekend.

However. . . while rummaging through my storage boxes looking for something else, I stumbled across my Toy Biz kits of Storm and Ghost Rider--I hadn't seen these in at least 12 years!!

You might recall my rather harsh dismissal of the Flamehead kit: ". . . I suppose with A LOT of work it could transcend the toy-like look. . . or not." True, but only in an absolute sense. These kits are what they are. You can't make them into something they are not, and were never intended to be. Having said that, they can certainly be improved upon to varying degrees, and in most instances exceed expectations.

Ghost Rider was one of my favourite Marvel characters of my young adult life. The revision of the CCA in 1971 led to the first appearance of Johnny Blaze and his demonic alter-ego in 1972. The run ended in 1983, with the demon Zarathos expelled from the human vessel that was Blaze, and the latter riding off into the proverbial sunset with his lady-love.

However, the Ghost Rider was quasi-retconned a little less than a decade later to provide for his resurrection in the person of Danny Ketch--and here is when the waters start getting muddy for the casual observer. For while Johnny Blaze might be the person most associated with the Ghost Rider (with a name like that, how couldn't he?), most of the non-comic media and merchandise depictions are actually of Danny Ketch. The chains? The spiked jacket, vambraces and boots? The Penance Stare? All Danny Ketch. The chopper, however, is exclusively Johnny Blaze. This unfortunate conflation has been apparently wholeheartedly endorsed by Marvel, and we need to look no further than KM's latest release.

For all the shortcomings of the Toy Biz kit--and these are legion!--at least they stuck to a single incarnation of a Ghost Rider and that was Danny Ketch. Also much to their credit, they cast the wheels and flaming skull in a translucent yellow. And it was the latter that started me thinking about the untapped potential of this kit. . .

This is going to be a VERY long-term project. It might not ever get done! But my goal from the outset is to not only "reclaim" this kit as much as possible/feasible, but also introduce lighting to enhance the hellfire effects. Hope you're up for the ride!