"Ace of Knaves"

Almost 6 years ago, I was pleasantly surprised by a most generous--and unsolicited!--piece of lagniappe: YS Masterpieces' "Ace of Spades" 200mm bust. 

Since that time, the kit had been rough-prepped, pegged, etc., but little more. Well the time has come to dust off this little "gem in the rough" and giver it the TLC it needs. 

Before proceeding with a quick, hands-on review, I would like to point out that The Red Lancers is probably your most reliable source for information about this company and its offerings this side of the Pond--YSM has not updated their website since Fall 2013!

"Ace of Spades" is a 200mm (1/9th scale) bust cast in 7 pieces--not five as you might have read elsewhere! The casting quality is VG-: my sample had a number of sizable air holes and a notice- able mold shift on either side of the neck that is more telling of QC than overall casting quality. The workability of the resin is VG++. 

This is by design a dark, whimsical rendition of a medieval court jester. The allusions to Wonder- land are readily apparent--and he is one disgruntled Court fool! While my original thoughts were to do him essentially OOB, it occurred to me last week that with relatively minor resculpting, this would make a fascinating iteration of the "Ace of Knaves". . . 

More to follow. . .

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003