Hammerstein - Painting: Overview

With the figure now primed, undercoating will probably commence today. 

But not before sharing with you my intended approach to this rendering--as much for your eluci- dation as mine! 

I have spent a not-inconsiderable amount of time trying to figure out what precisely was Hammer- stein's colour scheme. Langley's colouration was a brilliant deviation from the copperish, terra- cotta finish of the subject's earlier iterations, especially as Hammerstein's exoskeleton was made from depleted uranium. BUT. . . did Hammerstein sport a bare metal ("alwhite") finish? 
Or was his armour painted and/or chemically finished??

As I am not a big fan of "nmm", I do not have the option of reducing the actual textural depth of the various component layers to a single--albeit convincing!--chromatic melange. And since all attempts to plumb the source have gone for naught, I am forced to come up with my own "theory", and hope that it is vindicated by the end results:

• Undercoat: flat black. DONE!
• Basecoat: Overall variegated metallic finish using G-S Mr. Metal lacquers and Vallejo Metal acrylics.
• Painted variegated finish using oils to create the appearance of "blackened" plate.
• Weathering and final finish dictated by the results to date. 

Let the game begin. . .

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

Hammerstein - Painting: Priming

"Old Red Eyes" is now primed!

As I had the groundwork primed as well (it was primed first), and the airbrush was still up and running, I decided to block in the main/'base' colours on the groundwork, namely a dull black, and a grungy, cool, somewhat-glossy brown (both Floquil lacquers).

Before closing, I would just like to say that this figure is most generous in rewarding assiduous prepwork: the primer went on like a dream! And few more brilliant touches of a "sculptural" kind were revealed!!

More to follow!

UPDATE 25.10.15. . . The groundwork has been permanently attached to the display base.

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

Hammerstein - Prepwork: Wrapping-up

Had a bit of a detour re: the antennae. The distal tips are not only fragile, but the segmented design so evident in the artwork--to say nothing of the digital render!--did not "make it into pro- duction", at least in my sample. Since I am nothing if not preemptive--and the resin tips are a tragedy waiting to happen!--I nipped these off and replaced them with sections of a #1 non-
skid paper clip. While not a difficult enhancement, it does require a patient, steady hand, and
is a two-session undertaking.

Once I get the antennae finalized, I will continue with the final once-over, which is about 70% done. I am hoping for a priming session late Sunday morning. . .

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

Hammerstein - Prepwork: Pre-prime

It was a long day today. The bench was pretty much out of the question. So I cleaned up the groundwork, rechecked its fit and tolerance in the recess of the base top, and reassured myself that nothing had gone awry in the fitting stage (i.e., that the figure still "fit" onto the groundwork). With that done, I figured I'd share with you my work to date:

As you can see, the pauldrons have been set aside to be painted separately--at least the under- sides. The antennae remain the two items left to be added before priming. 

Now. . . to finish this!

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

Hammerstein - Prepwork: DONE!

What the title says!

I have just permanently attached the left arm, and with that done, all that remains is the final once-over, and the attachment of the antennae. The pauldrons will be painted separately and attached once the shoulder "joints" are painted and weathered. Insofar as the latter are con- cerned, I should point out that I elected to remove the bas-relief "underscored H" on the left pauldron as, once painted, its relative height would create a disproportionate--and distracting!--contrast. As there is no real evidence supporting that this was a cast artifact, the insignia will 
be replaced in paint.

And after much deliberation, the base selection has been made, and the groundwork fitted to the same: over half the resin of the base has been ground off! There will be minor shimming with MS to be done before the groundwork enhancement can begin in earnest.

The next entry in this project will be the first in the painting thread: PRIMING. . . and possibly undercoating!

Stay tuned!

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

Ned Stark - Painting: Face

Phase 1 of the face is done!

I am now approaching faces more organically--as opposed to mechanically (i.e., procedurally and/or technically). Thus, it will now take at least two sittings to complete a face, as opposed to the usual 1 + touch-ups. I am using linseed oil as my thinner, which means that I am effectively glazing. Thus I am able to capitalize on the translucency of the oils in order to create depth and introduce chromatic filtering. 

With any luck at all, the face will be all-but-done by the end of the long weekend. 

UPDATE 12.10.15. . . The basic face is now done. The remainder will largely be integrating the face with the areas deprived of light by the separate hair sections, and then applying a unifying glaze with a transparent base to meld the disparate coloration and textures. FOLLOW-UP: The right-side hair sections have been undercoated and permanently attached. There is indeed a me- thod to the engineering madness. . . WOW!

UPDATE 17.10.15. . . The left-side hair section been uc'd and permanently attached: the face is now fully framed, and I can now proceed with the finishing glazes. There is but one hair section remaining: the stray front forelock. This will not be attached until the face is completely done to my satisfaction. 

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

“Old Red Eyes” – Hammerstein

I'm in a metallics mood. . . no doubt about it. And since I will need something more than a helm and some mail to satisfy the hankering, and I don't have any "alwhite" harnesses anywhere near the "stovetop", I decided to break out my issue (006) of the leader of the ABC Warriors. . . the
MkIII [Prototype] ABC War-droid, Hammerstein !

This is truly a spectacular casting! One of the best I have seen from a manufacturer for whom exceptional casting quality is par for the course!! Having said that, assembly will demand your focused attention in order to ensure that everything lines up as intended. DO NOT TAKE ANY- THING FOR GRANTED!!! 

This will largely be an OOB project--yes, it is that good/complete! I may add/replace no more than 3-5 cables/conduits (11.10.2015 - 2). One thing that I will do, and have already commenced, is rework the 2000AD groundwork.

In addition to beginning work on the groundwork, I have prepped and permanently attached the right leg, as well as tapped and pegged both legs and the groundwork.

A good start. . . 

UPDATE 08.10.15. . . Rework of the groundwork/display plinth continues (11.10.2015 - Phase 1 done!) . The left leg has been permanently attached; and the now half-assembled kit has been fitted to the groundwork. 

 UPDATE 18.10.15. . . The right arm has been permanently attached. In anticipation of the per- manent attachment of the left arm and the next phase of this project, I will say that virtually ALL of the work will involve paint. Preparation is/has been a sine qua non, as would be expected; but there were no surprises whatsoever of any magnitude. It is the paint and how it is applied that will elevate this to the standards it demands. I can't wait. . .

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

Sir John Holland - Prepwork (cont.)

It has been well over a week since the bench--any bench!--has seen any work worth noting, and I'm afraid that will be the status quo for the remainder of the year. . . 

That being said, I managed to squeeze in a little time this evening, and the helm is starting to morph quite nicely into a dedicated tournament piece. A finalization of the conversion is still 3-5 sessions away, but things have progressed to the point where I felt confident enough to rough-in the core of the cap of maintenance: the crest will be an entirely separate piece.

Finally, the integral plinth has been roughed-in with MS.

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