The Lion - Prepwork: Intermezzo

I can't decide whether "slow" or "rough" would better describe the last fortnight or so. Since we are right around the corner from the sheer madness that is an end-of-quarter at work, I'll stick with the latter and try to get things back on track. . . 

Full restoration will not take place before next weekend for obvious reasons, but I am trying to get things situated for when the moment arrives. To this end, today I worked a bit on "The Lion".

Final structuring, and surface finishing was begun on the face. There are still a few more putty sessions ahead of me, but I like what I see so far. 

The major advance is that the cowl has been permanently attached to the pelt, and the unit has been fitted to the torso. And I am very pleased!

 

I will continue work on the face/head over the next few sessions. Once the hair has been added, I will be able to permanently attached the head to the torso. 

 

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

The Lion - Prepwork II: The Face/Head

With the leftover putty used to fill-in the underside of the torso and complete the basic form of the cuirass, I began to work on the face.

The first thing to be done is remove the superfluous elements of the Imperial helmet: namely the neck and ear guards. You don't have to be particularly "careful" as the helmeted portion of the head will not be visible on the finished piece. That being said, dry fit the lion cowl often to make sure there are no surprises later on. . .     

I do not know to what extent the face will be visible/exposed. The "new" helmet has a very cool bevor that I would like to include; however, I don't know if it is the right call given the scale, etc. Currently I am leaning to leaving the face exposed. . .

The preliminary enhancements to the stock face are filling-in the attachments points for the cheek-pieces, and enhancing the brow and cheekbones--DONE! This will probably be followed by enhancing the upper and lower lip/chin DONE! and adding the facial hair.

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

The Lion - Prepwork I: The Cuirass (2)

As it turns out, as of this writing, the foundation layer will be all that is required for the basic cuirass.

This evening, I:

1. Began shaping the breast of the cuirass (coarse grinding with burr).
2. Finished applying the foundation layer of MS to the back.
3. Reduced the arms by grinding down the pteruges and roughly shaping the arms before permanently attaching both arms to the torso. 

So far, I am very pleased. . .

UPDATE 16.03.17--The cuirass--back and breast--is now roughed-in and shaped, ready for the detailing and fine finishig. . . 
 
“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

THE END

I regret to inform you that due to reasons beyond my control, AMF will cease to be an ongoing concern.

Yesterday, I noticed that I began to "lose" images that heretofore had been fine. While not all images have been impacted, a significant number of my latest uploads are now broken links. There is a reason for this--obviously; however, I have neither the time nor the inclination to ferret out the root cause/s of a problem not of my doing.

This site was a pleasurable self-indulgence; but it is time to move on. Blogs are now largely passé, and I am not now, nor will I ever be, a supporter of so-called "social media"--especially as the adaptations to mobile platforms have compromised the utility and functionality of sites such as this.

So, I thank you for your support and your indulgence. I hope that the site has proven to be of some use over the years. While the future is ever The Riddler's sigil, rest assured that I will continue modelling miniatures until it is time to call it a life. . .

PS - I have managed to "fix" a few of the broken links. Whether these are permanent fixes, I haven't a clue; but for now, the disruption has been reigned-in somewhat. . .

PPS - Please read the Comments for an update of the situation. . . THANK YOU!

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

The Lion - Prepwork I: The Cuirass

This is my goal. . .

After reducing/grinding off the excess metal on the front of the bust (belts, superfluous pelt, ex- posed shoulder doubling/mantlet), I roughed-in the foundation layer of the breast with MS. Whe- ther or not a second layer will be required depends on how the shaping of the breast evolves.

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

Eamonn the Lion

NBC recently concluded the first season of Emerald City, the dark retelling of the Oz chronicles that has been characterized as "Game of Thrones meets The Wizard of Oz". While the validity of that label is arguable, what's wrong with that? In any case, the future of the series is on the razor-wire, and I can only hope that a major network grows a pair and quits letting the myopic, great unwashed on [counter-]social media dictate its programming decisions. . .

While I fervently hope for renewal, I will forever appreciate the inspirational S1. . . if only for its creative take on the familiar characters. Case in point, "The Cowardly Lion"--bka Eamonn, Commander of the Wizard's Guard.

I'll neither tip my hand, nor bore the readership with my synopsis of the character and its back- ground. Suffice to to say that if I could find the right bust of a Roman aquilifer, the realization of Eamonn would be more than likely.

Most would say, "An aquilifer? No problem!"  And therein lies the first problem: most people don't know what they are talking about! So it comes down to tracking down every bust of an aquilifer, signifer, and imaginifer (read: Roman standard bearer) available and see if it meets the criteria/ requirements. The winner on virtually all counts is the following:

Subject: Signifer

Stock No.: MB-002
Manufacturer: Pegaso
Range: Minibusts
Scale: 90mm
Sculpted by Ebroin
Adapted (Modified/Converted) by Atelier Pegaso
Base Figure: Roman Signifer (90-057) [nb: 31 pcs.]
Medium: White Metal.
Parts: 11

This 90mm bust is nothing more than an "adaptation" of Pegaso's 90mm Roman Signifer.

Casting quality is excellent! This is one of the best Pegaso offerings I have acquired long after its release. And the packaging is equally superlative!! As a historical white metal piece, it would receive the highest recommendation!!!

But, its destiny does not lie in the realm of the historical. So. . . follow the yellow brick road. . . follow the yellow brick road. . .
 
“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003