Mista' J - Painting: Intermezzo

This is not so much an interlude as an epilogue to the first block of painting on Mista' J before moving on to the defining aspects of the figure. . . 

The shirt. While a distant third on the list of canon colours, I chose to paint the shirt a "custom"/ proprietary purple-biased black for any number of artistically-driven reasons.

The "string tie". UC'd using Polly-S Jungle Green. . . And while I had the Jungle Green out--and in anticipation of the next step, I uc'd the hair.

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

Capt. James T. Kirk - Prepwork II

The middle step of the prep will be the longest--and least involved. In short, preparing the figure for priming!

Anticipated [re]constructive work is as follows:

1. Create and fit the neck. 29.05 - DONE
2. Create and fit the wrist. 28.05 - DONE
3. Reposition the hand. 12.06 - IP   06.07 - DONE
4. Tweak the face to enhance the likeness. 29.05 - 17.06 ABD
5. Rework Resculpt the hair. 29.05 14.06 - IP
6. Tweak the duty tunic to canon specs. 29.05 - IP
7. Replace the grip of the Phaser II. 29.05 - IP
8. Correct the production flaw ("sinkhole") on body of the Phaser II. 29.05 - IP
9. Sculpt the support pedestal. 17.06 - ABD

Some would say that that's pretty involved. . . Not really. Save for items #3, 4, 5, and 7, all mods will leverage the basic modelling skillset associated with figures and/or busts. 

Back to the bridge. . . unh. . . bench!

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

Capt. James T. Kirk - Prepwork I

Let the mission begin!!!

First step is to assemble the figure. . . uh. . . bust. This is a fairly quick undertaking; though I must emphasize that it is not to be rushed! The arms have now been permanently attached; the head will not be attached until it is painted--but more on this later. . .

Next, I filled the arms and torso with PUR, per my usual MO with hollow-cast, vinyl figures. 

So far, so good. . . Stay tuned!!!

FOLLOW-UP. . . The left forearm has been bisected mid-length--for starters. This is the prelimi- nary step that removes a significant amount, but still affords me plenty of arm to play with in or- der to achieve the perfect proportional balance. 

UPDATE 27.05.17. . . All components of the project have now been filled and pegged.

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

Mista' J - Painting IIA: The Vest--Brocade

Hard to believe that it has been over three weeks since I last slid behind the painting bench. Ad- mittedly, much has transpired; but still. . . 

To be honest, I did not expect to pick-up a brush until the "lusty month of May" (I'm a HUGE fan of Camelot. . . geez) was well behind me; but after last night's episode of Gotham and all the potential Easter eggs of the last few episodes, it was time to get back to Mista' J!

Warm-up session? I think not--do it or don't. So I dove right into the brocade, with the full palette of printers' inks--Pale Gold, Rich Gold, and Silver--and a selection of toning oils: Raw Umber; Naples Yellow; Chromatic and Mars Black; and Schmincke Mussini Casslerbraun.  

This was purely a visually driven, free-hand session, with the ultimate goal to create a discerni- ble, albeit "muted", pattern, and eliminate the dead space in a chromatically-pleasing manner on the left-half of the vest. I elected to do one half/session just in case the results required corrective measures. . .  Fortunately, I do not believe that will be necessary; though careful and controlled outlining, highlighting, and overall integration will be in order.

So far so good. I hope to finish the remaining half of the vest over the long weekend. Once that is done, I can pick-up where I left-off at the last posting and begin to work the face. . .

UPDATE 25.05.17. . . Phase 1 of the vest is now done; i.e., all the brocade has been applied. As I indicated above, careful and controlled outlining, highlighting, and overall integration will be in order. This will not be a stand-alone step, but will be addressed as perceived necessary in the course of painting the suit.

Having said that, the first integrative step has been completed on the left--dry--half of the vest: a thin glaze of Transparent Gold Ochre and Transparent Orange Oxide mixed to taste. This serves two purposes: 1) a muting agent; and 2) a tonal agent, shifting the hue from a bright yellow-gold to a Joker-esque orange-yellow.  

UPDATE 26.05.17. . . The vest is effectively DONE!!! Whatever might remain will be addressed as final tweaking during the finishing phase. Before moving on to the face, I will paint the shirt, and uc or re-prime the "string tie". . .

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

James Tiberius Kirk, Starfleet Captain - Intro, pt. 2

This project will revolve around the AMT/Ertl 1/6th scale figure of Capt. James T. Kirk. . . 

The AMT/Ertl line of Star Trek figures was launched in 1994. By this time, the venerable AMT had been part of Ertl for a dozen years. 

This kit is comprised of 7 off-white vinyl parts, an off-white polystyrene(?) phaser, and a black po- lystyrene circular display base. The casting quality is VG+++. 

Now to debunk some widespread falsehoods. . . Given the age of this kit, this is an excellent representation of Capt.Kirk--including the likeness! The proportions are to scale at 8 heads--IMO, much of the griping about the proportions is that people are viewing this as a human figure, which as we all know by now, should be around 7.5 heads tall. Most of the problems I see in the build-ups stem from the modeller--including that of the boxart! Anatomically, this is a pleasing, propor- tional rendition. Shortcomings in assembly, to say nothing of the painting, give this kit a very undeserved thumbs-down! 

As to what I have in mind. . . A 1/6th scale, 12" figure on a minimal 2"h. display base is going to take-up a significant amount of room--if there is room to be had! Since there are no unique iden- tifiers below the waist, I intend to convert this to a portrait bust. 

To date, I have removed all the "sprue" funnels and test-fitted the parts. So far, so great! I have a few things on order that are scheduled to arrive by week's end: these will allow me to execute most of the basic pre-prepwork over the forthcoming long weekend. . . 

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

James Tiberius Kirk, Starfleet Captain - Intro

Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before. . .

I will freely admit that I am not a trekkie/trekker; though, yes, I am a fan of TOS and most of its subsequent iterations. I built all of the original AMT starship releases in the 60s (the Enterprise at least thrice), which as it turns out, was my last major fling with non-historical scale modelling until relatively recently. . .

Which brings us to the project at hand. My über-Boss will be retiring at the end of the month. This is a man whose job I would not have for all the tea in China! And what he brought to his unenviable position made those impossible days for his subordinates at the very least bearable.
I could go on and on, but I will simply say, "He will be missed!"

The Boss is a huge(!) Star Trek fan. Thus I can think of no-better way of recognizing and thank- ing him for the 11+ years of leadership, counsel, and camaraderie bestowed upon me than to present him with a miniature of one of his all-time-favourite non-historical characters: James Tiberius Kirk.

I will flesh-out the project itself in the next introductory entry of this project. . .

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

Shadowcat -- Prepwork - Intermezzo

This project is progressing quite nicely. . . Most of the major putty-work has been completed, and it is now time to begin the final clean-up. I would say that I'm a little over half-way done. . . 

Definitely 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

Shadowcat -- Prepwork IV - Lockheed

Other than working around the forearm, Lockheed is pretty much easy-peasy. 

The dragon is cast in three pieces: the main body molded beautifully as part of the left forearm + the two wings. The only foreseeable modification as of this writing will be the addition of two horns to the head--I have just finished roughing them in.

Once they are cured, I will begin carving them to shape. . .

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

Shadowcat -- Prepwork III - The Arms

The arms are probably the most problematic items with respect to the Shadowcat costume--especially as the dragon is molded en suite with the left forearm.

What I have decided is to first reduce the "bell" of the sleeves DONE, and then create upper "sleeves" for the exposed arms/shoulders. This addition will not be undertaken until the arms 
are permanently attached. 

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

Shadowcat -- Prepwork II - The Head

Still feeling a bit the worse for wear after a hectic week, so today I focused on Shadowcat's head.

The headwear has been eliminated, and the head permanently attached. Save for the arms (yes, the dragon is molded en suite with the left arm), the figure has been completely assembled. The next major undertaking will be sculpting Kitty's coiffure, but first her mask. . . 

Stay tuned. . . 

UPDATE 14.05.17. . . The mask has been roughed-in and will be finished once-cured. The coif- fure has been roughed-in.

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

Shadowcat -- Prepwork I

Feeling a bit the worse for wear today, so I'm going to spend my benchtime doing some model- ling (this project may be revealed at a later date), and getting things rolling with Shadowcat.

The focal point of this conversion will be the head--or, more precisely, the headwear. It will be effectively eliminated, and replaced with Shadowcat's wavy brown locks. The rest of the conversion will be adapting the provided costume to something  reasonably identifiable with Shadowcat. And this is where I've begun. . .

I began by eliminating the long braid running down the right of the body, followed by the elimination of the delicate chainwork along the right thigh. . .

I also permanently attached the left leg.

More to follow. . .

FOLLOW-UP. . . The scalloped whisk collar has been filled and enhanced. There may be one more session to finalize the height and drapery/volume of the collar.The talisman will be removed in the next session. . . 

FOLLOW-UP (2). . . The talisman has been removed: final finishing of the underlying flesh re- mains. I also modified the decolletage by filling-in the wedge along the strap line of the vest top. Right side will follow in the days ahead. . . 

UPDATE 12.05.17. . . The breast "flaps" of the bodice have been removed. 

UPDATE 14.05.17. . . The collar had been finalized, and is awaiting finishing. The right-side wedge of the vest top has been filled and preliminary drapery addressed. 

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