Che - Painting: UC'ing

El Che is now undercoated! 

This bust is the model of simplicity! Which means that once we decide on the skin tones of our subject, and the tone of 'olive drab'/green for his jacket/shirt, we can then devote the entirety of our attention to the application of paint and getting the most out of the process. In other words, once the bust is undercoated, what remains is but the painting of a portrait!

PS--The beret has permanently rejoined the bust. . . 

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

Che - Painting: Priming

El Che is primed!

For this project, I used a base of reduced G-S Mr. Surfacer 1000, with an overspray of Stynylrez Black on the beret and the pedestal.

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

Che - Prepwork--Conclusion

The prepwork is now essentially done. I still have a bit more work to do on the hair, and carry-out the final once-over and pre-priming wash; but otherwise, everything is pegged, the painting bases tapped, and the final display pedestal tapped and prepped. The bust will be transferred to the painting bench by the end of the weekend.

A few words on the work done to date. . . I HAVE ENJOYED THIS IMMENSELY! Master Lee has provided an eminently workable rendition of el Che that will bring the best out in any miniaturist regardless of  their level of experience. It is not often that one runs across a truly "universal" figure!

BACK TO THE BENCH!

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

Che - Prepwork

If you are completely satisfied with what is in the box, then the prepwork is essentially nil. Care- fully track the all-too-elusive seamlines; carefully scrape/sand/file them away; remove the pouring sprues (2); prep for priming; and prime!

My prepwork is a bit more involved. . . naturally; but even that as a given, 85% of my prepwork is now completed, less than 5 days after receipt of the figure!

I had five significant remediations to make:

• Enhance the facial volume. Che's age in the course of his revolutionary career can be readily, albeit roughly, established by the relative thinness of his face. The face as provided is a bit too thin for my tastes by about 3 years, give of take.
• Resculpt the facial hair. If you add to the facial volume you will have to add to the facial hair as provided, which IMO is too sparse. As I indicated in the review, wispy facial growth is never easy.
• Reposition the beret. This was entirely my call. The beret is fine as is, but Che had a pronounced widow's peak that was a trademark characteristic, AFAIC. I just had to include it!
• Remove the watch and sculpt a jacket cuff. See previous posting.
• Undercut overlapping fabrics, namely the collar and 'lapels'.

All but the second are now completed or essentially completed. Movin' right along. . .

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

Life Miniatures' Che - The Watch

One of the most compelling features Life Miniatures' bust of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara is the watch prominently displayed on the subject's left wrist. Regrettably, there is no refsheet included with this kit. . . and the pdf available for download is no more enlightening. So here's a basic overview of the timepiece.

It might seem ironic, if not hypocritical, that two (three, if you include Mao Zedong) of the premier Communist revolutionaries of the second half of the 20th c. were Rolex devotees. Fidel Castro would wear one, usually two(!); and Fidel would bestow the timepieces to those he favored. Thus, Che Guevara would receive at least two in his lifetime from his Comandante en Jefe.

While the particulars of the first have eluded me (I believe it was an Oyster Perpetual Date 34), I know that the second was a GMT Master 1675 Pepsi. This is the watch depicted on the bust. As best as I can tell, I believe that Fidel presented Che with the timepiece in 1962 or 63--I stand to be corrected. In any case, Che received it before he departed Cuba in 1965.

And herein lies the rub. Che sported his flowing locks while in the field--by all accounts, he pre- ferred to wear his hair short at other times. All images of 'el Che' wearing the Rolex that I have seen have him with a shorter haircut. So rather than resculpt the masterfully rendered mane of the bust, I decided to grind-off the watch and replace it with a jacket cuff. 

If the watch is too good to lose--and you will get no argument from me if you decide to retain yours--as I mentioned above, it is a Rolex GMT Master "Pepsi".

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

Life Miniatures' Che - Review

The bust of Che Guevara is Life Miniatures’ fourth release in their “Beginner’s Series”, or as it is more formally known, the “PDF Painting Tutorial Series”. The bust is exquisitely cast in but TWO pieces, a testament to the design brilliance, and the masterful casting for which this company is known. If I may digress for a moment, and with all due respect to the Master, I don’t believe there is such a thing as a “beginner’s figure”. Just because it is less complex, less “involved”, and/or of a simpler design, does not make it any easier to paint! In fact, the adjective alluding to relative complexity addresses two completely different skillsets. “Beginner” (or “intermediate” or “ad- vanced”) relates to modelling skills, not painting! Painting “difficulty” is entirely too subjective to classify. Thus the seemingly simpler figure may be that much more difficult to execute convinc- ingly as there are not only fewer places to “hide”, but one tends to allow one’s self less time to achieve critical intimacy with the canvas. . . Fools rushing in and all that. Insofar as this bust is concerned, the miniaturist will have to bring his/her “A” game to the bench, and bend the canvas to his/her will to get the most out of this piece. . . this is not going to paint itself! So much for a “beginner’s” figure!! 

By way of a little figure “history”, this is the third 1/10th scale bust rendition of el Che: the first was from Andrea Miniatures; followed a decade or so later by Historia Miniatures’ rendition by Christos Panagiotopoulos. And, IMO, the subject of this review is the best of the three, hence my purchase.

While this is by far the best of the commercial renditions of el Che, this piece is not without its “problems”. These revolve primarily around the relative facial volume, and the facial hair as mo- delled. Che had a very expressive face and his appearance as captured can vary from photograph to photograph in a given sequence. His rather sparse beard hints at an underlying structure that may or may not exist, lacking the volume and density to provide a definable structure to the face. In short, wispy beards are a miniaturists’ nightmare, whether one is wielding a sculpting tool or a brush. Personally, I enjoy the challenge!

In closing, ottimo lavoro, Signore! You are an inspiration to us all, especially in light of the reac- tion this release has so unexpectedly--and inexplicably!--elicited. To the boors in the audience, like it or not, Che is one of the most recognizable—and iconic!—figures of the second half of the 20th c. As such, he is a most suitable subject for a line of figures that includes JFK, Marilyn, and Princess Grace! Our concerns as miniaturists are limited to the following: 1) do I like the figure?; and, 2) is this a figure I would like to have in my collection? That’s it! And to belabor the obvious, this is very much a personal opinion. As Elizabeth I once said, “I would not open windows into men's souls."  These are but inanimate homunculi made of resin and/or metal, neither peepholes into nor spotlights on the character and person of the miniaturist!

PS--Sang-Eon's excellence is not limited to his artistic talents. Customer service is outstanding! Since I didn't know how available this piece would be in the States--and I wanted to get it on the bench ASAP!--I ordered it directly from LM. Ten days from shipping to mailbox--and free shipping to the US!

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

Life Miniatures' Che

It appeared that I would soon be making way under full sails, but alas, nothing but languishing in the doldrums--again. . . There are, however, new projects on the horizon that I am in feverish pre-prep awaiting their release and/or arrival. . .

Re; the latter, this will be my first Life Miniatures (LM) figure. By now, we are all familiar with the immense talent possessed by Sang-Eon Lee; however, none of his releases to-date--and this is no reflection on the quality of his masterful work!--compelled me to take the plunge. His rendition of Ernesto "Che" Guevara broke that ice!

The bust was ordered directly from LM last weekend, 4 days before its release(!), and I am now anxiously awaiting its arrival. The 1/10th scale bust is the fourth release in Life Miniatures' "PDF Painting Tutorial Series". I know there are between 2 and 4 pieces to the kit, but the exact kit breakdown remains a mystery as of this writing. I expect to have the bust by the end of the month at the latest, and a full review will follow upon its receipt.

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