Green Scar - Prepwork 4: The Pteruges

The pteruges are something of a "licensed" affair--as in artistic license. It is up to the individual miniaturist to determine their number and placement. 

After a number of attempts, I settled on a front and rear panel. Today, I finished the rear panel, which will be comprised of 5 individual strips. While the strips are effectively done, detailing remains.

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

Green Scar - Prepwork 3: The Manica

23.11.2018--The spaudler has been fitted, and the lining has been roughed-in. The manica's har- ness will be 'anchored' on the lining once finished. 

24.11.2018--The harness has been roughed-in. The harness is going to be the most difficult as- pect of this project, as the work area is very limited, and sufficient space on the right pectoral to accommodate the obedience disk must remain once done. 

25.11.2018--Save for final finishing and detailing, the harness is DONE!

02.12.2018--Riveting along the vertical crest of the spaudler is done.

The arm has been surface-prepped to accept the bands of the manica, which will be done in sheet lead.

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

Green Scar - Prepwork 2A: The Helmet (cont.)

There have been some "setbacks" since my last posting. . . 

The crest adaptation was ultimately unsatisfactory. Thus, I removed the crest in its entirety, and will now resculpt the "crest box" and modify the crest itself to the sculpted box. 

Everything else remains very much a "work in progress". . . 

UPDATE 20.11.2018. . . Roughed-in the "crest-box" and tentatively positioned the modified crest. Now things get truly interesting. . .   

UPDATE 23.11.2018. . . The "crest-box" is all-but-done. The bowl has been furthered modified, removing the remaining asymmetrical elements; and the visor has been reattached. One or two more sessions before I can begin work on final detailing. . . 

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

RIP - Stan Lee (1922-2018)

I am at a loss for words. . .The end of an era. . .

Green Scar - Prepwork 2: The Helmet

I've been working on the helmet since Day 1. Now that that head has been repositioned, it was time to bring all the elements from the neck-up together to get a compositional perspective of the piece.

I first reworked the bowl of the helmet to accommodate the visor. The Green Scar's helmet was what can best be described as "pseudo-Attic", with a prominent visor. The visor was made from two layers of MS: the first to define placement; the second to define form and volume. This is now being finished.

I then permanently attached the earlier-reworked crest. . . I am delighted with the way things have turned out! 

UPDATE 13.11.2018. . . Phase 1 finishing of the visor has been completed; and, following addi- tional reworking of the bowl, the visor has been permanently attached. Final finishing and detail- ing of the helmet can now begin in earnest. . .  

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

Green Scar - Prepwork: [A Working] Intermezzo

As noted in the posting's title, this is very much a working interlude. . .

The Axe: While far from completed, it is now a recognizable implement. This was neither an easy decision, nor a straightforward one! There is a considerable of latitude when it comes to arming the Green Scar, which means one has to ignore canon altogether--or carefully analyze
the evidence at one's disposal. I opted for the latter (of course!), and arrived at a quasi-canonical conclusion that enhances the presentation of the figure.

The Left Arm: Fitting--and filling!--have been finalized. Now all that remains is surface finishing in preparation for the creation of the manica. 

The Head: Commenced repositioning of head, and reworking of neck musculature.

Things are proceeding quite nicely. . . 

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

Silver Savage-Prepwork 3: The "Shield"

The Cosmic Board MK.II is a fait accompli! And a complete success, afaic!! 

Finishing is well underway. I've begun work on the fittings of the enarmes, which more importantly at this stage, will laterally stabilize the board and afford me the freedom to reduce the thickness to scale.

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

Silver Savage-Prepwork Sidebar: The "Shield"

The Cosmic Board MK.I is now history; nonetheless, epoxy putty is the medium of choice!

The key is careful kneading and pre-roll-out prep. When I was kneading the putty, I inadvertently trapped air as I was folding the putty. This in turn, created weak spots--much like a sink hole in an undermined road--and the blank fractured along these flaws. Ideally, I would use a clay or pasta roller, but I'm not ready to buy an item that I would rarely use!

Cosmic Board MK.II is on tomorrow's agenda!

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

Planet Hulk -- Intermezzo

The demands of work have kept me away from the bench more than I care to admit. But with a long weekend ahead of me, I thought I would 'prime' the processes to keep things advancing.To this end, this evening I did the following:

•  Rolled out a board blank using MS. I am still unsure of the medium of the Silver Sa- vage's shield--epoxy putty, sheet plastic, or aluminum--but I would prefer epoxy putty if at all doable. UPDATE 09.11.2018. . . So far, so good. I've reduced the blank to its approximate final dimensions, and it is now curing in the oven.The real "test" will be when I begin to reduce its thickness. In this respect, I believe it will be superior to polystyrene; but it may be the deciding factor for aluminum. . .  
• Rolled out axe-head blank for the Green Scar.
• Rolled out 2 of the pteruges on the Green Scar's girdle. These will have to be finished, but it's a promising start.  

 More to follow. 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

Silver Savage-Prepwork 2: Anatomy (II)

While surface finishing and finishing of the anatomical enhancements continues, I took the oppor- tunity to begin working on the upper extremities. 

The left forearm was repositioned--and re-scaled!--to optimize the positioning of the "shield" (i.e., the cosmic board). This has been all-but-finalized, awaiting the replacement of the original board with a scratchbuilt item. 

The right arm is fairly good. I'm still working on the enhanced bicep--all that remains is the hand, which I drilled out to accommodate the haft of the yet-to-be-sculpted mace. 

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

Silver Savage-Prepwork 1: Anatomy and "Spaudler"

Before getting into the equipment "sub-projects", I wanted to "prep the canvas", as it were. One of the worse aspects of any Eaglemoss offering is the finishing of the casting. There is little if any consideration for the defining sculptural contours; where such consideration is manifest, the seamlines are ignored. Thus, the restoration of the canvas is a mix of filing and filling, with the attendant carving and sanding. 

The legs suffered the most in this instance of Eaglemoss's finishing--or lack thereof: I had to re- work the thighs, calves, and gluteals. The rest of the casting was adequately acceptable, save for the right bicep and left hand. All affected areas are now undergoing final finishing.

As I cannot begin to work on the greaves until the lower legs are done, I decided to begin work on what I will refer to as the "spaudler" (nb: I am not aware of a Roman term for the shoulder plate of a manica, so I will use the medieval term for the proto-pauldron.). This has now been roughed-in, and shaping/finishing is well underway.

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

Silver Savage-Prepwork: Overview

The primary focus of the prepwork will be surface finishing. I am approaching it as if I intended to use the casting medium as the finishing medium--which I am not. The figure will be painted in metallic lacquers, which will provide a unifying, seamless "skin".

Secondary foci will be on the respective accessories: garments, equipment, and weapons. I intend to start as I would any other sculpt, from the feet up. Thus, the first "sub-project" will be the greaves. . . 

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

Eaglemoss's CMFC #7: The Silver Surfer

As I indicated earlier, I have launched my Planet Hulk-themed 'project'. And this week I received the base figure for the project that got the whole thing rolling: Eaglemoss' CMFC #7, The Silver Surfer.

This figure, the seventh release in Eaglemoss' CFMC, was released in 2005; and in spite of its age--or because of it?--it is one of the best Eaglemoss figures I have ever seen! It is cast in but two pieces: the figure and the cosmic [surf]board. Casting is a solid B+: the only reason it does not break into the "A" tier is the board, which is ill-suited to be cast in pure lead. Given what I intend to do with the board, I will more than likely replace it with a scratchbuilt item.

The figure has already been stripped, disassembled, pegged, and mounted on its workbase. Prepwork will commence presently.

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