Beta Ray Bill - Prepwork III

Going forward, most of the time will be devoted to generic figure clean-up ("prepping the canvas"), minor filling and redetailing, and reassembly.

24.02.2019 - The head has been permanently attached.

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

Beta Ray Bill - Prepwork II

The planned mods/enhancements are as follows:

• Detail the dorsal surfaces of the wings.
• Cosmetic enhancements to the shoulder pieces - IP (24.02.2019).
• Reconfigure the upper half of the cuisses - DONE.
• Add hip armour - DONE (18.02.2019).
• Cosmetic enhancements to the chest plates and "trim - DONE (24.02.2019).

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

Beta Ray Bill - Prepwork

The prepwork has begun! The figure's mounting pegs have been permanently attached, and it is now on its working base. . .

I've begun by filling, burnishing, and/or filing the superficial dings and imperfections that are the byproduct of any predominantly-lead figure. I've also filled the handful of minor air bubbles and surface irregularities on the resin cape.

Next, I've drilled out the bars of the mouth, reworked the lateral volumes of the 'helmet', and refitted the wings.

Finally, I restored the damage done to the collar area while removing the head, and refitted the latter. 

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

Beta Ray Bill (Eaglemoss)

Allow me to introduce to you my favourite Korbinite - and adopted Asgardian, Beta Ray Bill.

Beta Ray Bill is Issue #140 in the Eaglemoss Classic Marvel Figurine Collection. This is one of the better Eaglemoss releases -- on all counts -- and the best I have seen! The casting in my example is near-perfect(!), and the paint application surprisingly restrained!

While the figure itself is sublime, the design/engineering is even more so! The figure is comprised of 6 white metal pieces + 1 PUR piece (the cape) + the standard resin base. The figure has been disassembled, and is now back in the purple bath to complete the paint removal.

Another surprise is the tight fit of the keyed parts! Exceptional. The only drawback is that remov- ing the head may result in minor damage to the adjacent areas (remember that these figures are mostly lead). The additional work required to restore the damaged sections is more than accept- able to me. I removed the wings, but unless you have a compelling reason to do, I would leave them on the helmet.

This one will be largely stock. Save for a thorough clean-up and tweaking some assembly/design issues (I intend to make a few minor modifications and/or enhancements), there is little else to be done.

The fun will commence over the weekend!

UPDATE - 15.02.2019. . . The figure has been tapped for the mounting pegs: the lengths of large "non-skid" paper clips are now fitted. I hope to have it mounted on its work base by tomorrow morning at the latest.

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

Joker - Zf Bust - Painting: Oils--Face

It has begun!!!!!

Given the somewhat limited canvas, I will be ranging near and far to realize the envisioned goal. That being said, I intend to work in sections, starting with the face. 

There are any number of ways to approach this, depending on your medium of choice. I kept to the tried and true, and "glazed" a thin coat of white acrylic as an uc. After curing that in the oven, I "blocked-in" the teeth with a grisaille of Mussini Casslerbraun, and then did some refining/preli- minary outlining with a blended black (Casslerbraun + UM Blue). Before moving on to the flesh, I basecoated the lips with Cad-Bar Red Deep, thus framing the iconic grin. 

Now comes the artistic portion of the exercise. However you choose to approach it, work in thin coats, and blend thoroughly before moving on.

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

Joker - Zf Bust - Painting: UCing

Undercoating has been completed! The acrylics have been "cured" in the oven, and the bust is ready for the oils. . . 

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

Joker - Zf Bust - Painting: Priming

The 'canvas' has been prepped. . . and PRIMED! It is now curing in the oven. . .  

The prepping went a lot smoother than anticipated. Much of this was due to the alloy used: it had a greater %age of lead than one is used to seeing in Zinnfiguren, which made working the metal much less "invasive"--and the 'canvas' much more resilient.

The undercoating should be well underway by the weekend!

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

Joker - Zinnfigur Bust

A number of years ago, I purchased a Zinnfiguren bust of the Joker, engraved by Andreas Trost, and edited by Schmalkalder Zinnfiguren, at the table of The Little Tin Soldier and my friend and colleague, Jack Muldoon. It is based on an illustration by Alex Horley (the nom de plume of Ita- lian graphic artist Alessandro Orlandelli), and measures 60mm oh, making it approx. 300mm to scale.



This is one of the nicest portrait busts I have ever seen, a credit to Hr. Trost's considerable skills. Nonetheless, the shirt and vest are decidedly inadequate for obvious reasons, as you can see. I am currently reworking both items to bring the "canvas" up to speed. 

Once I am satisfied, I plan to move this piece straight to the painting bench. Modelling is a lot of fun, but nothing beats some brush action. . . 

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

DAK SPG from The Rat Patrol - Construction

As I indicated in pt. II of the introduction, this project--by necessity--will be mash-up of two 1/35 scale kits. Fortunately, both kits are by Italeri, thus providing a commonality of parts and an inherent "scale compatibility". The two kits in question are the M7 Priest (#206) and the M36B1 90mm GMC (#6538). 

Given that there are very few "sessions", per se, in my approach to scale modelling, I believe that the best way to present the project is a progressive list, with annotations as deemed necessary. Here goes. . .

As of 1 February:

• The basic gun is assembled. 
• The lower hull structure is assembled. . . suspension, sprockets, and wheels await.
• The interior is permanently attached to the lower hull.
• The gun has been tentatively vertically-relocated within the fighting compartment.  
• The upper hull "box" (fighting compartment) of the M7 is assembled and fitted. The sides of the rear portion (see below) removed.
• The first 'ring' of the pulpit has been permanently attached to the "box".
• The rear portion of the upper hull (engine deck, etc.) of the M36B1 has been culled, and is now being prepped and fitted. 
• Reduced length of front fenders.

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