THUNDERBALL!!! – Prepwork (3)

• Reworked and re-finished the attachment points between the two figures.
• Began reconstruction of speargun: ~70% done.
• Continued fine-tuning the SPECTRE diver's tanks. Just about there. . . 
• Began finishing the propeller shroud [NB: This is the final version of the shroud--the MS one was too big; the brass tube was too small. . . the resin version was/IS just right. 

31.05.2020:
With the shroud essentially finalized, it was time to turn my attention to the DPU. As I stated at the outset, the DPU will be enhanced, not rebuilt or replaced. And 'enhancement' might just do the trick! For starters, I have begun to increase the apparent circumference of the DPU. Once that is completed to my satisfaction, I will start tweaking the lines of the DPU itself, followed by the detailing of the shell of the DPU.

01.06.2020:
Phase 1A of the DPU is well underway!

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

THUNDERBALL!!! – Prepwork (2)

To date. . .

• Permanently attached Bond's right leg.
• Fitted SPECTRE diver to display groundwork. The provided groundwork is rather mini- mal: I will enhance it for the final presentation.
• Work on the fins continues. I am about 40% 65% into the process. . . 
• Modeled and fitted SPECTRE diver's left wrist-stump. 
• Filled-in the manifest musculature on the wetsuits. This is one of many instances where it is apparent that the designer/sculptor is/were not SCUBA enthusiasts. Both Bond and the SPECTRE diver appear to be wearing dive skins--not 1/4" wetsuits--given the evinced musculature. This is simply unacceptable--afaic.
• Roughed-in the propeller shroud of the DPU.

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

THUNDERBALL!!! – Ouverture redux

I have contracted a rather severe case of “Bond-4”, and I’m afraid the only known cure is to im- merse myself in projects based on the fourth installment of the Bond franchise—and one of my two favourite Bond movies—Thunderball.

Fortunately, I had begun Andrea’s homage to Thunderball, Underwater Struggle (SG-S17), a little over 2½ years ago, so I had a significant head-start on the proceedings. . .

As I noted in my introduction to the project, the vignette is based on the movie poster of Thun- derball. However ‘classic’ it might be—and it is that!—the focal point of the work takes gratui- tous liberties with the cinematic canon. As such, it might have been the creative inspiration for the vignette, but it should have never been the sole reference for the same--especially as the colour scheme from the movie has been conflated with the design of the poster! It would have also helped if the designer and/or sculptor had been SCUBA enthusiasts. . .

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

Gaslight Man-Bat: Prepwork (3) - The Street Lamp

A significant amount of time has been spent on the primary element of the groundwork of this project. . . 

Starting off with a single-luminaire street lamp from MiniArt's Street Lamps & Clocks set (35560), this rapidly evolved into a sub-project unto itself, with the modification of various elements to ac- commodate the requirements of the project. These include the replacement of the molded ladder supports with aluminum tubing.

Most of the work will be focused on converting the electrical street lamp to an open flame, unmantled gas lamp. The omission of the gas mantle is as much a work-return consideration, as it is a historical consideration: widespread use of mantles in the US was not seen until the turn-of-the-century.   

More to follow. . . 

FOLLOW-UP. . . The lamp sub-assemblies--save for the luminaire 23.05.2020--DONE!--have been completed and they have been set aside to 'set'. The gas jet has been fitted: it will be permanently attached once the luminaire bracket is permanently attached.

UPDATE - 01.08.2020. . . I recently stumbled across a 1/35 scale, resin, single-luminaire antique street lamp from the Italian firm, Royal Model. They offer a wide range of superb diorama acces-sories, and this is no exception! It was precisely what I was looking for from the outset, and though it is somewhat more simplistic, I believe it will be far more effective--and truer to the vision.

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

Gaslight Man-Bat: Prepwork (2)

Adjusting the fit of the torso to the legs for a seamless join continues. . . Once this is accom- plished, final finishing and detailing can commence.

I have also converted the top hat to a bowler, which practically and sociologically would have been the indicated headwear.

I am enjoying this immensely!

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

Gaslight Man-Bat: Prepwork (1)

To date, this has been a series of pre-prep sessions. . .

• Filling and finishing air voids.
• Reworking and pegging the feet (NB: I very deliberately and carefully snapped the feet off to allow me better access to the insteps, etc.).
• Cleaning, assembling, and modifying the lamppost per project requirements. 
• Cleaning, fitting and pegging the head.
• Grinding off the cross-belt. 

Most of the above are still works-in-progress 17.05.2020--DONE!. And there are still a few more items to be added. . .

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

Smart Max's Kaïn Finger--Review & Project

Smart Max figures are infectious! They are an absolute joy to paint, and very amenable to "per- sonalization". I've lost count of how many Smart Max conversions I have planned or already un- derway, but this will probably be the third such venture that I see through to completion. . .

The project will revolve around the Smog 1888 series' issue number LXX, Kaïn Finger. The fan- tastic sculpture comes from the masterful hands of one of my favourite sculptors, Allan Carrasco, who also sculpted Mister Honk, Divio Jackal, the Canopic Beast, and many more. Compared to the Great White Apes of Barsoom, this is hardly as ambitious a project as its predecessors, but it is quite challenging in its own right: my goal is to 'convert' Kaïn Finger into Kirk Langstrom, bka Man-Bat, Batman's alter-ego--and nemesis. . . with a twist. The setting is to be turn-of-the-[20th] century Gotham City! [NB: This idea was first explored in Countdown presents: The Search for Ray Palmer: Gotham by Gaslight #1 - Night of the Bat (2007); however Man-Bat and his min- ions were regrettably given rather short-shrift, artistically.] My figure TDL involves adding a pair of hands(?), and reworking the anatomy of the feet (see below).

The kit is comprised of 8 pieces + the standard Smart Max plinth. The figure itself is but 3 pcs.-- the remainder is devoted to the pipes from which Kaïn is suspended and a lantern. I intend to use only the figure, with the suspension provided by a streetlamp from MiniArt 35560--this is where the rework of the feet comes in. The casting overall is VG: there are a few more surface air holes than usual, but this is more reflective of the age of the molds than any lapse in procedural care.

To be continued. . . 

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Painting (6) -- Wrapping-Up

Save for the usual post-completion touch-ups, tweaks, etc., the Great White Ape of Barsoom, v.2 is now DONE!

In terms of the painting, the only items that remain unpainted are the nails, and final outlining. These are items that are best left undone until the paint is at least surface dry/solvent resistant. Otherwise. . .

I will post an epilogue to this project in the days to come. . . In the meantime, I am going to tho- roughly enjoy placing this iteration of Barsoomian simian rage in my collection. . .

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Painting (5) -- The Upper Arms

I have just completed the left upper arm, while basecoating the right. Both upper arms will be completed before calling it a night. . . 

The shoulder "mantle" will be done along with the wiry hair.

Almost there. . .

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Painting (4) -- Glazing

As I will probably not be able to get back to the bench until the weekend, I thought it would be timely to begin the glazing process. Using Talens' Transparent White and W&N Zinc White, the results to-date exceed all expectations. This will continue right until the very end to optimize the lighting and depth of the sculpture.

Once the glaze settles, I can begin the final wrap-up session with Flake White for the highest values, and Lamp Black for the lowest. . . 

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Painting (3) -- The Head

07.05.2020
The topography of the head has been fully 'mapped' with acrylic grisailles; and the shock of bristly hair has been washed with very dilute acrylic black to set the tonal flow.

The head is now ready for oils. . .

09.05.2020
The head, save for the eyes, is now effectively done. Aside from the eyes, the hirsute portions of the figure still have to be either done or finalized. And lastly, the stone cudgel has to be attached and painted. . . 

By way of a sidebar, I would like to point out that this iteration of the Great White Apes of Bar- soom is a bit more richly chromatic than its predecessor. I drew most of my inspiration from the cover of  the 1973 edition (Ballantine) of The Master Mind of Mars (1927) by Gino d'Achille. AND, I relied more on my reference folder of Snowflake (may he RIP), as well as referencing images of Hamadryas baboons. Snowflake was allegedly the first albino gorilla known to Western man, but Burroughs and the production team of Son of Kong (1933) both featured white great apes in their creative ventures. They had either heard of sightings of albino gorillas, or set the stage for another instance of fact being stranger than fiction. . .

I should be on the 'last lap' by the end of 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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Painting -- Intermezzo

While there has been no further progress on the painting save for an assessment of the progress to date, I have undertaken a watershed step in any project: the figure has been permanently at- tached to the display base (read: groundwork). 

By toning done the chroma of the groundwork ever so slightly, I have increased the value of the white skin significantly--AND retained the tonal diversity of the enhanced palette. 

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Groundwork (5)

The painting of the groundwork--including the ruins!--has been completed. I will revisit the ground- work often over the next week-10 days, punching up details, and finalizing values.

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Groundwork (4)

Some of you might recall from the first project that the dominant floral species in the Barsoomian dead sea bottoms--and elsewhere--is the ubiquitous yellow moss/lichen.

I have now applied the moss covering using the Woodland Scenics products--it is now drying. These products are virtually tailor-made for this terrain, and I can't recommend them enough! I
will hopefully be able to finalize the majority of the terrain in the next few days DONE; with the fine detail and the chromatic work on the ruins commencing over 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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Painting (2)

Phase 1 of the second "third" of the figure is now DONE. And the work I did yesterday is settling quite nicely. . . All that remains are the upper arms, the shoulders, and the head.

I also blocked-in/basecoated the mouth and the dentition.

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Painting (1)

As with the first foray into Barsoomian fauna, I laid out a rather diverse palette of oils, and just went at it. . . and as in most "free-form" applications, at least with me, I am very pleased! 

Whereas in the first go-round, the diversity of organic tones throughout was a challenge to pre- serve in the course of the shading and highlighting processes, this time that will be a virtually inconsequential concern. 

One of the reasons for this is that I have "sectioned" the figure for painting. Today, I did the entire first phase of the lower third of the body. Before proceeding with final highlight glazes, and defin- ing tonal shifts, I will let the Phase 1 application dry to where it will accept an overlay of paint without compromising the integrity of the "basecoat".

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