"Mean Machine" Angel - Prep 4: PPP

With the physical prepwork completed, the final remaining step (before priming) was the PPP. 

As you might recall, "PPP" is simply Pre-Prime Prep. It is the final surface finishing--if applica- ble!--of a figure that would otherwise be ready for priming. In the case of "Mean Machine", I wanted to depict corroded and/or rough-cast surfaces on the casing of the mechanical arm: this was accomplished by brushing-on thinned glazing putty on the targeted areas, and repeatedly stippling until I achieved the anticipated degree of texturing.

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

"Mean Machine" Angel - Prep 3

The prepwork is all-but-done! Over the next few days, I will carefully go over the entire figure to make sure I have not missed any seam lines or an extremely-rare air bubble. As part of the final once-over, I will sharpen any undercuts with scriber and #11 blade. 

Finally, I have mounted the [right] cybernetic arm on its painting base.

Assuming I can put in 1-2 hrs,/evening, "Mean Machine" should be ready for priming this time next week--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

"Mean Machine" Angel - Reboot. . .

I already have two entries ready for the next DWC painting comp, but I've never liked an even- number of entries in any "show". So. . . after careful consideration of the projected disposable time in the weeks to come--and definitely taking into account the fact that there will be a Quarter end to be reckoned with at work--I decided to pull "Mean Machine" Angel onto a front-burner and get to work!

As per my last posting over 6 months ago (almost 7 months to the day, in fact), the majority of the prepwork has already been done, with the final fitting to the groundwork to be done by the end of the long weekend. What will then remain to be done is the detailing and tweaking of the stock castings to suit my vision of the piece.

Considerable headway was made today, and my plans are to have the figure on the painting bench by the end of the month. We'll see. . .

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

"Mean Machine" Angel - Prep 2

With Hisssss Honor, Judge Death, preparing to step down from the bench--painting-bench that is!--the time has come to begin the selection process for his replacement. . .

As much as I would have liked to have continued a 'judicial' theme, I need a break from the Dark Justices; so the frontrunner, as of this writing, is "Mean Machine" Angel.

Picking up where I had left off, much of the prepwork has already been done. In fact, the general clean-up part of the prepwork was all-but-completed back in February. What remained to be done was the detailing and tweaking of the stock castings to suit my vision of the piece. . . and adapting the groundwork to my chosen display base.

The groundwork is now close to being done. First things first, I modelled-over the 2000AD logo with MS; and thinned the "base" down to the terrain. Next, as I am mounting it on a square dis- play pedestal, I squared-off the sides of the base to the appropriate dimensions. Now all that remains is to add the four corners of the terrain once it is mounted permanently to its display base.

Stay tuned!

FOLLOW-UP 20.07.2014 - Groundwork is done!!!

"Mean Machine" Angel - Prep 1a

Clean-up of the mechanical arm is done(!) and it is now ready to receive its enhancements. To date, I have singled out four items to be added: 2 cables, 1 wire, and a hydraulic hose. I may decide to add a wire or two more (as filler), but I want to keep things relatively simple and clean.

Movin' right along. . . 

FOLLOW-UP 15.02.2014. . . The final tally of enhancements is as follows: 2 cables, 2 wires, and 2 hydraulic hoses. All the enhancements, save for the wires, have been sized and fitted. 

Back to general clean-up! 

UPDATE 16.02.2014. . . MM is now pegged (brass tubing) and fitted to the groundwork.

UPDATE 17.02.2014. . . MM is now on its workbase. . . and the pre-prime assembly of the me- chanical arm has been completed, and the arm fitted. Almost there! 

"Mean Machine" Angel - Prep 1

I have to say that. . . THIS IS AN AWESOME FIGURE!!!

While some Liquin was setting on the pieces on the painting bench, I spent the last hour working on "MM". There is very little clean-up to do; and what there is, is dealt with in short order with burr, blade, and file. The torso and legs have been permanently joined.

Most of my time was spent working on the crimped cable on the mechanical arm, as provided-- this is now mostly history. If you decide to take this route, proceed slowly, and do not remove too much at once: what can be overlooked by having a piece cast en suite will be be all-too visible to one and all with a separate item! Think ahead--and twice again!--before removing any stock.

Once the stock cable is removed, then the fun(!) begins: the mechanical arm will be enhanced and detailed with additional cabling and wire.

Stay tuned!

"Mean Machine" Angel

"Mean Machine" Angel is Dark World Creations' third release in their 2000AD series. Arguably the best-known of the nefarious Angel Clan, the crazed, one-armed cyborg was featured in the 1995 cinematic adaptation, Judge Dredd.

The kit, designed/sculpted by the Swedish graphic artist/sculptor, Pedram Karimfazli (Jessica, Jared), is comprised of 6 pieces (torso, legs, and a 4-piece mechanical arm) + logo-ed base, which is unique in that it provides a usable Cursed Earth terrain. Though scaled to the company standard "70mm", the figure measures ~82mm to the eyes. . . well, eye.

Casting quality is excellent, with but two air bubbles that will have to be addressed. That being said, one of the cables on the arm has been unnaturally 'crimped' as a design/casting expedient (should have been cast as a separate piece!), and I will replace it in my rendition. Since one of the air bubbles is on this very cable, that leaves only one to address!

As with all the DWC releases I have worked on to-date, this one promises to be a lot of 'challenging fun'. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!