"Old Red Eyes"

Hammerstein - Painting: DONE!!!

The brushes are down and the painting is . . . DONE!

All that remains in the days ahead is punching up some of the detailing, some weathering (pig- ments, etc.), and the final integration of the figure to the groundwork. Actually, I expect to revisit the latter in the months to come just to make sure that everything is just as it should be. BUT. . . other than that, this figure will be off the paint bench over the weekend!

As  I mentioned in my last posting, I am not ready for this project to end. I truly wish there were additional ABC Warriors in the line: Zippo, Mongrol, Joe Pineapples, Deadlock. . . even Black- blood! That would be an impressive collection indeed!! While not very likely, stranger things have happened. . .

This figure represents all that is good about figure painting. It's bringing a character to life using a superbly designed and manufactured kit, and going wherever it leads. It's about letting your ima- gination run wild and doing your best without any concern for anything else simply because the figure deserves it. Thanks to Pat Mills and Clint Langley for their storytelling and consummate art; and to Rin and David Richardson for giving it three-dimensional life. And special thanks to Rin for reminding me yet again how much fun this hobby can be. . . 

UPDATE 18.11.15. . . DONE!!! (as in off the bench and in the cabinet!) Images to follow as soon as possible. . . 

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

Hammerstein - Painting: ALL-BUT-DONE!!!

I guess I was closer than previously thought. . .  After a very productive day, Hammerstein can be officially deemed ALL-BUT-DONE!

The two remaining items to be done are: 1) the eyes and laser; and 2) the groundwork. Neither will be all that time-consuming, but #1 will certainly be stressful. I will start with the shoulder-mounted laser and then move on to the eyes. Once these are done, final detailing and weathering will commence.

Depending on how smoothly things go, this one should be off the bench by month's end. . .

A parting shot, if I may. . . I am almost sorry to see this project come to an end. As with all of my DWC projects, this represents one of my most enjoyable modelling projects ever! And this one may be at the top of the list due to the fact that it prompted a long-overdue reunion with the Mr. Metal lacquers. Hammerstein will definitely have a very special place in my collection. . . 

ALMOST THERE!

UPDATE 15.11.15. . . LET THE FINAL DETAILING AND WEATHERING BEGIN!!!

FOLLOW-UP 16.11.15. . . Things are moving right along. While the amount of outlining, etc. is considerable, as you might imagine, I'm more concerned with overlooking something. Assuming a semblance of normalcy is to be had from work, I hope to finish the figure itself by mid-week, and the groundwork over the weekend. Photo session targeted for Turkey Day weekend, even though I will have to work Friday. . .

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

Hammerstein - Painting: Colourizing Plate (cont. 2)

While nowhere near a point where I can deem the figure "all-but-done", I am delighted to report that the main "colourization" of the plate is now DONE! 

Since, as we all know, the "devil is in the detail", I am in for one helluva home stretch! The real trick will be to maintain the cohesive entity that is now before me, while enhancing the points of interest to create a "visual path". The trek begins on the morrow!

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

Hammerstein - Painting: Colourizing Plate (cont.)

• UPDATE 10.11.15--Phase I of the tracks--MIG and Vallejo acrylics--is complete.

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

Hammerstein - Painting: Intermezzo (2)

Given the free-form approach ("open palette") that will dictate the remaining brushwork, I decided to permanently transfer Hammerstein to its final display base. Not quite in the books yet, but getting close. . . 

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

Hammerstein - Painting: Colourizing Plate

We are now in Phase III of the painting: applying a chromatic, variegated, multi-media finish to the metallic surface. If my goal was a [semi-]polished factory finish, the figure could be consid- ered all-but-done. But, based on Langley's depiction--or the printing of the same, the finish of the ABC Warriors was decidedly chromatic and selectively textured. The fact that all attempts to source "the vision" behind the finish have been for naught is at once liberating--and frustrating!

This will be the prevailing phase through completion. Even the weathering will be dictated by the necessity to create a cohesive, integrated, visually appealing as well as representative entity. I will strive to keep you abreast of the progress, though the particulars might be a bit sparse as this will largely be a free-form exercise.
  

• UPDATE 08.11.15--Right arm has been glazed with light blue-grey acrylic; hammer has been basecoated with Vallejo Metal Gunmetal. Right pauldron has been base- lacquered and permanently attached.
• UPDATE 08.11.15 (2)--Left pauldron has been base-lacquered and permanently attached: the figure is now completely assembled.
• UPDATE 08.11.15 (3)--All gold insignia basecoated in a Mussini Casslerbraun glaze.
• UPDATE 09.11.15--All gold insignia given a light dry-brushing in Mars Yellow. In order to maintain the tonal and graphic quality of the original artwork, I am attempting a quasi-nmm approach to the yellow metals.

 

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

Hammerstein - Painting: Intermezzo

The pauldrons have been primed and are slated to be undercoated tomorrow. DONE!

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

Hammerstein - Painting: Lacquers

IT. . . HAS. . . BEGUN!!!!!!!

This evening, I have applied the basecoat of lacquers up to Hammerstein's "knees" using G-S Mr. Metal Stainless Steel.  So far so good. . . This will be my "test canvas" throughout upon which to assay the variegated metallic effects I hope to achieve. IF I am not entirely successful, this is the area that will be subjected to the greatest weathering, so no harm.

I will buff-out the tracks shortly, but the lower legs will be allowed to cure as applied. 

NEXT: Dark Iron and Iron mottling. . .

UPDATE 07.11.15. . . Basecoating is complete save for the arms. Mottling on the legs is done! HINT: Mottling should be done over/in 2-3 sessions (read: layers), allowing-to-dry and buffing between layers.

UPDATE 08.11.15. . . Basecoating and mottling are done! Spot highlighting with lacquers is underway!!

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

Hammerstein - Painting: Overview

With the figure now primed, undercoating will probably commence today. 

But not before sharing with you my intended approach to this rendering--as much for your eluci- dation as mine! 

I have spent a not-inconsiderable amount of time trying to figure out what precisely was Hammer- stein's colour scheme. Langley's colouration was a brilliant deviation from the copperish, terra- cotta finish of the subject's earlier iterations, especially as Hammerstein's exoskeleton was made from depleted uranium. BUT. . . did Hammerstein sport a bare metal ("alwhite") finish? 
Or was his armour painted and/or chemically finished??

As I am not a big fan of "nmm", I do not have the option of reducing the actual textural depth of the various component layers to a single--albeit convincing!--chromatic melange. And since all attempts to plumb the source have gone for naught, I am forced to come up with my own "theory", and hope that it is vindicated by the end results:

• Undercoat: flat black. DONE!
• Basecoat: Overall variegated metallic finish using G-S Mr. Metal lacquers and Vallejo Metal acrylics.
• Painted variegated finish using oils to create the appearance of "blackened" plate.
• Weathering and final finish dictated by the results to date. 

Let the game begin. . .

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

Hammerstein - Painting: Priming

"Old Red Eyes" is now primed!

As I had the groundwork primed as well (it was primed first), and the airbrush was still up and running, I decided to block in the main/'base' colours on the groundwork, namely a dull black, and a grungy, cool, somewhat-glossy brown (both Floquil lacquers).

Before closing, I would just like to say that this figure is most generous in rewarding assiduous prepwork: the primer went on like a dream! And few more brilliant touches of a "sculptural" kind were revealed!!

More to follow!

UPDATE 25.10.15. . . The groundwork has been permanently attached to the display base.

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