All that remains is the final detailing/clean-up/finishing (i.e., pre-prime prep). This will be a rather lengthy process due to the the amount of corrective work done--and the amount(!) of fur to recon- struct, but I will hopefully have this piece on the paint bench by the end of the first week in February. . .
Let the marathon begin. . . !!!
“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003
Showing posts with label Papaflessas (Bust). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Papaflessas (Bust). Show all posts
15 January 2017
14 January 2017
"Papaflessas" - Intermezzo: Pre-Finalization
The overwhelming majority of the mods have been completed and are awaiting finishing, so I plan to take a break to let the bust--and my eyes!--"rest". . .
Having said that there are two, possibly three, areas that will require my attention before I barrel into the home stretch:
- The embroidery on the tunic. DONE!
- The tassel. DONE!
- The sehalik: I have an excellent photograph of the actual item upon which this was based. The reproduction in miniature left off one salient aspect of the piece, and I will evaluate whether it is worth adding. DONE!
- Reworking the fur trim. IN-PROGRESS
“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003
"Papaflessas" - Prepwork III: The Megalo Fesi
Papaflessas' headwear is a megalo fesi. As its name indicates, it is a large fez. This was a common headwear in the Balkans in the 19th c. Unfortunately, what is provided is a fez-turban hybrid that resembles no historical headwear.
First step is to reduce the turban. Megalo fesi were sometimes worn with a wrap ("turban") around its base, so reduce the provided turban judiciously, unless you would prefer to resculpt the fesi in its entirety.
Once the turban was reduced to a band, I began roughing-in the shape of the "crown". This will be a multi-step process (already on step 2) until the desired shape and volume is achieved.
More to follow. . .
FOLLOW-UP. . . It took 2 steps and change to achieve what I had envisioned. Before finalizing the "crown" of the fesi, I roughed-in the tassel, which I will pin once cured DONE before refining the shape and fit.
“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003
First step is to reduce the turban. Megalo fesi were sometimes worn with a wrap ("turban") around its base, so reduce the provided turban judiciously, unless you would prefer to resculpt the fesi in its entirety.
Once the turban was reduced to a band, I began roughing-in the shape of the "crown". This will be a multi-step process (already on step 2) until the desired shape and volume is achieved.
More to follow. . .
FOLLOW-UP. . . It took 2 steps and change to achieve what I had envisioned. Before finalizing the "crown" of the fesi, I roughed-in the tassel, which I will pin once cured DONE before refining the shape and fit.
“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003
12 January 2017
"Papaflessas" - Prepwork II
The voided back is now completely filled, with the pedestal tentatively positioned--and shortened by about 12mm+/-. I permanently attached the right arm; reducing the feminine "bell sleeve"; and increasing the volume of the overall length of the sleeve, if only to mitigate the two-dimensionality of the limb. Unfortunately, this will require effectively resculpting the sleeves to a greater (right) or lesser (left) degree, and repositioning the right hand. . .
Stay tuned!
UPDATE 13.01.17. . . Phase I resculpture of the right arm is now complete and the bust is in the oven. I figure there will be 3-4 more sessions before the right arm can be deemed 'acceptable'. I also began working on the cranium, widening the frontal-temporal plane and roughing-in the "turban" around the base of the megalo fesi.
UPDATE 14.01.17. . . The pedestal has been permanently attached; and the left upper sleeve has been enhanced volumetrically (Phase I).
“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003
Stay tuned!
UPDATE 13.01.17. . . Phase I resculpture of the right arm is now complete and the bust is in the oven. I figure there will be 3-4 more sessions before the right arm can be deemed 'acceptable'. I also began working on the cranium, widening the frontal-temporal plane and roughing-in the "turban" around the base of the megalo fesi.
UPDATE 14.01.17. . . The pedestal has been permanently attached; and the left upper sleeve has been enhanced volumetrically (Phase I).
“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003
11 January 2017
YS Masterpieces' "Papaflessas" (HB-004; Bust) - Review and Prepwork I
Statement #1: I really do like the concept of this series.
Statement #2: I truly dislike the execution and the liberties taken with the historicity of the sub- jects--especially as source material is readily available!
Thus, as much as I would like to generously add to the one example I own, the options AFAIC are but one: YS Miniatures' fourth release in the series: HB-004 - HELLENIC REVOLUTIONARY FIGHTER & PRIEST (PAPAFLESSAS), sculpted by Carl Reid.
The piece is designed in 7 pieces, including the pedestal. As with Diakos, the casting itself is VG+++. Fit, on the other hand, is a different story altogether. Depending on your "standards"-- and your particular casting, be prepared to spend a considerable(!!!) amount of time fitting the left arm to the body.
Now, the "design" of the piece. This is your typical Carl Reid bust with a hollowed-out back(!). I have never understood this quirky trademark. . . I'll leave it at that. Otherwise, no real issues that a moderate amount of effort won't address to my satisfaction.
The sculpture is based on the Tsokos portrait (1862) of the Archimandrite. While liberties were taken, they are mostly acceptable--except, speaking for myself, the headwear. When lack of research (or understanding) is egregiously passed off as "artistic license", the historical basis of our hobby is shaken to its very foundation, to say nothing of the implicit trust freely bestowed--whether sculptor, manufacturer, or painter!
Insofar as a refsheet or painting guide is concerned, there is none but a color copy featuring four images of the finished boxart by Danilo Cartacci.
Finally--and I am definitely getting ahead of myself here, why have all the build-ups I have seen depict Papaflessas with a grey beard; i.e., aged? AFAIC, this is inexcusable! Flessas was but 37 when he died. One might argue that the stress of the conflict may have prematurely greyed him-- however, no depiction has him with anything but the colouration of a youthful adult.
So much for the review. . .
With the considerable amount of benchtime to be demanded by this piece, there's no time like the present to get the ball rolling . . .
First on the agenda is refitting the left arm. You can do this any number of ways: I opted for in- creasing the volume of the arm as opposed to that of the kaftan. With the leftover putty (I mixed a considerable amount), I roughed in the void of the back. That left me with about a thumbnail's worth, which I used to start reworking the headwear (more on this in a future posting).
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
Statement #2: I truly dislike the execution and the liberties taken with the historicity of the sub- jects--especially as source material is readily available!
Thus, as much as I would like to generously add to the one example I own, the options AFAIC are but one: YS Miniatures' fourth release in the series: HB-004 - HELLENIC REVOLUTIONARY FIGHTER & PRIEST (PAPAFLESSAS), sculpted by Carl Reid.
The piece is designed in 7 pieces, including the pedestal. As with Diakos, the casting itself is VG+++. Fit, on the other hand, is a different story altogether. Depending on your "standards"-- and your particular casting, be prepared to spend a considerable(!!!) amount of time fitting the left arm to the body.
Now, the "design" of the piece. This is your typical Carl Reid bust with a hollowed-out back(!). I have never understood this quirky trademark. . . I'll leave it at that. Otherwise, no real issues that a moderate amount of effort won't address to my satisfaction.
The sculpture is based on the Tsokos portrait (1862) of the Archimandrite. While liberties were taken, they are mostly acceptable--except, speaking for myself, the headwear. When lack of research (or understanding) is egregiously passed off as "artistic license", the historical basis of our hobby is shaken to its very foundation, to say nothing of the implicit trust freely bestowed--whether sculptor, manufacturer, or painter!
Insofar as a refsheet or painting guide is concerned, there is none but a color copy featuring four images of the finished boxart by Danilo Cartacci.
Finally--and I am definitely getting ahead of myself here, why have all the build-ups I have seen depict Papaflessas with a grey beard; i.e., aged? AFAIC, this is inexcusable! Flessas was but 37 when he died. One might argue that the stress of the conflict may have prematurely greyed him-- however, no depiction has him with anything but the colouration of a youthful adult.
So much for the review. . .
With the considerable amount of benchtime to be demanded by this piece, there's no time like the present to get the ball rolling . . .
First on the agenda is refitting the left arm. You can do this any number of ways: I opted for in- creasing the volume of the arm as opposed to that of the kaftan. With the leftover putty (I mixed a considerable amount), I roughed in the void of the back. That left me with about a thumbnail's worth, which I used to start reworking the headwear (more on this in a future posting).
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
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