I concluded my introductory posting on a SP Huntress with, "All that remains is to find a suitable 50- 54mm base figure for a SP Black Canary. . ." And so I have. . . I think. . .
The figure is from the Spanish company Tale of War, in their Tale- Revision range. This is the company that launched its line with the now classic Victor Cat Helsing, the vampire/demon-hunting descendant of Puss in Boots!
My interests lie with the last(?) 54mm release in the range: "Alice & Answers". Taking the exquisite engineering and design provided, and adding some judicious modelling, I think I have the makings of a rather unique SP Black Canary.
In my version of Victorian London, Black Canary was a chanteuse from Le Chat Noir in Paris, a popular nightspot that was managed by one Mlle. Kyle, "Le Chat", a Scottish émigré who firmly believed in the Auld Alliance--especially when her shapely neck was on the line. One of her first discoveries was the German soprano, Diana Lanz, who abruptly left the Bayreuth Festspielhaus company with nary an explanation. Mlle. Kyle discovered her singing in a rather seedy, upstart cabaret in Paris, and was quickly taken with her. . . Diana joined Le Chat Noir as "die Harzer Roller", soon thereafter became "le Canari, and the rest was history--albeit short-lived. Before long, Fräulein Lanz was in London singing in East End music halls still using her Parisian stage-name, "The Canary". . .
It's a start. . . The most important thing is that it would appear as if all the elements of a Steampunk Birds of Prey diorama--or at worst, a mini-"collection"--have been gathered. . .
Stay tuned!
Showing posts with label Steampunk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steampunk. Show all posts
10 April 2011
Huntress à la Steampunk
It should be fairly obvious that I am quite taken with the conversion of SM's Miss Liddell into my interpretation of a Steampunk Oracle. So why stop there?
Andrea Miniatures' Warlord Saga series is one of the better Fantasy theme collections on the market today. Perhaps lacking the presence and outrance of Pegaso's Gehenna series, they are much more "accessible" and "recognizable", if you will. To put it another way, they lend themselves readily to adaptations of any number of characters and worlds familiar to most enthusiasts of the genre.
While my initial approach to SP Oracle was as a one-shot, within a few days of receiving it I began to explore my options in earnest. Were there commercial castings that would lend themselves to conversions into SP versions of DC's "Birds of Prey"? Nothing really "grabbed me", but then I recalled seeing Andrea's Arlith, the Silent Shadow (presented by John Espey) at the Atlanta Show (see review here).
The main problem with Arlith is that she is a standalone vignette. This doesn't quite "fit" with what I have in mind: a tight grouping, perhaps under a gaslight. So what to do? Fortunately there is a relatively close second and that is Tale of War's Caperucita Roja (Little Red Riding Hood) as the base figure. Moderately more work involved, and probably some costume rearranging; but eminently doable.
That's about it for now. All that remains is to find a suitable 50- 54mm base figure for a SP Black Canary. . .
Andrea Miniatures' Warlord Saga series is one of the better Fantasy theme collections on the market today. Perhaps lacking the presence and outrance of Pegaso's Gehenna series, they are much more "accessible" and "recognizable", if you will. To put it another way, they lend themselves readily to adaptations of any number of characters and worlds familiar to most enthusiasts of the genre.
While my initial approach to SP Oracle was as a one-shot, within a few days of receiving it I began to explore my options in earnest. Were there commercial castings that would lend themselves to conversions into SP versions of DC's "Birds of Prey"? Nothing really "grabbed me", but then I recalled seeing Andrea's Arlith, the Silent Shadow (presented by John Espey) at the Atlanta Show (see review here).
The main problem with Arlith is that she is a standalone vignette. This doesn't quite "fit" with what I have in mind: a tight grouping, perhaps under a gaslight. So what to do? Fortunately there is a relatively close second and that is Tale of War's Caperucita Roja (Little Red Riding Hood) as the base figure. Moderately more work involved, and probably some costume rearranging; but eminently doable.
That's about it for now. All that remains is to find a suitable 50- 54mm base figure for a SP Black Canary. . .
23 March 2011
Dr. Proteus Treves (SMOG 1888 #54)
I was recently perusing the Smart Max catalog to see if there was/were any piece/s that I might have been a tad hasty with in my initial judgment. When I reached Dr. Proteus Treves (SMOG 1888 #54), I could not believe I had dismissed this one so readily!!! The allusion to Joseph Merrick, the legendary “Elephant Man” was, of course, fairly obvious. But there was more. . . Treves--Sir Frederick Treves, 1st Baronet, renowned surgeon and Merrick’s attending physician--and friend. Though Merrick for the better part of the 20th c. was thought to have suffered from neurofibromatosis, in 1986 a theory was postulated that attributed his symptoms to Proteus Syndrome: shortly after the turn of the century, neurofibromatosis was restored as a contributory condition.
Hence Dr. Proteus Treves, who, in the SMOG 1888 canon, “became infected with one of his patients’ mysterious disease that started to horribly distort his body. When his frantic medical researches for a cure failed, he turned to the darkest magic. Yet, his unsufferable [sic] pain and increasing powers finally overcame the formerly devoted doctor Treves and led him to madness, turning his suffering into bittersweet pleasure and his fear into deep-rooted hatred. “
Of course, no such fate befell Sir Frederick, but what a brilliant spin and conflation! While I certainly do not have a problem with Smart Max’s development of the SMOG-verse—all to the contrary!—I do wish they would pursue more subjects along the path taken to create Treves: a bit of the historical + a dash of the fantasy, with a generous splash of the imaginative , to provide us with another inspired concoction.
This is one of the larger Smart Max pieces, well over 60mm to the top of the head—minus the bowler. It is also relatively massive. Cast in 10 pieces + the cobblestoned plinth, this is not only one of the more substantial SM offerings, it is also one of the more ambitious in terms of design and engineering, as we shall see when I launch this project.
All that remains is to heartily applaud Smart Max’s vision and execution. . . !!!!!
04 March 2011
The Golem
This is Smart Max's The Golem from their "Smog 1888" series, splendidly rendered by my lady, Cris. . .
"[The] Witches of the Wheel have the ability to summon the forces of Nature. The Golem is a most powerful Earth elemental, yet in London, Nature can be surprisingly twisted. 'Corrupted', as the most conservative Ancestors would say. Nonetheless, a few bold witches led by Nibaba claim that the city's singularity is to be used against the enemies of Nature. Raised from the pavement and the sewers, the Golem is the massive, fearless assertion of that radical strategy."--Smog 1888
Cris took a multi-media approach to this challenging piece, using acrylics, oils, and metallic powders to achieve the results before you. She also found period broadsheets on-line, reduced them in size, and stained them in tea (what else?
). The nameplate was modelled and lettered by her, and features Hebrew graffiti spelling "Golem". Finally, the activating word, "emet", in Hebrew, is perfectly legible on the tiny piece of parchment spiked to the top of the Golem's head.
Steampunk is alive and well in the Rodríguez-Foley household!!!
ENJOY!!!
"[The] Witches of the Wheel have the ability to summon the forces of Nature. The Golem is a most powerful Earth elemental, yet in London, Nature can be surprisingly twisted. 'Corrupted', as the most conservative Ancestors would say. Nonetheless, a few bold witches led by Nibaba claim that the city's singularity is to be used against the enemies of Nature. Raised from the pavement and the sewers, the Golem is the massive, fearless assertion of that radical strategy."--Smog 1888
Cris took a multi-media approach to this challenging piece, using acrylics, oils, and metallic powders to achieve the results before you. She also found period broadsheets on-line, reduced them in size, and stained them in tea (what else?
). The nameplate was modelled and lettered by her, and features Hebrew graffiti spelling "Golem". Finally, the activating word, "emet", in Hebrew, is perfectly legible on the tiny piece of parchment spiked to the top of the Golem's head.Steampunk is alive and well in the Rodríguez-Foley household!!!
ENJOY!!!
29 January 2011
New publication: Steampunk Modeller -- REVIEW
Just received mine! 128pp tpb; sumptuously illustrated: all colour-- no skimping on photographs here; printed on 'heavy' satin paper. Featuring 12 articles/projects from English (5), French (5) and American (2) modellers. Perhaps not surprisingly (one can hope, though. . . no?!), the articles are rather "light" on figures. Having said that, there is a treasure trove's worth of information and inspiration between these covers, and this is a welcome addition to the modelling library.
Bring on the SMOG!!!
Bring on the SMOG!!!
10 January 2011
New publication: Steampunk Modeller
The good folks at Sci-Fi & fantasy Modeller will soon be releasing their first annual? compendium?? of a Steampunk theme: Steampunk Modeller. For my interested readership across the Pond, you can do no better than going direct through the publisher; those of us in the colonies can contact Steve at CultTVMan's Hobby Shop.
Can't wait!
Can't wait!
14 December 2010
Smart Max has gone BIG! -- Follow-Up
Smart Max has just announced the release of their third 1/12th scale (150mm) offering: Hauptsturmführer Konrad von Kardsten. Much like Captain-Deacon Zaitseva, this piece is in their Mauser Earth range, and it is an up-scaled derivative of their original 1/35th scale offering. I'm gonna have to try to get a hand's-on look at this one at the upcoming Show as it offers many possibilities. . .
Having said that, I was hoping the next 150 would have been from the Smog 1888 range. When I asked Cedric about it on pF, he did not respond. . .
Having said that, I was hoping the next 150 would have been from the Smog 1888 range. When I asked Cedric about it on pF, he did not respond. . .
06 November 2010
Smart Max has gone BIG!
Our favourite purveyor of steampunk has just announced the release of their first two figures in 1/12th scale (150mm). As you can see, these are in their Mauser Earth range--in fact Captain-Deacon Zaitseva is an up-scaled version of their earlier 1/35th scale release.
Will there be similarly sized offerings in their Smog 1888 range. . . ?
Will there be similarly sized offerings in their Smog 1888 range. . . ?
07 July 2010
06 July 2010
And now for something completely different. . . STEAMPUNK!
A company hailing from a commune in the north-western suburbs of Paris has in little over a year taken the miniatures' world by storm by offering a product line that is not only unequaled in creativity and imagination, but in its production standards and quality. I am talking about Smart Max.
Smart Max offers two lines of resin 1/35th scale figures: Smog 1888 and Mauser Earth (website currently unavailable). Smog 1888 is classic Steampunk: a Victorian alternate reality with a healthy splash of sci-fi à la Jules Verne, et al. in what is the "new" Industrial Revolution--or the "old" one pursued to its unnatural extremes with all the unimaginable unnatural consequences. Mauser Earth is an alternate reality that features the "Forever War": the outcome of "the war to end all wars" is still very much in question as it has been going on for a quarter-century!
The figures are beautifully designed and sculpted, and exquisitely cast in polyvinyl resin. Yes. . . I know. . . not my favorite medium, but one eminently suitable for the task at hand--especially as the thickness of parts can be less than 1mm in many instances! Engineering and design is reminiscent of the best the Japanese masters have to offer: whereas we would sculpt/model a greatcoated figure in one piece, Smart Max provides a hollow greatcoat, a separate cape, a full set of legs!
Regarding scale. Smart Max is a pack-leader in what I can only describe as a new "micro" trend. Until recently, we have seen the scale pendulum of military miniatures ever swinging in the direction of "bigger is better", where the figures are obviously much larger than the professed scale. Smart Max and the likes of Nocturna, et al. are now releasing pieces that are true to scale, if not slightly smaller. Hence, the new scale standard is not 54mm (or 60mm in real measure), but a true 1/35th scale or 50mm.
This is perhaps seen as a compromise scale (note: hardly that, being the mainstay of military modelling since time immemorial!) that will attract the mainstream miniaturist, while still appealing to the wargaming collector, for it is in the latter that these new ventures have their roots. And if I may digress briefly, where the future of our hobby, IMHO, for whatever reasons, lies. Whatever you might think of him or his work, Raúl García Latorre and Enigma have been among the first to "cross-over". While I do not believe many more of the creators will follow--few have his talent in the smaller scales, undoubtedly many of the patrons will follow--if only because of display-ability and cost.
Cost. I remember when 25-30mm were about a buck or so per figure. Of course, I also remember when 54's were under $3.00! One of the major deterrents to a greater following for these new "micros" is cost. This is a case where you are getting less--volume-wise--for more. But what is quality and contextual imagination worth these days? Perhaps the worm has finally turned and artistry is being duly rewarded. . . And they are still cheaper than many of their larger counterparts!
The only other downside to these pieces is physical: how many people have the skills to do them justice? And how many of us old timers can still see well enough to even consider tackling them?? Perhaps they are righting the ship, and steering the hobby back on course. Unfortunately, while not quite ready to be marooned, "iacta alea est". However, until I am faced with the inevitable, I plan to enjoy these to the utmost, and I will be sharing my first venture into 3-d'al Steampunk with you shortly.
Until then. . .
Smart Max offers two lines of resin 1/35th scale figures: Smog 1888 and Mauser Earth (website currently unavailable). Smog 1888 is classic Steampunk: a Victorian alternate reality with a healthy splash of sci-fi à la Jules Verne, et al. in what is the "new" Industrial Revolution--or the "old" one pursued to its unnatural extremes with all the unimaginable unnatural consequences. Mauser Earth is an alternate reality that features the "Forever War": the outcome of "the war to end all wars" is still very much in question as it has been going on for a quarter-century!
The figures are beautifully designed and sculpted, and exquisitely cast in polyvinyl resin. Yes. . . I know. . . not my favorite medium, but one eminently suitable for the task at hand--especially as the thickness of parts can be less than 1mm in many instances! Engineering and design is reminiscent of the best the Japanese masters have to offer: whereas we would sculpt/model a greatcoated figure in one piece, Smart Max provides a hollow greatcoat, a separate cape, a full set of legs!
Regarding scale. Smart Max is a pack-leader in what I can only describe as a new "micro" trend. Until recently, we have seen the scale pendulum of military miniatures ever swinging in the direction of "bigger is better", where the figures are obviously much larger than the professed scale. Smart Max and the likes of Nocturna, et al. are now releasing pieces that are true to scale, if not slightly smaller. Hence, the new scale standard is not 54mm (or 60mm in real measure), but a true 1/35th scale or 50mm.
This is perhaps seen as a compromise scale (note: hardly that, being the mainstay of military modelling since time immemorial!) that will attract the mainstream miniaturist, while still appealing to the wargaming collector, for it is in the latter that these new ventures have their roots. And if I may digress briefly, where the future of our hobby, IMHO, for whatever reasons, lies. Whatever you might think of him or his work, Raúl García Latorre and Enigma have been among the first to "cross-over". While I do not believe many more of the creators will follow--few have his talent in the smaller scales, undoubtedly many of the patrons will follow--if only because of display-ability and cost.
Cost. I remember when 25-30mm were about a buck or so per figure. Of course, I also remember when 54's were under $3.00! One of the major deterrents to a greater following for these new "micros" is cost. This is a case where you are getting less--volume-wise--for more. But what is quality and contextual imagination worth these days? Perhaps the worm has finally turned and artistry is being duly rewarded. . . And they are still cheaper than many of their larger counterparts!
The only other downside to these pieces is physical: how many people have the skills to do them justice? And how many of us old timers can still see well enough to even consider tackling them?? Perhaps they are righting the ship, and steering the hobby back on course. Unfortunately, while not quite ready to be marooned, "iacta alea est". However, until I am faced with the inevitable, I plan to enjoy these to the utmost, and I will be sharing my first venture into 3-d'al Steampunk with you shortly.
Until then. . .
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