Things are moving right along, and I am now working on the upper torso, namely the arms.
The right arm is all but done. Little work to be done save for a slight repositioning at the shoulder (lowered) and elbow (forearm raised and rotated into body). The shoulder joint is now finished.
The left arm will take considerably more work. The arm will essentially mirror the right, while the forearm will swing slightly away from the body, gesturing. The arm has already been sectioned mid-bicep, and has been tentatively "assembled", now awaiting final positioning.
Modifications to the left hand have already begun. The right hand will remain essentially stock though it will be reworked and redetailed as called for.
That's about it for now. Images will follow sometime next week: I don't want to lose the momentum, and things are somewhat hairy at work with month-end coming up.
27.08.2009
A flurry of activity in anticipation of the weekend. . .
The left arm is now completely roughed-in and positioned. With the leftover MS, I began to rough-out the collar build-up. The collar appears to be the lynchpin article in this project: the difference is striking!
30.08.2009
"Best laid plans. . . " and all that. This weekend got kiboshed by end-of-month work 'stuff', so time at the bench was all but eliminated. Still. . . the two arms are now all-but-done (NOTE: there was a bit more work than anticipated on the right arm--all good). And the mods to the upper torso--save for the cravat--are all roughed in.
All that really remains to be done are the keys, the cravat, the buttons (all 26 of them), and the pleats on the back of the frock.
Gettin' there. . .
26 August 2009
22 August 2009
Monarch Nosferatu--Intermezzo: The Keys
With the head all but done; and the legs reduced, roughed-in and re-positioned, I am now able to get a preview of what the final piece will look like. Still rough, but a preview nonetheless.
This revealed a shortcoming that some might consider relatively minor, but which I feel limits the presence and atmosphere of the piece: namely, the keys. Kudos to Monarch for providing [seven] individually- and finely-cast keys (!); the problem revolves around the fact that they are all the same size--and undersized at that. Thus, they all fit perfectly on the "key ring", giving one the impression of an orderly janitor/building superintendent who took it upon himself to re-key all the locks!
I have been unable to shake this latter image for about a week, and I finally decided that I would rework the keys. I have yet to do the first key (there will be between seven and ten), so I don't know if I am going to do each one individually; or if I will make a master key, put it into rubber, and cast the required number of copies. Unless it is inordinately time-consuming (or boring!), I will attempt the former approach.
More to follow. . .
This revealed a shortcoming that some might consider relatively minor, but which I feel limits the presence and atmosphere of the piece: namely, the keys. Kudos to Monarch for providing [seven] individually- and finely-cast keys (!); the problem revolves around the fact that they are all the same size--and undersized at that. Thus, they all fit perfectly on the "key ring", giving one the impression of an orderly janitor/building superintendent who took it upon himself to re-key all the locks!
I have been unable to shake this latter image for about a week, and I finally decided that I would rework the keys. I have yet to do the first key (there will be between seven and ten), so I don't know if I am going to do each one individually; or if I will make a master key, put it into rubber, and cast the required number of copies. Unless it is inordinately time-consuming (or boring!), I will attempt the former approach.
More to follow. . .
13 August 2009
Monarch Nosferatu
I've been playing with this one since I received it (Monday), and all the subassemblies have been assembled and the working-out has begun. To date, this has been an absolute joy, and it would receive my most emphatic and enthusiastic recommendation as a first-kit for anyone who wants to experience a little of what it was/is to be a "Monster-Kid"!
15.08.2009
To date. . .
As I mentioned, the subassemblies have been completed since Thursday, and I have been playing with the pose since then. Not exactly the easiest thing in the world considering the piece is hollow, but a few things were revealed--most importantly, the right leg is significantly longer than the left! This is easy enough to fix, whichever way one chooses to go about it.
With that done, the next step was filling the subassemblies with PUR. Once that was done, I drilled and pegged the legs and boots. Now any repositioning can be done with a fair degree of certainty. The repositioning of the legs will be relatively minor; the arms, quite the contrary!
18.08.2009
A few 'bites by way of progress made. The head is now well underway. The main enhancement has been the addition of the sleeping cap. This is turning into quite the project as there are limited views of the item in question. Thankfully, my experience with sculpting Renaissance headwear will come in very handy.
With the cap blocked-in, it was time to start reworking the face. First step: removing the ears. Next step was fleshing out the face a bit more. Save for his nose, Shreck's actual face was enhanced relatively little for his early scenes, hence it is more of a straight embellishment of portraiture.
Finally, with the left over putty, I began to enhance the "hump". This will lead to a more natural relocation of the arms and achieving the characteristic "no neck", hunchbacked look of Orlok.
22.08.2009
Much has been accomplished in the last four days. The head is now all but done. More importantly, the legs have been entirely reworked and repositioned.
Monarch is to be applauded for their design of the legs/feet: the boots fit into a cuff recess of the pant leg, providing not only a positive fit which still allows for some minor adjustment by the modeller if deemed necessary; but creates a convincing undercut. The problem lies in that the pant legs are stirruped and the stirrups are attached to. . . what? The second problem is that the essentially featureless legs are significantly and noticeably roomy--think tuxedo trousers.
I thought I could solve the problem by stovepiping the distal portion of the legs and introducing some much needed "landscaping" (i.e., drapery). By the time I was half-way through the reduction of the right leg, I had broken-through to the PUR filler in so many places that I decided to strip away the polystyrene shell completely. . .
Now I have two replacement legs made of PUR. While I will have to essentially resculpt both legs (reduce and "landscape" the PUR cores), the end result will be a significant improvement over the stock items.
That just about wraps-it up for this installment. As a sidebar note, these are enhancements and modifications that I feel are necessary to realize my vision of this subject: OOB, this would be a worthy addition to ANY collection.
15.08.2009
To date. . .
As I mentioned, the subassemblies have been completed since Thursday, and I have been playing with the pose since then. Not exactly the easiest thing in the world considering the piece is hollow, but a few things were revealed--most importantly, the right leg is significantly longer than the left! This is easy enough to fix, whichever way one chooses to go about it.
With that done, the next step was filling the subassemblies with PUR. Once that was done, I drilled and pegged the legs and boots. Now any repositioning can be done with a fair degree of certainty. The repositioning of the legs will be relatively minor; the arms, quite the contrary!
18.08.2009
A few 'bites by way of progress made. The head is now well underway. The main enhancement has been the addition of the sleeping cap. This is turning into quite the project as there are limited views of the item in question. Thankfully, my experience with sculpting Renaissance headwear will come in very handy.
With the cap blocked-in, it was time to start reworking the face. First step: removing the ears. Next step was fleshing out the face a bit more. Save for his nose, Shreck's actual face was enhanced relatively little for his early scenes, hence it is more of a straight embellishment of portraiture.
Finally, with the left over putty, I began to enhance the "hump". This will lead to a more natural relocation of the arms and achieving the characteristic "no neck", hunchbacked look of Orlok.
22.08.2009
Much has been accomplished in the last four days. The head is now all but done. More importantly, the legs have been entirely reworked and repositioned.
Monarch is to be applauded for their design of the legs/feet: the boots fit into a cuff recess of the pant leg, providing not only a positive fit which still allows for some minor adjustment by the modeller if deemed necessary; but creates a convincing undercut. The problem lies in that the pant legs are stirruped and the stirrups are attached to. . . what? The second problem is that the essentially featureless legs are significantly and noticeably roomy--think tuxedo trousers.
I thought I could solve the problem by stovepiping the distal portion of the legs and introducing some much needed "landscaping" (i.e., drapery). By the time I was half-way through the reduction of the right leg, I had broken-through to the PUR filler in so many places that I decided to strip away the polystyrene shell completely. . .
Now I have two replacement legs made of PUR. While I will have to essentially resculpt both legs (reduce and "landscape" the PUR cores), the end result will be a significant improvement over the stock items.
That just about wraps-it up for this installment. As a sidebar note, these are enhancements and modifications that I feel are necessary to realize my vision of this subject: OOB, this would be a worthy addition to ANY collection.
09 August 2009
"Bride's head Revisited"
After a somewhat less-than-sure start, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The face is now about 85% done and I couldn't be more pleased!!
As anyone who has attempted a likeness of Elsa Lanchester knows, this is advanced portraiture! Few if any of the commercial likeness truly do her justice: most appear to rely on one one or two trademark features to carry the day. In her role as the Bride, this is usually pared down to her hairdo and her eyes and/or full lips. But while these provide three of the four critical anchors for the exercise, they alone will not provide a convincing likeness.
I hope to be able to post images of the all-but-completed face by week's end. If all proceeds as planned, all that will remain to finish the head will be reworking the hairdo. It is the tousled fullness of the latter that provides the keystone to the alluring beauty that it frames.
As anyone who has attempted a likeness of Elsa Lanchester knows, this is advanced portraiture! Few if any of the commercial likeness truly do her justice: most appear to rely on one one or two trademark features to carry the day. In her role as the Bride, this is usually pared down to her hairdo and her eyes and/or full lips. But while these provide three of the four critical anchors for the exercise, they alone will not provide a convincing likeness.
I hope to be able to post images of the all-but-completed face by week's end. If all proceeds as planned, all that will remain to finish the head will be reworking the hairdo. It is the tousled fullness of the latter that provides the keystone to the alluring beauty that it frames.
07 August 2009
The week of 8/3. . .
1) "Bride's head Revisited". I can't take credit for this brilliant pun: dear friend and colleague--and lurker!--Rich cracked me up with this inspired comment in an email today. But yes, the work on the BoF's head progresses, and I believe I'm just about at the turning point of the exercise. I'll know more in a few hours. I'll try to get photos up in the next week or so. . .
2) After much going back and forth, I broke down and ordered Monarch's 1/8th scale Nosferatu. This kit has been the rave of the Aurora-philes and has been touted as the "true" successor of the Aurora Monsters series. Personally, I don't know if this is a compliment or not; but the kit has obvious potential, and since it appears that it may not be readily available for much longer (and prices for the original release are already beyond the 100% markup), I decided to add it to the styrene army.
PS--Item received today (10/08/09). With the collectible glamour firmly in place in the original release, I went for the "Frightening Lightning" glow-in-the-dark version of the kit. And why wouldn't I? No, I never liked the glow-in-the-dark versions of ANY kit. . . (collective gasp), BUT in this instance, one gets a full kit with select duplicate parts in glow-styrene. The best of both worlds AND an at-hand supply of spare parts! Full review to follow in the days to come. . .
3) Ordered Sideshow Collectibles' second rendition of Schlitzie the Pinhead from the Tod Browning classic, Freaks (1932). This is a long OP kit (released in 1998) that is a classic in GK-dom. Of the two, this is a vastly superior likeness of this gentle soul.
PS--Item received today (08/08/09). Though the casting as a whole was somewhat less than I had anticipated, my experience with bonded porcelain/marble should make short work of most of the shortcomings. All in all, I am very pleased and very happy to add this piece to my collection. Once the corrections and touch-ups are completed, this will be my first selection for a pure painting project.
4) Dusted off (literally!) my IP, 1/10 portrait bust of Filippo Buondelmonte degli Scolari, better known as "Pippo Spano". The historical midges are beginning to swarm and this is a near-perfect subject to bridge my current interests.
And that wraps it up for what has been a trying and draining fortnight. Hopefully things will normalize soon, and I can return to regular sessions at the bench.
2) After much going back and forth, I broke down and ordered Monarch's 1/8th scale Nosferatu. This kit has been the rave of the Aurora-philes and has been touted as the "true" successor of the Aurora Monsters series. Personally, I don't know if this is a compliment or not; but the kit has obvious potential, and since it appears that it may not be readily available for much longer (and prices for the original release are already beyond the 100% markup), I decided to add it to the styrene army.
PS--Item received today (10/08/09). With the collectible glamour firmly in place in the original release, I went for the "Frightening Lightning" glow-in-the-dark version of the kit. And why wouldn't I? No, I never liked the glow-in-the-dark versions of ANY kit. . . (collective gasp), BUT in this instance, one gets a full kit with select duplicate parts in glow-styrene. The best of both worlds AND an at-hand supply of spare parts! Full review to follow in the days to come. . .
3) Ordered Sideshow Collectibles' second rendition of Schlitzie the Pinhead from the Tod Browning classic, Freaks (1932). This is a long OP kit (released in 1998) that is a classic in GK-dom. Of the two, this is a vastly superior likeness of this gentle soul.
PS--Item received today (08/08/09). Though the casting as a whole was somewhat less than I had anticipated, my experience with bonded porcelain/marble should make short work of most of the shortcomings. All in all, I am very pleased and very happy to add this piece to my collection. Once the corrections and touch-ups are completed, this will be my first selection for a pure painting project.
4) Dusted off (literally!) my IP, 1/10 portrait bust of Filippo Buondelmonte degli Scolari, better known as "Pippo Spano". The historical midges are beginning to swarm and this is a near-perfect subject to bridge my current interests.
And that wraps it up for what has been a trying and draining fortnight. Hopefully things will normalize soon, and I can return to regular sessions at the bench.
01 August 2009
Dark Horse 1/8 Bride of Frankenstein
The so-called Bride of Frankenstein--as we all know she was intended to be the mate of the Monster--is one of my favorite Universal Monster characters. It is certainly my favorite of the Universal Monster films of the "Golden Age".
I already have GEOmetric's 1/4 scale bust of the Bride in-progress on the bench. Yet ever since I decided to immerse myself in my own version of a "Monster-Fest", I've been looking for a full-figure of the Bride. Yes, of course I have the Aurora classic (the PL reissue); but I was looking for a gowned Bride. The Horizon piece I don't care for at all; the Billiken offering, while arguably the best likeness of Elsa Lanchester, also doesn't do much for me, which is just as well as it damn near impossible to find and priced as a collectible. That leaves but one in 1/8th scale or larger: plainly, the full-figure selection is slim, and I, in fact, had resigned myself not to have a full-figure of the Bride in my "portfolio".
The other day I stumbled upon the opportunity to acquire a MIB Dark Horse 1/8 BoF cast in bonded (cold-cast) porcelain. In total candor, I like this kit little more than the ones mentioned above. But as the subject is not likely to be redone--and even if it were, who knows what would be foisted upon us--I decided to take the plunge after considerable deliberation, not lightly influenced by the most generous asking price.
So, what do we get for our money? Nothing less than a superbly cast, meticulously packaged figure comprised of 9 cold-cast porcelain pieces: 4 for the figure; 5 for the scenic groundwork (which will not be incorporated in my rendering). A couple of observations if I may: 1) The one-piece body is hollow/roto cast! This zero-compromise weight- and medium-saving measure is to be applauded; however, securing the figure to the base may prove problematic. And 2) Based on the Aurora-like instruction leaflet, this figure was originally [to be] produced in vinyl: I was not aware of any vinyl DH products.
And now for the subject of this kit. As I mentioned above, I do not particularly like this kit. Why? Very simply, the head/face is a very poor likeness of the subject. The sculptor, Michael Trcic, is an extremely talented artist with solid Hollywood credentials, so he was either off his game; this is really not his cup of tea; or the licensors (Universal) ensured that the likeness was off. The presence of jagged, broken dentition suggests the latter. In any case, I am currently remodelling the face with the goal of achieving a recognizable likeness of Ms. Lanchester.
Back to the bench!
03.08.2009
PS--I failed to mention that there is another aspect of this kit that might put some miniaturists off: the gown has an uneven grainy texture. I can't imagine that this surface texture was reproduced in vinyl IF this kit was ever released in that medium. I suspect that this was added to aid with the drybrushing of the kit: a "white" gown (I'll call it "white" for now) in this scale with a smooth surface and convoluted drapery would be a deal-breaker for most miniaturists of the genre. In any case, annoying yes, but if I can't find a way to work work around it, it will remain. UPDATE--I have begun to reduce the surface texture as, no matter how I attempted to rationalize its presence, there was no way it could be painted around. My approach will be broad-to-specific: I intend to begin with a general surface clean-up, followed by dividing the gown into 1-2" squares, and finishing each square in an orderly fashion. Once I get the overall texture reduced to a manageable relief, I will probably resurface the entire gown with glazing putty prior to the final finishing sanding. Stay tuned. . .
14.08.2009
If you are ever faced with having to surface-finish a heavily contoured surface, you can do no better than doing your gross reduction with Scotch-Brite's Heavy Duty Hand Pad #7440. I was beginning to doubt whether I could ever get the surface of the gown reduced to even a reasonable smoothness when I ran across the aforementioned product. Impregnated with a medium-grit AlOx abrasive, this will mitigate much of the pain and frustration of removing all the ill-conceived texture. My only caveat would be go slowly: this will remove A LOT if one is not careful!
Back to the bench!
I already have GEOmetric's 1/4 scale bust of the Bride in-progress on the bench. Yet ever since I decided to immerse myself in my own version of a "Monster-Fest", I've been looking for a full-figure of the Bride. Yes, of course I have the Aurora classic (the PL reissue); but I was looking for a gowned Bride. The Horizon piece I don't care for at all; the Billiken offering, while arguably the best likeness of Elsa Lanchester, also doesn't do much for me, which is just as well as it damn near impossible to find and priced as a collectible. That leaves but one in 1/8th scale or larger: plainly, the full-figure selection is slim, and I, in fact, had resigned myself not to have a full-figure of the Bride in my "portfolio".
The other day I stumbled upon the opportunity to acquire a MIB Dark Horse 1/8 BoF cast in bonded (cold-cast) porcelain. In total candor, I like this kit little more than the ones mentioned above. But as the subject is not likely to be redone--and even if it were, who knows what would be foisted upon us--I decided to take the plunge after considerable deliberation, not lightly influenced by the most generous asking price.
So, what do we get for our money? Nothing less than a superbly cast, meticulously packaged figure comprised of 9 cold-cast porcelain pieces: 4 for the figure; 5 for the scenic groundwork (which will not be incorporated in my rendering). A couple of observations if I may: 1) The one-piece body is hollow/roto cast! This zero-compromise weight- and medium-saving measure is to be applauded; however, securing the figure to the base may prove problematic. And 2) Based on the Aurora-like instruction leaflet, this figure was originally [to be] produced in vinyl: I was not aware of any vinyl DH products.
And now for the subject of this kit. As I mentioned above, I do not particularly like this kit. Why? Very simply, the head/face is a very poor likeness of the subject. The sculptor, Michael Trcic, is an extremely talented artist with solid Hollywood credentials, so he was either off his game; this is really not his cup of tea; or the licensors (Universal) ensured that the likeness was off. The presence of jagged, broken dentition suggests the latter. In any case, I am currently remodelling the face with the goal of achieving a recognizable likeness of Ms. Lanchester.
Back to the bench!
03.08.2009
PS--I failed to mention that there is another aspect of this kit that might put some miniaturists off: the gown has an uneven grainy texture. I can't imagine that this surface texture was reproduced in vinyl IF this kit was ever released in that medium. I suspect that this was added to aid with the drybrushing of the kit: a "white" gown (I'll call it "white" for now) in this scale with a smooth surface and convoluted drapery would be a deal-breaker for most miniaturists of the genre. In any case, annoying yes, but if I can't find a way to work work around it, it will remain. UPDATE--I have begun to reduce the surface texture as, no matter how I attempted to rationalize its presence, there was no way it could be painted around. My approach will be broad-to-specific: I intend to begin with a general surface clean-up, followed by dividing the gown into 1-2" squares, and finishing each square in an orderly fashion. Once I get the overall texture reduced to a manageable relief, I will probably resurface the entire gown with glazing putty prior to the final finishing sanding. Stay tuned. . .
14.08.2009
If you are ever faced with having to surface-finish a heavily contoured surface, you can do no better than doing your gross reduction with Scotch-Brite's Heavy Duty Hand Pad #7440. I was beginning to doubt whether I could ever get the surface of the gown reduced to even a reasonable smoothness when I ran across the aforementioned product. Impregnated with a medium-grit AlOx abrasive, this will mitigate much of the pain and frustration of removing all the ill-conceived texture. My only caveat would be go slowly: this will remove A LOT if one is not careful!
Back to the bench!
25 July 2009
Horizon 1/6 Frankenstein Monster
What would a "classic" Monster collection be without a full figure of the creature that to many started it all, the iconic image of a--if not THE--Hollywood monster?
Up until 2-3 weeks ago, my designated choice for the Frankenstein Monster project had been Moebius' 1/8 scale forthcoming release. I'll not agitate the hornet's nest on this site--enough of that going on on any number of other discussion forums; but I will say that this piece is a crushing disappointment. I was resigned and prepared to resculpt the head, but to do this piece justice would require virtually an entire resculpt! I've already embarked on one of those projects (the Wolf Man) simply because there were no reasonable alternatives, and I did have a unique presentation in mind. To resculpt an entire figure that [allegedly] had been rushed into production(?) in order to correct the obvious shortcomings of its design is not my idea of a fun time at the bench!
Before going on, let me just interject that there is only one Monster for me--the Karloff Monster. Karloff had numerous opportunities to reprise his role after SoF, but he chose not to. If for no other reason than to honour this laudable declination, Karloff--and no other--IS the Monster.
So. . . where would I find an available, affordable, and acceptable Monster? Unfortunately, neither of the two items on the list is in production; and if you can find one, they are priced as collectibles. Fortunately, a dear friend had a MIB Horizon Frankenstein Monster stashed away, and after we both finally got over what Moebius accepted and Universal had approved/demanded?, he offered me the Horizon kit without hesitation. That kit is now before me.
Cast in 7 pieces in the familiar light grey vinyl, this is a typical Horizon kit; i.e., a G+/VG- vinyl kit. The vinyl is somewhat "light" and the wall thickness relatively thin; hence, distortion (not readily apparent) and compromised fit will have to be dealt with from the outset. Another consequence of the medium and how it was cast is the proliferation of air bubbles: virtually every piece will require some degree of corrective work to deal with these.
That being said, this is one of the best representations of the Karloff Monster ever produced, being sculpted by the talented Steve Wang. Some argue that the Billiken Monster is marginally better: I've only seen the Billiken offering once up close--and that was nearly two decades ago; but even then I remember being partial to the Horizon version.
So. . . the project is a GO! This is slated for 2010--or beyond, so there is no immediacy. But keep an eye out for updates, as I will be cleaning and prepping the pieces as time and inclination permit [note: torso, legs, and head have already been cleaned :-)]. . .
Up until 2-3 weeks ago, my designated choice for the Frankenstein Monster project had been Moebius' 1/8 scale forthcoming release. I'll not agitate the hornet's nest on this site--enough of that going on on any number of other discussion forums; but I will say that this piece is a crushing disappointment. I was resigned and prepared to resculpt the head, but to do this piece justice would require virtually an entire resculpt! I've already embarked on one of those projects (the Wolf Man) simply because there were no reasonable alternatives, and I did have a unique presentation in mind. To resculpt an entire figure that [allegedly] had been rushed into production(?) in order to correct the obvious shortcomings of its design is not my idea of a fun time at the bench!
Before going on, let me just interject that there is only one Monster for me--the Karloff Monster. Karloff had numerous opportunities to reprise his role after SoF, but he chose not to. If for no other reason than to honour this laudable declination, Karloff--and no other--IS the Monster.
So. . . where would I find an available, affordable, and acceptable Monster? Unfortunately, neither of the two items on the list is in production; and if you can find one, they are priced as collectibles. Fortunately, a dear friend had a MIB Horizon Frankenstein Monster stashed away, and after we both finally got over what Moebius accepted and Universal had approved/demanded?, he offered me the Horizon kit without hesitation. That kit is now before me.
Cast in 7 pieces in the familiar light grey vinyl, this is a typical Horizon kit; i.e., a G+/VG- vinyl kit. The vinyl is somewhat "light" and the wall thickness relatively thin; hence, distortion (not readily apparent) and compromised fit will have to be dealt with from the outset. Another consequence of the medium and how it was cast is the proliferation of air bubbles: virtually every piece will require some degree of corrective work to deal with these.
That being said, this is one of the best representations of the Karloff Monster ever produced, being sculpted by the talented Steve Wang. Some argue that the Billiken Monster is marginally better: I've only seen the Billiken offering once up close--and that was nearly two decades ago; but even then I remember being partial to the Horizon version.
So. . . the project is a GO! This is slated for 2010--or beyond, so there is no immediacy. But keep an eye out for updates, as I will be cleaning and prepping the pieces as time and inclination permit [note: torso, legs, and head have already been cleaned :-)]. . .
24 July 2009
Frankenstein (Son of) Monster GEOmetric FF--or--Cleaning-up a vinyl kit
I spent yesterday evening "cleaning-up" the kit. What does "cleaning-up" a vinyl kit actually entail? Well, that depends on the modeler and the kit.
RE: THE KIT. As I indicated in the initial posting, this (my sample) is one of the best vinyl kits I have ever seen! I know that not a few of those who came before complained about the over-engineered hands, but this is a none-issue AFAIC. Total air bubbles could be counted on two hands--with fingers left over: this is no small feat, especially with the relatively "light-weight" vinyl used by GEOmetric.
"CLEAN-UP" À LA AUGIE. Clean-up for me begins with a thorough inspection of the kit. This includes a parts count and checking for any miscasts. With a vinyl kit, one should also check for distorted pieces. Note that a distorted piece is not a miscast! Distorted pieces can usually be restored by placing in hot water or applying heated air from a hair dryer: vinyl, much like resin, has "original memory" and will usually revert to its original conformation with judiciously applied heat. Finally, I do a preliminary inspection for air bubbles.
Assuming all is as it should be, the next step is to remove the pour cones, wholly or in part. The standard practice is to heat (air or water) the area to be removed, and then carefully removing it with a fresh X-acto blade. Not for me. I slap a fibreglass cutting-wheel into the Dremel, and go to town. I might have some minor fine-tuning remaining to be done with an X-acto blade, but I can usually get the kit 98% clean with the cutting wheel.
Now comes the "fun" part. Once all my pieces are "de-coned", I fill them with PUR, in this case standard Alumilite. I can usually do two 1/8th scale kits with a a 28 oz. set. Some people might argue that it's expensive, wasteful, and makes the kit too heavy (?????); but the simplicity and effectiveness of this approach is unbeatable.
Once this is done, I will then dry-fit all the pieces, tweaking and adjusting the fit as required, and opening all remaining air bubbles--these will be filled during assembly. At this point all that is left to do is wash all the pieces in warm soapy water, and setting them aside to dry . . .
RE: THE KIT. As I indicated in the initial posting, this (my sample) is one of the best vinyl kits I have ever seen! I know that not a few of those who came before complained about the over-engineered hands, but this is a none-issue AFAIC. Total air bubbles could be counted on two hands--with fingers left over: this is no small feat, especially with the relatively "light-weight" vinyl used by GEOmetric.
"CLEAN-UP" À LA AUGIE. Clean-up for me begins with a thorough inspection of the kit. This includes a parts count and checking for any miscasts. With a vinyl kit, one should also check for distorted pieces. Note that a distorted piece is not a miscast! Distorted pieces can usually be restored by placing in hot water or applying heated air from a hair dryer: vinyl, much like resin, has "original memory" and will usually revert to its original conformation with judiciously applied heat. Finally, I do a preliminary inspection for air bubbles.
Assuming all is as it should be, the next step is to remove the pour cones, wholly or in part. The standard practice is to heat (air or water) the area to be removed, and then carefully removing it with a fresh X-acto blade. Not for me. I slap a fibreglass cutting-wheel into the Dremel, and go to town. I might have some minor fine-tuning remaining to be done with an X-acto blade, but I can usually get the kit 98% clean with the cutting wheel.
Now comes the "fun" part. Once all my pieces are "de-coned", I fill them with PUR, in this case standard Alumilite. I can usually do two 1/8th scale kits with a a 28 oz. set. Some people might argue that it's expensive, wasteful, and makes the kit too heavy (?????); but the simplicity and effectiveness of this approach is unbeatable.
Once this is done, I will then dry-fit all the pieces, tweaking and adjusting the fit as required, and opening all remaining air bubbles--these will be filled during assembly. At this point all that is left to do is wash all the pieces in warm soapy water, and setting them aside to dry . . .
21 July 2009
"The Wolf Man"--Wrap-Up (3)
With the new Karloff head behind me, and with the Mummy at a good stopping point, it's time to get back to The Wolf Man. . .
I made very good progress over the weekend as the overall finishing is now beyond the halfway mark. I've begun to detail the shirt (seams, button holes, stitching, etc.), and the trousers are not far behind.
My main progress since resuming the project has been on the hands. After going back and forth, I decided I would rework both hands--as opposed to doing one, casting it, and transplanting fingers. The left hand has been 100% roughed-in, and the right will be roughed-in before the weekend. The hands will be completed and permanently attached before the figure gets primed.
The only aspect of the project that has yet to be worked upon is the trap. The research is done, and the design is just about there, but I've yet to begin cutting and bending.
Back to the bench. . .
I made very good progress over the weekend as the overall finishing is now beyond the halfway mark. I've begun to detail the shirt (seams, button holes, stitching, etc.), and the trousers are not far behind.
My main progress since resuming the project has been on the hands. After going back and forth, I decided I would rework both hands--as opposed to doing one, casting it, and transplanting fingers. The left hand has been 100% roughed-in, and the right will be roughed-in before the weekend. The hands will be completed and permanently attached before the figure gets primed.
The only aspect of the project that has yet to be worked upon is the trap. The research is done, and the design is just about there, but I've yet to begin cutting and bending.
Back to the bench. . .
16 July 2009
Moebius' The Mummy: An IP shot
Thought I'd share a close-up of The Mummy with its new [resin] head. . .
Back to the grind. . .
A~
PS--By way of follow-up, the neck join has now been filled and finished, and the replacement head snaps on/off as if it were part of the original design.
Back to the grind. . .
A~
PS--By way of follow-up, the neck join has now been filled and finished, and the replacement head snaps on/off as if it were part of the original design.
15 July 2009
Frankenstein (Son of) Monster GEOmetric FF
Having recently rediscovered the Son of Frankenstein, the third part of the Karloff/Universal Frankenstein trilogy, I was quickly reminded of the iconic nature of this incarnation of the Monster--as well as why Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks used this film as the cornerstone for the classic Young Frankenstein!
In any case, last week I was lucky enough to stumble upon a venerable classic in its own right: GEOmetric's 1/8 scale "Son of Frankenstein"--in vinyl! This kit was superbly sculpted by William Paquet, and IMO epitomizes the art of vinyl kit production.
I had great plans for this kit, when much to my [pleasant] surprise they were dashed! You see, I had visions of scratchbuilding the prosthetic right arm of Inspector Krogh, etc. etc. etc., when lo and behold, it is included in the kit!!!
Equally as surprising is that this iconic accessory is rarely seen in/on write-ups and/or build-ups of this kit. Certainly it can not be considered too gruesome? Or potentially offensive?? This is definitely a head-scratcher. . .
This kit is targeted for next year some time, though preliminary clean-up and staging (anyone who has ever worked a vinyl kit knows of what I speak) will begin soon . . .
A~
In any case, last week I was lucky enough to stumble upon a venerable classic in its own right: GEOmetric's 1/8 scale "Son of Frankenstein"--in vinyl! This kit was superbly sculpted by William Paquet, and IMO epitomizes the art of vinyl kit production.
I had great plans for this kit, when much to my [pleasant] surprise they were dashed! You see, I had visions of scratchbuilding the prosthetic right arm of Inspector Krogh, etc. etc. etc., when lo and behold, it is included in the kit!!!
Equally as surprising is that this iconic accessory is rarely seen in/on write-ups and/or build-ups of this kit. Certainly it can not be considered too gruesome? Or potentially offensive?? This is definitely a head-scratcher. . .
This kit is targeted for next year some time, though preliminary clean-up and staging (anyone who has ever worked a vinyl kit knows of what I speak) will begin soon . . .
A~
13 July 2009
Moebius' The Mummy: Reworking the Head--Conclusion
I give you Im-ho-tep’s new head. . .
On the left is the stock head, which IMO bears a stronger resemblance to Rondo Hatton than Karloff. As you might recall, I removed the back side of the head from the dorsal body half with a jeweler's saw, and assembled the head as a stand-alone unit. The head was then filled with polyurethane resin (PUR), and pegged with 1/8" tin solder.
The head on the right is my resculpt--and I am VERY pleased. There might be some very minor tweaking still to be done before it is primed, but for all intents and purpose, it is done.
Given Karloff’s trademark features, this is not a difficult undertaking once one accepts how much of the underlying plastic needs to be removed before reworking the facial landscape can begin.
PS--The head is now in rubber, and I will hopefully have a first pour by Wednesday.
On the left is the stock head, which IMO bears a stronger resemblance to Rondo Hatton than Karloff. As you might recall, I removed the back side of the head from the dorsal body half with a jeweler's saw, and assembled the head as a stand-alone unit. The head was then filled with polyurethane resin (PUR), and pegged with 1/8" tin solder.
The head on the right is my resculpt--and I am VERY pleased. There might be some very minor tweaking still to be done before it is primed, but for all intents and purpose, it is done.
Given Karloff’s trademark features, this is not a difficult undertaking once one accepts how much of the underlying plastic needs to be removed before reworking the facial landscape can begin.
PS--The head is now in rubber, and I will hopefully have a first pour by Wednesday.
04 July 2009
The Mummy--Step 3: The Sarcophagus
With Im-ho-tep essentially done, I figured I might as well start on the largest element of this self-contained diorama: the sarcophagus.
It is hard to say whether or not this was over-engineered; what I can say without reservation is that an extra hand (or two) would not have gone amiss; and the fit is less than precise.
The sarcophagus is comprised of three sub-assemblies, totaling 12 pieces: the lid (2pcs), the coffin exterior (5pcs), and the coffin interior (5pcs).
Everything goes together fairly well, though as mentioned above, assembly would have been much easier with either an extra set of hands; an assembly jig; or had the parts been designed to be joined with greater precision. As it is, one is practically forced to use superglue in the assembly, and some filling will be required.
All the sub-assemblies have been assembled, and I am in the process of puttying and finishing the coffin interior. Once that is done, I will permanently join the two components of the coffin and begin final finishing.
More to follow. . .
05.07.2009
The sarcophagus is now fully assembled. I am now reinforcing joins and tweaking the fills. . .
08.07.2009
Finishing work has commenced in earnest on the sarcophagus. All the joins have been filled, and the sanding-and-fitting is about 90% complete. I have also leveled the mummy's "pedestal" so that the feet are squarely planted in the coffin. There's quite a bit of "clean-up" to be done, prepping if you will, that should make life infinitely easier once the paint starts going on. I'm shooting to have this one ready to move to the painting bench in 4 weeks, give or take. . .
It is hard to say whether or not this was over-engineered; what I can say without reservation is that an extra hand (or two) would not have gone amiss; and the fit is less than precise.
The sarcophagus is comprised of three sub-assemblies, totaling 12 pieces: the lid (2pcs), the coffin exterior (5pcs), and the coffin interior (5pcs).
Everything goes together fairly well, though as mentioned above, assembly would have been much easier with either an extra set of hands; an assembly jig; or had the parts been designed to be joined with greater precision. As it is, one is practically forced to use superglue in the assembly, and some filling will be required.
All the sub-assemblies have been assembled, and I am in the process of puttying and finishing the coffin interior. Once that is done, I will permanently join the two components of the coffin and begin final finishing.
More to follow. . .
05.07.2009
The sarcophagus is now fully assembled. I am now reinforcing joins and tweaking the fills. . .
08.07.2009
Finishing work has commenced in earnest on the sarcophagus. All the joins have been filled, and the sanding-and-fitting is about 90% complete. I have also leveled the mummy's "pedestal" so that the feet are squarely planted in the coffin. There's quite a bit of "clean-up" to be done, prepping if you will, that should make life infinitely easier once the paint starts going on. I'm shooting to have this one ready to move to the painting bench in 4 weeks, give or take. . .
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