White Walker - Painting I: Oils

There is still some work to be done with the acrylics, but I wanted to proceed with the oils to see if my plan had merit. And I am delighted to report that it did!

The oils were applied in two fashions: glazing and stippling. I first glazed the indicated areas with blue-green overtones: this served as a cool unifying gradient that provided some contrasting re- flective depth. Once satisfied, I began stippling a textured overlay with Flake White. This is very much Phase I, and I foresee at least two more layers: 1) a warmish overtone; and 2) a final uni- fying overlay of a stippled white made into a translucent "paste" with Dorland's Wax. 

More to follow. . .  

16.10.2019--Phase II:

• A. Warmish overtones. These were selectively applied with Transparent Red Earth muted with W&N Raw Umber Light, blending carefully. 

• B. I decided to have two applications of the "unifying white". The first layer will be slightly-thinned Zinc White, essentially glazed. Once I am satisfied, I will proceed with the stippled Flake White "paste", applied to punch-up the highlights and create   a granular surface.

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

White Walker - Painting I: UCing

With the figure primed and a day off, it was time to break out the paints!

In an excellent kit preview by Mike on Britmodeller, the reviewer makes the following observation:

There are no decals as you'd expect, and the instructions tell you to paint the body white and give him blue eyes.  The "real" thing was actually a myriad of subtle shades of blue with translucent whitish highlights that will be taxing to replicate, but if done well will look exceptional. 

As I learned in the Hardhome project, the blue tones/filter were digital enhancements introduced during filming and/or post-. Thus, the extent of blue manifest is a subjective/artistic call depen- dent on your vision of the project and the depth of your research.The "real" thing was an achro- matic pastiche, with a myriad of subtle cool (blue) and warm (reddish) shades and washes, uni- fied with white/ish drybrushing that is selectively concentrated. "Taxing to replicate. . . " -- Abso- lutely! But well worth the effort given the potential. . .

First phase of undercoating is now done. The first coat was a proprietary dark gray with blue and violet undertones that was 'scrubbed' off the highlights. When it was almost dry, I applied a gri- saille of black into the deep recesses and crevasses to begin setting tonal values. Phase 2 will be careful drybrushing and streaking of lighter values DONE. Phase 3 will be washes of warm black to block-in the deep shadows of the flesh and finalize the tonal topography of the 'land- scape'. . .

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

Ernesto "Che" Guevara, 1 enero 1959--Review and Prepwork

I recently got the urge to do a "historical", and while enjoying a good cigar, I decided that the subject that would best satisfy said urge would be a figure of Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Not just any figure, but the 1/35 scale CMK kit (F35 243) of Che, staged in the aftermath of the Battle
of Santa Clara on New Year's Day, 1959.

The figure is loosely based on the commemorative sculpture of Che that is the centrepiece of the Ernesto Guevara Sculptural Complex/Mausoleum in Santa Clara, Cuba.

This is an excellent PUR casting! Comprised of 5 pieces (including an optional head with cigar), the PUR is eminently workable, seam lines are a challenge to find, and the finer points are superbly cast in scale.

I have only made three slight mods to backdate the figure:

• 'Deleted' the carbine and removed the sling.
• Removed the grenade.
• Removed the star from the beret per photographs.

I am in the final finishing phase, with the holes already drilled for the foot pegs. NEXT: Priming! 

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

White Walker - Painting: Priming

The figure, not including the pteruges or the ice-spear, is now primed!

By way of preview, as of this writing, the painting arc of the project will be comprised of six distinct sub-threads:

• Painting I: Flesh
• Painting II: Extremity armour
• Painting III: Pteruges
• Painting IV: Hair
• Painting V: Scenic Setting (Groundwork)
• Painting VI: Finishing/Wrapping-Up 

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

White Walker - Prepwork 11: Final Finishing (cont.)/Pre-prime

The last bit of "enhancement" has just been completed and the figure is curing in the oven: skin texturing with red glazing putty. While I very much like the wrinkly skin folds provided by ICM, the surface of the skin is too smooth. One could expect ICM to provide a broken, granular surface as well, but I feel this aspect of the subject is best left to the end-user--and his/her sensibilities.

Once the putty is cured, I will embark on the final once-over. . .

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

White Walker - Groundwork I

The time has come to start thinking of the setting for the White Walker. . . 

I have tapped the display base to accommodate the pegged figure, and I have roughly modeled (MS) a section of a sizeable boulder the will occupy the left front corner of the base. And I or- dered a basing kit from Precision Ice and Snow. 

A good start. . . 

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

White Walker - Prepwork 10: Final Finishing

The remainder of the prepwork will revolve around skin texturing and final clean-up. There is rela- tively little putty-work anticipated--save for the hair. I have a feeling that completion will come un- announced when I least expect it. . . 

10.09.2019--The enhancement of the musculature of the upper 'thoracic cage' is all-but-finished; as is the resurfacing of 'diaphragmatic arch'.

16.09.2019--The White Walker is effectively DONE! Some surface finishing--filing, sanding, and polishing--remains; but he should be ready for priming by the end of this weekend, next at the latest. Which brings this arc to a close. I will resume postings to cover the reworking of the pte- ruges when I get to that. . .  

25.09.2019--Obviously, the figure didn't get primed last weekend. . .  It is Q3-end at work, and I/we am/are drowning! I probably won't resume work on the White Walker until the 5th--or, more likely, until the Columbus Day holiday. . .  

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

White Walker - Prepwork 9: Finishing

There is quite a bit of work remaining before I can even begin to contemplate priming; however, the work ahead of me--save for the reworking of the pteruges [NB: as the pteruges have already been fitted, and the remaining work is largely cosmetic in nature, they will probably be finished after the painting of the figure itself is well underway]--is indeed that of "finishing". As always, I will log the progress as an itemized s-b-s. . . And as always, should any reader require addition- al details/information, please do not hesitate to ask in the Comments. . . 

02.09.2019--The arms have been fitted, and I have begun the enhancement of the musculature of the 'thoracic cage'.

03.09.2019--The coiffure: I have restored most of the reduced hair--all that remains to be done is the 'skullcap' that will bridge the forehead and main body of hair. . . and frame the face. 04.09-- The coiffure is DONE! All that remains to be done is the final surface texturing.  

05.09.2019--The arms have been permanently attached! The skin texturing can now begin in ear- nest!! FOLLOW-UP--The head is now permanently attached! The foundation figure has been as- sembled in toto!!

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

White Walker - Prepwork: Intermezzo (3)

With the armour in place and in various stages of completion, the major prepwork is effectively done. Most of my efforts in the immediate future will be dedicated to finishing the greaves and the vambraces, with special attention to the latter so that I may complete assembly of the figure (i.e., permanently attach the arms), and move on to final skin texturing and finishing. . .

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

White Walker - Prepwork 8: The Greaves

The greaves have been roughed-in with MS; Phase 1 finishing has commenced. . . 

28.08.2019--Phase 1 finishing of the right greave has been completed.

31.08.2019--Phase 1 finishing of the left greave has been completed.

06.09.2019--Surface-distressing of the greaves has been completed.

07.09.2019--The greaves are DONE!

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

White Walker - Prepwork 7: The Vambraces

The vambraces have been roughed-in with MS; Phase 1 finishing has been completed.

FOLLOW-UP--The vambraces are essentially DONE! I am well into the finishing stage. . . Next: distressing the surfaces and weathering; followed by lacing. . . 

27.08.2019--The surface of the right vambrace has been textured and distressed.

31.08.2019--One column of lacing on the right vambrace has been completed. 

01.09.2019--The right vambrace is DONE!

02.09.2019--The lacing on the left vambrace is done.   

04.09.2019--The left vambrace is DONE! 

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

White Walker - Prepwork 6: The Arms

As mentioned in the earlier installments of the Prep, the arms have been pegged, and the half sleeves removed.

Now the time has come to finalize the reduction of the arms, integrate the arms to the torso, and rework the musculature and skin texture. 

So far so good. . . The "bare" arms give the Walker a lankier, more gaunt, appearance that will be further enhanced by the achromatic, blue-biased colouration. 

More to follow. . .

31.08.2019--The reworking of the arm musculature is well underway. . . The deltoids are all but done, and the biceps are ~65% done.

[continued in Finishing]

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

White Walker - Prepwork 5: The Ice Spear

The fact that I have thread dedicated to the ice spear tells you, the reader, my decision re: the quandary presented in Intermezzo (1). . . 

While I applaud the inclusion of a clear-cast weapon, the haft, in this case, is a bit of a head-scratcher: why the symmetrical, circumferential crenellations--unlike the prototype?

The hafts of the Walker weapons were covered in wrapped 'leather'. Hence, I cut the spearhead from the haft, with a half-inch or so 'tang', that I then carefully ground down to fit the opening of a 3/32 d. brass tube. . . 

More to follow. . . 

24.08.2019--The ice spear is all-but-done. I replicated the wrapping using Aizu Project 2.0mm Micron masking tape. Once in place, I lightly "rubbed" ZAP CA superglue over the haft to seal the wrapping. Perfect! I will attempt to replicate the fringing with Aizu Project 0.4mm Micron masking tape, tin solder, and/or wire. But that is down the road. . . 

Finally, I have begun to carefully scrape-off the bindings on the spear blade. The problem with molded bindings on a clear blade is the fact that they are molded en suite will be readily appa- rent once they are painted. . .  

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