White Ape of Barsoom-2: Groundwork (3)

I have just concluded priming the raw underlying materials, and applying the basic colours of the Martian landscape via airbrush. While the groundwork could very well stand as is, the Barsoom- ian flora that will be applied in the days to come will take this to the next level. . . . 

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Groundwork (2)

I have added and textured the foundational groundwork (MS), integrating the resin city ruins to the wooden display pedestal. . . 

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Prepwork - Wrap-up

• The head has been permanently attached.
• Final finishing of the left intermediary "shoulder" joint is all-but-done. It will be con- cluded as part of the "smoothing", defining, and toning of the musculature which is now over 75% done.
• Save for minor touch-ups, and the filling of a few errant seams, all the putty-work on the figure itself is now done!
• This effectively concludes the Modelling phase of the project. As with Project #1, "I have enjoyed it immensely. AFAIC, this has been a "classic" conversion project. . . and I will finally have a Great White Ape of Barsoom in my collection!"

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Groundwork

Resin foundational groundwork has been permanently attached to the display base. The groundwork can now begin in earnest.

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Prepwork - Phase (4)

07.04.2020:

• The right upper forearm has been permanently attached.

11.04.2020:

• The coiffure is all-but-done--just minor finishing remains.
• The hair on the neck and upper shoulders is done.

12.04.2020:

• The putty work is effectively done save for the "shoulder" seam of the yet-to-be attached left intermediary arm.
• Final finishing and detailing have begun in earnest. . . 

17.04.2020:

• The left intermediary arm has been permanently attached, and the seam filled. Final finishing of the corresponding "shoulder" joint will begin tomorrow. . . 

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

Tars Tarkas -- Prepwork: Intermezzo - The Pedestal

As I was already covered in epoxy/resin dust, I decided to take it to the extreme. . . 

The pedestal for the bust has an integral base. As this would not only increase the height of the pedestal but its footprint (requiring a larger base), I decided to eliminate it.

My reduction of the pedestal is now complete. . . 

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Prepwork - Phase (3)

04.04.2020:

• The sockets for the replacement canines have been tapped.
• The lower right canine has been replaced with tin solder. Given the scale, tin solder is a bit difficult to work - I will attempt to use an epoxy putty blend for the remaining three. 
• The head has been repositioned and fitted. 

05.04.2020:

• The canines have been completed. The remaining three were indeed replaced with an epoxy putty blend carved to shape; and I decided to replace the original tin solder re- placement with an epoxy putty version as well.

At this point, it can be said without reservation that the  "additive"/"constructive" phase of the conversion is DONE! While the left intermediary arm, the right forearm, and the head have yet to be permanently attached, there is a considerable amount of finishing to be done before access to the respective areas is blocked by the attachment of these pieces. 

LET THE FINISHING BEGIN!!!

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Prepwork - Phase (2)

02.04.2020:

• The intermediary arms have been pegged, fitted, and provisionally attached.
• I have begun expanding the roach of hair and have approximated the extent of the wiry shock--~60% done.
• I have selected the base, and begun work on the 'layout' of the setting. The figure has been provisionally mounted on the groundwork as a precursor to the finishing of the right intermediary supporting arm.

03.04.2020:

• The right supporting arm and left upper forearm have been permanently attached. 
• The figure has been fitted to the display base. The focus going forward will be the creation of a plausible, aesthetically pleasing, overall muscular conformation.
• Reworking of all upper appendages can now begin in-earnest, beginning with the removal of the hair from the arms. 
• The stone cudgel (MS) has been roughed-out, and fitted to the right upper hand.

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

White Ape of Barsoom-2: Prepwork - Phase (1)--cont.

The figure has been tentatively assembled, with the intermediary scapulae permanently attached. Once the filler putty has cured, I will reassess the proportions before permanently assembling the component sections of the body, and commencing work on the integrating musculature.

I have also tentatively fitted the head and commenced the reworking of the same, most significantly removing the en suite canines.

FOLLOW-UP. . . The intermediary left limb has been pegged and tentatively fitted to the body.

UPDATE -  30.03.2020. . . The figure is now permanently assembled, "filled", and I have begun to rough-in the integrating musculature. The only pieces left to attach permanently are the head, the intermediary arms, and the upper set of forearms. I have also modelled a roach of hair along the sagittal crest of the cranium.

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

White Ape of Barsoom. . . redux!

Nearly nine years ago, I embarked on what is one of my favourite projects of all time: the Great White Ape of Barsoom from Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoomian [Mars] series.

I do not own that precious fruit, so in the back of my mind I always thought I might retackle it should the opportunity arise; however, with the untimely demise of the manufacturer, Smart Max, the odds were very much against it ever happening. . . until about a fortnight ago! Against all odds, I ran across 2 kits of Mr. Honk (XXXIII) at a very affordable pricepoint from a single retailer.

I have read and re-read my bench log to re-familiarize myself with the then-project, and it was finally time to start cutting and grinding--again.

Step 1 follows Phase 1 fairly closely. There have been a few minor deviations, but, to date, the torsos have been sectioned, reduced, and pegged; and I am in the midst of tentatively locating the intermediary set of arms. While Pegasus' Gothic Rubble set #2 appears to have been dis- continued, I have the remainder of the set with which to create my Barsoomian landscape. . .

Now, as then. . .a very promising start.

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

Exhuming Smart Max!

The regulars in the readership know what a committed fan I was of Smart Max's product line, es- pecially their SMOG 1888 series. Superb design and sculpture; VG+ to Excellent casting; and above all, creativity and imagination to . . . well. . . the Max! Regrettably, the line is no more. I don’t know the particulars behind its untimely demise. Its denouement was not unlike that of Knight Models, in that the wargaming foundation eventually overtook the miniature edifice, and 
we were left wondering what might have been. . .

My disposable time has been at a premium of late, so relatively little time has been spent at either bench. What I have been doing is reviewing my miniatures’ “bucket list”, and checking on the availability of core figures for future projects. I came across my project list for Smart Max, and two entries immediately caught my eye: Kaïn Finger (LXX) and Mister Honk (XXXIII).

In 2011-12, I kit-bashed two kits of Mister Honk to create a Great White Ape of Barsoom. This has been one of my all-time favourite creations, and I truly wish I had it in my collection. This past weekend I was browsing through eBay when I stumbled across two kits of Mister Honk at very affordable prices; the same seller had one kit of Kaïn Finger. It was time to revisit the past—literally and figuratively. . .

The Mister Honk kits will eventually – hopefully – be my second Great White Ape of Barsoom, and pave the way for the Barsoomian denizens in my ‘great grey army’. Kaïn Finger has been on my project list for nearly a decade, and I am just glad to have the opportunity to bring this crea- ture of the night to the light of day. . .

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

"Gothic Bat - Haunted" - Prepwork 2: The Cape

As I continued reconfiguring the "topography" (drapery) of the cape--and reducing the volume of the same--I decided to lengthen a portion of the cape to improve the visual flow and restore some of the apparent volume. And. . . make it more Jones-esque!

The extension is now roughed-in and curing. I will begin reduction and configuration tomorrow. . . 

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

"Gothic Bat - Haunted" - Prepwork 1

Done to-date. . . 

• As alluded to in an earlier posting, the separate head and cape are now a single unit and fitted to the body, albeit still a separate piece.
• The cowl's ears have been elongated.
• The vamp and toe box of the boots have been reworked.

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