Tywin Lannister (Bust)-Painting - Oils (3): The Armour (pt. 2)--Brass-Gorget and cuirass

Today, I tackled phase 1 of the brass appliqué on the gorget and the cuirass. As in pt.1, these were painted with metallic printers' inks.

Phase 1 is basically the basecoat metallic. While the brass trim on the cuirass was wet-painted, the brass appliqué on the gorget was drybrushed using two tones of gold metallic printers' inks. Once the basecoat is dry, I will re-touch and execute final weathering of these brass metallics.

Movin' right along. . .

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

Tywin Lannister (Bust)-Painting - Oils (3): The Armour (pt. 1)--Spaulders

Today I completed the first installment of the visible armour.  I elected to start with the left spaulder, which is essentially under the draping sash. 

The brass-plated and -appliqued portions were painted with metallic printers' inks. I have basically a "complete" range of metallics, from lacquers to acrylics; but given the delicate sculpting, and the relative lack of accessibility in certain areas, I decided to go with my 'turn-to' medium. And the results to-date have amply vindicated my choice. . . 

Once the inks were dry, I cut-in the black base of the armour with oils. When these have dried, I will re-touch and execute final weathering of the brass metallics.

Before closing, I would point out that "research"--if you elect to do it--is rather critical. BUT. . . "in for a penny. . . " If you are going to selectively apply your research, and free-style the balance, then you would probably be better-served by "free-styling" the entire work.

So far, so very good. . .

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

Tywin Lannister (Bust)-Painting: Intermezzo

I am delighted to report that the head has been permanently attached to the torso: the bust is now completely assembled.

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

Tywin Lannister (Bust)-Painting - Oils (2): The Face, pt. I

After a seemingly endless 72 hrs., I was finally able to get back to the painting bench today. . . 

[As a quick sidebar note, my absence from the bench was due to my COVID bivalent booster, which I received on Wednesday. I don't know many individuals who have received this shot, so I can only speak for myself; but it was an asskicker! The first 36 hrs. post-shot were brutal--make sure you allow yourself at least 48 hrs. to recover. But, also make sure you get the vaccine before the weather changes!]

Today I completed phase I of the face fleshtones. Once the neck is dry, I will permanently attach the head to the torso, paint the eyes, and complete the face. I will leave the hair for last, per usual. 

So far, I am very pleased. . .

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

Tywin Lannister (Bust)-Painting - Oils (1)

The oils are now on the table. . . let the Game begin!

This is a deceptively easy bust to paint. . . largely one-piece, mostly polychromatic armour. HOW- EVER, the limited palette, and the multi-contact layering hides any number of pitfalls for the unwary.

I will, of course, work from the "inside, out", per usual. What needs to be examined--and considered--carefully, is the order of items painted. Thus, I began by painting the black neckband. This vital garment is the "bridge" between the head and the torso, and once it--and the neck--are dry, the assembly of the bust can be completed. 

This may--or may not--be my last painting entry this week. . . We will all know by tomorrow, Thursday latest. . . 

Until then. . .

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

Tywin Lannister (Bust)-Painting - UCing

Today was a bit of a hectic day, but I did manage to undercoat the "crimsons"--armour and sash. 

Unfortunately, it was only after I uc'd the sash that I noticed the braided piping along the lateral edges was not included in the sculpture/casting!!! This is what happens when you let your guard down, and opt for an essentially OOB project!! I suppose it could have been worse. . .  I added the braided piping with tin solder, carefully tacking it in place with CA+. 

AND. . . shortcoming #2. . .  Everything I have read indicates that this was a crimson velvet sash; however, if you look at the stills carefully, you will notice that the sash was reversible. While the display side was usually crimson velvet, the underside was a black/gold brocade! .

I will probably start uc'ing the black tonight, and finish uc'ing the plate tomorrow. . .

FOLLOW-UP. . . The bust is now uc'd! After a critical once-over, I decided to re-do the piping along the edges of the sash. Not fun at all, but definitely worth the investment of time and effort! 

The only portion of the bust remaining to be uc'd is the pedestal. I will not begin to consider the colouration of the critical support until the oils are well underway. . . 

UPDATE - 11.09.2022. . . The  face/head is now uc'd. . . time to break-out the oils!

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

Tywin Lannister (Bust)-Painting - Intro

"The Lord of Lion" was the second 1/10th scale bust of a Game of Thrones' subject released by NutsPlanet--as with all the GoT busts in the series (save "Mother of Dragons"), it is sculpted by Jun-Sik Ahn. The 3-piece kit (including the pedestal!) is based on Tywin Lannister, the head of House Lannister and Lord of Casterly Rock, in seasons 1/2. This is pretty-much an OOB project, though there have been a number of  salient enhancements that would make this a "minor conversion". . .

The bust is now primed and the fleshtones u/c'd. . .

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

Mary Read -- Prepwork VI

UPDATE:

• Resculpt the pedestal. FINISHING
  
• Resculpt the right side of the shirt. FINISHING
• Resculpt the ends of the neckerchief. FINISHING
• Resculpt the baldric’s buckle+tongue. FINISHING
• Modelled an earring. ABD 

I have permanently attached the hat to the head -- using 5-min epoxy to allow me to position it precisely. As it stands, this will be a 5-piece bust upon completion.

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

Mary Read -- Prepwork V

I had in effect concluded the putty-work on this project a little over 4-years ago, with approx. 6 weeks of final finishing/touch-ups remaining before priming. After resurrecting the project earlier this week, it was readily apparent that I was much farther from the finish-line than previously thought. . .

In no particular order:

• Resculpt the pedestal.
• Resculpt the right side of the shirt. 
• Resculpt the ends of the neckerchief. 
• Resculpt the baldric’s buckle+tongue.

The putty-work is now entirely underway, with minor esthetic reworks pending. I hope to be in final finishing by year’s end. . .

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

Hoist the Black Flag!

I recently began watching The Lost Pirate Kingdom (2021), a six-part docuseries released by Netflix.  This historical drama portrays the rise and fall of the eponymous early-18th century pirate republic based in Nassau, Bahamas, 1715-18. Think the historical version of Starz' Black Sails... FWIW, I would 'grade'  it a solid C: the fundamentals are mostly there, but there are some annoying unsupported conclusions, generalizations, and simplifications.

 

That being said, it did make me dig out my hidden map to the Rovers' Roost, and break out a couple of ip projects, one for each bench--the YM's Blackbeard bust (painting); and my Mary Read bust (workbench). 

 

I will bring you up-to-date on each project shortly; but I have made significant progress on Mary in the last two days.

 

Keep a weather-eye out. . .  

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

Abraham Lincoln (75mm)

I have just received Zone Miniatures' 75mm resin full-figure of our 16^th President, Abraham Lincoln. As I indicated in my introductory posting, the figure was 3D-sculpted by Sándor Harsányi. It is based on a near full-length portrait photograph of the President in the NPG (NPG.79.151), by Thomas Le Mere, taken in April, 1863.

In the same posting, I indicated that this was "not the ideal base figure". I was wrong! I based my preliminary assessment on what I thought would be the engineering/# of component pieces of the figure, and the painted boxart. While the figure is comprised of 7 pieces, the design is brilliant(!), and very miniaturist-friendly! In like terms, the casting is exceptional! If this figure is characteristic of the quality of Zone Miniatures, then they deserve the highest rating--on all counts!!

ALVH v.2 . . . here I come!

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

ALVH. . . v.2

In Summer 2010, I plunged into Seth Grahame-Smith’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (NY: Grand Central, 2010). By the time I was half-way through the blockbuster tale, I had already con- ceived-of and started acquiring the elements of a 54mm rendition – conversion – of the title subject.

This was a difficult 2 1/2 year-long project, primarily-and surprisingly!-due to the unavailability of a larger (>/=75mm) figure of the 16^th President of the USA. While I am satisfied with the outcome, in retrospect, I was not satisfied with my “belief” in what I was doing. Thus, this subject was always on the “do-over for myself” list.

Over 11 years later, I stumbled across a resin, 75mm figure of Abraham Lincoln, 3D-sculpted by Sándor Harsányi, and released by the Hungarian figure company, Zone Miniatures. While not the ideal base figure, it is a marked improvement over Andrea Miniatures’ 54mm Undertaker, 1880s! It is now on-order.

In the meantime, I have read and re-read my bench log to re-familiarize myself with the then-project, and I now await the receipt of the figure to launch ALVH redux. . .

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