Grant Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 And now for something completely different! A foray into large scale figure painting. 4 years ago I did a Manga figure (badly) for my daughter and attended a model show in France, where there were lots of very good figures on display. Ever since I have felt the need to have another go at figures and having spotted this one on E2046, and her sister piece “Ritual”, and with several ‘flesh’ sets of paints appearing now seemed a good time. This figure, “Touch of Ice”, is sculpted from original art work by Luis Royo, a Spanish fantasy artist. The instructions are minimalist and the resin parts are very nicely cast, not a bubble in sight, and this kit comes with a set of tattoo decals. I have done the basic clean up of all the large bits and here are the results of the first dry fit. Unfortunately here shawl doesn’t fit very well and it contains the only visible join line once the model is complete. So far this looks like the only bit that will cause me problems – well apart from painting the face that is! Wish me luck. Cheers Grant 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Wish me luck. Sure! Good luck, I'll take a seat Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Looks like a nicely moulded kit Grant. Good luck with the painting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cameraman Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Hi Grant, the more I see of these models, the more I'm tempted! Regards Reggie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted March 1, 2015 Author Share Posted March 1, 2015 Hi Grant, the more I see of these models, the more I'm tempted! Regards Reggie There are so many to choose from aswell. If I manage to make a good fist of these two I might be tempted by something from these guys http://www.n-s-prod.com/article-bientot-disponible-121639156.html Their street seller vigniettes look amazing. Gave all the major parts a wash yesterday and a coat of Halfords primer this afternoon. The bench looks really macarbe with a head and various limbs lying about! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 I have decided to use the Scale75 flesh paint set but needed to practice paint with it first – flesh coloured Beaufort anyone? Of all the thinners I have, Tamiya, Mr Color, White Spirit and Cellulose, the only thing that seemed to work for these paints was just plain water. I added a single drop of flow enhancer to break the surface tension of the water and that seemed to spray and dry quite well. So, enough of flesh coloured aircraft - onto the model. So far I have just used the basic flesh colour overall – highlights and shadows to follow. The cape is Vallejo Dark Earth with black shadows added by hand. The hair is Vallejo Burnt Umber with black shadows and Scale75 Necro Gold highlights with a satin coat to give a little shine. The boots are Burnt Umber and the glove is Vallejo Leather with the metal detail picked out in different colours to help decide what to use. So far so good, but any figure modellers out there feel free to jump in and advise. Cheers Grant 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 My guess about Scale75 paint is that they are vinyl based acrylics, so you can thin them with either water or their specific thinner. I also use a home brewed thinner for that kind of colors, which is a 50/50 mix of distilled water and Windex (well, an ammonia based detergent, anyway), plus a few drops of Tamiya's flow improver. I tested this on Lifecolor's and Italeri's (which are reboxed Vallejo's, if I remember correctly). Nice job so far, by the way. Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 So many different variations for acrylics! I am gradually feeling my way (Humbrol enamel man through and through) and getting to grips with them. Thanks for the confirmation that it is not a completely silly thinner mix. The biggest problem I am having now is NOT handling or knocking the painted surfaces. There is some heavy resin pieces here. When the airbrushing is finished some varnish should stop such problems... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 The biggest problem I am having now is NOT handling or knocking the painted surfaces. There is some heavy resin pieces here. When the airbrushing is finished some varnish should stop such problems... Definitely. The way I do this is: I start painting from the top (face and head), and when it's finished, I seal it with a matt coat. Then I proceed towards the bottom: upper body, legs, shoes/boots, other flesh parts, sealing with matt varnish after each step. This, of course, when I'm brush painting; I understand that using an airbrush, you may want to paint per-groups (of the same color), so to say .... Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Yes Giemme - definitely working in colour groups at the moment with the airbrush. But onto brush work now... Progress on the face. Tentative shading and eyeballs, lips and hair painted. Then a bit more shading and eyebrows and eye lashes – need bushier eyebrows! It is all shinny as given the whole thing a coat of Klear, ready for adding the tattoo decals. Here is the left leg, I have gone with a light coat of metallic green, trying for a sheer stocking effect. The camera really is picking out shadow colours, which are not that obvious by eye in natural light. We’ll see what happens once a matt coat goes back on. And here is the main body ready for the stomach and arm decals. That’s all for now. Cheers Grant 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 You've done a great job on the skin tone, looks bang on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I'll second Doug's comment, great job on the skin tone. Not easy on a figure that big, hat's off! Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Very nice - I like the slight speckly look to the legs where the colours are blended, it looks like real skin and suits the realistic proportions better than a porcelain-smooth anime paint job. Random observations: The draping of the cloth on the right upper leg is a lovely bit of sculpting, and I actually really like the four different metals on the glove - I reckon you should keep them like that. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 Thanks folks. Will - I agree, the undercloth is an great bit of sculpting. And I have since painted the metals on the glove the same colour and, like you, I think it looked a lot better as different colours so I'll be re-painting them - again. cheers Grant 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eludia Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Re thinners for Scale75 paint, they have just released their own proprietary thinners: http://www.scale75.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=55_61_66&product_id=123 Looking great so far Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eludia Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Ok, "just released" may not be completely accurate as its been available for about 2 years. But I only found out about it recently so it's new to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 This is what gets me about acrylics. They are all different! Different thinners, pigments etc. Still the water + flow enhancer is working well at the moment (and it is cheap!), but thanks for the link Billy. I have painted all the details now and got the decals on, so now it is just the inner cape, which will fight me all the way - I just know it.... cheers Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 I have now painted all the swords, jewellery and leather straps. Unfortunately one piece of body art, on the right arm, was such a badly molded piece with very heavy stubs it was unrecoverable, by me, so I am having to fill the holes in the arm and repaint. The other arm is looking much better. The tattoo decal is on, thanks to THC for the hairdryer tip last year, as it would never have settled properly otherwise. The arm warmer sleeve has been lightly sprayed Elven Gold to look like a very thin piece of cloth, to match the shawl (I hope). The face is now finished. Eye decals used I am afraid, and some very careful painting of the body pins! And now onto the shawl. First a coat of flesh, as I hope to make this look see through. Yes I did break the strap. This item is not a good fit and the join between the two will need some filler and repainting when it is ON the figure… cheers Grant 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Looking great! Can you please explain the hair dryer tip for the decals? Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 This technique was suggested for thick decals, where the backing or the ink needed 'help' to conform to compound curves. Get the decal ready in your normal way, but do not put any Micro sol/set or Klear on the model - just use water. Place the decal and use a soft wet brush to start the laying down process. Then, on a low heat, gently heat with the hair dryer. Start little and often with the heat, using the brush (and water) in between heating to push down the decal. You can see the change in the decal as it heats - it starts to conform to the shape rather than sitting above it. The trick is to use plenty of water to stop it sticking before you get it into all the nooks and crannies you are trying to get it into. I have a 2 stage dryer (the wife's old one) and just use the first stage. It has worked on a variety of aftermarket and kit decals and so far all with great success (even the first time). In this the case the backing film was so thick it seemed like the only way to get it down. Good Luck! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Grant, thanks a lot for that! Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted April 3, 2015 Author Share Posted April 3, 2015 Actually starting to put the figure together now. I knew the shawl was going to cause problems and after much carving away of body and shawl it is still a big problem. From the front it looks like it is all coming together nicely… But from the back – not so much. There is an almost 3mm gap at the top and a step that is as big as the piece is thick! The good news is, that I seem to have filled it OK and managed to keep folds where I needed them. So close to finishing I am having to force myself to not rush it at this late stage. I am hoping to have it ready for Cosford… Cheers Grant 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Keep it up, it's looking really good And to stress the point, don't rush! (ask me how I know ...) Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted April 4, 2015 Author Share Posted April 4, 2015 Yes, it is a hard won lesson. If I find myself rushing I do (for the most part!) walk away and do something else. Unfortunately, having stacked everything up ready for glueing, it is clear the face and body don't match on colour! The body is much pinker - or is the face much darker. Not quite sure how that happened. I think the body has had a few more coats than the face. Doh! I'll look in daylight tomorrow and decide what to do about it, but either option is going to be more difficult at this late stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Grant,, She is looking GOOD. Her flesh tones et al looks very real now .. Keep it up... {MY LIKES ran out so will return later to like it } Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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