Cadman

Okay, on with the WIP. I'm going to call the Conan figure finished. I'm aware the following photos are much the same as those I posted last night, but want to show how the final flesh-color filter worked out earlier today, plus the other small details that were taken care of. Really happy with the blending of the color transitions now. R.E. Howard's "Shadows in the Moonlight" happens to feature some remarkably life-like statues among the ruins where my favorite barbarian and his companion spend the night after arriving on a seemingly deserted island. So I had a look around to see what I might use. Thought about some Viking figures, but, naah. They would work if the story included the Vanir or the Æsir, but not in this one -- although that's just given me an idea for a future scenario, as in "The Frost Giant's Daughter". (Now filed away in my overflowing "Idea's Folder". But I did have three Early-Russian troops that I reckon would fit. They're not too familiar as historical miniatures, so I thought they'll do fine representing some unspecified Hyborian Age warriors that've been turned into bronze statues by some dark Sorcerer -- and I'll get back to him in a minute. They're actually really nice crisply-cast resin figures from a Russian company called "Chronos Miniatures", and it seems almost a shame to paint them up as statues, but needs must. I also have a few excellent resin Mongols and Byzantines from the same company, but they're reserved for yet another future Hyborian Age project -- as opposition for our Cimmerian chum. Anyway, I kind of half assembled them and then gave them a squirt with black primer. It's difficult to see in this photo, but I also sprayed on some grey primer from the top to provide some zenithal pre-highlights. I gave them a lick of bronze and then finished assembly of each figure. A patina of verdigris was then added to suggest these statues had been exposed to the elements for quite some time. I'll continue this update in my next post. Cheers H

Thanks guys. Must admit that I'm really enjoying this one. It's been a while since I did a small fantasy project.

With my 75mm Conan figure nearing completion, I decided to make a start on the vignette groundwork. The scene is very loosely based on Robert E. Howard's "Shadows in the Moonlight", which features the Cimmerian and an escaped slavegirl, "Olivia", stranded on a seemingly deserted island. A simple enough tale written for the pulp magazines that were so popular in the 1920's and 30's. I'm not that keen on the Olivia character, so she's going to be replaced by, "Bêlit", who was Conan's first significant other. There's a crew of cut-throat pirates in Howard's yarn, but I'm not including them. However, what I do want to include are the statues surrounding the ruins where the two fugitives shelter for the night -- and the giant ape that Conan vanquishes. So, the basic formers were glued onto the wooden base I'm using. These are just various old cardboard boxes, kind of arranged to form a cliff next to a section of the couple's ruined sleeping quarters. The cliff is needed to ensure the height of the Conan figure is sufficient to look right when the giant ape is added to the scene. I used plaster-cloth laid onto the former's to provide a hard shell for the subsequent layers of Papier-mâché groundwork. I'll start doing that tomorrow. Meanwhile, the basic layout looks like it'll work fine. Just by way of a sidenote, Howard's tale was published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in April 1934. The King Kong movie with Fae Wray was released the previous year. There's little doubt that Howard was influenced by the Great Ape and Ms. Wray's immortal performance when he scribbled his story.

I've browsed through some pretty good threads recently. This is one of them. The paintjob on Jack's head is astonishing, but the weathering work done on the door is equally well done. Looking forward to seeing the completed scene. 😊

Got a bit more done on the flesh tones this afternoon and Conan is now looking a bit more like the bronzed, black-maned barbarian with smoldering eyes as described by R.E. Howard. It's strange, cos from some angles it looks like I've overdone the shadows, particularly on his legs, but from other angles they look okay. Could be related to the single light I was shining on the figure when I took the shots. Dunno. I think just one more flesh-colored filter tomorrow to finally tie in the flesh tones, and pick out a few more details on the helmet, sword and his boots; sort out a few overpaints/underpaints -- and then I'll call him done.

I tend to just post examples of my work while engaging in a bit of banter when it's appropriate, and pretty much just leave it at that. However, I have to say that I very much agree with your opinions on "those forums" and would like to add a few comments. The figures I paint are, (mostly), for dioramas and I can generally churn them out in around 3 to 7 days, depending on complexity. The results are plain to see. No, they're not painted to "showcase" quality, but are usually good enough for the purpose I want them for. Sure, I can shift up a gear and turn out stuff that's an improvement on "basic diorama figures", but only when I particularly want to add them to a display cabinet, or I'm doing a "special" -- and these can take me up to a month to finish. In the case of 75mm mounted white metal figures I'll even spend up to two months on them, but only on those occasions when I can simultaneously be bothered and the mood takes me. Random examples of what I think of as some of my "better stuff" shown below. When I happened to mentioned this easy come/easy go attitude of mine on one or two of "those forums", the response was similar to Stop The Press, Shock - Horror - Faint, headlines on the front page of the Super Soaraway Sun. How dare I commit such blasphemy, etc., etc., etcetera, yawn. (For the benefit of non-UK based readers, the SSS is euphemistically claimed to be a newspaper. The truth is somewhat....different). Anyway, one individual went so far as to claim he spends up to a year doing a single 54mm figure -- and that "if I considered myself a real miniature painter" then I must follow his example (?). The reasoning was beyond me as I don't considered myself a "real miniature painter", and have difficulty trying to decipher what that actually means in any case. As far as I'm concerned, this is my main hobby, and I treat it as such. While I welcome genuine and helpful critique, (to my mind it's one of the tools that offer an opportunity for improvement), I do admit that I can happily live without some self-appointed expert on "those forums" actually telling me how I ought to approach my hobby. And that's one of the main reasons why, like you, I prefer contributing to Britmodeller forum, and leave the talking heads on "those other forums" to pontificate away to their hearts content. I'm confident they lead joyful and fulfilled lives. I use a 0.5mm needle Neo for Iwata pistol trigger TRN2 as a general airbrush.... ....and a 0.3mm Mr Hobby Procon Boy (Gunze Sangyo) for more detailed stuff. But the APEX is rapidly becoming my go-to everyday airbrush. It's good quality, pretty versatile and very reasonably priced. Extremely easy to use and clean, plus UMP have just about every spare part that might be needed in stock. I would highly recommend it for general everyday use. Oh, almost forgot. W&N Series 7 are my paintbrush of choice, but Broken Toad do a very nice range of brushes that are almost as good as the W&N's, and just that bit cheaper. Check this link; https://www.snmstuff.co.uk/product/brokentoad-miniature-series-mk2-sable-brush-boxed-set/ Cheers H

I love those palm trees, and the Flory washes are a good idea as well. Great job all round and I look forward to the finished scenario. Hmm, this has got me re-thinking the base I was going to use for the small vignette I'm building this week.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST.... So this morning it was just a case of getting more details done and adding a number of filters to better blend in the color transitions on all those flesh areas. And dot in the eyes -- an action that's always liable to go wrong, which is why I usually leave it until I'm around the 75% finished point on any figure. Another couple of very dilute flesh-colored filters were applied this afternoon, and the color transitions are beginning to blend nicely. Meanwhile, here's the "Bêlit" figure that I did some time ago. And here's the fearsome man-eating giant Great Ape. All being well, I reckon I'll get the Conan figure finished tomorrow and then get on with the groundwork for the vignette. Conan does need to go up a bit further than these first concept photos. Around 2 inches higher should make his stance look more natural. And I might swop the positions of Conan and Bêlit. Dunno, I'll have another mess around when Conan is 100% completed tomorrow. Once I'm kinda happy with the vignette layout, this thread will then transfer to the diorama section. Cheers H

With my current project ground to a halt while I wait for an international hobby order from Spain to be delivered, I was at a bit of a loose end. I had a look in my stash cupboard and realized I haven't done any fantasy stuff for a while, so decided to build a small vignette featuring this fine upstanding fellow.... He's a 75mm resin figure from Midnight Miniatures in the UK and I picked him up around two or three years ago -- and promptly forgot all about him, so that situation was to be rectified. I reckoned I might as well do another figure while I was at it, although the female resin job won't be in the vignette; she's for something else once I get around to it. As per usual, all the parts were given a good scrub with warm soapy water and then allowed to air dry. Then a quick coat of Vallejo primer, and left overnight. Only the heads were attached at this stage -- which in the case of the female figure was a huge mistake. Oh well....🙄 Next day, I got some color blocked on, but only after removing the lady's head.... ....and then re-attached the head back on again. So here's as far as I got last night. I had anticipated the usual three-handed juggling act and fingers superglued together, trying to get both the arms to line up and connect to the right hand molded onto the sword blade, but managed to surprise myself when they actually went together with no major drama. The female figure was put to one side for now while I concentrated on getting the Cimmerian Barbarian up to scratch. So, what's the vignette going to be about then? Well, it's going to be based on Robert E. Howard's original novelette, "Shadows in the Moonlight". But only based on it cos I'm not all that keen on the runaway slave character, "Olivia", in the story. She's just a bit too, "Damsel in Distress", so she's going to be replaced by, "Bêlit"; the self-styled Queen of the Black Coast, Captain of the pirate ship Tigress, and the young Conan's first serious squeeze. However, I'll certainly be including the fearsome man-eating giant Great Ape that features so prominently in Howard's yarn. TO BE CONTINUED....

Will, This is a brilliant thread. Looking forward to more.

Pretty much run out of space in the living room cabinets and the unit in my office, but there's still a hobby room and an entire conservatory that can provide display space, and the bathroom offers possibilities....😄

Yeah, but I'm rapidly running out of space in the unit at the back of my office -- and I've the next one coming up in a couple of weeks, plus an idea for a King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table extravaganza that I'd like to do.. Guess I'll just have to rotate them.

Thanks guys.

Three days after defeat at the Battle of Langside, Mary Queen of Scots slipped across the Solway Firth on 16 May 1568, intending to petition her cousin Elizabeth I for finances to raise a new army. While being acclaimed by the Catholic Nobility of Northern England at the City of Carlisle in what could euphemistically be called a "Royal Progression" , she was taken into “protective custody” and would endure increasingly close imprisonment for the rest of her days. Nineteen long years after entering England, Mary Stuart was put on trial for complicity in The Babbington Plot. The plan had been to assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with the Scottish Queen. Mary Stuart was certainly guilty by association, although doubt still remains as to just how deeply she was involved in the conspiracy. The charges of treason being found proven, she was executed at Fotheringhay Castle on 8 February 1587. This small vignette depicts the fatal decision to flee Scotland and cross into Elizabeth I's domain. It would seem the getaway vehicle driver is arguing with Errol Flynn; "Nope, the deal was one Queen, one Maid Servant, one Flash Bodyguard and one Scottie Dog. You other three guys can go through Customs & Immigration in the normal way." Hindsight is always such a wonderful gift of course. Would it have been better if Mary Stuart had sought sanctuary in France and await a change in fortune? Who knows? After all, her ex-mother in law certainly didn't want her. Fascinating story though.

This is absolutely fantastic work. I love the nighttime shots.

Cheers goggsy. As usual, I just can't stop fickering with things. I've already carried out yet another Slouch Hat to Scottish Bonnet conversion; And the Drummer Boy has sprouted a new head.... I reckon he now looks remarkably like a young Ginger Baker....🤩 Next target of my interfering little fingers? Change out the heads of the two Musketeers either side of the Drummer Boy, prob'ly.

It's called semi-retirement Vinnie. I'm in the happy position where I can pick and choose work assignments these days. 😎

So, I did a tad more on the stream and decided to call this one finished. It's now taken up residence in the unit at the back of my office. This one, depicting the escape across the Solway Firth on 16 May 1568 isn't quite completed yet, as I want to do a bit more work on the Mary Stuart figure who's ditched her cuirass and changed back into civvies. Also need to fix the getaway vehicle driver's green hair.... ....the driver who seems to be saying, "Nope, no way. The deal was one female passenger and her wee scottie dog. The rest of you can just wait for the next boat." The groundwork needs a bit more detail as well. Then the display table will get cleaned up....and after that, I'll on with the next project. Cheers H

Thanks Vince. 😊 Two or three additional photos I took today coming up soon.

I assume there's plenty of fish in Plymouth as well.....🤣

I really need to get my eyes tested. I read that as, "That bum looks nice and trouty", and couldn't figure out what fish had to do with it.... 🤤

Hi Graham, Umm, yeah, I do tend to think of my dioramas as being fairly simple. If you were to go through them you'll notice that the groundwork is always pretty basic -- and I can't do buildings, so they're avoided like the plague. One of the few things I reckon I can do right is the composition and layout -- and I always try to tell the story, although that's probably always a bit ambiguous -- except to me of course. ☺️ I really ought to have done a full diorama WIP thread, but have been way too busy recently, so here's a brief rundown; 21-June I've always wanted to do a Mary Queen of Scots scenario, but finding suitable figures is like trying to find hen's teeth. However, I was struck by how similar Spanish Tercio's in the early stages of the 30-Years War were to Lowland Scots and Border Mosstroopers of the late 16th century. Well, they looked similar to me -- and having recently re-read George MacDonald Fraser's book "The Steel Bonnets" about the Border Reivers, I decided I could live with the slight discrepancy in the time frame between the two eras. So the first job was to do the flags, and I must've changed all of them out around six times each before I got them right. 24-June I've done a WIP on my mounted Mary Stuart in the figure section so won't drone on about how I created her like some latter-day Igor assisting in Baron Frankenstein's lab. It's enough to say an awful lot of milliput was used..... However, I also had some kit figures that've been in my stash for years and reckoned they would work in this wee project, so a start was made on prepping and priming them. Note, I was also working on some kits for two different vignettes as well, so only the Border Heidman and mounted figure in the photo below were used for this diorama. 30-June Doing the figures for these projects is always time consuming, but they were coming on. That's the resin product from Deluxe Material that I used for the river. 02-July A bit more progress. 05-July The resin bridge was initially assembled with superglue gel and once it was set great dollops of two-part epoxy were ladled on for added strength -- where they wouldn't be seen of course. And after filling all the gaps at the span to arch joints, I had a bit of practice with the layout. Any excuse to just play around is always a good one. 06-July More progress on the figures, although I only used four of these in this diorama. And the weathering process on the bridge was started. I used printers inks for the initial washes of color. 11-July With the bridge about 75% finished, it was temporarily fixed to the groundwork, and the first layer of resin poured into the riverbed. Mmm, I got a bit silly with the rocks and whipped half of them out of there before the resin began to set. 12-July Began basing the figures into the groundwork and poured in the second layer of resin "water". The diorama base is sitting on a plastic tray out in our conservatory, just in case of leaks or spills. 13-July The third and final layer of resin was poured in. Remember I said the bridge was only temporarily fixed to the groundwork? That was so it could come back off while I detailed the resin stream. It then went back on and fixed in place. The Border Heidman was also located n his final position. So, yesterday was spent on the final detailing, adding more foliage. clumps of reeds, flowers and so on. I also made the nameplate and then left well alone overnight. The photoshoot was done this afternoon out in the conservatory so I could take advantage of the natural light. Hope this has been helpful, and the members here enjoy seeing the process and final results as much as I enjoyed the entire exercise. Next up? Well, there's a small rowing boat vignette to finish off over the next couple of days. I had intended to then do a small, maybe six figure, scenario featuring the Marquis of Montrose in 1645, but to be honest I might defer that one for a few weeks, cos I've a hankering for doing something with Cherry Blossom trees and Knights of Camelot in Shining Armor riding by, while Carl Orff's "O Fortuna Carmina Burana" is bouncing off the floor, walls and ceiling at full blast. And that's a blatant plug for the movie I'm going to be watching tonight.... 😎 Cheers H

Thanks guys. I'm glad you like it.

CONTINUED FROM MY PREVIOUS POST Along with a small group of adherents, and intent on gaining an army and financial aid from her cousin Elizabeth I, the Scottish Queen crossed the Solway Firth and into England on 16 May 1568. Almost immediately placed into “protective custody” she would endure protracted and increasingly severe imprisonment, and be complicit in numerous failed plots and intrigues. Nineteen long years after Langside, Mary Stuart was put on trial for involvement in the Babbington Plot. The somewhat hair-brained plan was to assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with the Scottish Queen. Despite Mary’s spirited defense, the verdict was never in doubt and she was executed at Fotheringhay Castle on 8 February 1587. Mary Stuart’s half-brother, James Stewart the Earl of Moray and leader of the rebel forces at the Battle of Langside, was shot dead in 1570 by a Marian supporter. It was the first recorded assassination of a head of state by a firearm. Her third husband, James Hepburn the Earl of Bothwell was imprisoned in Denmark and kept in a dungeon under unspeakable conditions for ten years. Still in chains and probably completely insane, he died in 1578. Elizabeth I died in 1603 and was succeeded by James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots, who now became James I of the United Kingdom. In 1612 James had his mother’s remains exhumed and re-interred in Westminster Abbey. Her final resting place lies at the opposite end of the aisle from Elizabeth’s tomb in the Henry VII Chapel, and one can’t help but wonder if, wherever they are now, both ladies find such close proximity to be somewhat……awkward.

The decisive battle of Mary Queen of Scots personal reign took place on 13 May 1568 at the village of Langside, two miles south of Glasgow. The Queen’s army was destroyed in less than an hour. This diorama depicts the closing stages of the battle. Royalist forces have been pushed back to a large stream called the White Cart Water, a tributary of the River Clyde. With the remnants of Mary’s army on the point of a full-scale route, Lords Claud Hamilton and Maxwell Herries report that all is lost and counsel the Queen to return to France and await better times. Mary Stuart, who was still only twenty-six, chose to ignore the advice of her loyal Lords. The figures include several converted white metal castings from FL & KP, plus white metal kits from Art Girona and Masterclass. The animals are either from the toy shop round the corner, or were picked up at duty free in Hong Kong airport -- can't remember which it was. Flags and nameplate were done in Microsoft Excel. The base is a miniature display table and groundwork is instant papier mâché with added static grass and various other details. The stream is a one-part clear resin product from Deluxe Materials. The bridge is a resin kit by Reality in Scale, and I've no idea where the trees came from. The mounted Mary Stuart figure was cobbled together from various bits and pieces. For details, please refer to my "Mary Queen of Scots" thread in the Figures WIP Section. TO BE CONTINUED IN NEXT POST....