Review "Harbinger of Death" from Galapagos

[Nap]

Hi everyone

Galapagos releases are always a welcome sight to see

Here are the ones I have reviewed ....previously we have seen releases of mainly busts which are in these links:

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/grogoth-from-galapagos-miniatures.85855/

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/velaf-dragon-hunter-from-galapagos-miniatures.78346/

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/amaryne-from-galapagos-miniatures.71244/

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/seige-giant-from-galapagos-miniatures.67554/

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/volkan-lostblood-from-galapagos-miniatures.65088/

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/kyle-heir-to-the-blue-sun-from-galapagos-miniatures.62923/

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/kazhatdram-war-drum-of-doom-from-galapagos-miniatures.60202/

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/the-messenger-from-galapagos-miniatures.58417/

The latest is another creation from the owner Ju-Won

The release was announced here and in Social media with the box art following on afterward

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/harbinger-of-death-by-galapagos.102653/

Box Art announced by another PF member here:

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/color-boxart-of-the-harbinger-of-death.107212/

The release is:

Setting the scene .....

Through the darkness the life's work ebbs away from the images from the books of a mans life ......

.....the sands of time slowly move from his life .......

......and there waiting to collect him is the harbinger of Death ...the Grim Reaper.......

on a fearsome and unforgiving steed

......in total darkness , black , clothing in rags , the face sometimes a skull with sinister empty sockets or maybe pinpointed and glaring eyes.......

........the head is hooded in total unforgiving darkness ...an abyss of fear to all....his scythe sweeping across lives with ease....

....gathering them into the darkness silently and with no effort...

...The Harbinger gathers the harvest in ...

​

Continued in next post​

Nap

 

[Nap]

With trepidation and fear I open the box ....

Details of the release:

Title :Harbinger of Death ( Spectre who prophesied the end of times )

Scale: 90mm

Parts: 13

Material :Light Lavender gray Resin

Sculptor: Ju-Won Jung

Box Art: Ju-Won Jung

Concept and production: Team Galapagos


Parts were held in the distinctive box colour with box art on top and a unpainted picture of the model on the side



As always the resin was well packed with the main pieces being held in a foam cutout , the parts consist of the upper torso/head of the harbinger , right arm , shoulder armour/piece, skull face 2 hands , one with a sand timer the other with the scythe handle , a scythe , front, rear and tail of horse and ears , plus 2 mounting posts one solid brass rod , the other a clear perspex .

In addition to these we have a card insert with a story on one side with a line drawing on the other , the story has the Galapagos seal on it ...a nice touch in presentation

Prep


Horse Front and Back Pieces.....Casting remnant from back where tail fits , flashing and small post from upturned leg then fit these together

Ears and Tail... Casting plug to cut away, both need to be fitted ...I would suggest pinning the tail in place

Harbinger....cut away casting plug from underneath and fit to horse

Arm ...Casting remnant from top edges and then fit

Hands...Small casting excess pieces to cut away and fit to main torso ( flashing to remove in timer ).

Shoulder Armour ....Small plug to cut away and fit

Skull...Small plug to cut away and fit

Scythe...Slight sanding at lower edge and then fit ( pin if possible)

Rods...Drill out position under horse to fit to

General Comments

• The resin used is of a high quality and has taken the details extremely well

• Minimal prep with all unwanted resin being in a good and easy to remove position

• An option to fit the skull or leave the area blank

• A choice of mounting rod to use ..the perspex one gives the piece a "floating" effect ...a nice thought from Ju-Won here .

I will look at the horse and rider separate as I have a lot of pictures to share

Continued in next post

Nap

 

[Nap]

Lets go to the resin

The horse first , this is the largest of the pieces consisting of 2 halves , fitting together with ease



The sculpting is very clever indeed , worked to create the effect of a floating and sinister animal , cleverly consisting of just the front legs or at least part of them ...seemingly vanishing into the atmosphere around the beast

The Rear

Wonderfully sculpted the ragged , torn and worn material is really very well shown , folds and undercuts are excellent , on the hind quarters on both sides we have many skulls ...of his victims no doubt , some almost melting into the animal ..really very atmospheric and scary indeed ...nice one Ju-Won .





The Front

On this the head is high the man itself covered by armoured plates , well sculpted with nice surface details , a strap holds them together at the front a little further down we see a lovely set of straps again well detailed , all the way round and at the front .

The horses head is fearsome , excellent muscle tone on the neck , the face is full of anger the skin straining with the movement , great eye detail , the mouth open the lower jaw dropping exposing both upper and lower sets of teeth and the tongue itself on the lower mouth .


The legs are not full in sculpture but Ju Won has managed to give the impression of ends that vanish into the darkness.

Tail and Ears

The tail is a good sculpt full of movement , swishing wildly with the textures being very good , the ears are upright and fitted with an armoured plate , fit of both is easy and both look good when in position adding even more to the sculpt.




Continued in next post

Nap

 

[Nap]

Now then onto the Demon of Death .....

Torso

The figure itself consist of the upper torso but no legs , it has been carefully sculpted to include the centre piece of the creature he rides , the clothing hanging raggedly over the edges , , the torn clothing and worn effects continue all over the figure , the left arm is sculpted at a right angle held up with the sleeve hanging frightfully down , on the shoulder area there is a locating piece for the armour .

The fellow is again well sculpted wearing a hood this hanging with menace over the front of the head , this showing lovely folds all over ....what I particularly like is the fact that the sculptor has given us an option of leaving the face area empty ...even more atmosphere or you can add the front piece.

The fit onto his steed is first class , no filler needed.



The Skull

An option to use this even in this scale, fearsome pointed teeth , with eyes that seem to be in mid air ...shuddering to look at le its scary , the surface is textured nicely ...its easy to fit to the back piece in the hood .



Right arm/Shoulder Armour

The arm again is swathed in a long sleeve the bottom hanging open , the material is again in keeping with the figure , torn ,ragged and sinister , again casting is very good indeed , at the top of the arm we have a pointed armour on this there are tiny skulls at the corners.



The shoulder armour for the right matches the cast one , fit is easy as expected.



The Hands

Both hold items associated with death , the right has the handle of the scythe the right the sand timer , the details on the timer is very good a design on the top , the lower hidden in the hands.

The handle is made up with human bones ...well shaped and being gripped well by ....

Hands that are not actually fully fleshed out ...but bone fingers are demonic like , holding the items , the tools of his trade , the fingernails are pointed tightly ...fit of both is simple to the sleeves .






Scythe

The main "tool of his calling" , swirling and cutting the life from his chosen victims ...wether its their time or not .....its a great shape , the handle is shaped , the surface has bone growths on it at the top leading onto the blade , this growth has more skulls included ...a fearsome item ..that no=one can escape from.



Final Thoughts

This is a very good and a brave sculpt to do so all credit to Ju-Won, full of clever sculpting and thought in the way its built together , great casting , full of details and a wonderful display piece . Painting can be up to you ...blacks or even a devil red colour ..whatever you choose to do you will enjoy the QUALITY from Galapagos .

If Fantasy is your thing this is for you even if its not then treat yourself to a challenge and try something new .

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED


You could also contact Ju Won by e mail [email protected]

or by going to the websitewww.galapagosminiatures.com

Thanks for looking in and thanks to Galapagos for the review piece

...... also to Ju-Won for the very nice Korean Coffee ...3 cups doing this review ...LOL ..

Happy modelling

Nap

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys

Lets now look at the amazing artwork from a painter who is so talented in this field ...the owner of Galapagos Ju-Won


ENJOY

Nap

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Awesome review of a awesome figure.
Now I have to spend money soon as this figure is right up my alley!

 

[polyphemus]

Many thanks for the review Kev. I've had this on pre-order from El Greco since I first saw the boxart. One thought I've had is to investigate any way of representing mist around the lower part of the horse, in effect to cloak the fact it's a partial figure. Anybody got any ideas?

Geoff

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys

Thanks for comments , it's an incredible sculpt for sure ......

Geoff ..a mist how about very fine cotton wool teased out ?....sure armour or aircraft modelkers might use something

Happy modelling

Nap

 

[franck edet]

what a nice, impressive, perfect, "I want one" ... figure
for the mist, in all my years passed in armour modelling, going from show to show in Europe and North America ... i've never seen any convincing smoke or mist being done.
even the ones with systems from e-cigarettes doesn't quite do the trick, i don't say it's impossible to achieve, but i still need to see one

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Many thanks for the review Kev. I've had this on pre-order from El Greco since I first saw the boxart. One thought I've had is to investigate any way of representing mist around the lower part of the horse, in effect to cloak the fact it's a partial figure. Anybody got any ideas?

Geoff

Yes, like Nap said, cotton wool should work, but I liked to use that synthetic stuffing you can find in stiffed dolls.
It has a more fine fiber than cotton wool.
I'm a "ex" armour builder myself, well, still do a occasionally build, but I used it for smoke effects.
Really nice with a LED light into it for that dramatic effect...

But indeed, it is really hard to achieve a almost real effect

 

[Landrotten Highlander]

This has been on my 'must-have' list since I saw it advertised here on PF. Your review has shifted it right to the top.
Need to rob the bank for this one, and soon ......
Thanks for the review Nap, has been a real help to me
Slainte
L.H.

 

[swralph]

Excellent review as always Nap.
Can't wait to paint this.

 

[Red Five]

El Greco is going to have a lot of posting to do for this one! So many good fantasy figures are suddenly appearing.

Andrew

 

[JasonB]

Can't wait for Red Lancers to get this one in stock.

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys

Ralph, Andrew , Jason ....you won't be dissapointed for sure ....do share tge painting

Nap

 

[chailey]

Could this be shadow box material perhaps? It might be easier to create a swamp or such like in a closed environment, lighting could be used to good effect but I really think cotton wool stuck to a wooden base would do this kit justice!
Great work by the way...

Steve

 

[TERRYSOMME1916]

Great review on a crazy brilliant figure, I dont do fantasy, I dont paint anything smaller than 1/10 busts but the hell with it (did I say that), I am getting this one.
TERRY

 

[polyphemus]

Playing around with further ideas I thought that perhaps building up vegetation to the body of the horse and then painting any plants etc which have been touched by the horse as dead.
I think I might just opt for the clear support rod.

Geoff

 

[Wings5797]

Kevin your so Supermarket .com

Great review Mate.
Thank you
Keith

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys

Steve ....Shadow box and atmospheric lighting .....nice idea there

Terry ...it's a big piece ...a heck of a lot of resin

Geoff ...think we might see many versions of this and basework ..the 2 supports option are a good idea

Keith ....you watch too much TV..LOL ...cheers for post mate

Nap