Confederate Soldier (ALTORES 1:10)

Dear Planeteers,

having some days off, I decided to spend my leisure time wisely, i.e. painting a new bust. It is the Southerner from ALTORES Miniatures in 1/10 scale. It appears to me that this confederate soldier bust has been overseen somehow – at least here in Europe. I could not find a lot of painted versions online, which is a shame. It should be quite popular, because it offers all kinds of pattern and fabric to paint (e.g. two blankets), is of great quality, and a real fun to work on.
I am by no means an expert in the American civil war. Hence, any historical mistakes are mine and mine alone.
Hope you like my little Southerner.

Best regards
Sven

Congratulations Sven, for a very nicely painted bust!

Very expressive face! Like it a lot!

If only I could paint eyes the way you do it...

What mediums do you use? I'd say acrylics, but not sure.


Cheers!

Very nice Sven.

Wonderful paintwork

Mobo

Hi Dolf,
You are right, I used acrylics and some oils for the wood of the rifle.
I am not a patinet painter and cannot stand waiting for the oil paints to dry.

Regards
Sven

Zim and Mobo,

thank you guys. Much appreciated.

Sven

Thanks for confirming, Sven.

My knowledge of acrylics is almost none, as only tried a couple many decades ago (and must say didn't really like them then), so can't talk about them. Notice that from what I see and read about acrylics currently being used, I think they are probably very different from those I used many moons ago. As far as I remember those acrylics back then didn't dilute with water, and nowadays it seems that at least the most currently brands used do dilute with water.
I may try to use a couple of these newer brands in the market one of these days. I can see some beautifully painted Figures & Busts, using these acrylics!
Your Confederate Soldier is a great example of that!

In those days enamels were about my only painting medium, with the occasional exception of a couple of artists oils. And that only happened when I painted my first few Verlinden 120mm/200mm Figures, and even then only for mimicking leather, wood, that kind of stuff.

Still use enamels for the base coats on Figures & Busts nowadays (on top of an acrylic primer, the only acrylic I use), sometimes some enamels for tiny little pieces and/or parts, but have been using oils for all the rest.

When I restarted the hobby about two years ago, and started using oils as the main medium, I also had some hard times with the drying process. But actually I found out that oils are not that long to dry after all
The "secret"? Just getting rid of the "oily" part of the paints, by spreading them on a piece of paper with a spatula. And then apply them dry, in tiny amounts of paint, and spread them over the Figure or Bust in the thinnest possible way. If using a thinner is required, then I use either a Matt Effect Thinner and/or a Fast Dry Thinner, both from Abteilung 502. Never again did I have problems with oils taking a long time to dry, after I changed my method.
And even for those colors that may take a bit longer to dry, one can always use a "heating box" if really needed, which can really help speed up the drying time.

Anyway, I really like this Confederate Soldier, and you really did a great job!


Cheers!

Hi Dolf,
I never used a "heating box", but I know that some painters use it with great effect. No medium is perfect, I guess. Modern acrylic paints are very easy to use and you can work with very thin layers. The color range is incredible and with a little help of my hair dryer they dry in seconds. I started with enamel paints as well many years ago and needed some month to fully understand how acrylic paints behave. Today, I would not go back.
Many thanks again for your kind comments. Stay safe!
Sven

Hi Sven

Good to see you posting and a bust I had the pleasure to review as well here

https://www.planetfigure.com/posts/1011834/

You've done the piece credit , do like the colours you used and the blanket roll is a nice contrast .....with the chequered shirt being very neatly done on such small patterning

Great fleshtones and the eyes are really nicely done

Thanks for sharing

Why not enter FOTM here :

https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/enter-here-for-mays-fotm-ends-midnight-bst-30-5-20.236553/

and also vote in Aprils comp here:

https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/vote-here-for-aprils-fotm-ends-midnight-bst-30-05-2020.224917/

Happy benchtime

Stay safe

Nap

Lovely textures Sven.

Beautifully painted Sven....
Cheers
Jim

very nicely done!

Amazing work Sven!

Cheers,
Ken

Very nice painting throughout.
Your textural effects are most impressive.

Cheers,
Andrew