Review Acw Confederate From El Greco Miniatures

[Nap]

Hi to one and all ,

I have pleasure in presenting to you my review of a recently released bust from El Greco Miniatures , we have recently seen the box art painted by Eddy Vandersteen

(link here:http://www.planetfigure.com/threads...lease-el-greco-miniatures.52149/watch-confirm) .

Before we go on lets have a little bit about confederate uniforms , as wel all probably know at the start of the war they were more uniformed as such but due to supply and sheer hard campaigning these very quickly deterioted into rags , the typical image of the late war confederate is one in homespun jackets , borrowed equipt(often from the dead both Rebel and Union , our subject had a uniform as such that was practical and better wearing (although the supply was often of poor quality cloth)

The confederacy came from many states all fighting for their cause and beliefs , some from the town but a lot form the countryside .

References abound for the period , ranging from the books by Ron Filed and artwork by Don Troiani to the series from Osprey , also the internet is a mass of information ...have a look and you will be amazed .

The model we are looking at is of course a bust , details are as follows:

Subject Title: ACW Confederate

Reference: EGM-BU16

Sculptor: Matt Grech

Box art: Eddy Vandersteen

Scale: 1:10th

Material: Grey Resin

Casting by : YS Castings ([email protected])

No of Pieces: 4



Continued in next post:

Nap

 

[Nap]

Moving on now ....

As I said we have a information insert with a total of 4 parts all in a grey resin consisting of the torso , the head , the hat and a pedestal base , all came in a secure clear bag .

What I liked in particular was the actual packing , this I feel warrents some attention : the contents were surrounded by a mass of straw like material all safely protecting the contents , all of this was held in a lovely round metal tin (on the box we have a black and white set of pictures of the bust at various angles - perhaps we will have colour on future tins as Eddy has done the box art ).

Presentation is as important IMO and this is really great (well done El Greco for putting some thought into this) ..and when you have completed the model you can use the tin or in my case Carole (SWMBO) has already put her name on it !!!




Continued in next post:

Nap

 

[Nap]

Looking now at the largest of the pieces the torso itself:

This has been sculpted as a shoulders piece in classic bust style , and works very well the ams finish just below the tops of the arms , with the angle being very nicely done .

The underside has a hole provided to take the pedesatal base

Prep is minimal and consisted of a 2 minute job with sanding pads on the underside ...easy peasy as they say , the actual casting is super smooth , he wears a shell jacket buttoned at the neck and falling open at an angle with a collar falling at the front , over this he has 2 straps , these are very well done , undercuts are clean and finely defined , folds on the cloth are also natural looking , the button holes are well sculpted and cast .....this is a simple torso with minimal equiptment , providing an easy canvas to work on ...for me I will distress the belts and maybe add a repair on the coat ...not necessary I can assure you as its spot on without it.

Continued in next post:

Nap

 

[Nap]

Lets have a look at the head:

Prep consists of removal of tiny casting plugs from the top of the head and base of the neck ...no probs here .

I see this soldier as coming from the countryside , a farmers boy , torn away from his family to fight for his cause .

The face is one of a young man about mid to late 20's , his hair swirling under from the hat , together with some cracking mutton chops sideburns ..wonderful

Feaures are really well done , eye detail is good , assisting painting , ears are poking out from his hair and also good , a great nose with a chiselled chin ...what demands special note is the way Matt Grech has done the hair something he is particularly noted for ..and quite rightly so ....really something special IMO , great fine definition ....this face is full of character.

Continued in next post:

Nap

 

[Nap]

Moving on now to the crowning glory ..the hat

These were often of any size and shape , often of civilian manufacture and battered and weathered by hardened campaigning and thats what we have here , the prep needed consisted of taking the knife to remove a small casting plug , the brim of the hat if flopping all over the place turnd up at the front , battered at the crown with a hat band . Fit onto the head is good , a tiny amount of filler is needed but nothing major .

When fitted this really adds to the overall look of the bust and epitomises the Confederate .

Continued in next post:

Nap

 

[Helm]

Looks good Mrs Helm has her eye on this being a Reb gal and all, the tin is a brilliant idea

Steve

 

[Nap]

On now to the final and very important piece ...the base:

This is cast as a turned pedastal , nicely formed together with a locating pin that matches the hole in the underside of the bust , a tiny amount of sanding was needed to smooth the base a little .

Of course you do not have to use the base provided but its a nice addition and works well as you can see in Eddy's post of the box art.

Continued in next post:

Nap

 

[Nap]

Final thoughts now :

This is really well sculpted particularly the hair , simple yet a classic style bust , it works well , looks great even primed , and gives the painter so many opportunities to let his imagination go wild ...whatever colour scheme you choose this is going to look great in the display cabinet .

Available though El Greco who will disptch with their usual flair and speed ..giving us what we want ...a great model and excellent customer service .(Thanks to El Greco for the Review model)

Website: www.elgrecominiatures.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Please allow me some indulgence now and enjoy again Eddys painting showing just what can be done with this model .

Nap

 

[Alberto Gianfranco]

simply fantastic

 

[Tarracus]

Love (specially) that Wolverine sideburns!!
Thanks for your time on the review, Nap.

 

[Joe55]

Excellent review! This is a beauty of a sculpt and the packaging is nifty too !!

Joe

 

[captnenglish]

Thanks for the review. This is a classic example (IMO) of boxart hurting a kit; when I saw this kit announced, did not think much of it, but seeng it unpainted my opion has changed for the better.

 

[Nap]

Thanks for the review. This is a classic example (IMO) of boxart hurting a kit; when I saw this kit announced, did not think much of it, but seeng it unpainted my opion has changed for the better.

Hi captnenglish ,

No problem for the review , box art is often a source of inspiration and at times concern , IMO Eddy's painted version looks really good .

I would be interested in your thoughts on how this "hurt the kit" (everyone is entitled to their opinion ..what area's as I have my own little venture with Jimbo called Campaign Miniatures and have had much thought about box art ..

Pleased the review changed your mind for the better .

Nap

 

[captnenglish]

Hi captnenglish ,

No problem for the review , box art is often a source of inspiration and at times concern , IMO Eddy's painted version looks really good .

I would be interested in your thoughts on how this "hurt the kit" (everyone is entitled to their opinion ..what area's as I have my own little venture with Jimbo called Campaign Miniatures and have had much thought about box art ..

Pleased the review changed your mind for the better .

Nap

I can't really quantify it, but there was something in the boxart that put me off this kit. Seeing pics of the raw resin makes me look at this bust in a different light. It's just a matter of taste I guess.