Andrea's Templar Bust

[brian]

Hi All
I was sent a Andrea calendar and was knocked out with the soon to be released Templar Bust. There was picture on the front cover and it's an absolute cracker.
Brian

 

[Mark S]

Brian,
Any chance of posting a pic of the bust?

 

[brian]

Hi Mark
Here's a picture of the bust.I had to scan it so the image is not so good but it will give you an idea what it's like,A must have for me!!!!
Brian

 

[Guy]

Have to agree with you there Brian. I will look for a copy too.

 

[megroot]

I'm not an Andrea fan, but this is a must have.

marc

 

[KeithP]

I am not much of a fan of Andrea either. But, this one looks pretty interesting. The paint job is pretty attractive too.

Who is the sculptor?

Keith

 

[Einion]

What a fab-looking bust!. But let's pray that it's cast well; the last Andrea bust that I did made me swear I'd never touch another.

Einion

 

[Mark S]

Thanks for posting that pic,Brian.
Your right,it is a cracker.
Does the calendar have any other 2008 releases in it?

 

[Sambaman]

WOW! That's absolutely outstanding. I will find a little hole in the storage area for that one for sure! That thing looks like a photograph, of an actual person I mean. Really nice stuff.

Jay H.
OKC

 

[phc35]

sweeeeet!!

 

[Mark S]

Yep,on closer inspection I think it's a photo of a medieval re-enactor double amputee.

 

[brian]

Thanks for posting that pic,Brian.
Your right,it is a cracker.
Does the calendar have any other 2008 releases in it?

Hi Mark
None that you woudn't have seen before
Brian

 

[DEL]

Templar Bust

Haven't bought a bust since MIGs signifer but this looks as if it'll change that.
A real range of materials here. I like the strained look about the eyes, really convincing.
Thanks for the heads up Brian.

Derek

 

[Mongo Mel]

That's looks like a very interesting bust. Definitely going to consider it.

But what I'm more curious about is the comments about Andrea products in this thread (and elseware). I've bought and/or painted half a dozen of their busts now and I've never had any big problems with any of them. The last one I bought was the deep sea diver so it's been a little while now since I got anything new.
Please, what's the big problem with their products?
Thanks,
Craig

 

[Tommi]

Thanks for this Brian, I am definatly adding this one to my collecton
Tommi

 

[frank h]

Hi
I like the look of this one

Most Andrea products are..fair to ok
now and then a less than ideal one comes along
but never anything that can't be put right

Any ideas when it will be released?

Frank

 

[JGREEN]

I also have been slightly disappointed in the overall quality of Andrea kits (compared to Pegaso, etc.) but this looks like a must-have!!! The face (absolutely crucial on a bust) looks fantastic and the paint job is phenomenal!! Beautiful skin tones! I'm with Jay, it's so good it looks like a photograph of a real person.

Jason

 

[EasyOff]

Wow, I've gotta have this one. I'm very impressed with the textures in the clothing and facial hair details. Cudos to the sculpture and the painter, you've done an amazing job of bringing a slab of metal to life.

John

 

[captnenglish]

Not a big fan of Andrea and don't paint knights often, but I'll be buying this one.

 

[Einion]

Please, what's the big problem with [Andrea's] products?

In the bust (which was a commission so I didn't have the option to return it or ask for replacement parts, or try to...*) the resin parts were cast from what looked like two different resins, one more prone to pinholes than the other; there were far too many holes to fill on two fairly simple casts and the detail on the head/headdress should have been what you'd expect from resin - practically flawless - but it wasn't.

The different translucencies made me think that the shrinkage rates weren't the same - at least that might account for the awful fit (between head and shoulders?!?!)

The fit of the metal parts to both wasn't nearly as good as I'd like, although they were all cast well enough at least.

As far as Andrea figures go, one year at Euro Mil I wanted to buy something from the stand and they refused the request to open the package and check the castings. I've had Andrea 54s in the past with truly God-awful QC (heavy pitting everywhere on the large castings and/or soft detail, but much cleaner smaller parts) and as you might expect the fit was not 'that great' a result. So I don't ever want to buy one of their kits sight-unseen again; although I'm sure many are just fine I don't want to take the risk of getting another lemon.

*They also have a terrible track record for responding to emails - they don't (in English at least, no idea if it's better if you write in Spanish).

Einion