ATA girl "redo"

[pokrad]

This is reference image:

Anatomy of smiling face is hard, and making it look cute and not creepy even harder.
All of the elements are here, but creepiness is not avoided yet

 

[Rob]

A good start. Are you including the helmet and her shoulder bag? How long in the torso are you going, to the waist?

 

[Warren SMITH]

The young lady in the photo is very pretty, Good luck with getting her face right

 

[pokrad]

A good start. Are you including the helmet and her shoulder bag? How long in the torso are you going, to the waist?

I was thinking a bit shorter, but pull the helmet a bit up so it is visible...

 

[pokrad]

The young lady in the photo is very pretty, Good luck with getting her face right

Here is the story: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-42012740

 

[Rob]

I was thinking a bit shorter, but pull the helmet a bit up so it is visible...

Cool, it is a nice detail and it would be a shame to lose it.

 

[pokrad]

Talking about helmet, this is not standard RAF B or C helmet. Could not recognize it, the closest I found is "Lewis helmet, late 1930s" ???
Any ideas ?

And if it is indeed Lewis, then I have a problem with moving the helmet up because it hangs on the cable that is connected to the helmet on both sides. I can only lift it up by making the cable shorter...

 

[JackG]

Can always cut the bust at an angle instead of horizontal with the flying helmet hanging mostly below the front of body.

I think you have correctly identified the type of leather helmet. One thing noticed from other photos is her smile is asymmetrical with regards to the corners of her mouth. Generally keep her features soft and rounded to maintain the feminine quality. Good luck!

 

[Rob]

The helmet is 1930s "Lewis" style or more probably even earlier:

1920s style.

1930s "Lewis"

Assuming you want to keep that pose as JackG suggested cutting the bust at an angle will give you more scope, and realistically I don't think anyone will be measuring the length of the Gosport tubes so losing a few mm as well will not hurt.
Alternately make her a midi length bust and come down to her thigh. Or change the pose to lift her arm and place the helmet and goggles in her raised hand.

 

[pokrad]

Can always cut the bust at an angle instead of horizontal with the flying helmet hanging mostly below the front of body.

I think you have correctly identified the type of leather helmet. One thing noticed from other photos is her smile is asymmetrical with regards to the corners of her mouth. Generally keep her features soft and rounded to maintain the feminine quality. Good luck!

I think asymmetry of the smile is because of an slight right angle of the photo.
Anyhow here is today progress:

 

[JackG]

Alright but just be aware that faces by nature are not entirely symmetrical. If not trying to capture the likeness of Joy Lofthouse then no worries.

 

[pokrad]

Today's progress:

 

[Rob]

Looking good so far, the smile works. Fine as a "generic" ATA girl but if you want to do the original person you will need to show the asymmetry in her mouth that JackG mentioned, it is present in all the images, and soften the point of her chin a little.

 

[pokrad]

I already broke the symmetry...
Currently blocking hair and uniform:

 

[Rob]

 

[pokrad]

Finished blocking the volumes of the uniform... Still not sure about the cap..

 

[Rob]

I think you will have a choice as it would be very unusual for her to have her flight gear and the cap. One or the other.
Do you see her as a uniform study (formal cap) or character (shoulderbag and flight cap/goggles)?


I know it is not what you are doing but I would really like to see your original image of Joy Lofthouse as a full length figure. I think she is lovely and with the well worn uniform, the equipment bags, her shoulder bag and the flight cap and goggles she would be a very interesting piece to paint. Very different to Life Miniatures' Maureen Dunlop figure.

 

[pokrad]

I am leaning more towards the look on the original image, although, the cap is interesting detail.
I saw that figure, it is beautiful, and far out of my skill set Maybe one day...

BTW: I am wondering, how she wore that helmet over those huge hairclips

 

[pokrad]

Since the helmet has to fit hear head, there is no better way than to model it on the head

 

[Rob]

Since the helmet has to fit hear head, there is no better way than to model it on the head

I don't think the fit was that tight, she has a lot of hair to fit under there!