WIP Critique Bill Sykes Groundwork.

[housecarl]

Nearly finished the groundwork for Bill Sykes.
The bricks were put on individually, and they drove me mad.
I need to finish the pavement, and trim the roof slates and fit the gutter.
Manged to form a gutter out of Milliput.
Now I've done it, I don't know if I like it.
I think it might upstage the figure.
I might lose some of, if not all the signs.
Carl.

 

[Gaudin]

Would be a shame to loose all the signs (how did you make them by the way??) - but if you kept Cadbury - green colour blends well with roof tiles and window and will contrast nicely with flesh and clothing of Bill.
May be few thin washes to make background darker?

 

[Edward]

Looks great Carl. It's sometimes difficult to work out whether elaborate groundwork suits a figure, but I reckon this kind of groundwork suits the Bill Sikes figure, makes it into an interesting scene.

 

[housecarl]

Thanks for having a look.
I got the signs here, I resized them.
Some I found were already weathered, I sealed them and added to it with oils.
Thanks again,
Carl.

 

[DEL]

Looks great Carl. I agree with Gaudin but be careful don't overdo the washes. There's a temptation to overweather items that being contemporary with the figure would be newer and brighter than we might imagine.
This looks like it'll be a cracker.
BTW where did you get the bricks.
Cheers
Derek

 

[Diegoff]

The groundwork is quite nice in itself.
On the other hand, I think is "too victorian". For example, Cadbury's Chocolates was founded in 1879. The action of the novel is circa 1837 and I would look for a more georgian than a victorian look.
Awaiting for your next steps!

 

[housecarl]

Thanks Del.
The bricks came from here, they do a choice of colours. I used antique red, they also do slates.
Carl.

 

[Mark S]

This is a great backdrop I reckon, Carl. Love the signs but I think one would be sufficient, and I'd like to see it slightly askew, and some more evidence of dereliction.
Maybe a board loose on the shutter, cracked wall etc., and some rubbish and leaves laying around once it's finished of course.
But it will make a great presentation for a Dickens character.........Camp coffee sounds very eccentric and theatrical.
Looking forward to seeing your final piece.

 

[DEL]

You might well be ok with the cadbury sign. I think it might refer to drinking chocolate rather than a block.
Cadburys were certainly producing in 1837 but don't know whether they 'exported' to London or indeed advertised.

 

[housecarl]

Thanks again.
I had a few options for the signs, Woodbines, Sunlight soap, Virol (whatever that is) all too late.

 

[Jimmy S]

How about a street gas lamp?

 

[Karlosfandango]

Virol, sounds dodgy!
Perhaps an Iron based food supplement looking at the smaller print.

I like Carl, perhaps lose a little signage but bring up the weathering a couple if gears.
I don't know what you have in mind, as its the Bill Sykes figures and remembering the films I'd imagine it as a dark and gloomy place.
Darker washes etc some streaking grime.
Looking forward to this one.
Karl

 

[Diegoff]

I wonder what could Virol would be. Seeing some old advertising...

 

[Wings5797]

Carl this looks really good to me Mate.
At worse calm the signs etc. down with a wash of 'all over' grime to complement Bill.
I will be interested to see it with the figure in place so I can see where the main focus is.
Have you tried it?
Cheers,
Keith

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Carl

Its good looking groundwork, But perhaps really too clean, not sure if the signage is a good one, perhaps something like badly printed bits of paper stuck up on wall,
peeling off and hand painted signage directly on the wall, that sort of thing would be better, really dirty straw and mud around the base of the wall. nothing was clean in those days.

Making it darker and more along the lines of the undewrworld of the time will bring the figure out from the base

worth doing the base work for this figure though mate, keep it going.

Dave

 

[Helm]

Whats wrong with this one ?

 

[mil-mart]

Carl a nice bit of brickwork there mate very impressed. It'll be interesting to see how this one develops.

Cheers Ken

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Nearly finished the groundwork for Bill Sykes.
The bricks were put on individually, and they drove me mad.
I need to finish the pavement, and trim the roof slates and fit the gutter.
Manged to form a gutter out of Milliput.
Now I've done it, I don't know if I like it.
I think it might upstage the figure.
I might lose some of, if not all the signs.
Carl.

Looks good to me though you should have gone for English bond on the brickwork Carl walls were generally at least one brick thick but more like One and a half
Stretcher header my deer chap and remember the quoin brick is followed by a queen closure change of face change of bond
every brickie knows this and there was me going to give you a job too.

Seriously Carl I think this will look really good with what you have done maybe a bit of sootie grime in the road gutter and against the base of the wall creeping up .

 

[Aveleira]

Carl I think it's just AMAZING!!! What a great set you made!! The figure will look just fine in there!
About the signs, I don't know if they are historically correct but are beautifull. If you have to change one do it, and find another one to replace it.
I think that made you should dark a little more the enviroment...perhaps it will look better...

Regards
Pedro

 

[Helm]

Re Cadbury
In 1824, John Cadbury began selling tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate, which he produced himself, at Bull Street in Birmingham, England. He later moved into the production of a variety of cocoa and drinking chocolates, made in a factory in Bridge Street and sold mainly to the wealthy because of the high cost of production. John Cadbury became a partner with his brother Benjamin and the company they formed was called 'Cadbury Brothers of Birmingham'.[6]
The brothers opened an office in London and in 1854 they received the Royal Warrant as manufacturers of chocolate and cocoa to Queen Victoria