Martin Philpott
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2015
- Messages
- 200
Black Pyramid Gaming ‘The Little Soldier Boy’ 100mm Resin Figure.
Company: Black Pyramid Gaming.
Sculptor: Steve Leadley.
Material: Resin.
Price: £30.00
Availability: Direct and Exclusive from Black Pyramid Gaming-http://www.blackpyramid.co.uk/
Forward. The inspiration for this release came from the rather wonderful archive photo seen below. The subject really is quite appealing and should make for a rewarding project. Resin would seem the natural choice of material for the casting being well known for its capability of holding lots of fine and intricate detailing.
First Impressions. my review sample came unboxed with the parts in a clear plastic re-sealable bag further protected by bubble wrap.
The Figure. the kit consists of 5 separate pieces including the base, other pieces included the main body, two arms and the sidearm holster.
(photo below) side view of the main part reveals some heavy seam lines. The resin is easy to work however and as a test I was quickly able to remove the seam from below the belt simply with a scalpel blade.
(photo below) the helmet looks good, well proportioned and enough detail. The bandolier looks impressive along with the tunic, belt and trousers. There is a seam line but this should prove easy enough to remove and make good.
(photo below) for me the face just does not capture the child’s youthful features seen in the photo, this kind of defeats the whole idea of the subject. Looking at the archive photo I would estimate the child to be approx. 12 years old, compare that to the face on the figure, this has the appearance of an adult! The features also look a little on the soft side while on several of the photos it almost appears as if there is a moustache, in fact its the sculpting giving that appearance.
(photo below) the bandolier from the front shows reasonable detail. The tunic buttons and collar look good while the belt is let down slightly with the heavy and soft snake clasp. The fingers have good detail in the nails.
(photo below) the bandolier detail from the back.
(photo below) the puttee’s look reasonable from the front along with the laced shoes.
(photo below) the backs and sides of the puttee’s will need some work to tidy them up, rather a lot of overspill with the resin!
(photo below) the left arm has heavy seam lines that will need removing along with a rather prominent casting block. The fingers are reasonably well defined again showing details in the fingernails.
(photo below) the right arm again suffers with heavy seam lines and large casting block. The resin is of a nice workable consistency however so not to much of a problem for the experienced modeller.
(photo below) the holster is very disappointing. Air pocket has caused the fragile resin to crumble leaving this ugly and obvious fault. While it can easily be rectified its not something we should expect. Careful removal of the excessively large casting block will be required.
(photo below) the kit comes supplied with this basic display base. A nice inclusion.
Synopsis. I’m left feeling that this has been a missed opportunity! The subject choice was certainly inspired, the archive photo offered a fantastic reference and there will always be a good demand for this genre. Sadly however, in my opinion the figure has fallen short of meeting the quality and accuracy I would expect and others demand.
From a personal point of view I found some of the features too soft and lacking the sharp definition I look for in a number of key areas, of course there was also the obvious problem with the holster. From an accuracy point of view I found the face to be more representative of an adult lacking, the youthful features of a ‘Soldier Boy’ seen in the photo, the title of the figure would also suggest a more youthful appearance than that which has been presented.
On a more positive note the resin material is of a nice workable consistency which will allow you to sharpen some of the softer features, the subject choice is still inspiring and the disappointing holster could easily be rectified and made good.
The fact remains that with a price tag of £30 the modeller should not have to be rectifying these areas. We are spoilt for choice when it comes to companies producing top quality figures and busts, the market is a difficult one to compete in, disappointingly and purely from my point of view I don’t see this particular figure offering any serious appeal.
Thanks. My thanks to Black Pyramid Gaming for this opportunity and the review sample.
Black Miniature Gaming Media Sites. Please be sure to click on the links below to keep right up to date with all that happens on the Black Pyramid Gaming website and Facebook pages.
Website: http://www.blackpyramid.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/black.p.gaming?fref=ts
Company: Black Pyramid Gaming.
Sculptor: Steve Leadley.
Material: Resin.
Price: £30.00
Availability: Direct and Exclusive from Black Pyramid Gaming-http://www.blackpyramid.co.uk/
Forward. The inspiration for this release came from the rather wonderful archive photo seen below. The subject really is quite appealing and should make for a rewarding project. Resin would seem the natural choice of material for the casting being well known for its capability of holding lots of fine and intricate detailing.
First Impressions. my review sample came unboxed with the parts in a clear plastic re-sealable bag further protected by bubble wrap.
The Figure. the kit consists of 5 separate pieces including the base, other pieces included the main body, two arms and the sidearm holster.
(photo below) side view of the main part reveals some heavy seam lines. The resin is easy to work however and as a test I was quickly able to remove the seam from below the belt simply with a scalpel blade.
(photo below) the helmet looks good, well proportioned and enough detail. The bandolier looks impressive along with the tunic, belt and trousers. There is a seam line but this should prove easy enough to remove and make good.
(photo below) for me the face just does not capture the child’s youthful features seen in the photo, this kind of defeats the whole idea of the subject. Looking at the archive photo I would estimate the child to be approx. 12 years old, compare that to the face on the figure, this has the appearance of an adult! The features also look a little on the soft side while on several of the photos it almost appears as if there is a moustache, in fact its the sculpting giving that appearance.
(photo below) the bandolier from the front shows reasonable detail. The tunic buttons and collar look good while the belt is let down slightly with the heavy and soft snake clasp. The fingers have good detail in the nails.
(photo below) the bandolier detail from the back.
(photo below) the puttee’s look reasonable from the front along with the laced shoes.
(photo below) the backs and sides of the puttee’s will need some work to tidy them up, rather a lot of overspill with the resin!
(photo below) the left arm has heavy seam lines that will need removing along with a rather prominent casting block. The fingers are reasonably well defined again showing details in the fingernails.
(photo below) the right arm again suffers with heavy seam lines and large casting block. The resin is of a nice workable consistency however so not to much of a problem for the experienced modeller.
(photo below) the holster is very disappointing. Air pocket has caused the fragile resin to crumble leaving this ugly and obvious fault. While it can easily be rectified its not something we should expect. Careful removal of the excessively large casting block will be required.
(photo below) the kit comes supplied with this basic display base. A nice inclusion.
Synopsis. I’m left feeling that this has been a missed opportunity! The subject choice was certainly inspired, the archive photo offered a fantastic reference and there will always be a good demand for this genre. Sadly however, in my opinion the figure has fallen short of meeting the quality and accuracy I would expect and others demand.
From a personal point of view I found some of the features too soft and lacking the sharp definition I look for in a number of key areas, of course there was also the obvious problem with the holster. From an accuracy point of view I found the face to be more representative of an adult lacking, the youthful features of a ‘Soldier Boy’ seen in the photo, the title of the figure would also suggest a more youthful appearance than that which has been presented.
On a more positive note the resin material is of a nice workable consistency which will allow you to sharpen some of the softer features, the subject choice is still inspiring and the disappointing holster could easily be rectified and made good.
The fact remains that with a price tag of £30 the modeller should not have to be rectifying these areas. We are spoilt for choice when it comes to companies producing top quality figures and busts, the market is a difficult one to compete in, disappointingly and purely from my point of view I don’t see this particular figure offering any serious appeal.
Thanks. My thanks to Black Pyramid Gaming for this opportunity and the review sample.
Black Miniature Gaming Media Sites. Please be sure to click on the links below to keep right up to date with all that happens on the Black Pyramid Gaming website and Facebook pages.
Website: http://www.blackpyramid.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/black.p.gaming?fref=ts
