WIP Castle Miniatures "Tu Mea Sola Socium

[Airkid]

Hello Planeteers

I've just spent a week and a half finishing a 1/48 aircraft kit for a friend so I'm getting withdrawal symptoms - time to pick up the brushes again.
I bought this one just before Christmas as I found it very appealing in both subject and pose. It is titled "Tu mea sola socium", which my O-level Latin translates roughly as "you are my sole partner/friend". It depicts a rascally-looking Landsknecht who looks down on his luck. It is beautifully sculpted by Vladimir Danilov and the casting is excellent, as one might expect from our friends at Castle Miniatures. It is available as a stand-alone figure, or teamed with a prostrate figure (his sole friend maybe?) who our man looks to be robbing of his money bag. The box art of the duo is outstanding.
I settled for the single figure, and here's some pics of what you get:

There's a lot of character in that face, and I'm going to enjoy painting it. This one isn't going to be the usual gaudily clad guy that we all recognise - more grubby and worn at the edges I think. We'll see how it goes.
Thanks for looking in

Phil

 

[Peter Day]

That looks very nice Phil. I'm going to enjoy watching you working on it. Have fun.

 

[Graham]

Looks a great figure Phil and a good project to get stuck into. Be nice to see something different to the ‘jester’ look

 

[DEL]

It's a great figure you're sure to enjoy it.
One note of caution the Zweihander is very delicate and benefits from several dry runs to get the fit right.
Looking forward to your version
Derek

 

[Fantomas]

Hello Phil,
Here is an inspiration.

Or this one.

 

[Nap]

Great choice of figure there Phil , as you say excellent sculpting and casting

Look forward to seeing this come to life

Following with interest

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[fogie]

This one was of course released originally as part of a pair, and remains my all time
favourite of Vladimir's stuff. It offers fabulous painting opportunities (take care with
your choices for it can get a bit obsessive), so looking forward.........bon chance.

Mike

 

[Airkid]

Hello Phil,
Here is an inspiration.
View attachment 412505

Or this one.
View attachment 412506

Wow - that's what I call re-enacting! Much appreciated my friend. I hope I can do it justice.

Phil

 

[Airkid]

It's a great figure you're sure to enjoy it.
One note of caution the Zweihander is very delicate and benefits from several dry runs to get the fit right.
Looking forward to your version
Derek

Thanks Del. As you rightly say, the Zweihander is very delicate and that will probably be the main thing to fret over, however I have dry-fitted the cloak and limbs and only a bare minimum of fettling was necessary.

Phil

 

[Airkid]

This one was of course released originally as part of a pair, and remains my all time
favourite of Vladimir's stuff. It offers fabulous painting opportunities (take care with
your choices for it can get a bit obsessive), so looking forward.........bon chance.

Mike

Thanks Mike. Yes, the pair is very impressive. I can only remember painting one previous Landsknecht, sculpted by an Italian guy who worked from Glasgow - can't remember his name but he had a massive range of stuff. One of our Scots friends will remind me I'm sure.

Phil

 

[DEL]

Thanks Mike. Yes, the pair is very impressive. I can only remember painting one previous Landsknecht, sculpted by an Italian guy who worked from Glasgow - can't remember his name but he had a massive range of stuff. One of our Scots friends will remind me I'm sure.

Phil

Almost certainly Julian Benassi. He did two Landsknechts at about100mm. Fine pieces for their time, must be about 30 odd years ago.

 

[DaddyO]

Almost certainly Julian Benassi. He did two Landsknechts at about100mm. Fine pieces for their time, must be about 30 odd years ago.

That's right Del - Still got a few of his in the loft somewhere. My favourite was the WW1 Italian shivering on a snowy watch; might even get around to doing a repaint of him someday . . .
Cheers
Paul

 

[Airkid]

Almost certainly Julian Benassi. He did two Landsknechts at about100mm. Fine pieces for their time, must be about 30 odd years ago.

That's the guy! Thanks Derek. It was all of 30 years ago . I remember a Napoleonic Austrian? cavalryman leaning across the neck of his horse. Always liked that one. Must've weighed a couple of pounds!

Phil

 

[Airkid]

Day one of this interesting project. Did you all clock the incredible photos Fantomas posted earlier?

So, today I undercoated the head using my preferred rattle can of Skeleton Bone by Army Painter. I've tried using black, which seems very popular, but it doesn't work for me.
The face palette is straight from the Scalecolour face range, although I don't use their guide, preferring to adjust the colours myself. As you can see, the detail is excellent and it is enjoyable to watch the character emerging as the paint goes on. Here's a dodgy shot of the initial work:


I'm not entirely happy with the eyes but the rest I'm satisfied with. I was going to stop for the afternoon at this point, but you know how it is when you are on a roll, so I went on and painted the metal skullcap and tapes. The colours used were Citadel Boltgun Metal metallic mixed 70/30 with Vallejo Chocolate Brown, giving a tarnished effect, as here:


A wash of Vallejo Sepia Shade was brushed over to tone it down and the rim was highlighted using Vallejo Game Color Chainmail Silver. Finally I accented the undercuts and the hair with a wash of Citadel Agrax Earthshade. There will be a posh hat parked at a rakish angle on top of his skull cap, so the nice dent in the side may not show.
Tomorrow I'll revisit the eyes, and then start planning what colours to use for his less than pristine outfit.

Thanks for looking in
Phil

 

[Graham]

Off to a great start Phil

 

[Fantomas]

Hey Phil,
If I may suggest, with a couple of simple changes, you may create something different from what the others have.
For example, add a different blade and make this guy an executioner.



Or replace a head.


It is always possible to cut the shako off and keep the head.

 

[DEL]

Hey Phil,
If I may suggest, with a couple of simple changes, you may create something different from what the others have.
For example, add a different blade and make this guy an executioner.

View attachment 412598

That's something I thought about when I did mine Alexandre but the Zweihander was just too good to change.
I like the head change though I remember years ago there was a competition for modelling anachronisms. Things like Romans with AK47s, a Celtic warrior wearing DPM. I suspect Phil will go for historical accuracy though

 

[Airkid]

Thanks Alexandre - interesting options. I quite like the executioner idea - he could have his right foot on the block.....hmmmm?

Phil

 

[Larsen E. Whipsnade]

Great job painting the face... shows great character. Can't wait to see the rest.

 

[Airkid]

Afternoon all

A couple of hours at the bench this afternoon saw me finishing the gent's headgear. I wanted it to look red, faded from the elements, so I mixed a colour using Vallejo Vermillion and Light Grey, with a touch of Buff for the base colour. This gave a deep pinkish shade which is what I had in mind. Highlights are the base colour with a touch of Amaranth Red and shadows with a touch of Medium Blue in the base. The lining was painted in a Medium Blue/Off White mix and washed in with Vallejo Game Wash Dark Blue to give it depth. Final deep shadows are Burnt Red, and top highlights are Pink with a touch of the Vermillion.
The feather is Off White over Medium Blue with washes to accent it, and a final touch of Citadel White/Vallejo Light Blue on the highlights. Feather mounted to hat, hat parked on head, and this is how it looks:


I did revisit the eyes and re-positioned them looking slightly left. I also gave the face just a hint of 5 o'clock shadow. Pleased with the results so far. Tomorrow I shall have a look at the base and groundwork and sort the figure's basic position before I get into the main painting. Stay tuned

Phil