WIP Critique Confederate 1st Virginia Cavalry Bust

[Tarracus]

Hi to all!
It'ss been quite a long time since my last posting here inPF, because of a lot of work in real life (Thankfully). Now I'm back to the brushes with this amazing bust from Carl Reid. I started with acrilics but decided to move to oils (my very first time to me)... Maybe not a wise move, and could have waited and practice on a easier piece first
As you can see, the whole thing is on an early stage. Paint is still wet after a few days even though I'm using a supposedly fast drying medium with the oils.(.now I rembember why I've been avoiding oils all this time..)
However, I think the thing looks quite promising once I got used to oils and can properly finish the piece as it deserves.
...On the other hand, I've promoted the guy to to the rank of corporal in an attempt to break the monotony of the grey jacket.

Any comments, criticisms of any kind welcome!!

Gerard

 

[kiwi45]

Wow that does look a nice sculpt, and the paint is coming along nicely.
cheers Les

 

[Tarracus]

Wow that does look a nice sculpt, and the paint is coming along nicely.
cheers Les

Yes, it is really a superb bust (or a half-figure)
http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/carl-reid-sculptures-presents-1st-virginian-cavalry-bust.51398/

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Hard to believe your first experience with oil. You paint like a master.

Colin

 

[Sturm Grenadier]

Hello Gerard, You have nothing to worry about, your painting looks fantastic!!! Fleshtones, shadows, and highlights, all look excellent. For the first time with oils, incredible. Best of luck with it's completion. Regards, SG

 

[Nap]

Hi Gerard,

This is a nice sculpt overall , I have it waiting !!!!, so its good to see someone paint this one , nice work as well , looking forward to seeing more on this from you .

How did you find the construction of the kit .....any problems putting it together ?

Nap

 

[megroot]

I'm half way with this one. Yours look very, very good.
Is it possible to take a picture from the back. I'm struggling with the color of the bedroll.

Kevin: the fitting of all the parts is perfect. I found no pieces that needs alot of putty. I had to putty out the brim of the hat. I let it fall, and it is so thin that he broke off.

marc

 

[housecarl]

That looks excellent.
Carl.

 

[Aveleira]

Very nice !!! Great painting!!! Congrats

Regards
Pedro

 

[Figurenfreund66]

great start - i like it !

Hendryk

 

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Gerard,

Looks great. Coming along nicely. The oils look good. The should become flat after a while. Well done for your first attempt .

 

[Tarracus]

Hi Gerard,

This is a nice sculpt overall , I have it waiting !!!!, so its good to see someone paint this one , nice work as well , looking forward to seeing more on this from you .

How did you find the construction of the kit .....any problems putting it together ?

Nap

Hi Nap. I didn't have any problems to fit all the parts together, just a little of milliput to conect the belt piece to the main body, and some dremel work on the inner zones of the saddle. The only problem, as Marc said, is the hat brim, which is very fragile, and happended the same to me: It was broken whe fell to the ground

 

[Tarracus]

Hi to all! A little update here:
Started working on the saddle: color toning and texturing trying to achieve leather look..Tons of funny work on sight!



Cheers,
Gerard

 

[Helm]

This is very impressive indeed,the saddle looks more like a photo of a real saddle than a model excellent work
Steve

 

[Tarracus]

This is very impressive indeed,the saddle looks more like a photo of a real saddle than a model excellent work
Steve

Still need to model a headstall and test it on a hamster!

 

[Joe55]

What's there to criticize? You're doing a marvelous job with them oils !! I'm looking forward to seeing him finished.

Joe

 

[Tarracus]

A Little update:
Now Working on this beauty, the Keen Walker carbine.
Added front and rear sights, 3 bolts on its right side (its left side won't be visible) , and shortened the trigger to better match the original:



The original "tilting breech" carbine:

 

[housecarl]

Stunning.
Carl.

 

[billyturnip]

Lovely work Gerard, the woodgrain looks fantastic...... don't lose it!

Roger.

 

[megroot]

I'm following this with great interest.
I can see some more challenges for mine. The colors are not always the same. For instance I whas told that the bedroll whas more khaki. You done it grey.
I spend this afternoon on painting the saddle, and now seeing this.
What do you think about the khaki???

Marc