Figure, Bust Or Amputee?

[ChaosCossack]

I'm not really sure what to call them....
Following the thread on historical accuracy lead me to some threads in the Figure News forum. I have always painted figures and only discovered busts when I joined this site. Just bought my first bust a couple of weeks ago (as yet unpainted).
My understanding was that a bust was a sculpt of a subject's head and shoulders, maybe extending to the chest. Then I saw "busts" that extended to the waist and included both arms. Now I'm being told that a bust now ends below the crotch.... this is basically a figure with his legs lopped off!
Am I the only one that finds some of these truncated figures somewhat less than pleasing to the eye... sometimes to the point of being slightly disturbing? Sheared off at the crotch, one full arm, one hacked off at the elbow, equipment hanging below where the figure ends....WTF
A figure is a figure a bust is a bust!
Inaccuracies aside... sometimes the result is just a little creepy
Maybe it's just me.

 

[Martin Antonenko]

That is I have noticed already. These so-called "half-figures" can be seen in recent times, more and more often.

Why? No idea.

I prefer real busts.

Cheers

 

[gordy]

It's just a new style. So-called or not there's always room for new stuff new genre's new types. If it doesn't fit into a predescribed classic style, it 's time to make a new one

This has been brought up before with heated discussion, boils down to personal preference and unwillingness to adapt to new things

 

[ChaosCossack]

I see what you are saying Gordy... I guess for me, it's not so much the half-fig itself. I guess to use the large scale and get some uniform detail in the sculpt, it does the job. It's the choices made as to where the fig gets chopped. Is it still a "bust" if it's chopped half way down the thigh to show piping on the trousers? I just find sometimes what gets cut and where can end up looking a little odd... you see what I'm trying to get at?

 

[Martin Antonenko]

(...)and unwillingness to adapt to new things

I think you do not have to jump on every "moving train", just because that's just trendy...

Cheers

 

[Babelfish]

I've always preferred full figures to busts. In fact whenever I see a nice bust (and there are some very good ones), my immediate first thought is always "what a shame that's not a full figure". (That notwithstanding, I now have 3 busts in the stash, although I have yet to paint one.)

But to me these "half-figures" that seem to becoming more and more numerous are neither one thing nor the other, and I fully agree with Colin (C.C.). I think they look rather odd, especially when they have equipment hanging below the cut-off point. They just don't do it for me at all. But I guess it's each to their own.

- Steve

 

[ChaosCossack]

Exactly Steve!!!
As a for instance, the Russian Grenadier in "Figure News" (inaccuracy debate aside) is in an active pose but cut off below the crotch... add a couple of legs and you have yourself a nice dynamic figure.

I'm just saying....

 

[Meehan34]

I don't like the half figures either.

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Well one thing is for sure they are very popular.
Where do you stop the lopping off , maybe we will get one just with the toes missing
I have now painted nine since my return to the hobby and two with arms also ,so I suppose I like them.

 

[ChaosCossack]

With everything I said at the beginning of this thread, I don't want it mistaken, I find the sculpting/craftsmanship of these pieces is usually done at a very high level which I do appreciate. It's just the form I find somewhat awkward.

 

[engeee]

Well Gentlemen,
This one's gonna' boil down to personal taste... and even further than that for me... individual pieces. I've just decided that it's easier to cut off what I don't want or add what I'd like versus wasting the breath. Make it your own and be glad you at least have the pieces (more or less - literally) to begin with... lol. There are some fantastic sculpts out there just aching to be painted so get back to the bench!

Enjoy!
Steve

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

That is I have noticed already. These so-called "half-figures" can be seen in recent times, more and more often.

Why? No idea.

I prefer real busts.

Cheers

me to

 

[Helm]

We know Ron we've seen the sort you like already

Steve

 

[ChaosCossack]

Personal choice for sure!
I was just putting it out there for discussion... curiosity I guess. I enjoy hearing other's opinions about what's going on in our hobby. This just struck me today and wondered what my bretheren thought about it.

 

[Helm]

The only real thing I dislike is the cut off equipment it looks like you bust the part to me

 

[ChaosCossack]

For the record Steve, when I say busts, in the one case I'm refering to "head and shoulder" sculpts.

 

[Helm]

For the record Steve, when I say busts, in the one case I'm refering to "head and shoulder" sculpts.

I know that not sure about Ron though

 

[Tecumsea]

I think the important word here is context...for me if the additions to a figure help to explain the modus operandi then I don't have a problem with pieces of equipment being below the horizontal line of the bust as long as the figure is in proportion. I do however prefer to see whole arms rather than what appears to be an amputee......just my 5 cents worth.......Keith

 

[Colin_Fraser]

I think its due to sculptors and painters getting bored as the get to the less interesting legs. They get to do all the fun bits - i.e. face, headdress, insignia & medals, epaulettes and front of the uniform, without having to do the pants and the dreaded groundwork.

I agree that they look a little creepy. With busts I prefer a sloped cut up toward the shoulders and the back rather than just sawing across the breast line. I am the opposite of Tecumsea in that I particularly dislike a 1/2 figure when the pouches, haversacks etc. are sculpted hanging below the truncation point.

But I recognise that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some like them, so that's fine....I'm just an old stick in the mud.

Colin

 

[bagelman1952]

Having recently returned to the hobby I am enjoying painting busts because they were not around when I used to paint and I find the scale easy to work with. Generally speaking I think sculpters are getting the mix right allthough there is the occasional release which just looks odd. An example of an odd one is the Prussian Hussar that has just been announced in 'Figure News' which I cannot get my head around. Innacuracies in uniform apart the figure is in a nice action pose but then it appears to have been scythed through with a James Bond or Star Wars laser that has cut the body and the sabre in its prime. It is all really a matter of taste.