Acrylics Hairy chested and serious.

[Mark S]

I'd like some advice from the many skilled painters here on pF about my latest project which I've just started after a long break from painting.
It's a Verlinden 1/5 scale Gladiator bust which I was lucky enough to aquire from the bustmaster himself Jay 'Sambaman' Hollopeter.
What I'd like to know is am I heading in the right direction with this addition of chest hair on this bust or does it look like crapp.I'd like to know now so I can get rid of it or retain it.I like the look of it but as we all know we can benefit from the collective opinions of other modellers.I'd only ever try this 'addition' on a 1/5 scale piece I reckon.
I've been inspired by the fact that I've never met a Gladiator that shaved his chest.
Whadya reckon?

 

[SRP]

Hard to say at this moment Mark until it's painted..but it's looking ok. At this scale If you are doing chest hairs...it is best to add some..and if it does look too much..pluck a few out and softly represent finer hairs with a bit of paint..fading into the flesh.
Steve

 

[housecarl]

I think is this scale it would be better to represent hairs with paint. Gothic does a good representation here. http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36435
Carl.

 

[Mark S]

Thanks Steve, yes I intend to soften the edges of the 'added hairs' with some painted fine hairs which will conform to the typical male pattern which I've adopted.I hadn't realised before I researched the whole chest hair thing that there are three or four typical male chest hair patterns.
Although none of those patterns was labelled 'Gladiator' I picked one I thought appropriate.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I think it works for the hairy armpit but not on the chesthair.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[TWOMOONS]

Years ago, a wonderful painter named Francisco Fernandez represented hairs on a larger scale figure at Chicago by using a fine Rapidograph pen after the body painting was complete and sealed with flat coat. It was the first time (everyone said) anyone had seen it done, and it worked perfectly.
If it is sculpted on, then it is in the realm of Robin Williams chest and body hair...just not too common.

 

[FigureLover]

Hi Mark, I love the under arm hair, it actually looks very realistic, as for the chest hair, in my opinion it is too thick. If you remove all but the center hair in the deepest parts of his chest and around his nipples (this will add depth and volume) and hand paint the rest fading out towards the outer edges, I think it will look better. Nice try on something not many of us think about though.
Ben

 

[Mark S]

Thank you very much Carl, Janne, Phil and Ben for your valued opinions on the hairiness or otherwise of a Roman gladiator.
I'll take the advice given and thin it out a bit and see how that looks.
I'll post the results when finished.Cheers, thanks again.

 

[megroot]

Mark,
I like what you try to do. In my opinion it seems all to artificial.
It is possible that it is to much, to thick, i really don't know but it doesn't look natural.
Maybe painting the hair on the flesh looks better.

Marc

 

[billyturnip]

A very good idea. Agreed the 'pits look pretty good. I think because the figure is in it's raw unpainted state the chest looks artificial, the hair stops too abruptly. With a bit of clever brushwork to blend the sculpted hair to the flesh this will turn out very well.
Good luck Mark, I'm sure it'll be a success.

Roger.

 

[Harry]

I've been inspired by the fact that I've never met a Gladiator that shaved his chest.

That's strange, because not a single depiction of an athlete or gladiator in Roman art shows them with any body hair at all (Greek and Hellenistic art shows this; Roman art never does). Gladiators and athletes are shown with various detailed hairstyles, and occasionally with scrubby beards and sideburns, but never with King Kong chest-rugs like that.

 

[Mark S]

Marc thanks for your comment, and thanks for the encouragement Roger much appreciated.

Harry, I'm guessing that with the " King Kong chest-rugs " comment your not in favour of the work I've done so far!??!. Do you mean that there's evidence that gladiators did shave their chests ?!? or that they were all born without chest hair?;or were they simply not portrayed that way or what?!!....do you mean the gladiators I've been associating with are hairy fraudsters?

 

[Mark S]

Sorry to rehash this old thread but I've only just finished the bust this thread was all about.
It's the 1:5 scale Verlinden Murmillo Gladiator Bust.I experimented with the application of chest hair on this bust and I'm pleased with how it turned out.
Let me know if you reckon it didn't work.
I also wanted to do a Bronze that I was happy with and I managed to please myself there as well. I've seen a lot of Murmillo's with shiny brassy headgear but I wanted a much more subdued dull bronze of a helmet 'off the rack' look.

 

[housecarl]

Great work on the metals.
Carl.

 

[Mark S]

Thank you very much Carl.

 

[FigureLover]

This has come out alright, and I think it is because you haven't painted the chest hair dark, you have done a lighter shade so it doesnt contrast too much. I like it.
As for the helmet, that is outstanding, superb weathing technique.
Ben

 

[Mark S]

Thanks a lot Ben I appeciate your analysis very much.
Yes, as you say I found that a lighter 'salt n pepper' shade worked with the chest hair.It was way too much when done in basic black.

 

[Gellso]

Very well done.
I have to say those metals look sublime.

 

[housecarl]

I forgot to ask Mark, what did you use for the helmet?
Carl.

 

[Mark S]

Carl,I used an undercoat of Tamiya 'Deck Tan' on the helmet proper and a Desert Yellow on the face guard.
Then a coat of 3/4 Flat Earth and 1/4 Bronze followed by a coat of Tamiya "Smoke".
A coat of Matt enamel varnish was followed by a drybrush/crosshatch/stipple of Rub'n'Buff Autumn Gold and Brown enamel.
Finally a satin enamel varnish was finished off with more highlights in a bright copper.

Overall I was going for a dusty old neglected helmet the 'work experience' guy may have been given.