WIP Historex Project: Francisco Menéndez 1740

[MarquisMini]

Update #1

Have made some progress.

Gaiter straps (typing paper) added below knees. Belt thinned and edged. Belt buckle and belt end (typing paper) added. Coat (front), pocket, and vest buttons added (lead foil). Head glued in/locked into position.

He is still in two parts at this point. I will need to prime legs and torso separately so that I am able to properly paint the legs. Once done, I can glue/align legs to torso.

Thanks for looking.

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Fantastic post, very interesting subject and amazimg skills.
This is a must follow thread post for me.
I have almost 3 boxes of slare Historex parts, they are great and very useful.
I remember i have used many Fleur-de-lys badges for other 54mm figures for the turnbacks.
I see you are usimg the pumcha and die tool to make the buttons, i do use it as well, i love it , best tool ever.
Cheers!

 

[theBaron]

Rob, if you used CA glue to attach torso and legs, you could try using acetone sparingly to separate them again. Acetone, whether from the hardware store or in the form of nail polish remover, will dissolve CA glue (good to know if you glue your fingers together, too). And while it can attack styrene if in large amounts, for a job like this, you could use an old paint brush to flow a little on the join, till the glue softens and separates.

Hopefully that can help avoid having to start from scratch.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Historex Rob]

Oh dear. No way of taking him off the base? What a pity. But we look forward to your next one.....

I just dumped a part completed build of a 1/32 Wingnut Wings Sopwith Dolphin as it wasn't working out, too many issues to make it worth completing. So no, my project also hit a barrier However, I am now doing some figure painting instead, so hopefully that will work out

Hi, Nigel…

Unfortunately, no. I used epoxy resin to secure him to the base. I also used it to join the two halves and also to connect the musket to the arm/hand. This means I cannot pull him upwards out of the base (I tried), nor can I twist him at the waist. I pushed this very hard and broke him at mid legs, so the feet and calves are still stuck firml;y to the base… this is how strong that epoxy resin is.

I allowed myself to be angry for an hour or so, then I pulled out all the parts and started again. I already have the legs finished and today should have the upper body complete.

I am taking this opportunity to fix/alter a few things I did not care for in the first figure.

What figure are you working on? Did you pull out a Historex kit?

When I am closer to paint on this one, I have determined to work with another type of kit so that I can have two in paint (so that I can switch back in forth while waiting for the oils to dry/cure).

 

[Historex Rob]

Fantastic post, very interesting subject and amazimg skills.
This is a must follow thread post for me.
I have almost 3 boxes of slare Historex parts, they are great and very useful.
I remember i have used many Fleur-de-lys badges for other 54mm figures for the turnbacks.
I see you are usimg the pumcha and die tool to make the buttons, i do use it as well, i love it , best tool ever.
Cheers!

Thank you. I am working on version 2 now… correcting some things I was not pleased with on version 1. I will post some photos in a few days.

For the buttons, I have a beading setting tool. It has 25 different size punches that cover basically any size button needed from 54mm all the way up to 120mm. I use thin lead foil and punch on a rubber eraser (the kind we used in school). The eraser has just enough give to it that the buttons are cut cleanly. I then use the tip of a #11 blade to pick them up and work with them.

 

[Historex Rob]

Rob, if you used CA glue to attach torso and legs, you could try using acetone sparingly to separate them again. Acetone, whether from the hardware store or in the form of nail polish remover, will dissolve CA glue (good to know if you glue your fingers together, too). And while it can attack styrene if in large amounts, for a job like this, you could use an old paint brush to flow a little on the join, till the glue softens and separates.

Hopefully that can help avoid having to start from scratch.

Prost!
Brad

Hi, Brad…

Unfortunately, no; I used very strong two-part epoxy.

When I mess up, I do it royally.

 

[NigelR]

Hi, Nigel…
Unfortunately, no. I used epoxy resin to secure him to the base. I also used it to join the two halves and also to connect the musket to the arm/hand. This means I cannot pull him upwards out of the base (I tried), nor can I twist him at the waist. I pushed this very hard and broke him at mid legs, so the feet and calves are still stuck firml;y to the base… this is how strong that epoxy resin is.

Oh dear. However, it sounds like you are well progressed with version 2, so we look forward to that

What figure are you working on? Did you pull out a Historex kit?

No Historex for a little while, my last major project involved hacking around ICM figures (see https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/red-trousers-against-machine-guns.482528/) so I am taking a break from conversions! They are quite a bit of work.

I am doing an OOB project of two WWI French figures with a 58mm mortar. Will post up some pics sooon.

 

[MarquisMini]

Thank you. I am working on version 2 now… correcting some things I was not pleased with on version 1. I will post some photos in a few days.

For the buttons, I have a beading setting tool. It has 25 different size punches that cover basically any size button needed from 54mm all the way up to 120mm. I use thin lead foil and punch on a rubber eraser (the kind we used in school). The eraser has just enough give to it that the buttons are cut cleanly. I then use the tip of a #11 blade to pick them up and work with them.

Got it is a tedious process indeed.
As for the figure “ accident”, man, it happened so many times to me, las accident was that the entire shelf holding the finished miniatures collapsed over a figure I was working on, ruining about 14 figures already finished and sending some of their parts all over the floor, it took me few days to get over the shock and frustration, but in my experience this laid to some improvements on the figures that needed fixing and I was even happier with the result, bottom line is …take a deep breath and carry on, your figure will turn out to be much better than before.
Looking forward to see the progress pics on your figure.
Best.

 

[Historex Rob]

Oh dear. However, it sounds like you are well progressed with version 2, so we look forward to that


No Historex for a little while, my last major project involved hacking around ICM figures (see https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/red-trousers-against-machine-guns.482528/) so I am taking a break from conversions! They are quite a bit of work.

I am doing an OOB project of two WWI French figures with a 58mm mortar. Will post up some pics sooon.

Hi, Nigel…

I have seen that thread… I did not realize it was you, but it’s a great piece. I love the composition and I admire your painting style.

I have a similar project/small vignette in my mind, but it is a few projects off yet. I have started gathering uniform references though, and I have all the parts…

 

[Historex Rob]

Got it is a tedious process indeed.
As for the figure “ accident”, man, it happened so many times to me, las accident was that the entire shelf holding the finished miniatures collapsed over a figure I was working on, ruining about 14 figures already finished and sending some of their parts all over the floor, it took me few days to get over the shock and frustration, but in my experience this laid to some improvements on the figures that needed fixing and I was even happier with the result, bottom line is …take a deep breath and carry on, your figure will turn out to be much better than before.
Looking forward to see the progress pics on your figure.
Best.

Hi,

I actually enjoy all of those tedious things about the build. I really enjoy cleaning the figures, altering the uniform bits, add the small details, assembly, etc. The part I dread the most (or at least I used to… it’s been 17 years now since I painted a figure) is actually painting the figure. I think this is because I am NOT a good painter. I hate the thought of ruining competent work with bad paint. Does this make sense? There is no excitement for me to see the final product because my poor painting ruins an otherwise good effort.

I admire you for recovering from a devastating shelf collapse like that. I built two Historex foot figures back in 2006 that were “fair” (at best). I really enjoyed the process of building them. The paining was… well, poor, but overall they were fair examples. I lost them when I got divorced. I still remember every Historex piece I used to create them (they were built from spare parts, not kits), and I remember every little detail I added. I also remember every painting mistake I made. Lol

I really need to go back and recreate these pieces. I think it would go a long way towards putting my mind at rest about them.

Re: version 2 of this project… I have really made significant changes. I figure, this is it; I might as well go for broke and make the figure exactly as I wish because I am not making him again. I have slowed his construction down a good bit and am double checking every little detail. If it isn’t quite right (to my liking), I scrap the part and start anew. I’m enjoying the process even more this way, and the figure is an improvement (in my eyes) over version 1.

 

[Oda]

Rob I have been following this with great interest.Your work on this is very original and you have created a wonderful figure.As much as you enjoy building them it would be a pitty to bin such a womnderful piece.If it were me,I would carefully cut clean through both legs at the ankles (one of the good things about working with Historex),paint all the areas that are now inaccessible,reattach the figure to its feet,restore whatever needs restoring with putty and then paint the rest of the figure.If you are not in the mood for "surgery" you can always use metallic spray paint and turn him into a great bronze statue to be used in a future project.Just don't throw it away,it's far too good for that.

Oda.

 

[Historex Rob]

Rob I have been following this with great interest.Your work on this is very original and you have created a wonderful figure.As much as you enjoy building them it would be a pitty to bin such a womnderful piece.If it were me,I would carefully cut clean through both legs at the ankles (one of the good things about working with Historex),paint all the areas that are now inaccessible,reattach the figure to its feet,restore whatever needs restoring with putty and then paint the rest of the figure.If you are not in the mood for "surgery" you can always use metallic spray paint and turn him into a great bronze statue to be used in a future project.Just don't throw it away,it's far too good for that.

Oda.

Hi, Oda...

That is a great idea. I had not even considered this.

But it is too late.

 

[MarquisMini]

Obviously you are rquipped with lots of patience and talent for detail work, i believe that the painting is a matter of personal taste.
The part that i love most about these projects is the research on the subject , or regiments and peculiarities of the uniform and their changes, then modifying the figure to resemble what we have had researched and give it life by painting it.
I am sure if you use that same patuence you show for building these figures you will make the jistice by paintimg them.
I look back to my first painted figures and i shake my head, but i hace learned a lot troughout the years.
You will have your own style , admire but never compare yourself to others, cause you will get discourage ...or inspired , whatever the case may be, keep doing what you have veen doing, cause it is marvelous keck of a work.
Cheers.

 

[Historex Rob]

Obviously you are rquipped with lots of patience and talent for detail work, i believe that the painting is a matter of personal taste.
The part that i love most about these projects is the research on the subject , or regiments and peculiarities of the uniform and their changes, then modifying the figure to resemble what we have had researched and give it life by painting it.
I am sure if you use that same patuence you show for building these figures you will make the jistice by paintimg them.
I look back to my first painted figures and i shake my head, but i hace learned a lot troughout the years.
You will have your own style , admire but never compare yourself to others, cause you will get discourage ...or inspired , whatever the case may be, keep doing what you have veen doing, cause it is marvelous keck of a work.
Cheers.

Much appreciated. Working away at a couple of things.

 

[MalcC]

I like what I'm seeing. Can't wait for the next update.

Malc

 

[Historex Rob]

I like what I'm seeing. Can't wait for the next update.

Malc

Thanks, Malc. Working on two at the moment (back and forth as things dry, cure, etc.). Slow but rewarding. So far.

 

[Ian Pen]

I am warmed and grateful to see a great figure appear with dedication and hard work. It takes me back to my Historex time. Such great work on detail will always show the reward later.

 

[Historex Rob]

I am warmed and grateful to see a great figure appear with dedication and hard work. It takes me back to my Historex time. Such great work on detail will always show the reward later.

Thank you, Ian. Unfortunately, version 2 of this figure was chewed up by my dog about half way through the project (there is a photo of him with the figure just after “the incident” in one of my threads).

I am hard at work on another project, and I will revisit this project eventually - 3rd time is a charm).

 

[Ian Pen]

Dog, children or wife, it happens. I just enjoyed the photo library as it came together, I wish you more success in the future.