LaTorre Models

[Figure Mad]

It Has just struck me that the lower half of the figure is based on his 30th Regt of Foot Figure, that too has small ankles, but having said that I dont think that the figure is out of proportion or odd in shape, there is some heavy clothing as well as mail on this guy and as the climate he is portrayed in is cold, then muscle definition will not be visable due the amount of clothing...

Dave

 

[megroot]

Roy and Gary,

In my prehistoric life :lol: i made AFV. Once i make ice on a river bank what looks like this.
I did it this way: Painting off white on the base. Than a layer epoxy (from that stuff where they put in insect's for showing) some lighter white's and than again a layer epoxy. That give's the 3D effect.
When finished get some gloss varnish on the spots where you want it.
Repeat the last step again untill you are happy.

For me it worked. No, i don't have pic's of it, and i don't have the diorama anymore.
For evidence you gotto believe me.

Marc

 

[Shane]

Dang, you beat me to it. This is definately from the King Arthur movie. Raul has such talent. It is a wonderful piece, skinny ankles and all. Still I have to wonder what might have been had he stuck to historical fact.

Shane

 

[frank h]

Hi
I like It
Sure it will be very popular expect to see loads of them
I know I will have one

Think I will fix those ankles though

Frank

 

[Rob Brown]

I gotta say that I don't normally even consider buying anything in this scale, as I prefer the larger scales, but I know I must have this kit. Spectacular in my opinion. I like it!

 

[bonehead]

I think this is another masterpiece from Raul. It is extremely well done, if a little stylized.

I think the problem that many here are having with this figure is down to Raul's STYLE rather than any thing "wrong" with the figure itself.

A small art lesson here: which car is more graceful, a Volkswagen Beetle or a Lamborghini?

The answer should be obvious!

Which line is more graceful? : _ -

Again, this should be obvious. A long sinuous line is always more graceful than a short abrupt line. This is why movie stars and fashion models tend more toward tall and thin than short and stout ; this despite the fact that most people fall into the latter category! No fashion designer would hang his dress on a short, dumpy woman, this would make the clothes look short and dumpy as well!

Raul uses exaggeration to give his figures more grace. This means fussing around a bit with "true" proportions. I think that many of you are having a hard time wrapping your head around the artistic license Raul takes with his figure proportions. True, some of his figures do this more successfully than others.

In my opinion, this is one of his better ones. What's more, the pose is brilliant! That he can get so much out of such a simplistic pose speaks volumes. The most brilliant work is always characterized by its economy.

Okay, the ankles will need a little beefing up. That is nothing that a little bit of putty can't set right..........

Raul is a master! This figure expresses that well. I, for one, think it is a brilliant piece......

Muy bien Raul! Viva Raul La Torre!

Mike

 

[Guy]

I have to agree with Mike and feel sometimes we get carried away with our critisism. Each sculpter is afterall a human being and not perfect.......and does not do perfect sculptures. What might be perfect for one.......may not be perfect in the eyes of another. Alot of people in this hobby do not realize what a sculpter goes through to bring us ( his best sculpting at that time ) new figures for us to paint.

We seem to have fallen into the habit of ripping each figure to pieces in the Holy Grail search for the perfect figure............sorry.............we ain't gonna find it guys. We have sculpters out here busting their butts trying to bring us new and better figures in a world where they could probably make a better income doing something else. But the sculpter also loves the hobby and tries to bring us thankless bunch of figure ctitics new figures for us to paint and display. Remember when we take home the Gold.........does the sculpter who provided you the figure ever get mentioned at the awards ceremony............not at the shows I go to.

Last I will mention I got a figure in the mail and upon opening it found the eyes to be of diffferent heighth. Did I jump on the forums and lambaster the sculpter about it........no...........the sculpter is also human and I allowed him to not be perfect and be able to make a mistake too.

A recent quote from a friend : "look at the target first........before you pull the trigger"

 

[dArtagnan]

I can only say this:

If I would imagin a barbarian in my mind,
he would be close to lookin like this one!!

I think it's a wonderfull piece Latorre has made now.
My hands are itchin to paint this one!

One the number of painters here that are interested,
I hope Latorre has made a great stock of them!

Eddy.

 

[Jacek Spychalski]

One for me please ! :lol:


Cheers

Jacek

 

[Ernest]

wow this is one of the best from Latorre, I love it.....and the ice! uffff how in this world can you paint an ice???? I hope this one don't come with line mold problems, for me a great masterpice...

 

[RobH]

I can't see anyone ripping into this figure, Guy. Most are positive comments about it, excluding the ankles, which are genuinely small.
But as Mike says, correctly, it's Raul's style. and it's cool. I like it. I'll get one. And like Frank, I'll do something about the ankles because they're too fragile for me (where to put the pin!!!!)

 

[Anders Heintz]

Man, I love when Latorre brings out new figures, everytime there are always tons of posts about his style, this or that is wrong and other comments. Raul have to be one of the most 'picked' on figure sculptors out there! I guess it comes from being one the best in the business. I remember when he painted that northumbrian warrior of his and how people just tore it a part, because it was different from the way he usually painted it, and his reply was simple, I paint this way because I like it, I for one would love to see 98% of those bitching comming anywhere close to what he can acheive.

His stuff is mostly great, his sculpting is super, anatomy like Mike states can be a little off, but often it is in sake for style, something which a lot of top sculptors lack.

I like this figure allright, it dont really do much for me, but I can still appreciate an awesome paint job and beautiful sculpting. He is a definte source of inspiration for me and I hope that one day I will get close to as good a sculptor as he is.

 

[bonehead]

Hhhhhmmmm, I don't think that anybody here has "torn this figure apart"! Also, I think some have missed the point in my message.

It is this: Raul is a sculptor who "stylizes" his work. For people who do not understand this approach the figures look "wrong" or "bad". This is not a fair judgement because they are judging it from the criteria of an "unstylized" figure.

We are talking apples and oranges. Many here only seem to understand apples. When they are presented with a beautiful Latorre "orange" they do not appreciate it because it does not conform to being an apple! I think this is simply a lack of discernment.

Some of you out there do not like oranges. Okay, but I personally think the modeling world would be a lot less interesting with nothing but apples to appreciate.

This model is a beautiful, delicious orange and I choose to appreciate it for what it is, not for what some others think it should be....... Hell, you can get apples anytime, but oranges are a rare treat!

Viva Raul LaTorre!

 

[thegoodsgt]

I think it's the nature of any consumer to be critical of a product, whether it's a Latorre figure, the new 2005 Ford Mustang, or Ashley Simpson's newest album. It's always easy to find things we don't like, so it's easy to quickly point out those things.

And FWIW, I receive criticism every day. I'm a writer by trade, so every time I write something and ask for a review from my co-workers, they consistently nit pick individual word choices and style. The challenge I face (as do sculptors and painters in our hobby) is listening to their criticism with an open mind and being professional enough to learn from it. I realize that other folks don't have to be great writers to offer constructive criticsm that actually makes me a better writer.

At the end of the day, I'll probably buy all of Latorre's figures, I'll wish my wife would let me buy the Mustang, and I'll totally rock out to Ashley's album when I'm alone in my old Honda.

 

[Shane]

Ashley Simpson?

I need to get you on a strict Motorhead diet ;-)

 

[Roy]

Well.....I will buy this just to have it in my collection...and take a little inspiration from time to time. To me, it's a beauty.

Roy.

 

[KeithP]

I think expressing one's preference, taste or observations can be viewed as criticism. I really have not seen criticism in the thread.

Just keep telling us what you all like... If people don't like 'em, he ain't gonna sell many of 'em... :lol:

Keith

 

[gordy]

gorgeous figure
I wish he'd have a detailed SBS Latorres style is very distinguished and his kinetic poses really stand out amongst the rest..

at least this fig doesn't have the commonly seen cankles on many other figs

 

[RobH]

Originally posted by gordy@Oct 27 2005, 04:56 PM
gorgeous figure
I wish he'd have a detailed SBS Latorres style is very distinguished and his kinetic poses really stand out amongst the rest..

I agree

One thing that stands out with Latorre historically was the articles he's written on creating his figures. I hold on dearly to those old issues of milmod with his sculpts in,

shame that he keeps such a low profile. Still, at least he's still producing superb figures

 

[Joe Hudson]

I am not going to get into right or wrong but the good thing is I saw on his site that he is writing a book and that there will be tutorials in the future! Like it or not, I wish I was half as good on one of his bad days!!

BTW Mike, I will take a glass full of orange juice. :lol:

Joe