This might be the "shortest" figure review alive, however, I felt compelled to send a few comments on these two busts of Generals Grant (#2032) and Lee (#2068) produced by Verlinden Productions. The famed sculptor, Mike Good (U.S.A.) did the master sculpts in 1:5 scale, a large but very nice and manageable size. Both busts are done in the highest of Verlinden casting quality, no seam lines, etc., and have very little assembly. They are stunning. I do want to comment on the colors (artist oils) I used in painting these kits.
Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, 1864
The basic Federal Blue color I used is the same hue I use for all "military blue," as follows: Phthalo Blue (Winsor Blue) plus Mars Black. I tend to keep this mix a bit more blue in hue rather than to match the real color as the true scale blue would be almost black. Mars Black is used as a shade color. The best color I have ever found for highlighting military blue is Cobalt Turquois by Permalba out of the tube. Other manufacturers also produce a Turquois color. If you cannot get Turquois, mix some Cerulean Blue (or Phthalo Blue plus Titanium White) with Cadmium Lemon to a blue-green shade. Add just a bit of white to control value. Keep this mix on the blue cast rather than green, i.e., control the blue cast with the Phthalo Blue. The photo shows this very well.
General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A.
There is absolutely no standard benchmark for "Confederate Grey." Every frock, enlisted or commissioned, I have seen, has a slightly different color. I did not want to paint the General in the generic grey, so I copied the color of the frock as worn by General Lee on the day he and his forces (Army of Northern Virginia) crossed into Federal Territory on 25 June 1863, entering the State of Maryland, U.S.A. The General wore this coat for that important occasion as well as the surrender of the Confederate forces at Appomattox, Virginia, on 10 April 1865. The coat is on view at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.
I think a good place to start for the uniform coat is with a mix of Magenta (Winsor & Newton) plus Phthalo Green, plus Titanium White. This will give you a pleasing cadet type grey. Then very judiciously add Cerulean Blue or Phthalo Blue + White to the cadet blue. You should be able to approximate the uniform blue-grey of the coat. As with many colors there are other ways to achieve this particular hue, however, I liked this easy to mix formula. A beautiful print of Lee wearing this coat is seen in Witness to the Civil War, the Art of John Paul Strain, Courage Books, ISBN 0-7624-1401-4. Highlight with Turquois and White and shade with very dark blue (Phthalo Blue). (Lee had brown eyes!)
I hope you all enjoy this project as much as I did!
Bob Knee, Jr.
Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, 1864
The basic Federal Blue color I used is the same hue I use for all "military blue," as follows: Phthalo Blue (Winsor Blue) plus Mars Black. I tend to keep this mix a bit more blue in hue rather than to match the real color as the true scale blue would be almost black. Mars Black is used as a shade color. The best color I have ever found for highlighting military blue is Cobalt Turquois by Permalba out of the tube. Other manufacturers also produce a Turquois color. If you cannot get Turquois, mix some Cerulean Blue (or Phthalo Blue plus Titanium White) with Cadmium Lemon to a blue-green shade. Add just a bit of white to control value. Keep this mix on the blue cast rather than green, i.e., control the blue cast with the Phthalo Blue. The photo shows this very well.
General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A.
There is absolutely no standard benchmark for "Confederate Grey." Every frock, enlisted or commissioned, I have seen, has a slightly different color. I did not want to paint the General in the generic grey, so I copied the color of the frock as worn by General Lee on the day he and his forces (Army of Northern Virginia) crossed into Federal Territory on 25 June 1863, entering the State of Maryland, U.S.A. The General wore this coat for that important occasion as well as the surrender of the Confederate forces at Appomattox, Virginia, on 10 April 1865. The coat is on view at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.
I think a good place to start for the uniform coat is with a mix of Magenta (Winsor & Newton) plus Phthalo Green, plus Titanium White. This will give you a pleasing cadet type grey. Then very judiciously add Cerulean Blue or Phthalo Blue + White to the cadet blue. You should be able to approximate the uniform blue-grey of the coat. As with many colors there are other ways to achieve this particular hue, however, I liked this easy to mix formula. A beautiful print of Lee wearing this coat is seen in Witness to the Civil War, the Art of John Paul Strain, Courage Books, ISBN 0-7624-1401-4. Highlight with Turquois and White and shade with very dark blue (Phthalo Blue). (Lee had brown eyes!)
I hope you all enjoy this project as much as I did!
Bob Knee, Jr.
