WIP Critique Life RAF Fighter Pilot The Few Battle of Britain 1940

[Adrian Cowdry]

Looking great - what are you trying to reflect in the goggles?

 

[sam b]

coming a long nicely ... will follow with interest

 

[Ferris]

Thanks Adrian,

You are right, the eyebrows could be slightly stronger. Just have to watch myself and go overboard

In such cases I sometimes use oils or enamels, because they come with an undo function.

 

[Rompy]

In such cases I sometimes use oils or enamels, because they come with an undo function.

I don't have oil paints.

In lieu of oils, i use more retarder with the acrylics than i normally would. It also allows me to wipe off and have another go at it

 

[Rompy]

Looking great - what are you trying to reflect in the goggles?

Hi Adrian,

I have no idea yet It pretty much mucking around for now until i think of something. Prob a little blue from the sky since the lenses are meant to be clear.

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

I don't have oil paints.

In lieu of oils, i use more retarder with the acrylics than i normally would. It also allows me to wipe off and have another go at it

I have been modelling for 45 years and this is the first time I have heard of retarder for acrylics - what is this? I do not use acrylics for flesh because it dries so quickly.

Do tell.

 

[Rompy]

I have been modelling for 45 years and this is the first time I have heard of retarder for acrylics - what is this? I do not use acrylics for flesh because it dries so quickly.

Do tell.

It's a medium that extends drying time for acrylics so you have a longer working time. I use the acrylics retarder from the brand Amsterdam, but i am sure the rest works just as well.

This bust, in fact all my busts, are done with acrylics.

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

So where can I get this retarder? Actually I need to get some replacement vallejo paints as well as I couldn't get what I wanted at Hornchurch so I may just kill two birds with one stone.

 

[Rompy]

So where can I get this retarder? Actually I need to get some replacement vallejo paints as well as I couldn't get what I wanted at Hornchurch so I may just kill two birds with one stone.

i bought mine at a shop that sells art supplies. (i am in Singapore btw, so not aware of shops elsewhere). There are many brands.

An online alternative could be dick blick (though i have not bought from them, but heard their service is ok)

 

[Eludia]

Vallejo do a retarder of their own Adrian, you'll probably be able to pick it up wherever you get your paint.

 

[Eludia]

Excellent so far Rompy . I'm (hopefully) picking this one up at S&L this weekend so following closely (as I do with all the stuff you post). My plan is to do this piece for a BoB 75th anniversary group build on another site, it should make a change from all those Spits and Hurricanes that will inevitably appear.

 

[pgarri27]

Really like the eyes. Great bust.

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

Thanks Rompy

I'll go hunting.

 

[Ferris]

Found some pics that may help form ideas for the goggles, maybe they help:

 

[Rompy]

thanks ! Those are awesome references !

 

[Ferris]

Glad you like them. Forgot one actually....will be hard to do, but if you manage it will look epic I think:

 

[JackG]

I like the idea of an aircraft silhouette being reflected in the goggles. Capturing the elliptical wings of a Spitfire would be awesome, though some might argue for the Hurricane since it was the more numerous fighter aircraft at the time.

regards,
Jack

 

[Eludia]

The problem with a reflection is that it will only look right from a limited viewing perspective I think. I see the same problem with the craze for NMM finishes, especially on weapons and armour of fantasy pieces. If you look at it from exactly the right angle it looks pretty spectacular but shift your point of view slightly and it just looks like a fancy paint effect i.e. Not at all like the metal it's supposed to represent.

Regardless, I look forward to seeing what you make of the effect Rompy

 

[Rompy]

Wow very good idea Adrian !

Alas I fear my freehand is not up to the task ! Maybe the distant reflection of a hurricane or spitfire flying overhead. I could get away with some mistakes that way

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

I look forward to a distant reflection of s Spit in the goggles - dashed challenging!

I got some retatarder today from Hobbycraft - trying out in between typing. Pretty good stuff!