Model Cellars Guynemer

[jcichon]

This is Model Cellars 120mm "Guynemer, Winged Swords of France" resin kit. I just got this baby the other day and let me say it is one of the nicest kits I have ever looked at. The casting is TOP NOTCH to say the least. The clean up was very easy with the most work coming at a casting line on the right side of the trunk near the epaulet which was a tad difficult and the other being on a spot on the greatcoat which took all of about 27 seconds! Other than that this kit almost assembles itself. THe only filling I will have to do is on the left arm but its just a minor tweak. The kit has such detail that I am almost afraid to paint it! THe detail on the medals (see pic below) is outstanding. My hats off to Tom Sollers for a truly remarkable sculpt. No detail is overlooked on this kit and even better, there is a color pic of the medals worn by Guynemer which is a tremendous help!! Though no color box art is attached, (I am asking for the job!!!) the painting will be straightforward. There is a painting color guide witht the kit and it is very straightforward also. On a scale of 1-10 I would give this kit a 10.2!! If you have not had a Model Cellar kit before or in a while, this is a kit I would highly recommend. OK, actually it's total crap!! Stay away from it for at least a month until I paint mine!! No, really, it's a fantastic kit and A FANTASTIC PRICE!!! I hope to get the paint on this kit here starting this weekend and will post on it's progress. Again, this is a top notch kit and you wont be disappointed in it.

 

[Jeff]

A friend told me that the sculptor of this wonderful kit does not think he is a very good sculptor. If that is true, then that is a guy who is way way to hard on himself.

 

[garyjd]

I corresponded with Tom on and off for about a year and even talked him into coming to MFCA. It was at least 5-6 years ago. One thing's for sure the guy can sculpt and if he says he can't it's just modesty. I introduced him to Jim Johnston at the Fort Duquesne table and I know Jim, like myself could not believe his work. He had 1/16 figure of Montgomery wearing his beret, sweater, and trousers holding a coffee cup. It was pretty incredible. The best were the 1/48 World War 1 pilot personalities. The Red Baron among them. It was quite something to see a head sculpted not only perfectly for that scale but also being able to recognize who it was. The guy would not have trouble finding work, but only he could explain why he just is not doing it. For a look at some of Tom's older work, most of which he brought to MFCA check out the link. ~Gary

http://www.wwi-models.org/Images/Sollers/index.html

 

[megroot]

That's indeed a creat sculptor.
Manfred von Richthofen looks almost as the guy on the picture's i've seen.

Marc

 

[garyjd]

That's indeed a creat sculptor.
Manfred von Richthofen looks almost as the guy on the picture's i've seen.

Marc

Marc, The likenesses were incredible. When I saw the 1/48 scale personalities I thought anyone that could sculpt a likeness that small was not human. ~Gary

 

[Johan]

Hi Jason,

a good friend of mine has this kit too and showed it to me a while ago ... it is indeed a very, very good kit, nicely sculpted with breathtaking detail and top quality casting ! Good luck with painting this gem !! ;-)

Guynemer I think was the pilot with the stork painted on his machine, I was at the place in Belgium where his airplane was last seen, there's a fine bronze stork monument there for him to remember him ...

 

[gordy]

Marc, The likenesses were incredible. When I saw the 1/48 scale personalities I thought anyone that could sculpt a likeness that small was not human. ~Gary

Any photos of this figure ?

 

[Johan]

wikipedia photo of the monument of Guynemer overhere in Poelkapelle, Belgium ... beautiful, and yet so sad ... : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Guynemer1.jpg

wikipedia photo of the man himself ... still such a young boy, fragile almost ... : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Ww_guynemer_01.jpg

 

[Barke02]

Tom Sollers is one seriously talented fella! He's easily in the top 10% of talented sculptors. I so wish he'd allow castings to be made of his 1/16th Rommel and Richthofen figures, for I think they'd set a very high benchmark for historically accurate portraiture.

Tom is a member of Planetfigure, under the name of 'Microsculpt', but hasn't posted since 2006 (but I hope you get to read this!).

Tom.. if you're out there it would be really good to hear from you and see what you're up to!

With very best wishes,
Jon.

 

[bonehead]

Tom Sollers is indeed a talented sculptor. I have this Guynemer kit in my collection and can attest to its quality.

Over the years I have tried repeatedly to talk him into "going commercial" with his sculpting. But for reasons which remain a mystery to me, he prefers to hide his light under a bushel. He only did this single kit for The Model Cellar, and although Paul is one of the nicest guys I have ever worked for, he refuses to do any more. I am quite sure that Paul is as mystified by this as everybody else.

It is too bad. I highly recommend this figure and those who choose to buy one will be rewarded with an excellent and rare sculpt from a talented fellow. The likeness is dead on, the detail is excellent and the pose is natural and realistic (as copied from a famous - but rather stiff - photo of Guynemer: follow the link below). The many medals on his chest were meticulously made up from multiple layers of photo etched parts.

http://www.amismuseeair.org/pages/images/file02100.jpg

I am not "pitching" this figure because I do work for Model Cellar. I am pitching it because I think it is an excellent piece from talented guy.

Cheers!!

Mike Good

 

[gordy]

I googled for some photos of the kit and found this :

http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21696

It is a gorgeous figure indeed and a bang on portraiture.

 

[jcichon]

Well, it was my first review and I should have gone into greater detail but Guy summed it up much better than I could have! Plus, it's such a fantastic kit!!

 

[gordy]

Well, it was my first review and I should have gone into greater detail but Guy summed it up much better than I could have! Plus, it's such a fantastic kit!!

Oh my, LOL

I thought your post was a Work in Progress

 

[roadking]

Yes, I remember the day he came to my table. Like all of you I was blown away. I've never understood why he didn't want someone to reproduce his work but that was his choice. At least we have this one figure to enjoy and what a beauty it is.

 

[rej]

Seems I missed the initial post way back then

Echoing all what has been said before!!!!

This guy sculpts like an Immortal IMHO!!!!!

Ray

 

[T50]

I, too, know Tom from exchanging emails a few years ago.
I asked him for a 1/16 master, but he was busy.
He is a great sculptor, indeed! And from him, I learned a handy
sculpting trick which I still use 'till this day.