Muscivite Zhiltzi 17th Century

[Richard E]

This is what I've been working on lately, it's the Russian answer to a winged hussar.

Its 120mm and I've still to do the lance and dragon with the right arm, the karabela and finish the boots with soles and spurs.

What do you think ?

 

[gordy]

goodness, that looks daunting!
great work show us some more

 

[Guy]

Great Richard.....more?

Guy

 

[simon1969]

I like it Richard (it's got legs for a start! )
There's some challenging textures on there that I would be extremely wary of trying - Fur & Feathers (sounds like a country living type magazine!)
I'd be especially interested in your technique for the fur trim

Simon

 

[Richard E]

Hi Simon

Fur trim like that is deceptively simple, its a bit more of a pain if you're trying to represent mink or sable.

I roll out the putty to a sausage shape of the correct thickness, and then press it around the edge of the coat or collar (or whatever), then using a thin tool with a rounded edge, press into the putty, then pick out at the edges of the indentations you've just made. (Actually that sounds more difficult than it is )

I find it much harder to create a straight edge, than doing that and you don't have to worry about the sides being irregular.

I've attached another view to show the wings a bit better, and the fur going around the bottom of the coat.

Excuse the odd pose, it was just about to fall over when I took the shot, and try not to notice the blu tac (I did say it was a work in progress

 

[Guy]

Whew......this has been a good day.....Richard your work is wonderful.....absolutely great.......can't wait to see the next part.

Guy

 

[Richard E]

Thanks Guy, I must admit I'd come to a bit of a stop with it.... should have known you'd get me going again.

 

[Guy]

Hey Richard, It doesn't matter who got you started as long as you got started.......such talent as you have shouldn't be hidden......keep up the good work (boy would I love to take a brush to that one)

Guy

 

[simon1969]

Originally posted by Richard E@Nov 5 2003, 08:17 PM
I roll out the putty to a sausage shape of the correct thickness, and then press it around the edge of the coat or collar (or whatever), then using a thin tool with a rounded edge, press into the putty, then pick out at the edges of the indentations you've just made. (Actually that sounds more difficult than it is )

I think I understand that
I'm beginning to realise that most (but not all!) of the hardest looking things to sculpt, are actually fairly simple! Like Gordy says "it's what you see, not what it actually is that counts". a philosophy that I'm trying to keep in mind while I'm experimenting!
Those feathers do look very difficult to me, so I'll steer clear of anything like that for the time being I think!

Simon

BTW, I think you should put some larger pics of your Russian general bust in your gallery, Having now seen it "in-the-flesh" the pics don't do it justice mate!

 

[Richard E]

Simon

Feathers, also (with a bit of practice) are ok. If you do them one side at a time.

If you spread out the shape of the feather on a piece of thin plastic card, just make a ridge in the centre, and then indent either side with a thin tool (I use the end of a dentists tool I got in Games Workshop). When it's cured you can peel off the card and do the other side in exactly the same way. The curly feather on his shanka, is done just the same, just bend the card into shape first. Try it.

boy would I love to take a brush to that one

.

Guy, thank you again. I doubt that will happen though... I have shown my work to a couple of companies in the past and they have never called me back :angry:

Maybe I'll cast one just for you when it's done.

Richard

 

[Guy]

I would be honored to oneday apply my brush to an original of yours. I don't think in the 30 years I've been doing figures I have ever done an original........only castings or kits. Thank you Richard for considering that.

Guy

 

[LCoote]

Beautiful work indeed Richard, the fur trim looks fantastic.

Leigh

 

[RobH]

Richard: excellent work, and good to see him - he must be the guy you were talking about on sunday.

Is he built on a wire armature? And that missing arm; planning to cast him or was it a decision to sculpt it seperately?


Rob

 

[Richard E]

Hi Rob.

That's right, he's the one I was talking about.

As for the missing arm, I sculpt all my stuff like that. I think it comes from when I used to buy kit figures, I sculpt with the painting process in mind to make it easier for me, I never start painting before all of the sculpting is finished so I have to do them in parts.

I don't build on an armature, I make a dolly of a basic human shape stuck with bits of toothpick or brass rod (nobody ever said this was a science) in the pose I want, and then build on that. That means that when I'm finishing the sculpting on one figure, I use the excess putty to create dolly parts for the next, but that's just me being mean - saves on wastage

I am toying with the idea of casting them and marketing them through Chaika, but that's a long way off yet.

Richard

 

[Richard E]

At last the finished article (prior to painting), would like to know what you guys think before I apply paint to brush ?

Richard

 

[garyjd]

Richard, Nice job. how many figures have you scratchbuilt? Keep going. Great subject matter.~Gary

 

[Guy]

Looks superb Richard,

I love the finished result with the standard a dragon (Ithink). What colors do we expect tp see on his coat and fur trim.

Guy

 

[Richard E]

how many figures have you scratchbuilt?

Gary, this is about my fourth scratchbuild (not including the attempts that ended in the bin) but the second full figure. The others were busts.

Guy

As these guys were kitted out by the Tsar (they were his horseguard), I can pretty much go to town on the cloth.

I am planning a red damask pattern with gold inlay, with bear fur for the trim, the dragon on the lance was made of wood and then gilted, and the lance staff was patterned with a rolling stripe depicting their place of birth. (in this case he's going to be Ukrainian, so it will be yellow and blue)

If you're really interested I can post some progress pics.

Richard

 

[Guy]

Thanks Richard,

Yes, please post some pics as you paint him. This is a favorite period of history I enjoy and we seldom see to many figures representing it.

Thanks,

Guy

 

[Richard E]

Guy

This is why I started sculpting, I developed an obsession with medieval Eastern Europe and Asia and the manufacturers just don't cater for this unless you want to do countless Mongols (not really a problem mind, but I did get bored with them ), and Mike Blanks Alexander Nevskii.

At the moment I've got on the sculpting bench - a bust of Yaroslav Vsevelodovich, a mounted Arran states Atabeq Cavalryman, and an Uzbekian Warrior. Obviously these only appeal to me.

OK I'll put the soapbox away now.

Richard