Osprey Cover

[Vikingz]

With no request from the gallery, I turned to my daughter for suggestions, she picked the cover of Viking Osprey book for my next project. By doing so I may commit modeling sacrilege in two ways. The 1st crime is that I may be using two different scales, 90mm for the Prince of Kiev and 54mm for the mounted trader. It
may be possible to pull off as the McBride plate has the mounted figure in the distance. Also the mounted figure is an over sized 54mm in my opinion.
The 2nd crime may be the alteration/conversion of the classic figure from Poste Militare. The pose in the plate and the figure are different. Here's my question to you.... Should I continue as is or go ahead with the conversion. The shield in the pic is just a piece of cardboard I've cut out for size reference as the figure comes with no shield. All comments needed and welcomed.

 

[renarts]

Why not pick up Verlindens version of the Prince of Kiev? It is in the same pose with no conversion needed and if you are looking to match the cover, the 120mm size of the Verlinden figure would offer the forced perspective to better match the cover.

Mike

 

[Vikingz]

Mike

That's another option going to 120mm, but if your not familiar with the Verlinden version its not the same pose either. Sorry for the lesson in kit poses but the right arm is posed/attached to the hip, therefore a much bigger conversion than just moving arms as I'd have to do some re-sculpting, as I'm no sculptor to begin with. The Kirin version is closer to the pose, but is 150mm and has two variations, a cape is added and the right hand is holding a skull instead of jewels. The only kit that is the exact pose is the 54mm version by New Hope Design, but its very poor sculpt plus is a smaller figure than the mounted one as said before the mounted figure is a large 54mm. So to make a long story short, were going with the Poste Militare 90mm figure. The only question is to convert or not??????

 

[MattS]

Cool idea, but keep in mind that there are more factors that create the illusion of depth to the scene than foreshortening. If you look at McBrides painting, you'll see subtle differences between the figures in 2 dimensions that might be difficult to pull off in 3 dimensions - example, the figure in the back is less detailed and out of focus....the fading line of birds in the sky also reinforces the illusion.

Not shooting down the idea, but think of how you'll create that depth. Maybe doing the scene as a shadow box? That way, you could control the viewpoint of your viewer.

Look forward to seeing it develop!

Matt

 

[renarts]

Thanks for the update and the lesson. If you want to match the cover, then I'd say you have no choice. I think either way you'll have to convert so its up to you to decide how much.

Mike

 

[Vikingz]

Mike, Matt

Thanks for the input, yes there are several factors to consider. Here is a pic of the two figures side by side(horrible pic but you get the idea too size) as you can see the mounted figure isn't that much smaller. Also the fact that the figure is mounted on a horse as a whole the figure gives an Ora of being bigger. I plan on the figures being at two different levels(little higher than the pic) so that also helps in the illusion. The Poste Militaire figure is bigger and has more crisp detail than the the 54mm so that also helps. So to sum it up I'm confident the illusion will work due to all the factors, so this isn't the issue in concern. The only real dilemma is whether to convert or not. I'm not a big historian type who needs every detail correct. As my other Mcbribe Vignettes are not exact either. I just know that my conversion won't be perfect, so do I mess with a Classic figure. My question is what would the public be more interested in seeing. As for myself I can go either way as to I have all four versions of this figure previously mentioned. So this is basically a poll convert or not.

A) A vignette close to actual plate but still not perfect (conversion)

B) A vignette with inspiration from the plate but different pose. (none)

 

[Vikingz]

Since the figure didn't come with a sheild here's one I just finished for it all material is Evergreen styrene.

 

[Arminous]

Hi there!

On the first "crime":I agree with Matt.This is not possible in 3 dimensions!We may treat the figure as a 2 D painting sometimes to give the effect of different surfaces(like woolen clothes,silk,scars etc.),but we should not forget a figure is a 3 D object.If you finaly decide to do it,do it as Matt says,in box opened from one side,and don't forget to expose the figures very close one to another.Once you do so,give the appropriate highlights to make the smaller figure look like it's away from the bigger one.But,again,I don't know if this gonna work...


On the second "crime":Anyway,the pose of the figure is different than the pose of the character in Angus' painting.So,if you really wanna add the shield,you could add it standing next to the figure,and no conversion needed.


I suggest,once these figures have inspired you,paint them both,but seperated.Anyway,there is no active relationship between the characters in the painting,so I think it's not needed to expose the figures together in one base.

Whatever you decide,let us see the result!

Cheerz!
-Kostas.

 

[Vikingz]

This decision will not be made at this time as waiting on more input and will proceed with painting and finishing the mounted figure 1st, but its not looking good for my idea. Here is better idea of my intended pose of only converting the right arm and general overall pose of the vignette.

 

[Vikingz]

After studying the pose thru the 50+ pics I've already taken, the illusion wasn't working as having the larger figure raised in the foreground only added to the issue of a smaller figure in the background. Looked good for photo effect 2D but the issues as others mentioned was evident. After further thought an apple fell on my head, raise the figure in the back. So here is the new version which is 99.8% a go as far as two scales, as I'm really happy with the look. Now the big issue still remains convert or not?

 

[Vikingz]

After tossing and turning through the night wishing for a dream to come to me to make this work. New evidence has been found to lessen the crimes and forthcoming penalties. So with my trusty ruler that came glued to my Military modeling magazine cover with the Verlinden viking, I show you the figures true size. As erroneously stated before the figure is 70mm(small) not 90mm as originally thought. So we have a 58/59mm mounted figure as he is not standing truly straight in the pose and a 63mm figure as eyes are well short of the 70mm mark. With this new evidence I hope we can put this issue to rest and set my figures free with community service.

 

[Vikingz]

Here's where were at at the end of the night just was able to put down base coats, but it gives you an idea of where its headed.

 

[Vikingz]

Went ahead with the conversion the best I knew how. Wasn't able to get left arm in the desired location due to the original shoulder being so high, believe me I tried but finally gave up as it wasn't possible. Was able to change accessories from hand to hand and move right arm and head to desired locations. Kept the cross for now may just add the jewels as I move forward as hands and arms are only tacked for pic.

 

[Vikingz]

At the end of the night here is where the mounted figure is at.

 

[Vikingz]

Here the rear view.

 

[Vikingz]

At the end of the night I think I'm finished with this mounted figure except for its accessories/weapons.

 

[Vikingz]

Another pic.

 

[Vikingz]

Here are the items left for this figure as you can see some of the items were rather small, so I decided to go with new ones. Oh and there's this horse too. This will be my 1st real attempt at a horse, painted one around my third project but was very forgetable. One question I have is how do you go about painting the horse, meaning the legs were to thin to do anything other than mounting them to a base. So how do you paint the underside, do you paint it 1st before the topside.

 

[Vikingz]

At the end of another night was able to get started on the horse. Still need to do mane, tail and need to find a good pic for the mouth.

 

[Vikingz]

The other side.