Verlinden 120mm Hun Warrior

[Peter Day]

It's been a while since I worked on a full figure, so I decided to dig out this Verlinden Hun, which I stripped down for re-painting some time ago:



It's one of Verlinden's better sculpts and quite a simple figure to paint. That said, I had real trouble with the face, which is a complete wrinkle-fest; I find that if you try to ignore that kind of detail the result looks lumpy and un-finished, so being a bit obsessional, I've tried to pick out every line and crease. At least with a full figure the face is less of a focus than with a bust.

I'm not going to go for the severed head option as that tends to feed into the idea that the Huns were savage barbarians (as opponents of the Romans tended to be labelled). They were certainly fearsome warriors, but they had their own rich culture and traditions.

 

[Graham]

That is a wrinkly face!

 

[Airkid]

Sculptor I'd say is either Derek Holmes or my late bro. Looking good so far Peter

Phil

 

[callmehobbes]

I always felt the fur around the hat was a little small for this figure. Looking good so far.

 

[Peter Day]

Graham - He's obviously had a hard life.

Phil - I don't think it's by Derek Homes, so perhaps it is by your brother? It's a nice figure either way.

Paul - Yes, the top of the head is a bit small, but we all have our problems! I might re-paint the fur a darker colour so that it's less obvious - the fur on the coat will be brown/black.

 

[Babelfish]

Looking good so far Peter. I have a soft spot for this figure as it was one of the first I painted after getting (back) into the hobby in the late '90s. Funnily enough I did the same and gave him a make-over a few years back.

Also agree that it's one of the better Verlindens.

- Steve

 

[Peter Day]

Hi Steve - I've seen your version; a very tough act to follow.

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

It's been a while since I worked on a full figure, so I decided to dig out this Verlinden Hun, which I stripped down for re-painting some time ago:

It's one of Verlinden's better sculpts and quite a simple figure to paint. That said, I had real trouble with the face, which is a complete wrinkle-fest; I find that if you try to ignore that kind of detail the result looks lumpy and un-finished, so being a bit obsessional, I've tried to pick out every line and crease. At least with a full figure the face is less of a focus than with a bust.

I'm not going to go for the severed head option as that tends to feed into the idea that the Huns were savage barbarians (as opponents of the Romans tended to be labelled). They were certainly fearsome warriors, but they had their own rich culture and traditions.

Hi Peter
Like Steve your latest project brings back many memories.
This figure is reminiscent of Julian Hullis’s amazing Mongols which were inspiring to my mate Neil & I DownUnder, as well as other modellers. Unsure if Julian did this one though know he did do first 120mm Verlinden figures, helping create an entire industry in larger scale resin figures.
Wonder what happened to Julian?
Thanks for sharing your art & bringing back a figure that sparked a trip down memory lane.
MikeTheKiwi

 

[Blind Pew]

I think it's a Julian Hullis piece. He tended to do the better Verlinden ancient figures that have stood the test of time.

 

[Nap]

Hi Peter

Nice to see you working on a full figure , and certainly a face that's challenging , like you I would go for the wrinkles !

It's a interesting pose as well .........will he be holding a sword perhaps rather than a severed head ?

Look forward to more on the figure

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Peter Day]

Mike and BP - Nice to know who the sculptor is. I also have a samurai figure that's obviously by the same hand and is waiting for a Dettol bath. It's also very well sculpted, but with a curiously small crown to the head. I've only been doing this for about five years, so I'm not so up on the industry as most people on PF.

Nap - Those wrinkles really bugged me, so it's been stripped down and put away until I feel like tackling the face again. It was a good way of getting back into the smaller scale though, and the next piece, another Verlinden 120mm figure, is going well. More anon.......

 

[Nap]

Hi Peter

That face us certainly challenging to say the least .......you must have a tanker full of Dettol ...lol

Look forward to the anon !

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Mike and BP - Nice to know who the sculptor is. I also have a samurai figure that's obviously by the same hand and is waiting for a Dettol bath. It's also very well sculpted, but with a curiously small crown to the head. I've only been doing this for about five years, so I'm not so up on the industry as most people on PF.

Nap - Those wrinkles really bugged me, so it's been stripped down and put away until I feel like tackling the face again. It was a good way of getting back into the smaller scale though, and the next piece, another Verlinden 120mm figure, is going well. More anon.......

Hi again Peter,
Hadn’t realised you’d been in hobby for such a short time mate. The standard of your work shows strong practice & high standards evidenced by your willingness to practice by redoing projects.
I did same with armour kits when I was younger, though have yet had courage to do with figures, instead opting to move on to next project quickly to get more practice & try to do better.

Ref Julian he is a legend in my eyes having inspired first with his own creations, then early Verlinden 120mm & finally with piece d’ resistance his 90mm Samurai & Native Americans for Poste Militaire. An example is on this thread about how I and others started painting figures.
https://www.planetfigure.com/thread...st-figures-seriously.68928/page-4#post-709094
Would be neat to restart this thread as we learnt so much about each other’s reasons for getting into figure painting.

Keep ‘em coming mate!
MikeTheKiwi

 

[Scott Sheltz]

Looking good so far!

 

[Peter Day]

Mike - I went to art school and have painted all my life, so I'm not new to paint. However, painting 3d figures is a very different game and at the beginning I found a lot of un-learning was necessary before I could make any progress. Re-painting old figures is done as much for financial reasons than anything - I get through a lot of figures and this game isn't cheap. I've posted on the 'figures seriously' thread.

Scott - Thanks, but it's been stripped down and put away again.

 

[custer760]

Great work Peter. The figure is 100% Julian Hullis….saw it many many moons ago in a the Historex agents Showcase at Euro Militaire as a "soon to be released" figure….Commented on how much I like it and Julian was Standing Right next to me !!! He thanked me for my comments saying it was his sculpt,reached into his bag and gave me a plastic bag with this kit inside...he had just recieved a couple of copies of his work from Verlinden….magic...thats how I came to meet Julian for the first time.
Regards
Pete

 

[DEL]

Nice start on the piece
This figure represents one of my big bugbears with the hobby.
Got it years ago to match together with the mounted Hun by the same sculptor (I think) and the same manufacturer.
Both are listed as 120mm but in reality this one measured considerably less in both height and bulk.
OK people come in different sizes but when paired together on a base at this scale the difference is way too jarring.
Lost interest and they languish in some box in the cellar........pity.

 

[Peter Day]

Pete - A great story - you lucky man.

Del - So often the case, and seems to happen with most manufacturers. Still, I can't sculpt and am in awe of anyone who can.

 

[DioramaArt]

Lovely work Peter, the weather beaten face is full of character.

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Mike - I went to art school and have painted all my life, so I'm not new to paint. However, painting 3d figures is a very different game and at the beginning I found a lot of un-learning was necessary before I could make any progress. Re-painting old figures is done as much for financial reasons than anything - I get through a lot of figures and this game isn't cheap. I've posted on the 'figures seriously' thread.

Scott - Thanks, but it's been stripped down and put away again.

Now I understand Peter where your skill & color palettes come from mate. Thanks for background.
If I was to have one regret, it would be I never studied Art beyond first year of college (13yrs old) therefore feel I missed out on learning so much more about colour theory, light & shade etc. Despite informal learning over years stil feel like a real amateur on this topic.
Also relate to your repainting due to budget - I had an Sdkfz 7 which was repainted & modified for every front Germans served on - such a versatile Christmas gift

Great work Peter. The figure is 100% Julian Hullis….saw it many many moons ago in a the Historex agents Showcase at Euro Militaire as a "soon to be released" figure….Commented on how much I like it and Julian was Standing Right next to me !!! He thanked me for my comments saying it was his sculpt,reached into his bag and gave me a plastic bag with this kit inside...he had just recieved a couple of copies of his work from Verlinden….magic...thats how I came to meet Julian for the first time. Regards Pete

Neat that we also solved provenance of Hun from Julian’s hands - thanks Pete. He had a real gift for capturing more unconventional warriors wearing handmade & natural materials.
MikeTheKiwi