What do you want from a figure

[Robin]

Hi Guys

There has been a few good threads about why we do what we do etc also what figures would we like to see. But as I asked in the flesh thread what about realism in a figure.

How much of that do we want. Those who have served know that on active duty alot of the regs go "wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" and you do what you need, carry what you need, dump what you don't and become as different as chalk and cheese. Do you want the figure we paint to reflect that.

Also what about movement in a figure, not just a time and a place eg, a british Infantryman at Waterloo, do you want movement flow etc.

I am interested in the outcome of this thread.

Comments ideas ridcule welcomed.

Robin

 

[rdclaeps]

More action poses, such as running, jumping, firing a weapon on the move would be nice. The static standing pose gets kind of boring. A figure sitting or laying on the side of an embankment firing a rifle or pistol would be a nice change of pace.

 

[Lou Masses]

My best answer is "I don't know" or "I'll know it when I see it". That's just me but that's usually the way I buy figures-all the elements have to be "just right".

I would agree with Roger that action poses would be a refreshing change, but it has to be done properly and although I'm not a sculptor, that is harder to achieve properly (probably why most don't try).

If I lok at my case, I do note that I have more of a tendancy to buy "portraits" than anything else, so I guess that would be it.

 

[Alex M.]

I've always noticed that figures tend to look the same, although it's always varying subjects. It seems that if you were to line up 5 ETO GI's they'd all have the same equipment in the same place.
Given the tendency of field modifications and all the such, that would be nice to reflect. Equipment hanging perfectly bothers me..
Pockets with extra rations, bulging rucks, etc are a nice tough, as oppoised to the nice perfect curves as if it was packed with a duvet.
I want to see sharp edges poking out, that kind of thing.

(Wrong place, wrong thread, but some 1st SSF figs would be nice

-Alex

 

[KeithP]

In decending order...

Overall good scultping and casting. Who is the sculptor? I have my fave's...
Quality of face - detail and expression.
Pose.
Does the period interest me?
Is the figure "tolerably" historically accurate.
Scale.
Price.

As you "pose"d the question , an active pose is desirable but not necessary for me. For example, I am working on the Pegaso 54mm Teutonic Grand Master (Gianni Larocca) not much action but the pose has just the right level of menace to make it interesting. I just bought the Elite 54 mm Blackwatch (Latorre) Crimea.
This figure has a great pose as he marches along with one arm swinging, one arm holding the enfield over the shoulder and the head thrown back. Lovely face, too!

Keith

 

[MSzwarc]

I want a figure to be doing something rather than be posing for a photo to send to Mom. I have figures that I chose because they represent a certain type of warrior, but I still like the figure to be active.

Quality of sculpting is important, too, but to me, that does not necessarily mean a clean, crisp, detailed figure. I have a couple figures that are beautifully sculpted and well posed, but the sculpting is a little "softer" or more impressionistic than on other figures. The figure should be correct anatomically. Quality of the casting, be it metal or resin, should be high. There are an awful lot of first rate manufacturers out there competing for the figure painters interest.

I like "historical plausibility" in a figure. I've seen figures that don't make sense, but are historically accurate. As an example, (my interest is in Japanese figures) a samurai figure where the samurai has an accurate costume for an archer, but is wielding a naganata. I don't necessarily care whether everything about the figure is precisely accurate, so much as whether the figure is plausible, and makes sense. I also like a figure that displays interesting details of the period it represents.

A figure that lends itself to an interesting conversion can be fun, too. For those of us who are not yet ready to sculpt from scratch, the otherwise undesirable figure with possiblities can be a good learning tool.

Scale and price play a role, but if the figure is interesting, scale is not important to me, and I've been fortunate in finding figures I want on sale or on eBay for prices I can afford.

All this said, I have to agree with Lou. When I look at figures, there tends to be a high percentage of "I'll know it when I see it " involved with whether or not I find a particular figure calling to me or not.

Mike

 

[Steve Arthur]

Robin,

For me, I would want historical accuracy, good sculpting with lots of details in the face and expression. I think as far a spose would go, I like those figures who seem to stand in a rather common pose, such as taking a drink from a dipper, lighting a cig, smoking a pipe just everyday activities. Those posses that link the military or historical aspect with the human aspect.

Great subject for a thread!

Best Wishes
Steve

 

[Einion]

Good anatomy is #1, historical accuracy #2. Pose-wise I have likes and dislikes - there are some static figures that look great to me and others that strike me as a bit silly, those that look like they're posing for a photo can look amusing if it's from an era before photography for instance. Apart from that I'm not that fussy about what a figure is doing, it's most likely character and/or the style of the sculptor that will draw me to a model.

Einion