Where it all began - My first figures, seriously...

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Amazing how many of us have a similar start with this great hobby despite being so far from each other, and seemingly isolated. My painted up soldiers and tank crew figures from that initial start are long gone, and it never occurred to me to save one for memories sake. Here is a pic of the oldest figure I still have that goes back to the late 70's, and an example of my initiation to oils. I do seem to recall that he had a saber that is now long gone.

Thanks for initiating this thread Mike. It'll be a blast to see everyone's early efforts.
Joe

Cool post Joe - who was maker of that figure.
He does look good

I've got almost all my kits & figures from when I was a kid in a cardboard box.
Not in original assembled state though

Me too on what will this thread reveal about each of us.

Stay safe
Mike

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Here are the first ones I finished...after years of starting and never finishing anything due to misplaced perfectionism. These are the only ones I still own and they date from the late 70's. All Historex conversions painted in Humbrols mixed with artists' oils.

Colin

A darn fine batch Colin & especially like the guy (sheepishly) holding his busby on his hip

Reminds me of all those 70s & 80s Mil Mods I've got in the cupboard, with article by the great of the day.
Graham Dixey, Norman Abbey, Bob Marrion etc...
Many sadly not here with us today.

What are your reminisces from those days?

Mike

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

I remember looking at my dads copy of Shep Paine's dioramas when I was a kid and "painting within the lines" so to speak was an unobtainable goal! I forget the title but I also enjoyed a book by Ray Anderson and of course Bill Horren's master class(?) Book changed my life. I don't like to cite names of people who have been inspirational as there has been so many and each day brings more but these 3 books stand out in my mind.

Mike, my first real serious attempt was an Airfix multi pose figure of a Dak German. I made slings out of paper and sculpted a neckicheif!

Now you're talking Airfix Multipose were so innovative & have lots to answer for too

Ray Anderson was/still is a legend with his "Art of the Diorama" book.
Just read at 91, he's taken up computer animation!
Sounds like me one day
http://www.boxdioramas.com/Ray Anderson Gallery.htm

Bill was one of the guys that step changed things for sure.
His Mil Mod articles bought a whole new thinking to the figure hobby f'sure.
And his body of original, quality work has never been equalled.

My thoughts anyway.

Mike

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Thanks for starting this thread. It's neat to see people's early work and I look forward to reading many more responses!

We discussed this a bit on another thread, but I thought I'd respond here too. I started painting roughly 20 years ago with some Ral Partha fantasy figures my dad picked up for me at a garage sale. From there I moved on to Games Workshop figures and painted gaming figures like those on and off for a quite a while. Then, about 6 years ago I picked up my first historical figure, a 120mm Cuirassier. I really enjoyed working on a larger scale. Going from 28mm up to 120 gave me a lot more room to paint details. I also enjoyed working on a more serious subject than elves and goblins (though I still do the occasional fantasy piece). That lead me to more historical figures and quickly to sites like PlanetFigure. Seeing the examples from talented artists really showed me what could be done with figures and inspired me to work hard at improving my skills. All of the feedback and tutorials were a huge help as well. Oh, and another big moment for me was attending the MFCA Show for the first time back in 2012. Seeing figures online is great, but actually seeing world class figures in person really opened my eyes.

So, while it wasn't my first figure, I'd say the cuirassier was my first serious one and a project that sent me down a whole new path with this hobby. Here's a picture of that figure along with a couple other early attempts.

(Cuirassier - 120mm, both ACW figures ~75mm)

For kicks here are three of my most recent projects. I've come a looooong way since those early figures. The two Napoleonics are 75mm and the boy Arthur is about 40mm tall.

"Come a long way" is an understatement David!

Gotta say you picked a great figure to get into historical subjects.
That Amati Cuirassier was a neat figure to begin with.

And agree with Mark - photography & lighting has made a real difference to What & How we do our "thing" today.

Keep it coming mate.

Mike

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Great idea for a thread Mike. Good fun to see where everybody started out, and it shows how far you've all come too.

Like most you blokes I began early at 8yo, but lost interest in my late teens and didn't pick it back up until 2006.
This dogs breakfast is my first attempt on returning to the hobby. Note the use of a Nescafe Blend 43 lid as the base .

This vignette is from around 2009 and was probably the turning point for me - still messy looking at it now, but it was the first time I pushed myself with the use of oils for flesh tones and in presentation

Nick! Nescafé lids 8-O
Oh my gawd I thought only I had done this innovation!
I used the cheaper version for Tamiya vignettes as a kid too

That Aussie vignette is brill!
Love the character & interaction of the guys.
Where'd you get them from?

Mike

 

[tonydawe]

I started figure modelling in 1975 with Tamiya's German Infantry Set. No photos remain but I can't still remember the joy I had painting them and then the devilish fun of shooting them with my sir rifle. Early plastic figures and AFV's suffered the same fate. My modelling skills were crap but I was at least a crack shot. I could hit a 1/35th scale figure from 30 metres with my air rifle.

 

[NickM]

Nick! Nescafé lids 8-O
Oh my gawd I thought only I had done this innovation!
I used the cheaper version for Tamiya vignettes as a kid too

That Aussie vignette is brill!
Love the character & interaction of the guys.
Where'd you get them from?

Mike

Cheers Mike. Yep I used to use Nescafe lids a lot too in the early days. The coffee jar in our house always had Clingwrap instead of its lid.

The Aussie's were just plastic Dragon 8th Army figures with Hornet heads and Firestorm slouchies - done before I was spoilt by all the resin figures out there!

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

I started figure modelling in 1975 with Tamiya's German Infantry Set. No photos remain but I can't still remember the joy I had painting them and then the devilish fun of shooting them with my sir rifle. Early plastic figures and AFV's suffered the same fate. My modelling skills were crap but I was at least a crack shot. I could hit a 1/35th scale figure from 30 metres with my air rifle.

Now I'm guessing that was inspiration for your early career choices mate

I like to say I joined the Army at 16 to further my "modelling interests"
Sad, but true!

Mike

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Cheers Mike. Yep I used to use Nescafe lids a lot too in the early days. The coffee jar in our house always had Clingwrap instead of its lid.

The Aussie's were just plastic Dragon 8th Army figures with Hornet heads and Firestorm slouchies - done before I was spoilt by all the resin figures out there!

I wasn't allowed to drink coffee even!

Man they are still a super bunch mate.
Beaut basing too.

Mike

 

[Joe55]

Cool post Joe - who was maker of that figure.
He does look good

I've got almost all my kits & figures from when I was a kid in a cardboard box.
Not in original assembled state though

Me too on what will this thread reveal about each of us.

Stay safe
Mike

Shoot, I don't remember!

Joe

 

[Joe55]

I started figure modelling in 1975 with Tamiya's German Infantry Set. No photos remain but I can't still remember the joy I had painting them and then the devilish fun of shooting them with my sir rifle. Early plastic figures and AFV's suffered the same fate. My modelling skills were crap but I was at least a crack shot. I could hit a 1/35th scale figure from 30 metres with my air rifle.

I was like you Tony. I really got my jollies plinking with my shootn irons!

Joe

 

[Mariobusta]

Love that you have kept your first figures Mike ,You must have a lot of storage room ! Unfortunately I have thrown out my early stuff . Something to do with not being up to standard ,I have never been one for keeping old stuff, and when I think about all the part finished figures that I have lost or misplaced over the years !A bit like my record collection ,now what happened to that !
Great post

Neil

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Love that you have kept your first figures Mike ,You must have a lot of storage room ! Unfortunately I have thrown out my early stuff . Something to do with not being up to standard ,I have never been one for keeping old stuff, and when I think about all the part finished figures that I have lost or misplaced over the years !A bit like my record collection ,now what happened to that !
Great post

Neil

Hi Neil,

Not much storage room mate, actually there's a pile of them jammed in a box not much bigger than a couple of shoe boxes.
Like I said they aren't in "original state" as built in the 70's.
This little diorama was from my revisit to the hobby after my eldest son was built.
It benefited from my one & only adventure into a perspex display case.
I built my own for it, however it didn't last as long as the dio ;-)
It's demise resulted in damage to the scene which still has to be repaired.

Shame you didn't keep some of our older pieces - what is oldest one you've got?
How about you share that with us mate using your super new photo taking skills
E.g. immediately thought of you when I saw Jason's version of Andrea "Dances with Wolves" ;-)

Stay safe & HAPPY NEW YEAR to you, family & friends.

Mike

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

I have also kept my very first 'Completed Figure'! .. after numerous fails. I suppose I kept it for reference and comparison for those pieces that followed!

For my sins, this is it! .. Excuse the bent sword,

..


Regards,

Mark

 

[NickM]

That's pretty decent for your first figure completed, Mark! The worn leather looks good. How long ago did you finish this one?
Cheers

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Cheers Nick!

It was roughly about 6yrs ago, (I really fluffed the first one)! So I bought it again! @ then 54 quid! ..Then, just as I was about to 'Matte Varnish', it .. The bugger hit the deck. That's why the head angle, is steeper than the original! and a whacked-up sword! But I had spent to much time and money on it to go for a third!

To many fails previously, this 'Bugger', was not going to be binned!

Ps, This is quite possibly the first time I have shown anything in public! which was a 'Knuckle Biter'.

Regards,

Mark

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Joe55,

it never occurred to me to save one for memories

Joe,

If we all did that!, we would be sitting on 'Pots of Gold;' with OOP Figures!

Mark

 

[Joe55]

Cheers Nick!

It was roughly about 6yrs ago, (I really fluffed the first one)! So I bought it again! @ then 54 quid! ..Then, just as I was about to 'Matte Varnish', it .. The bugger hit the deck. That's why the head angle, is steeper than the original! and a whacked-up sword! But I had spent to much time and money on it to go for a third!

To many fails previously, this 'Bugger', was not going to be binned!

Ps, This is quite possibly the first time I have shown anything in public! which was a 'Knuckle Biter'.

Regards,

Mark

All right Mark, what do you mean ....'the first time I have shown anything in public!'.....

I seem to remember seeing a nut flashing squirrel recently!

Joe

 

[Joe55]

Joe55,

it never occurred to me to save one for memories

Joe,

If we all did that!, we would be sitting on 'Pots of Gold;' with OOP Figures!

Mark

You are absolutely right Mark, and it pains me to think about it!

Joe

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

I have also kept my very first 'completed figure'! .. after numerous fails. I suppose I kept it for reference and comparison to those pieces that followed!

For my sins, this is it! .. Excuse the bent sword,

Regards,

Mark

Hi Mark,

Brilliant to get you sharing your work
This is exactly what I intended.
No ones first figures are up to standard of their later ones because of our learning.
I reckon that's what it's all about, our struggle to improve, get better at something we enjoy.
It's innate, built into us.

Buckled sword & "post production" damage is all par for the course mate.
Few of my early works & even one of my latest (my avatar - the big Maori Sgt) have all sustained some damage along the way
So please continue to share, your work with us so we all learn more.

Good on ya mate - the Squirrel roars!

Mike