WIP Wilhelm II in uniform of Russian 85th Vyborg Regt 1908

[Nap]

Hi everyone

I’m currently prepping a bust from Micks Micks which I will do after this one from Dolman Miniatures

Depicting Wilhelm II in the uniform of the Russian 85th Vyborg Regt during a visit he made to the unit in 1908

Casting is excellent with very minimal prep

He is mounted on a base ( ideal hand hold after covering in paper tape ) , the ribbons were reworked and a ring added to a left hand finger , now being basecoated

Here’s some references I will be using







Rings seen worn





Many variations in the uniform colour ...Wilhelms is light



Wilhelm was a many will know born with a withered shorter left arm , this is rarely seen in portraits or images but out of interest here’s a later u inform he wore clearly showing the difference

Nap

 

[Nap]

This version is of course by David Lane .....STUNNING

Some pics of Wilhelm ideal for the face

 

[arj]

Hi Kevin,

Nice project, and a superbly painted example to follow.
I think you may have made an incorrect assumption for the wedding ring for Germany.
Many countries have the ring on the right hand:-
https://www.eastpark.co.uk/wedding-ring-right-hand#:~:text=In modern times people usually,norms often shape this tradition.
Just scroll down to this heading ... 'Countries That Wear Wedding Ring On Right Hand'
Of course, I could be wrong if you've come up with a photo of him with the ring on his left hand.
Have fun at the bench.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Nap]

Hi there

Here’s the rework pictures I did on the aguilette and the ribbons



I can’t confirm ref ring as Martin ( previous Rohmann) isn't active on PF now but I’m fairly sure it’s not a wedding ring ( I never said it was ! ....will have a dig about

Interesting picture of the 85th , Wilhelm is there

A Russian artists version of this bust

​

Nap

 

[arj]

Hi Kevin,

As you say, a ring is just a ring, and does not have to represent marital status.
I only spoke from personal experience ... my parents were Polish and wore their wedding rings on the right hand (mirroring our left).
I look forward to watching your progress on this bust.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Nap]

Hi Kevin,

As you say, a ring is just a ring, and does not have to represent marital status.
I only spoke from personal experience ... my parents were Polish and wore their wedding rings on the right hand (mirroring our left).
I look forward to watching your progress on this bust.

Cheers,
Andrew

Found Martins info ref rings

On the little finger of his right hand he wore his wedding ring

There was also a gold signet ring worn on the ring finger.

We can only speculate as to exactly what the signet ring looked like - however, impressions on seals that were made with it have survived, it had a square plate, something like the Russian counterpart..

Since both rings were buried with him

All interesting stuff

Nap

 

[arj]

Is this of any use to you Kevin? ...

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Nap]

Cheers Andrew ...a great picture for face and the ring , shows his love of anything uniforms

Appreciate your time

Nap

 

[MalcC]

This is a superb bust and one I have under consideration to paint.
Looking forward to seeing your version of him.

Malc

 

[Nap]

This is a superb bust and one I have under consideration to paint.
Looking forward to seeing your version of him.

Malc

Go on Malc ...would love to see your version ....be interesting how we both approach the piece

Thanks for looking in

Nap

 

[clubcat]

A nice looking bust, which I'm sure you will do justice.
Melanie

 

[Viking Bob]

Nice looking bust, following to see the result.

 

[Briggsy]

Lots of interesting information presented, very meticulous research I'll look forward to seeing this one develop, rings or no rings.

Cheers Simon

 

[Steve Ski]

That's an incredible bust to work on next, Kevin, Ruck On!

 

[theBaron]

You might want to correct his left arm, too. If you look at your photo references in your earlier post, you can see how the left tunic cuff lines up with the right shirt cuff. The bust depicts these as if his left arm were of normal length.
Martin Rohmann addressed this in his build of this bust a couple of years ago.
Of course, it's not necessarily something that most people looking at the finished bust might notice, but it might be the kind of thing where you'd say, "But I know it's there!"
Prost!
Brad

 

[Nap]

Hi to Melanie, Bob, Briggsy, and Steve

Thanks for commenting, looking at getting a decent light enough basecolour for uniform now

Keep looking in

You might want to correct his left arm, too. If you look at your photo references in your earlier post, you can see how the left tunic cuff lines up with the right shirt cuff. The bust depicts these as if his left arm were of normal length.
Martin Rohmann addressed this in his build of this bust a couple of years ago.
Of course, it's not necessarily something that most people looking at the finished bust might notice, but it might be the kind of thing where you'd say, "But I know it's there!"
Prost!
Brad

What did Martin do ? ......reducing the sleeve and shirt will lengthen the amount of hand ?

Appreciate the comment and your thoughts

Nap

 

[Oda]

This is an exceptional piece of Art and definitely up your alley.Will follow with interest.

Oda.

 

[Dr Bison]

What did Martin do ? ......reducing the sleeve and shirt will lengthen the amount of hand ?

I have just looked it up in Martin's German forum "Figure Mad" (where unfortunately all the photos have disappeared now).
Here's the translation of how he addressed the Kaiser's crippled arm in his version:

"[In the original photo, the Kaiser] ...hides the crippled left arm under the healthy right arm - and the picture is taken from an angle from which both arms look roughly the same length.
Eduardo (like many others before him) was also fooled by the charade when modelling - both arms are the same size in the bust [which isn't true - Eduardo new about the withered arm but chose to ignore this fact for aesthetic reasons].
There's nothing I can do about that, but a correction MUST be made!
In the bust, the thumb of the left hand can be seen [, but] it was impossible for the Kaiser to perform such a movement! He could only open or close his left hand with the help of his right! So the thumb has to go - if you want to make the bust even remotely correct. Here is another detail from the original photo - there is no thumb to be seen there either.
So today I carefully carved away the thumb with a scalpel!
The flap of the breast pocket and part of the emperor's "monkey swing" now have to be restored."

Hope this helps a bit in your quest, Nap.

 

[Nap]

Hi Karl

Thank you for taking the time to look ,it’s a real shame Martins not posting on PF , he’s definately missed , give him my best wishes if your able to speak .

Looking at the text it’s a shame about the left arm not being sculpted shorter , but as Martin says , nothing can be done .

I have removed the left thumb during rework of the aguilette .

Thanks for your time

This is an exceptional piece of Art and definitely up your alley.Will follow with interest.

Oda.

It certainly is and a pleasure to work on ....I have other kaiser busts in the GA from Dolman as well

Thanks for looking in

Nap

 

[theBaron]

Thanks, Karl! It would have taken me a little while to track that down.
It's a relatively commonly-overlooked detail. If I'm not mistaken, there was a mounted figure of Willy released within the past 3 or 4 years that had a similar oversight, and his left arm was the same length as his right. But it's still a beautiful figure, as this bust is a beautiful bust. I'm looking forward to your posts on this project, Nap!
Prost!
Brad