Winston Churchill 1/9th scale scratchbuild

[btavis]

Since Kitspy was removed I am reposting this topic I had started there. I will be doing a 1/9th scale, full figure of Winston Churchill based on the following picture.

To that end, the Thompson is prominent to the pose so I started with that first. The model is a Savage Bridgeport after the 1928 Thompson with thirty round magazine. This is my all time favorite weapon and it was a lot of fun to recreate.

 

[btavis]

A couple of details about Winnie. He was about 5"7" tall and had blue eyes. To get the overall dimensions correct I sketched a front and side view as on overlay over a mannequin proportion drawing. In 1/9th scale the figure sans hat will be a around 7.5" tall.

The Thompson came with either a 10" or a 16" barrel. In this representation the shorter version is shown and the overall length of the gun was about 34".

 

[btavis]

Someone had given me a 1/9th scale bust of Winston and when I saw the photo of Winnie with the Tommy gun I thought it was a perfect match. The facial expression is wrong so I will only use this bust as a 1 to 1 reference and resculpt the head. I have to get the cigar in his mouth which is his hallmark.

I will start working on the wingtip shoes next so I can build the mannequin.

 

[Scotty]

Thats a great job on the tommy gun Bob, should turn out to be a cracking figure. I'll be watching with interest.
Scotty.

 

[garyjd]

Bob, That's a neat idea for a figure. The tommy gun looks good, bet it was fun to build. Too bad you can't get a copy of that head to convert. I'll be watching this one.

 

[btavis]

Gary, I actually cast the head in resin, or at least the face so I have a copy already.

 

[Dan Morton]

Too cool! The Thompson is great!!!

I wonder if that is the picture that Hitler was thinking about when he called Winnie a "gangster"? [...and probably other things...]

I'm looking forward to this!!!

all the best,
Dan

 

[btavis]

Dan, I don't think the gangster image would have been too far afield for Winnie as his mother was American and his great, great grandmother was an Indian.

Here is a story illustrating his character: Winnie was pretty headstrong as an MP in Parliament and he made more then a few enemies. Well one prominent enemy of his came to visit him and his butler announced the guy to Winston who was in the "privy." When Winston was told who was visiting he said, "tell him I am busy and can only deal with one sh*t at a time!"

I love this guy.

 

[y_wong]

Dear Bob,

That's a good subject and this thread should be interesting. I will be following this thread. BTW your sketch is good.

regards

 

[btavis]

I worked on the resculpting of the head by first making a rough layout of the prominent features.

I subsequently refined this to where it is now. A little more sanding/filing and it is finished.

 

[btavis]

Incidentally, the picture of Winston with the Tommy gunwas taken just before D-Day. The figure is someone else's interpretation of the photo.

 

[garyjd]

Bob, The features of the head look like the casting. You may want to add a little more diameter to the bowler hat as it looks like it would barely fit his head.~Gary

 

[btavis]

Good point Gary.

 

[garyjd]

Bob, Look at the photo, the crown of the hat also looks to be the same height as Winston's head. Though it's almost impossible to duplicate a photo or painting 100%, I try compare how different parts of the clothing are in relation to one another to help in reproducing a painting/photo.~Gary

 

[btavis]

Gary, I don't heve the pics yet but last night I thickened the hat and also extended the height. I will shoot some new pics tonight and post.

 

[whdamon]

One of my all time favorite 20th century personalities.

"Walk together in Majesty, Justice and Peace"

Winston S. Churchill

Joint Session of the United States Congress

December 26 1941

Need I say more

Walt Damon

 

[Guayo]

Bod Congrats¡¡¡¡ this is truly a ORIGINAL WORK of a Original Man like Winston. Do you know if he keep the Tommy Gun or just was a look and gave it back.

Just want to comment that the Churchills Native American blood is a URBAN MYTHS, you can find more about it in the Home Page of The Churchill Centre, Washington, D.C.

http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/....cfm?pageid=112

One question on how do you choose your projects, How do you do it, is this a old idea or just came after reading or looking something, in one simple question, Whats your inspiration for your works? the idea came with a talk with a friend or like our good friend Churchill in a nice discussion with Johnnie Walker.

Thanks
Eduardo.

 

[btavis]

I do not believe he kept the Tommy gun.

The reason why I am doing this piece is multifold. First, Churchill is greatly admired by myself and I am currently reading William Manchester's Last Lion (which will also be the title of this piece). Secondly, I wanted to do a large scale figure for my own development and this was a good opportunity to do that. Also, I was very struck with the pose as it is so fitting to Churchill's character.

I have some update pictures that I will post tonight. I fixed the hat and have worked on the body armature. The one thing that has really proven to be an interesting aspect of this is that because the scale is so large I am sculpting more with my fingers which is more of a direct experience with the epoxie (Aves) like it was clay.

Thanks for the clarification on the Indian ancestory.

 

[JCOX]

Bob, Great subject! Can't wait to see this piece progress.

-jim cox

 

[btavis]

Jim, it is really turning into a very interesting project. I will cast the Tommy Gun for possible use in future projects. I am thinking of also doing a 1/9 scale of Machine Gun Kelly or Pretty Boy Floyd so it will come in handy. I have sculpted the hand and part of the arm onto the pistol grip of the gun which I will post tonight.