WIP - Qin terracotta soldier

[cptan]

Guys,
Here's my current project "Qin terracotta soldier".

Background Reference:
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Qin (Ch'in) ShiHuang, as the First Emperor of China, claimed a mandate from heaven and took with him a terracotta army of nearly 8,000 soldiers when he died. This archaeological treasure is one of the most magnificent sites of antiquity. The army lies in three separate pits, in battle formation, nearly one kilometer east of Qin ShiHuang's mausoleum-tomb. They guard him in death as they did in real life. The original terracotta army were armed with real weapon. Lots of various bronze weapon were excavate from the mausoleum...

Reference to the terracotta army, there're various type of hair styles...

WIP HEAD:
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The plan is to build a lively figure (not terracotta doll) of the Imperial Qin Heavy Infantry wearing full plated armour in 1/16 scale. As usual, I've started with the head. I'm using one of my scratchbuilt asian feature spare head... Pic A is the mentioned spare head protected by a coat of Humbrol paint. Pic B shown the basic hair with Epoxy Putty. Refernce to the resources display above, I'm using wires to represent the braided hair style at the back of the head (Pic C and D).

Pic E is the head with detachable braided bun added for test fit. After the moustache apply with putty. I notice the face looks like he's smiling... So I've resculpted the mouth to make him looks a bit serious. More detail added such as enhanced the forehead hair line, eyebrows, the cloth at the base of the braided bun (Pic F). Pic G is the final head.

Continue 2 WIP posting....


CPTan

 

[cptan]

2nd WIP.... main body.

As a lazy guy like me... I've chosen one of commercial kit from Dragon 1/16 warrior series "German Feldgendarme" (kit #1618). I've chosen this particular figure as the basic mannequin because it's in the standing position and wearing a motocyclist leather jacket with long "skirt".

Pic H and I shows the original kit before "operation".

I've sand off all the detail and cut short the "skirt" length, putty add on to smoothern and level the surface to make the torso abit puffy (Pic J). Pic K is the front view after more fine sanding... Notice I've also "extended" the shoulders, this is to ensure the shoulders with a proper base and shape to take the shoulder armour later. Pic L is the back view,where I've keep some of the folds untouch.

Now the shoes. Pic M shows the original German boot of the kit. And Pic N is the final of my conversion. Note the shoes actualy looks like the hull of a Chinese junk in a matter of speaking

Continue 3rd WIP posting....


CPTan

 

[cptan]

3rd WIP posting....

Here are the progress pictures of the weapon. There're lots of various sharp bronze weapon were from Mausoleum Excavations... But no artifact of shield present. This is because shield in those days were made of wood which decay through the years...

The only artifact of a Qin shield is a miniature model. The miniature shield is part of the half size scale-models of real war chariots made of bronze, faithfully copied down to the last detail, complete with 4 horses and people.

Base on the artifact mentioned above, I've scratchbuilt the shield with plastic card with additional detail of a wooden shield.

Metal surfaces of spears and swords were subjected to an oxidization treatment to prevent rust and harden them. Even today, the blades are as sharp as they were over 2,000 years ago. It's later known that sword were short (about 2 feet shape like the Roman gladius) in that period... not the long version famously used in Hong Kong movie. The favour of shorter sword in that period were mainly to prevent it from breaking since they were made of bronze. And of course loyal to the rule: "TO STAB TO DEATH, TO CUT TO HURT".

Below are pictures of the short sword from the excavations. Pict on the left is the Qin short sword, pict on the right is another famous sword of King GouJian of Yue state about the same period.

Historical note: Qin army later achieved in making longer sword (about 1 meter) which were used by their calvary... deploy the mobile strategies of the nomads, the Qin created a success in battle from having an advantage in mobility which end the era of the war chariot warfare.

My figure will be a foot soldier, which arm with a short sword. Using 1mm plastic card, I've scratchbuild the sword and it's scabbard.

OK, now the tedious part. Body armour plating. First I've drawn the guide line of the plating on the figure.

Then my first attempt on rivets was drilling 0.5mm wholes on the card and push putty from the back to form rivets... Which I found it took up too much time and the result was not convincing. Later I've decided by just cut glue the rectangular plates (cards) in place, then add on tiny ball of putties as rivets. I'm please with the result. Notice the arrangement of the plating overlapping from center to the side in horizontal row.

That's all for now. Stay tune for next WIP.

Enjoy and comment please.


CPTan

 

[tonydawe]

Hi CPTan,

What a great project. This is a fascinating period of history and you've already made an impressive start. I'm looking forward to seeing moreprogress pics of this figure. Well done and keep up the good work.

Cheers

 

[Zlobov*S]

It is really grandiose idea and process of modelling impresses with high quality!!!
Thanks CPTan, we wait continuation!
Yours faithfully.

 

[vergilius]

you certainly know where to find what you need.
Looks great so far

 

[Black Army]

Very exciting project, I'm looking forward the next steps.

Cheers,
Balázs

 

[Mark S]

Great idea.
This will be a work worth following.

 

[megroot]

Excellent idea, and as far as i can see you executed it well.
The reference are also great.

marc

 

[quang]

Hello CPTan,

Excellent reconstruction of the Qin warrior! I like the way you put your research into practice.

I'm looking forward to the completion of this project.

Welcome to the Planet!

Quang

 

[cptan]

Thanx guys for all your encouragement words... especially came from Master class sculptor like you guys

Currently still in progress of armor plating, about 80% done. Taken a few snap shot, will post the next WIP very soon.

Regards,
CPTan

 

[ausf]

What an excellent project. I'll be watching with interest.

 

[Lovejoy]

I'm really enjoyong this one - can't wait to see more! It's a very cool subject...
Regards,
Michael Lovejoy

 

[cptan]

Continue my WIP posting...


PLATING ARRANGEMENT
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Pict T-1 shows the completed plating of upper body (until waistline). The plating of this section are arrange in overlapping, each plate covering the next... spreading from center to both sides in rows. The upper Rows covering the next rows from top to bottom. It's said that the above mentioned plating arrangement makes a stronger protection on the upper body.

While Pict T-2 shows the bottom section plating forming the "skirt" are arrange by the same manner in rows, but opposite direction with each row covered by the next row spreading from waist to bottom. This special arrangement (tied up by lacing) allows movement flexibility of the waist.

Pict T-3 shows the different length of the front and back "skirt". I've added a strap of plastic card as the leather belt. Base on history reference, Qin army wore leather belt below the waist line (loosely above the butt). The used of leather belt mainly to secure personal object such as pouch or scabbard (sword) in this case.

ARMOUR LACING
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Reference to the resource images, lacing appears on all movable plated armour of front and back "skirt". Pict U-2 shows the special lacing of movable plates around the neck allows easy wearing. There're "loop" and "T-knob" at the end of the lacing as button. I've also added the protective scuff (against the rough edged plates) wore around the neck similar to the Roman legionaire with their Lorica Segmenta armour.

Shoulder protective armour plates.

TEST FIT
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Parts are put together by Blue Tag for test fit.

Back view showing the position of the belt and scabbard.

Close-up of the test fit of head and scuff...

The figure is now ready for painting.... I'll need to do more research on the armour and tunic colour of this figure. According to images base on history researchers there seems to be quite colourful outfit.

On the other hand, there're also scholars claims that the colourful outfit were probably Imperial Palace Guard, while the field mighty Qin army favour Black on their banners and uniform... which the new finding also shows black armour with red lacing.

Anyway I'll need to continue painting my pending 120mm Spartan first, then come back to this warrior later. Probably will post a new thread of the painted figure

That's all for now. Enjoy and comment please.


Regards,
CPTan

PS. The worst night-mare was the plating and rivets, but I'm quite please with the final result.

 

[tonydawe]

WOW, that's a superb piece of sculpting CP!!

I'm looking forward to seeing it painted.

Cheers

 

[bonehead]

Cool!

 

[cptan]

Bumb

 

[Black Army]

Excelent work! The historical research is very useful, thank you for it!

Keep us posting!

Cheers,
Balázs

 

[Dan Morton]

Absolutely cool! Great idea for a project! I look forward to seeing it completed!

All the best,
Dan