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Early Aviation
Discuss World War I and the early years of aviation thru 1934.
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How I (don't ) paint scale figures.
dolly15
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Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - 02:11 AM UTC

Tommy this is the real Dolly 15,my wonderful girl who lived to be 13 ,she was a wolf/dog hybrid. I took this pic with the natural light coming from a window to the side.I like it because it kind of splits her face in two emphasizing her different colored eyes.
JackFlash
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Colorado, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - 02:29 AM UTC

Quoted Text

just thought I would pop up a couple I recently painted to be released next year by ModelCellar. 120mm(1/16) figures, the groundwork is scratch built from plasticard with a few other bits added from plastic, metal and putty.




Always good to see your work Dave!
dolly15
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Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - 02:30 AM UTC

to my eye this looks over painted especially the forward facing Billy Bishop.I did this figure to be placed outside which it is where it eventually ended up outside the dispatch office..The Rickenbacker figure's head is also a little too big for my liking.I didn't like the face on the Luke figure so I placed him with his back to the camera.
dolly15
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Quebec, Canada
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KitMaker: 8,227 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - 02:48 AM UTC

This is where they were finally placed.Bishop has on a broad smile and is now outside ,so I made his eyes squinting with no detail .Luke's hair could be better but that is what I had to work with.I should have made him a hat but as a 20footer diorama piece ,it looks OK.Because Bishop is blond I left his face on the yellowish side, while Rickenacher has a ruddier complexion.
Merlin
Staff MemberSenior Editor
AEROSCALE
#017
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United Kingdom
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Posted: Wednesday, December 25, 2013 - 01:00 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The Rickenbacker figure's head is also a little too big for my liking.


Hi John

I'm glad you said that, because I was otherwise shy of commenting. I think it's true of all of them to a lesser extent, but that figure in particular - there's a bit of a classic "Gerry Anderson" look to the proportions (Fireball XL5, Stingray and Thunderbirds fans will know what I mean ).

All the best

Rowan
dolly15
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: May 20, 2004
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Posted: Wednesday, December 25, 2013 - 04:14 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

The Rickenbacker figure's head is also a little too big for my liking.


Hi John

I'm glad you said that, because I was otherwise shy of commenting. I think it's true of all of them to a lesser extent, but that figure in particular - there's a bit of a classic "Gerry Anderson" look to the proportions (Fireball XL5, Stingray and Thunderbirds fans will know what I mean ).

All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan ! Merry Christmas.I think if I had to do it all over again I would change the head.I left it this way because I wanted the Rickenbacker look to fit in with the storyline.Please don't be shy of commenting ,it is the only way that I can learn.
Merlin
Staff MemberSenior Editor
AEROSCALE
#017
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United Kingdom
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Posted: Wednesday, December 25, 2013 - 06:07 AM UTC
Cheers John

Yes - Merry Christmas! I hope you've had a great day.

I bought some 1:48 resin F.A.A. figures a few years ago for a deck vignette, and my first instinct was that the proportions were all wrong, but I tried to convince myself they'd look OK. Eventually, I went full circle and decided I was right in the first place and ditched them.

Of course, I'm talking as someone who couldn't actually sculpt a figure to save me life! - so I'm filled with admiration for anyone who can. Back in the 90s there was a guy here on the Island who did wonderful wooden figure carvings - so good I approached him to see if he'd be interested in doing some patterns to cast from in modelling scales. Sadly, it was just too great a leap in size, and he wasn't satisfied that he could produce anything he'd be prepared to put his name to. Really sad, because his large figures had so much character and "life" in them.

All the best

Rowan
SuperSandaas
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Sør-Trøndelag, Norway
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Posted: Thursday, December 26, 2013 - 01:36 AM UTC
As I used to paint miniatures for games like warhammer and wh40k I‘m vary of overdoing it, but my experience is that a little goes a long way. Usually the details are in the eyes of the beholder.

But I think all models to some extent uses paints and pigments to create lighting effects, and human skin and clothing are in principle not different from the leather of a car seat, the rubber in a tire or the wood of a truck bed. The trick is finding figures with good propotions and a believable pose.(Or having the skills to adapt those that don't.)
dolly15
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: May 20, 2004
KitMaker: 8,227 posts
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Posted: Thursday, December 26, 2013 - 02:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text

As I used to paint miniatures for games like warhammer and wh40k I‘m vary of overdoing it, but my experience is that a little goes a long way. Usually the details are in the eyes of the beholder.

But I think all models to some extent uses paints and pigments to create lighting effects, and human skin and clothing are in principle not different from the leather of a car seat, the rubber in a tire or the wood of a truck bed. The trick is finding figures with good propotions and a believable pose.(Or having the skills to adapt those that don't.)


Hi Eirik !You are right ,adapting poses is a big part of it,mine are about 50/50 adapted or out of the box.I buy extra heads and hands from many companies but you really have to be careful as 1/16th scale differs from company to company. Relaxed poses are the most believable and suit my style the best.Sometimes even the slightest tilt of the head etc.. can be more effective than huge body changes.
I really respect the miniature figure makers and the skills involved in making an identifiable figure. Years ago it was also on my of list of things to learn but I just never got around to it . I just don't have the time at this stage to give it the effort it deserves to be able to learn it properly as I have other priorities.Thank God these artists are willing to sell their work as it sure makes my job a lot easier.

So much to learn,so little time.
dolly15
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Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Thursday, December 26, 2013 - 03:22 AM UTC

Courtesy of Ken Hamilton.
dolly15
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Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Friday, December 27, 2013 - 01:37 AM UTC
I only substituted the head and modified the uniform on this figure.
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