Dave seems like I am way behind on this one mate and have just spent the last few minutes catching up on what you have been doing.

As for `back and forth` with sculpting, I still do it and its a very rare occurrence that I get a figure correct with the first attempt, although its a great feeling when you do I think pretty much all sculptors are in the same boat.

Nice progress with the sculpted figure, looks like you are moving along nicely with everything now and congratulations on your first figure sculpt, use this one as a benchmark to look back on mate and gauge how much you will improve with each one.

Looking forward to seeing more of this one.

All the best

Steve

Hi Steve

Great to hear from you matey.

As always I appreciate all your help and support for us sculpting newbie's lol.

The key thing for me out of all of this is to get the anatomical pose correct and make sure all the joints are sharp (as pointed out by Jay earlier) magic sculp is definately the way to go as it is so good at retaining it's shape and consistancy.

I am not confident enough to have a stab at faces at the moment, so I will make use of the manequins with stock heads for short term future projects.

I actually ended up taking arms off, chunks out of legs etc before getting the right pose so it is reassuring that you also go back and forth to get it just right.

Any figure shows coming up mate?

Thanks
Dave

Not sure mate will have to ask Ken and Carl they will know whats going on and where.

Next one planned for me is Figureworld in July, that is being held in Peterborough and is just a figure show, went last year and it is very good.

Cheers

Steve

Dave, great progress so far and looking forward to seeing what you do with the groundwork and Carls drystone wall.
I think it will be Figureworld as the next show and it's definitely not one to miss, so look forward to seeing you there.

Cheers Ken

Hi Ken

Good to hear from you mate and thanks for your comments. I'm actually looking to make the dry stone wall out of stone and the groundwork will be the usual polyfilla affair with well placed roots, rocks etc which I'll get done over the Easter break!!

Figureworld sounds pretty cool so I'll definately see you guys there!!

Thanks
Dave

Hi all update time

I have been busy getting the basics of the groundwork and composition right over the Easter break.

I have done away with the dry stone wall as it just did not look right in the scene and was also very difficult to judge from a scale point of view.

So I have added some old broken tree's for interest on top and may well add some barb wire around the bottom.

I have got to add all the dirt, grass and smaller rocks to it yet with the addition of some well placed foliage and roots, but you get the idea:-

Thanks for dropping in Carl.

I need to add so much more to the groundwork yet but it's nicely placed for the painting etc.

What do you think to some barb wire at the bottom near the front??

Really nice set up mate the duel aspect works really well with both figures and your choice to go for downed trees instead of the stone wall has payed of, the lower level lends itself well to be a river bed, which can be wet or dry, river beds are common routes of approach when trying to out flank an enemy, it would give the impression the soldier descending down is about to manoeuvre toward the target.

Looking forward to more and as Carl has mentioned it looks great even in primer.

Steve

Hi Steve

Thanks for your input and encouragement.

The Stone wall looked odd, I had got to a point where the wall looked very good but just did not fit in the scene, so I decided the Tree's would give a hint of battle scarred ground with the addition of protruding routes adding overall interest.

The dry river bed is a good shout and I have been busy adding more well placed rocks and roots, as well as roughening up the banks with magic sculpt and sand.

I have some very fine roots which will be added last so it's easier to paint the groundwork and various size grass at the top, round the bottom with some poking through rocks etc.

It's another long project but I would rather invest my time properly to get the satisfaction and reward of a good overall job, it could be so easy to get the figures to a high standard only to rush the groundwork..........the two are as important as each other.

Thanks for dropping by mate and hope to see you soon.

Dave

Dave , great progress and a good call with the river bed Steve, that's exactly what I thought when I first saw it ... Honest.
Following, cheers Ken

Ya it does!

Dave with the fallen tree trunks the scene lends itself well to being recently shelled, the addition of the fine roots etc will make it all the more interesting.


All the best,

Steve

Thanks for your help guys.

I have added and primed the roughness to the bank and river bed, with an additional larger Rock and some larger roots towards the back.

The roots are from some disregarded Bamboo that was in my back garden. I have washed them, left them to dry and then sealed with superglue before primeing.

The fine stuff looks superb, very authentic and has not cost anything but it needs to go on last otherwise it will be a nightmare to paint!!!

I think I am in a position to start painting now, however still a bit of smoothing out to do on the sculpted figure, but will put them to one side for now as I get the groundwork done.

The Grass is key in respect of it making the whole thing look real, so i may take a bit of time planning this out before sticking it on.

I should have some more pics over the next few days.

Thanks chaps
Dave

Ok its now definately ready to paint.

The first picture is just showing what I did to give the soil a naturally rough look, it's just a simple case of a very thin layer of magic sculp, use a tooth pic to roughen and then press in some dry kiln sand followed by some tiny odd shaped stone.

Once dry blow away the excess and seal with PVA glue and then prime.

Once I have painted all the ground work I will add in the grass tuft:-

I was just about to put paint on when I thought there was just something missing on the right side to help "frame the composition.

So I built a smaller dead tree!! I will sculpt the bark detail once the branches are dry but I think it makes a big (and better) difference) :-

Hi Jason

Great idea but I wonder if it may all become a tad crowded? having said that it might look good if another figure was added to the left hand corner................................?

I would not mind members opinion on this!!

Rather then a figure, perhaps an idea from the old Verlinden school of filling the corner.

No, not an empty Jerry can, or artful stack of empty ammo crates. How about some kind of kit (such as a spilled back pack) from the opposing force? Like an Adrian helmet with a backpack. (if French foes)

It would help fill the corner, not crowd the base, give a hint of who these troopers are assaulting, and wouldn't involve a whole lot of work.

Either that, or a small bush in flower. Or a Squirrel bolting for it across that log

Cheers