Hi to all ,

We all are probably aware of the demise of TB forum at the end of Sept ..a real shame IMO but as they say therer is "light at the end of the tunnel" and like a phoenix rising from the ashes its my great pleasure to learn that the figure range and indeed Figureworld will continue .

My review is of a bust that has bee released for a while (here is the link to the original post:

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/basement-figures-war-of-roses-billman.46744/watch-confirm

and indeed we have had the pleasure to have posted a version painted by the talented izauggu on PF here is that link :

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/billman-bust.49380/watch-confirm

What have we then :

Subject: War of the Roses Billman

Scale: 1/10th

Material : Resin

No of pieces: 2

Sculptor: Rob Lane

Box Art: Adrian Hopwood


The model was received quickly and is well packed with the pieces being in a clear resealeable bag put in a blister pack together with coloured pictures of the box art showing back and front views ...perhaps the pictures are a little dark but the is my own personal opinion .




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Nap

Hi Guys ,

Moving on now with a little information about our subjext this guy is a veteran for sure with a hardened face , he is well protected with a sallet , a padded jacket called a jack with a breastplate over this , for protection against the cold he also has a hooded garment , he also wears a garment with a livery badge on it .

The bust is in 2 pieces , the main torso and the helmet , Rob has been heavily inspired by 2 books , both of which I would heartily recommend you add to the library (details of these at the end of this review).

The billman would have been a feared soldier who caused havoc with a weapon that had developed from the common agricultural tool , this weapon had a "hook" on it to use to get in between armour or drag a kight from his horse ..who when unhorsed and floundering like a upturned turtle was a easy target for the billman .

Clothing was well thought out for maximum protection , padded mainly but there are instances of metal plates being inserted in the jack . As in any army in this period plundering of items from the dead was rife and a way to get items like breastplates etc .





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Nap

Looking now at the model itself now firstly the torso:

This is the main piece of the bust , there is a pedastal piece of resin on the bottom which you could use as a base or just cut it off for a brass rod .

Prep work needed ..well out came the optivisor again and no matter how I tried I could not find a sibgle casting line or flashing on the torso , underneath there is a small line to deal with ..so easily done , the bust is finished off in a different way , it is "strpped and works well I feel .

Looking at the facial details ..these are great , a furrowed brow , snarling , a real toyghguy , Rob wanted to get a hard guy look and has achieved this very well this will aid the painting for sure , the hood he wears is a great piece of work , the folds and the way it hangs look really spot on , a nice touch is the unbuttoned bit at the neck , the actual hood sits well on the subject and finishes on the head where the helmet fits ...when I dry fitted this I could not see any nedfor filler .

Rob has a knack for acheiving great clothing and I know that he takes such care in referencing as well ..all of which shows in the end result .

Our subject has his sleeves tied up at the shoulders which are finely done , again as result of the referencing he does. The breastplate is sharply defined and in the style seen in my references , over this he wears a overcoat , folds are soft and again it looks like he is wearing it ...on the front and back Rob has done some finely detailed livery badge this has been painted in the house of york colours on the box art .

Lets have a look at the pictures now which shows he fine detail we have on the model .

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Nap

On now to the 2nd piece now : the helmet itself

There is a small casting plug to remove underneath at the back ..careful though , we don't want to loose teh style!!!!, the inside has a padded line sculpted , dry fitting is excellent with details of the studs and the visor being well defined .

This is a classc style and looks great when fitted to the torso ...making him even more mean and menacing.

The opportunity to get the NMM brushes out is there ..or you could also put a pattern on it (ie chequered perhaps) , or use metallics and lots of washes ..remember armour reacts to the air and would not always be shiny but dirty and rusting .

That is all you have to do and then get priming and painting .

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Nap

My final thoughts on this bust :

To be honest I really like this , it just looks so right , sculpting is spot on and casting is also very good , these together with the presentation make thisa must have for me , you have the choice to use different trchniques for the metallics and clothing ..everyone will enjoy this bust .

Rob is IMO a talented sculptor and I look forward to seeing this range grow , both in bust and full figures .we might have something for Euro hopefully .

For more details on this and others in the range as well as updates on Figureworld go to

www.tbfigureworld.co.uk

Here is the box art pictures as in the original post .

Nap

Hi Guys ,

I promised you the 2 books that have been used (amongst others) by Rob for research , I have them in front of me and they are a great addition to the library .

The Medieval Soldier by Gerry Embleton and John Howe .......ISBN 1 8915 036 5

Medieval Miltary Costume by Gerry Embleton .........................ISBN 1 86126 371 6

Other good references if you can get a copy!!! :

Military Illustrated Past and Present No 7 page 11 ..details on Livery coats and badges
No 8 page 10 ...details on Cut and Fashion
No 11 page 14..details on edged weapons and helmets
No 11 page 39...details on Body protection and Campaign Service

Busts aren't usually my thing but I like this one and I might pick it up.

- Steve

I'm more of a leg man myself Ron

- Steve

Nice roses indeed ...the rose a flower of distinction and used many times during this period ...no idea why this was posted but at least it brightened up your post .....like you say this is a nice piece and one which I will be painting with pleasure .

Nap