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WIP Critique Borodino- The Figures

Discussion in 'vBench (Works in Progress)' started by ChaosCossack, Mar 30, 2013.

  1. ChaosCossack A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Hey All

    So now the general layout of the project is more or less set... It's time to start fleshing out the armatures and try to turn them into viable figures. I'm going to use this thread to post progression of the individual figures as I work on them. I hope to get some help and hints as to the sculpting process as I go here. With luck, the last pick of the last figure should be better than the first pic of the first fig ;)

    Here goes...
    The first figure I've chosen to work on is the downed horse and rider of the 14th Polish Cuirassiers. He's one half of a mini vignette within the diorama... the other half is the Russian Jager who's about to dispatch him at bayonet point. His right leg is trapped under the horse, he's warding off the bayonet with his left hand while reaching for his dropped sword with his right.
    1.JPG
    Fleshing is done with Apoxie clay and clothing and hair is Milliput silver.
    After adding hair, the Hornet head worked better with the Historex helmet. Regulation 'stashe is Milliput silver.
    Head 2.JPG Head 3.JPG Head 4.JPG Head 5.JPG

    Fleshed out the arms, then first added right sleeve
    Right arm.JPG Right arm- Coat 3.JPG
    Then, rolled out the Milliput between waxed paper to make the coattails, then cut to length and folded back the turnbacks.
    Right arm- Coat.JPG Right arm- Coat 2.JPG
    Right arm-Coat 4.JPG Right arm-Coat 5.JPG
    Finally sleeved the left arm
    With Horse.JPG With horse 2.JPG With horse 3.JPG With horse 4.JPG With horse 5.JPG
    Not shown, a groove was filed under the horse and the right leg was thinned so he sits properly under the horse. The pin protruding from the right leg will remain until figure is painted (for handling) then trimmed when ready for final placement on the base.

    Thanx for looking, please leave hints and help for sculpting and stay tuned for the next installment.

    Cheers

    Colin

    Attached Files:

  2. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Great modelling and what a project this is ....its going to be wonderful to see it all come to life with colour as well as seeing the sculpting .

    You can almost smell the fear of the Cuirassier

    Thanks for sharing
    Nap
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  3. Rompy Well-Known Member

    Country:
    Singapore
    lovely concept. looking forward to more.pics :)
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  4. Funky50 Guest

    Looking good.....I always think posting a WIP on planet figure is a extra special way of putting yourself under extra pressure....Wish I could do this .....
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  5. Funky50 Guest

    Are the Curaiss and stock parts Historex or airfix? This is really inspiring stuff
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  6. Aveleira A Fixture

    Country:
    Portugal
    Looking Great Colin... Keep on this project, I'm sure I will look great.
    Can't give advice about the sculpt, cause I don't know nothing about that.

    Regards
    Pedro
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  7. ChaosCossack A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Thanx all
    All the plastic parts are Historex... Cuirass, helmet, horse and horse furniture... as it progresses, swords, pouches, muskets and shakos will be Historex as well.
    As for posting this as a fig by fig WIP I'm just hoping someone can catch my mistakes before I go to far to fix them :nailbiting:

    Thanx again

    Colin
    Funky50 likes this.
  8. ChaosCossack A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Pedro
    Maybe not... but I count on your eye and your opinion
    Colin
    Aveleira likes this.
  9. Martin Antonenko A Fixture

    Country:
    Germany
    WoW - very realistic pose, Colin!

    This will be a great piece!

    Cheers
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  10. ChaosCossack A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Thanx Martin
    Your opinion carries much weight with me... Thank you

    Colin
  11. Sturm Grenadier Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Hello Colin, Great animation, love the action being portrayed with this figure. By the way, like your new avatar(y) Regards, SG:)(y)(y)
    crf and ChaosCossack like this.
  12. valiant A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Colin, great bit of animation there, look forward to seeing it finished!
    Steve(y)
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  13. Tonton Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hi, Colin. I feel a rat for saying this – and a fraud – as you've been so helpful to me and there's no way I could do what you're trying to achieve, but I hope you'll take what I have to say as constructive. (If you agree with my reservations, better to sort it out now than to have second thoughts when your diorama is finished.)
    I have a bit of a problem with the Cuirassier's right arm. To me it doesn't look as though it's positioned correctly in relation to the shoulder. Perhaps the arm should be brought more to the side as in its present position it looks as though there's a gap between the upper arm and shoulder (under the cuirass) when the line should, of course, be continuous. Or maybe the figure could be resting on an elbow with a bent arm. This might be a more realistic pose anyway for some poor sod desperately trying to lever himself out from under his horse.
    Sorry, but hope it helps!
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  14. tiberius57 A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Colin, my friend, I think that Tonton has a point. I know that our subject is trying to get his sabre to defend himself but resting on the elbow and a slightly bent right arm will look more realistic. The rest is awesome. I like it a lot! (y)
    Cheers mate and keep us posted.
    Zeno :)
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  15. ChaosCossack A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Tonton and Zeno
    I understand what you're saying. I've gone over this guy again and again. I even lay on the floor with a cardboard cuirass. There's a couple of things missing from the pics that will give the pose context.
    1- the other fig (next on the bench) who will be trying to stab him. This makes his situation more anxious then just being trapped.
    2- His sword that he's reaching, no, straining for will be just beyond his fingertips... he's reaching desperately not resting on his elbow.

    Wearing the cuirass restricts the shoulder from lifting closer to the ear when raising your arm. The cuirass itself has riden up to the man's chin. How much it's riden up is shown by how much of the bottom of the coat is exposed. By stretching, the ribcage is extended and the distance from the hip to the armpit is lengthened while the steel cuirass doesn't stretch or flex... just rides up to the chin. It sounds silly, but I actually made a rough cardboard cuirass, laid on the floor with my bottom leg anchored and reached out as far as I could... my torso lifted off the floor and the more I reached the more my head was pushed away from my reaching arm by the shoulder of the cuirass and the more it dug in under my chin.

    I tried it with him leaning on his elbow and it gave the impression that he had given up the fight. I think once the neck and collar are filled in and the epaulette is put on, there won't seem to be so much empty spacebetween head and shoulder. Also once the second figure is added to this vignette it will give some context to this guy's position.

    I hope this doesn't come off as arguementative because I truely value the opinion of everyone here, and of course Zeno I know personally and respect. I take the comments in the spirit they are given, as constructive observations and really appreciate them. I hope when this guy and his opponent are done, the attitude of the scene I'm trying to represent will be apparent.

    Of course, if at that point, it still looks off... I'll chop the arm off and try again... and I'll owe you both a beer :D

    Thanx for taking the time to make your observations
    Cheers

    Colin
    crf and tiberius57 like this.
  16. ChaosCossack A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Oh yeah, Tonton... Never feel bad about making a thoughtful and constructive observation... that's what we're all here for, Right?

    Everything you said was reasonable and done respectfully and I'm glad to have imput from my fellow modellers. Hopefully by tomorrow night I will have him tweaked and finished in that area and I'll want to know if I made it better or worse ;)

    Thanx

    Colin
  17. Helm A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    I want pics of this "I even lay on the floor with a cardboard cuirass" :ROFLMAO:

    Steve
  18. Tonton Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    With all the personal research you've done, I'm convinced – I'd forgotten you said he was reaching for his sword. Eager to watch progress on this fantastic diorama.

    Jeff
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  19. tiberius57 A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Good stuff, my friend! (y) Keep us posted. Will follow closely.
    Cheers,
    Zeno :)
    ChaosCossack likes this.
  20. ACCOUNT_DELETED A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    I agree this is a critical step in the sculpting process and need to be included in your SBS.

    Colin

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