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WIP Oniria Miniatures, 28mm-36mm, - Major Dundee ("Major ain't no lawyer")

Discussion in 'vBench (Works in Progress)' started by KenBoyle, Feb 10, 2019.

  1. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States
    I am currently working on Oniria's kit based on the Sam Peckinpah Western movie released in 1965 called "Major Dundee ".

    Major Dundee: Charlton Heston
    Confederate Captain Benjamin Tyreen: Richard Harris
    Samuel Potts: James Coburn

    A really brief synopsis:

    During the end of the Civil War, Major Dundee guards Confederate prisoners, Union deserters and ordinary hard-bitten criminals in a remote fort in New Mexico. When Apaches attack the fort and make off with three children, Dundee must set up a posse including Confederates, who face a choice between joining up or being shot, to rescue the children.

    As to the meaning of Oniria's title "Major ain't no lawyer", in the posse's rescue efforts they run up against a contingent of French Lancers while trying to cross the border from Mexico back into the US. At that point the following conversation takes place.

    Samuel Potts : I am Samuel Potts, I bring complements of Major Amos Dundee, regular, United States cavalry. You have five minutes to surrender your troops and your stores before he cuts loose.

    French Capt. Jacques Tremaine : [putting on his dress coat as he speaks] He would not dare. This is a horrendous violation of international law, and an unprovoked confrontation with a friendly power...

    Samuel Potts : Sonny, the Major ain't no lawyer. And you've now got *four* minutes.

    The Oniria kit:

    The kit contains Charlton Heston, Richard Harris and James Coburn along with a single cavalry horse, all in approximately 36mm metal. As usual the sculpting is extremely well done, especially for this scale, and a joy to paint (Optivisor not included ;) ). I only made one minor change to the kit and that was to remove the shoulder rank boards from Richard Harris's Confederate Captain's uniform. Hollywood got it wrong when they created the Confederate uniform and Oniria, intentionally being faithful to the movie, included them. Normally, I'd go with the movie version of the figure, as Oniria did, but for some reason this just "bothered" me and I made the easy change.

    I worked on the horse first so here are photos of the painted horse and primed figures. I also created the base and groundwork before painting so I could include the "slots" where the figures would be positioned. The groundwork is my usual mixture of slate and Magic Sculpt.

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    Once each figure is painted I will add it to the base and add some sand/dirt around the feet to blend it all together. The base has now been given a general base coat that will be finalized later. Finally as a finishing touch I will add grass etc.

    Currently only the Horse is completed, but one armed Samuel Potts will be next...
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    Thanks for looking and stay tuned,
    Ken
    Grod, oldtrousers, Lasalle and 7 others like this.
  2. Oda A Fixture

    Oniria has some remarkable products and you have certainly begun doing justice to this particular vignette.

    Oda.
    KenBoyle and Viking Bob like this.
  3. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi Ken

    That's great ..I have some packets from this company for review , Napoleonic ..they are really lovely figures

    Following this very closely

    Thanks for sharing

    Nap
    KenBoyle, Viking Bob and Oda like this.
  4. Viking Bob PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    That's looking good Ken, you're the man for these. Look forward to more.
    KenBoyle and Oda like this.
  5. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States
    Thanks, they are fun little projects.

    Cheers,
    Ken
    Oda likes this.
  6. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    Thanks Nap. I also have some of their Napoleonics and they are very nice. I just always get pulled into the western themes. Maybe later I'll tackle them. :)

    Cheers,
    Ken
    Nap likes this.
  7. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    Thanks Bob! As long as they are compatible with my southwestern US groundwork, I'm good to go. ;):)

    Cheers,
    Ken
    Viking Bob likes this.
  8. BobLff257 A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Nice start Ken, like what you have done so far, I agree with your comments about Oniria miniatures, fantastic sculpting and detailing on such a small scale. Working on the Custer diorama at the moment, loads of figures to paint but making headway, will be worth it in the end!

    Rob
    KenBoyle likes this.
  9. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States
    Thanks Rob! Your Capt. Nathan Brittles figure was fantastic. One of my favorites.

    I'd love to see how your Custer diorama comes out. I also have the Custer sets but haven't had the courage or the time to pursue yet. :( Please inspire me. :)

    Cheers,
    Ken
  10. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States
    OK, the first of the three figures is complete. James Coburn as Samuel Potts has been painted and added to the base. The base will obviously look better when I add the foliage at the end but, for now, one step at a time.

    Richard Harris is next on my workbench.

    Cheers,
    Ken


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    Added to the base.

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  11. BobLff257 A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Like it Ken, subtile shading, good skin tones. Interestingly you have tackled the eyes similarly to how I have with the Custer project, looking forward to the next instalment.

    Rob (y)
    KenBoyle likes this.
  12. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States
    Thanks Rob! Yes, to some degree, I highlight and shade more like I was painting a 54mm figure rather than the more excessive approach typically used on war games figures in this scale. This just suits my style better and Angel's sculpting helps.

    I should have Richard Harris painted and posted tomorrow.

    Cheers, :)
    Ken
  13. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States
    Next figure done. This is Confederate Captain Benjamin Tyreen played by Richard Harris. A little more colorful than Samuel Potts.
    The final figure is Charlton Heston and will be done in the next day or so. Since this will be the last figure, I'll also complete the groundwork at the same time. Thanks for following along.

    Cheers,
    Ken
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    Wings5797, Nap and oldtrousers like this.
  14. bucsfan21 Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Ken, Enjoy seeing the scene come together.(y) Major Dundee is one of my all-time favorite movies and westerns! Thanks for sharing your work, Terry Martin-member of the Atlanta Military Figure Society of Atlanta, GA
    KenBoyle likes this.
  15. BobLff257 A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Looking good Ken, well done. (y)

    Rob
    KenBoyle likes this.
  16. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    Thanks Terry! I am so hooked on the American West and the movies covering it. :happy:

    Cheers,
    Ken
  17. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    Thanks Rob! Almost done and ready for the display cabinet. :)

    Cheers,
    Ken
  18. bucsfan21 Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Ken, You know Verlinden did a bust of a Yankee Cavalryman with a cigar in his mouth, Civil War Era. The face reminded me a lot of Charlton Heston's character, Major Dundee. It would take some work, but one day, I hope to make him Amos Dundee. Major Dundee is still one of my all-time favorites dealing with the American Southwest, Civil War west of the Mississippi and Apaches. Others that follow are Rio Conchos with Richard Boone, Stuart Whitman, Hondo with John Wayne, Ward Bond, Noah Berry and a young James Arness, Duel at Diablo with James Garner, Sidney Poitier, and Dennis Weaver, Ulzana's Raid with Burt Lancaster, and Geronimo with Wes Studi and Jason Patrick. I thoroughly enjoyed Cliff Hager's book-Rio Conchos as well. And Louis L'Amour's Shalako is a great book and movie as well. I definitely get inspired on the Old West!
  19. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States

    All great movies Terry. I remember the Velinden bust but never got it.:( You are a man after my own heart. I've still got a lot of gray army civil war/western figures to paint, so I'll be at it for a while.:)

    Thanks for posting.
    Ken
  20. KenBoyle PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-States
    Here is the Major Dundee/Charlton Heston figure completed.

    Cheers,
    Ken
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    Nap, Viking Bob and Old Pete like this.

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