Hey All

Haven't posted anything new in a bit... I've been trying a couple of new techniques and materials, so I've had a bunch of false starts. I have finally committed to this figure, so here goes.

The new techniques were picked up at Fernando Ruiz' seminar last month using retarder and wet blending with acrylics... I've tried to adapt his lessons to suit my own "style" such as it is. The new materials are the retarder (or course) and Scale75 paints... THEY ARE AWESOME!!!!! These acrylics dry absolutely FLAT... especially the blues, reds and greens.

Anyway, the figure is from H&V and is a great casting. A corporal of the 19th Indiana Volunteers, part of the Iron Brigade.

So far the face is done, the trousers are done and the coat is base coated with a dark blue wash and the hat is base coated with a black wash.

Please, any comments or critiques are most welcome.

Cheers

Colin

Looking good Colin!

Nice work.


I only have scale 75 flesh set, I'll have to get some of their colours too going by what you have said.


Cheer's,
Jeff.

Colin
Great start on a great figure.

Bob

Thanks Bob and Jeff. It is a great casting indeed, fantastic drapery.
I have the flesh set but for skintones I will stick with Vallejo because the finish is more satin, as skin is want to be. I did pick up a few sets (thanx Bent Bristle)... Blue red green black/white wood/leather and flesh. Some great tones and mixers in them and all are dead flat. Slightly different texture than Vallejo... Can't thin them too much or they dry a bit chalky.

Looking forward to digging deeper into this project.

Colin

Looks like it's going nicely. If it helps this model is on YouTube being painted on I think it's Painting Buddha, if you get a chance check it out good with techniques and colour references.

Looking good. I am a firm convert to Scale 75 colours. I have seven of the sets and they cover just about every colour I need. When glazing I actually use Halfords concentrated screen was, the blue stuff, to thin them. For airbrushing I use the same. You can get a really thin transparent glaze using this stuff. Just decant some into a small dropper bottle and it's easy to measure drops.

I like the blues you used, I tried wet blending with vallejo and retarder but it went a bit to shiny, looks like the scale75 stays nice and matt.

Cheers Zane

Looks good Colin. I've recently started playing with acrylics and after my first try with a Scale 75 set I've over a few months bought all their sets (the new brass/copper set and inks I will order later today). They dry totally matt and as a dream for mixing. Still a bit of traditionalist though and intend sticking to oils for flesh, horses and leather.

What retarder are you using? I love that word "retarder" ...

Cheers

Huw

Thanx Stoffy, Graham, Zane and Huw.

It's taking some getting used to and I'm nowhere near comfortable with Fer's techniques but I'm pretty happy with the trousers so far (mind you Fer would say "They're OK but you should go to the corner and die quietly ) , of course they will be ALOT dirtier in the end.

The retarder is from Amsterdam

Colin

How could I missed this start, my friend!
Everything looks very good so far! Like the face!
Will follow with great interest!
Cheers and I'm sure it will come out much better then my version.
Zeno

Thanks Colin. I will now have to get hold of retarder myself...

"The Retarder" sounds a bit like the title of a Death Wish type vigilante movie... turns crimials from being mindless to quiet well behaved drooling idiots... as I'm writing this where does that leave me?????

Cheers

Huw

I think that only happens if you drink the retarder Huw

Thanx Zeno, but I gave up competing with you... it only serves to injure my fragile ego

Colin

I like it, the face looks really nice. Will follow.


Steve Deyo

Off to a nice start. To each their own as I am not wed to scale 75. I find I have to constantly shake the hell out of them. I find the carrier a bit oily. Also I like the satin finish vallejo gives. Looking forward to your progress on this.

Some true observations Colin...
The shaking I find with these, Vallejo and Andrea. Nature of the acrylic beast I guess.
The texture or consistency is definitely heavier than Vj, which to my mind makes them great for base coating. The property which makes them dead flat also seems to create an issue when thinning... I found when I thinned them too much, the result was chalkier than similarly thinned Vj.
All this being said, the addition of the retarding medium made the S75 vey smooth and solved much of the graininess, extends drying time, and allows for some blending to soften the transitions. Much the same as when I picked up Vj when I was using Citadel, it took some time and practice to get a feel for the new medium.

I will still use Vallejo for a lot of situations like flesh, leather, wood and certain fabrics like silks, fine linen and hair and furs... things that benefit from a satin finish. Scale75, on the other hand, being dead flat are better for heavier textiles like wool, coarse cotton, canvas, denim etc. I've basically just added a new club to my bag that includes Vallejo, Andrea, DarkStar metallic, Sargent metallic, Pivateer and Citadel.

I did some more work tonight on this fig, if I'm still awake after John Oliver I'll take some pics... if not, after work tomorrow.

Colin

Who are you saying is the retard from Amsterdam?

That's a long way to go for some retarder! Don't they sell it in Canada?

Oh Roger, you little scamp, I didn't go to Amsterdam for it, I had it brought over by the local Dutch mafia.

Yes sir Scoffy it's Amsterdam brand retarder.