WIP Critique Conan Diorama

[harrytheheid]

I’d like to share the present status of my latest WIP mainly using 75mm Pegaso figures painted in acrylics. Probably had the white balance adjusted too low on the camera, but it’s dark’o’clock in my location right now and I didn’t want to use my flash attachment.
The dragon’s a McFarlane item I picked up in a local toy shop and drybrushed up a bit.

75mm PEGASO CIMMERIAN WARRIOR

75mm PEGASO NINJA

75mm PEGASO THULSA DOOM

I was originally going to add two 75mm Tartar Miniatures Picinean Warriors to the diorama, but decided not to overcrowd the scenario, so I’m only going to use one of them and he’s going to be located approximately where I’ve placed him in the next photo – once he’s finished and I can remove that choc-ice stick and plastic vice of course. I’m leaving him alone for a full 24 hours before adding a few darker flesh tone glazes to his legs and arms. Might have him and the entire diorama finished by Sunday/Monday – must remember to replace the rope for the bucket at the well and weather the metal fittings a bit more.

75mm TARTAR MINIATURES PICINEAN WARRIOR

I decided to give the underside of the rotary base a lick of varnish today. Here’s the base out on the patio supported by my sooper-dooper painting jig while the stuff was drying this afternoon. Just as well I pinned the figures and fixed them in place with super-strength 5-minute epoxy….and just as well I’m not of a nervous disposition either.
I had to do this job outside cos the varnish stinks to high heaven. I reckon it’s secondary purpose must be to clear blocked drains or something – but at least the fumes kept the mosquitoes at bay.

HI-TECH PAINTING JIG

Here’s the underside tonight – looks okay considering the brush used and the fact that no-one’s ever really going to be seeing it anyway.

UNDERSIDE OF CONAN/DOOM DIORAMA BASE

Here’s the overall 90% finished diorama tonight – looking none the worse for it’s upside down ordeal earlier today.

And I’ll be using that Chinese calligraphy brush to apply the varnish to the edges of the rotary base tomorrow sometime. Looking for a much smoother finish on these areas than that on the underside.
Just noticed the bend in Arnie's sword - so that'll be straightened before the next set of photos get taken.

I’m still considering a sidekick for Arnie, but haven’t decided as yet – I’ll probably obtain the figure I want to add just behind the Conan figure end of October, depends on work commitments, but if he won’t work cos he’ll overcrowd the vignette, then I’ll use him in something else I have in mind for a future project.
Only other thing I’d like to add to the diorama base is a few skulls, but can’t find any 75mm examples – the Andrea 90mm items might work as “Giant” skulls though, and I might use their 54mm vultures, or a couple of Games Workshop Giant Vampire Bats I found lurking in the bottom of my stash yesterday, (can’t even remember when or where I bought them).

Any critique or suggestions for improvements welcome.

Cheers
Harry

 

[gordy]

Very cool

I like the idea of the rotating base, we call 'em "Lazy Susans" over here

 

[harrytheheid]

Very cool

I like the idea of the rotating base, we call 'em "Lazy Susans" over here

Yeah, I'm aware that's the name given to them in the States. Over here, the Chinese call them, "Rotary Wooden Bases from IKEA for use on the dining room table".
Personally, I call them, "Cheap Rotary Wooden Bases from IKEA for Vignettes". I also use rectangular kitchen chopping boards for diorama bases. My wife remains completely confused why I insist on frequenting the kitchen sections of local supermarkets.
....
Cheers
Harry

 

[Trep]

Very original and interesting. The dio flows, good work

 

[Steve Ski]

Cool idea using the lazy susan, let's the viewer see all aspects vs just a mirror or a stationary display. Great dio and the figures look great. We can still see the quality of the painting, cameras can be a pain. Your shading and highlights look really good from what I'm seeing and the ground work and base is right on. Maybe post some other pics when you get the camera dialed in, that would be great. Fine work Harry, love it!


Cheers, Ski.

 

[gordy]

Yeah, I'm aware that's the name given to them in the States. Over here, the Chinese call them, "Rotary Wooden Bases from IKEA for use on the dining room table".
Personally, I call them, "Cheap Rotary Wooden Bases from IKEA for Vignettes". I also use rectangular kitchen chopping boards for diorama bases. My wife remains completely confused why I insist on frequenting the kitchen sections of local supermarkets.
....
Cheers
Harry

Aye, I take you're not native? What is the figure/hobby scene like there?

Cheers!

 

[DaveG]

Great looking scene Harry. Bunch of really nice looking figures, but I think Conan is my favorite of the group. Agree the lazy susan base is a good innovation for infinite viewing angles. Look forward to seeing more of this as additional characters are added.

DG

 

[harrytheheid]

Aye, I take you're not native? What is the figure/hobby scene like there?

Cheers!

Naah, I'm not a national.
There's no figure/hobby scene where we are. In fact I'd say I'm considered eccentric, (at best), by my wife's family and friends because none of them have ever seen the kind of models and figurines we're familiar with.
Hong Kong has a few modelling retailers and clubs, and there might be some in Shanghai or Guanzhou, but the only model shop I've ever seen up North was attached to the Military Museum in Beijing. They had no figures as such, but did have a quite diverse range of modern Chinese AFV models. They were mostly in 1/32 and 1/35 scale, and were very similar in style to Unimax Forces of Valour models. Wish I'd bought some just for the novelty value - maybe next time.

Although I do turn up some useful stuff for dioramas when rooting around local shops, the vast majority of groundwork and scenics - and all the model figurines I have - are imported, usually from the larger retailers in the UK such as Historex Agents or El Greco. Shipping charges are pretty much offset by savings made through not having to pay UK Value Added Tax, so it's not so bad, just have to be patient as shipping occasionally takes an innordinate length of time. I do sometimes take a hit for Import Duty, but it's inconsistent and mostly the shipping boxes just get delivered straight to our residence with no interference from Customs.
That's for kits and castings, but I've had horrendous problems in the past when importing pre-assembled and painted figures from the States, both with Import Tax, and with Customs almost destroying the figures. I once had two mounted Russian Mfr'd figurines costing over $1,000 delivered in pieces - presumably they were trying to find out if I was smuggling gold or other substances under the paintwork. Thankfully I was able to repair them, but it taught me a lesson and I now limit figure imports to kits from Pegaso/Andrea/Romeo/Etc. These just don't seem to attract the same kind of deliberate destruction for some reason.

Apologies for droning on and on, but I'm waiting for paint glazes to dry - and the missus is avidly watching her favourite soap opera set in late-1930's Shanghai - and I'm not sure which activity is more boring....
....

Cheers
Harry

 

[harrytheheid]

Great looking scene Harry. Bunch of really nice looking figures, but I think Conan is my favorite of the group. Agree the lazy susan base is a good innovation for infinite viewing angles. Look forward to seeing more of this as additional characters are added.

DG

Hi DG,

This one might be finished over the weekend. I'm still undecided about a sidekick for Conan, but am drifting to the opinion that it would unbalance the scenario, and Doom, Ninja, one Picinean Warrior and Arnie himself will be enough. I think a couple of 90mm skull sets might be a good idea after all though, especially if I add fangs and/or horns to them. Kind of gone off the idea of the vultures, but the vampire bats might work hovering around the dragon. So I might add these items when I get back home end of October.
Meanwhile, I'll be concentrating on finally finishing off the Iphy conversion tomorrow cos I found a really good alter stone yesterday - and there's been no cops calling at the house demanding it back.
....
Cheers
H

 

[harrytheheid]

Thanks to all who've responded for the encouragement.
I’ve made some progress on this diorama.

The, err, "Hyborian Lassie" looks pretty attractive now she's had a shave and put her make-up on....although I forgot to place her spear in her arms when I took these photos....
....

Just need to finish the Tarter Miniatures Picinean Warrior, fix the additional figures in place, add some 90mm Skulls (and perhaps a pal for Conan) when they get delivered, and add one or maybe both of those GW Giant Vampire Bats I found the other day.
The Picinean needs a few tweaks to his shield and helmet but he's come out not too bad - I'm now considering whether I should have my second Picinean figure emerging from the trees over on the R-H-S where I have the half-done figure just to the right of Doom's helmet in this photo. Dunno, I'll chew it over some more, but if I do add him I'll remove the foilage just behind his left leg.
Oh, and the Hyborian Lady found her spear for this photo.

Cheers
H

 

[theBaron]

Well done, Harry! Your forays into "connoisseur style" from our world of toy soldiers get better with each project.

I like the Lazy Susan idea, too. I'm using one for a display I'm building, because it's a 360 degree view, but on a shelf, one side would always be hidden.

Prost to you over there in the Middle Kingdom!
Brad

 

[harrytheheid]

Hi Brad, glad you like it....
This one's ground to a halt until the additional characters and accessories get to China from the UK and I get my next assignment out the way. I'll post the completed diorama sometime during November when I'll be scheduled to get home again and finish the extra items, then get them located on the base.
Yeah, the lazy susan works extremely well. No need to move the camera horizontally. Makes for infinite shooting angles when the camera position is adjusted vertically.

I've toned down the fleshtones on both the Ninja and Boadicea figures for softer transitions between highlights and shadows, and I think I'll adjust the tones on Conan to give a more "ruddy" look similar to the Picinean Warrior.

The other diorama has also ground to a halt while waiting for additional and/or replacement figures to turn up. I'll post it as a done deal sometime during November as well.
This enforced hiatus does give me a opportunity to "tweak" the existing figures on both dioramas though. Oh, and rewatch HBO's "Rome" series again.

Cheers
Harry

 

[gordy]

Very colourful Harry

 

[harrytheheid]

Very colourful Harry

Thanks Gordy, appreciate it. I've two additional warrior figures planned for this one, and just possibly another female. I'm not sure if she'll work, but will find out when the postman finally delivers....

Cheers
Harry

 

[harrytheheid]

Well, it's been a while, but here’s the final layout. It’s essentially finished although I’ve still a few minor details to do, like more greasepaint on Arnie, and I'm still considering extending the groundwork to the edge of the diorama base.
Will try to get better photos tomorrow morning, cos it’s dark o’clock right now here in the Hyborian Kingdoms.

Figures are;
One 75mm Pegaso Cimmerian
One 75mm Pegaso Doom
One 75mm Pegaso Ninja
Two 75mm Tartar Miniatures Picinean Warrior, one with slightly converted stance and sword, the other with war mace
One 75mm Tartar Miniatures Italic Warrior
One 72mm Reaper Miniatures Sophie Succubus, slightly converted

Cheers
Harry

 

[harrytheheid]

These snaps, taken in daylight, are a bit better. Still work to be done on the Italic Gentleman and the Picinian Warrior on the left side of the diorama; there's a few overpaints, outlining and some other details to be fixed and/or added in, but overall I'm quite happy with this one.

Cheers
Harry

 

[theBaron]

Nice, Harry, I like the way it came out. I like the focus in the last shot, how it follows the warriors attacking from the left. Crom!