Here is one of my current WIP's, its a one off of a Revoloutionary War soldier carrying the 'Don't Tread on Me" banner. I first saw the flag a few months back while watching the HBO series 'John Adams', and again when Mrosko posted his pictures from the Atlanta show.

I got to thinking about the flag and its meaning; what a powerful statement - Don't Tread On Me.

I had to do this in miniature so here it is! I want to show a soldier, with beat up and raggedy clothes and a bit wore out, yet standing up for what he so strongly believe in.

The figure is made out of Magic Sculpt with a hornet head. The flag was done by Doug Cohen as I have never done a flag before he graciously offered to show me how it was done. Still more to go, but it's getting there.

Anders,
Great idea and so far looking very good.
Cheers
John

Anders,

Wow, what a start, love his posture, saying such alot without words.

Look forward to following this to the end.

Cheers Ken

Great start Anders ,the sculpting of the figure and flag look very natural.

David

Good sculpting Anders.
I really like the look he already has, specially the wornout shoes. The toos(?) sticking out ot the shoe. Great sculpt.
Looking forward to the finish. The flag is some artwork for itself.

Marc

Superb

Hi Anders,

Super sculpt and very original. The only thing I don't like is that it's a one of. Please release it under the Helo label so I can paint one too!!!!!

Cheers,

Gino

Thanks guys!

Its a fun piece to do. It's pretty refreshing to do a one off everynow and then as I don't have to worry if it's castable, or how the piece is engineered etc etc. Though I am a bit apprehensive about painting the flag, never have painted a flag before, and my free hand painting skills are not quite up to par. It will be a challange for sure, but fun and a good learning experience!

Here is a picture of the flag he will be carrying, stolen from Mrsosko's Atlanta pictures thread on treadheadz.

As with a lot of older flags they are very meaningful and symbolic, and this one is no exception. The rattle snake symbolizes America (North American Timber Rattler), a snake that will warn you when you get too close, and will serve a deadly bite when pushed into a corner, the rattles (13 rattlers for the 13 colonies) don't work independantly, but as a sting of rattles it serves its purpose of warning. There were other designs of the rattle snake throughout this period of American history, initially as a snake shaped like the east coastline, divided into 13 parts, again for each colonly.




The flag is also known as the Gadsden flag, named after the Naval Colonel who gave a version of this flag to the comander in cheif of the continental Navy, Commodore Esek Hopkins. Colonel Christopher Gadsden also gave his home state legislature in Charleston, SC of which was written:

"Col. Gadsden presented to the Congress an elegant standard, such as is to be used by the commander in chief of the American navy; being a yellow field, with a lively representation of a rattle-snake in the middle, in the attitude of going to strike, and these words underneath, "Don't Tread on Me!"

The flags popularity spread and was used widly throughout the Revolutionary War in many variations.

If you would like to know more about this check out some of these links, it's pretty interesting how the origins of the flag was in part due to Benjamin Franklin's earlier days of news paper articles.

http://www.gadsden.info/

http://www.usflag.org/gadsden.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag

Very good job Anders, the best from you so far

He looks ready to fight! A "Join or Die" slogan flag would be pretty cool too

Killer work Anders!

What he said

Superb sculpt and beautiful pose, this one will look great,
best wishes
R.L.

Nice work Anders. It looks nice and with character !! Waiting for progress

Costas

Great sculpt Anders!

Congratulations!

Cheers,
Balázs

Hi Anders
A fine sculpt ....enjoyed reading the history of the flag

Frank

excellent pose he has a very defiant stance

I really like the figure. I've also been wanting to be able to sculpt a flag like that. Would you mind sharing it with us how you (or your friend) did it?

Thanks and much appreciated!

Thanks guys!!

Sorry but this is strictly a one off. I can't wait to start painting i, and the flag too!

The flag was done like this:

Rolled out Aves Apoxy Sculpt to paper thin thickness.
Cut out the size of the flag
Super Glued the flag pole to one side of the flag
Let set up until the putty was almost cured
Then placed the flag pole w/flag in the position we wanted it on the figure, gravity did most of the work but some fold/drapery work was needed to acheive the look we were after.

It really went smooth though, and not quite as complicated as it sounds in writing. Very seldom does things just 'work out', so when it does happen it's awesome.

More progress has been done to the figure, I think he will be finished by tonight, but we will see. Will post pictures soon!

Go for it Anders it will be a head turner for sure!!!!

Ray

Anders, excellent sculpture sofar!

Regards,
Marcel.