Here are some pics I just took of some old figures. The Custer bust was done in '96 when I was actually painting more than one figure per year. It is 1/12th scale or 150mm size. This kit is no longer available. Don't ask!

The Japanese Naval pilot was my one paint-job for last year. This figure is 1/32nd scale or 54mm. It is available from Ultracast in Canada.

http://www.ultracast.ca/products/54/003/default.htm









Cheers!!

Mike

Mike - I particularly like Custer! How did you achieve the marvelous freckled look of the skin? I can't tell if the surface is rough and you've shaded the depressions or if you painted on the freckly look as separate darker flecks - "pontilist" - like.

All the best,
Dan

oldies but goldies ! (don't know the rigth words!) Mike, you're still an example and a real master for me...

All the best
Daniel

Has To Be The Best Custer Bust . Dave.

Mike,

Thanks for the pictures. I have always loved the sculpt and paintjob on Custer. The pictures are really great but I really enjoyed it when I saw it in person in Chicago many years ago.

Joe

No trickery

The freckles are just paint. Hundreds of tiny dots.

Great sculping and painting Mike!
christos

Finally I can see the Japanese naval pilot you painted, do you remember me about this ? It is beautifully sculpted and painted. Custer is one of my preferred, the wrinkle on the right side between the chin and the neck is a killer. I think the two are the perfect example of a static pose with a lot of character.

I hate Custer but you've painted him very well

Excellent work mike!
I really like all your works very famous in HK.

Best regards
Cheung

Mike, I've always liked your Custer bust. It makes me wonder why we painters don't apply freckles to more of our figures.

Mike,
Just Beautiful painting.
Cheers
John

Mike, Your Custer bust has always been a favorite. The painting just breathes that much more life into it.~Gary

This is great stuff. I've spent many hours gazing at pics of your Custer and others over the years, trying to understand your painting method. The pilot is an excellent sculpt & paint. Do you still use Humbrols? Combine oils? Pls do a painting SBS.........Long-time admirer, AL

Hi Mike,
Love the pilot! I've got a casting of it myself. BTW, the folks at UltraCast are great! And their casting is top notch!
I really like your Custer piece as well. Who released that originally? Might be able to find it on ebay. I've got a collector that loves (!?) Custer and would love this piece.
Best!
Ric

Mike,
That is what i call extremely neat painting.
Good work. I like them both.

marc

A mate convinced me to pick the pilot up at the local hobby store last fall. This was the first time I had seen it. Really is a nice little piece. I'm just putting the finishing touches to my version for MFCA.

Hi Mike
super stuff
Roberto

... Well and I was just going to ... now you break my heart :-(

A very, very good portrait in miniature of Custer ; amazing, that's him, with freckles and all ! Hope you might do something else Little Bighorn-related in the future, maybe a couple of 70 or 90 mm figures, a trooper of the 7th cavalry and a Lakota warrior ?

Thanks everybody!

I believe the Custer was a Kirin kit if that helps anybody. Good luck finding one!

I have always and still do paint with enamels. Model paints to the uninitiated. I still use Humbrols although the people at Humbrol seem determined to put that stuff to an end! They started by eliminating most of the most useful colors. Then they put the nail in the coffin by changing the formulation. The paint is not as opaque or dependable as it was in the past. I am limping by for now. One of these days I will have to change over to Model Master or start using acrylics, as i cannot paint a lick with oil paints.

Cheers!!

Mike