W.I.P. Greek Thespian Hoplite at Thermopylae

Ian, I agree with what your sayin' but there is hardly any flesh on show within the helmet, only his eyelids, and the tips of his cheeks.

The tree, maybe a little too big for the surface area of the base.

Thanks.

Thanks Steve. 

Ths is the figure finally finished. On with the base work, now.

Wait... back up! Please video tape yourself painting the flesh tones. They are perfect, the best I've seen. Me need toootorial

Steve 

I've got the flesh painted in on this, now. For that I used Vallejo 876 Brown Sand. Burnt Sienna mixed with Lamp Black was used for the shadin', while Cadmium Dark Red mixed with Naples Yellow Hue was used for the highlights. The only thing left now, is the kopis.

That was freakin hilarious!

Lovely figure you got there. Beautiful werk!

SST

How can you tell it's a Thespian?  I thought the Greeks had a strict "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Beautiful work, as always!

The armour paintin' is now completed.

For the helmet and greaves I used Vallejo 794 'Red Gold' as a basecoat, then 791 'Gold' was used for a highlight and final coat, this colour is jus' a slightly natural shade lighter and was drybrushed. These paints are so smooth, they drybrush so well with no noticeable transition, they jus' naturally blend in as long as you don't pick too much of a contrasty shade. Then for the edged decoration on his helmet 796 'White Gold' was used.

Here, i've made a start on the armour. I chose a straight bronze colour 'cos I jus' couldn't rationalise the theory of these guys havin' blackened gunmetal armour. I suppose I maybe proved wrong, but I don't care 'cos i'm totally down and at home with what i've done.

I used Vallejo alcohol based metallics, and these are the mutt's nuts! They're so smooth, dry instantly without any buildup and they're totally in scale with no suspended out of scale flake effects, that so many acrylic paints have. The metallic look is jus' so sublime and definitive, I cannot reccommend these enough!

I've finished the shield. The symbol is that of Artemis, Goddess of the Moon, they're patron goddess. I painted this free-hand usin' very thin paint, once I had the symmetry right I then slightly thickened the paint and blocked it in. Then I tidied up the outside of the design with thinned black paint.

For the bronze edges of the shield, I gave them a pin wash by first coatin' the bronze colour with Johnson's (future) Klear, a vinyl floor gloss varnish, with a brush. This was used as a seal or barrier to stop the bronze acrylic paint from soakin' up the wash and leavin' hard edges. We all know that acrylic paint is very porous. Then Burnt Sienna mixed with Lamp Black oil paint and water, was used for the wash.

Yoda, you can get it from Steve (Hiroboy), he is the only importer of this stuff, in the UK. He's a great service with cheap postage, and you'll get it a day after you've ordered it.

http://www.hiroboy.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=24_58 

Fingerseddie

Wish i could get hold of some !!!!.But cant find it over here on  the other side of the river, can you let me know where you get yours from,as i`m over in essex every so offten when i pick my boys up from my EX. many thanx Alan.

This is jus' a small update on the interior of the shield, regardin' the rope loops created with liquid putty. Mr. Dissolved Liquid Putty, get some soon!

Here is the cloak havin' been completed. This part of the figure was very worryin' for me as to how it would turn out. First 'cos of the fact that vertical folds do not look as effective when painted as horizontal ones, and second, the idea of highlightin' black is not all that as straight forward as you'd think. Especially on such a large scale as his cloak. Anyway, i'm happy with how its turned out.

The interior of the shield is complete, also. The whole thing is still lookin' a little shiny as a result of the oils havin' not fully dried.

I've started work on this by givin' it a coat of automotive matt black primer, as usual.

There is not much of a pallette of colours that can be used for a Thespian Hoplite. My references tell me black, black and more black.

I used Vallejo Black Grey for the linothorax armour. Shades of Lamp Black were then applied, while for the highlights Titanium White was added to the Lamp Black. I used Vallejo German Camo' Med. Brown for the tunic colour, shaded with Yellow Ochre mixed with Lamp Black. For the highlights Yellow Ochre mixed with Naples Yellow Hue, was used.

southern dragon wrote:

this is lead right? looks GREAT!!! cant wait to see it painted.

Actually, metal figures made today are a tin alloy called "white metal", not pure lead.

Thanks, Southern'.

I've got it all together now. The actual figure jus' needed to be rocked back a little on its heels and cemented in place. The reason bein' that the hang of he's cloak at the rear, would not have looked purpendicular (I hope thats the right word), with the surface.

For this a lot of Milliput was used at his feet and levelled out. I really don't like the rock formation on this base, but i'll work on that later when the figure is finished.

Also, five hits were scored onto his shield. I don't know why but odd numbers always seem to look and feel right when used in this respect. 

red1 wrote:

Yup, let Paris 'braindead'  Hilton celebrate  her "Simple Life" in jail, she might learn a thing or two, really. lol.

no, she'll just write a book about her horrible experiences in jail, and make lots of money because of all the pathetic losers in this country that buy her book. and about her learning anything?? somehow i just dont see 'braindead/dumbstuff/blond to the core' Hilton learning anything!!

Fingers!! nice to see you working again!! i really like the way this one is turning out! keep us posted.

I'm a little worried about my Paris, but she's been gracious and i'm glad of that. I hope to god she's not anyone's 'boy'!

I got the inside of the shield done. First of all, the cord that came with the kit I ran through some varnish to keep the fibres down. I fixed it in place with superglue and I made the two ends meet up behind his wrist, out of sight. I created the loops that the cord runs through at the corners with some Mr. Dissolved Liquid Putty, applied with a brush. Some Milliput was used to lengthen the cord, and reach the attachments near his hand.

Looks interesting Eddie.  Keep us posted.

Regards,  Rick

Thanks Red.

I'd sure like to see your progress on your sculpt of a hoplite. Be sure to post it.

Yup, let Paris 'braindead'  Hilton celebrate  her "Simple Life" in jail, she might learn a thing or two, really. lol.

Thermopylae is one of topics especially the story of the Hot Gates. I'd like to see the progress of  ur Thespian Hoplite.

By the way I'm actually scratchbuilding a Spartan hoplite in 1/35 scale from epoxy putty and it is 80% done. So I'm glad to see someone also building something similar in this forum.

Hope to see an update from u FingersEddie.

MiniArt shows them as Available and has sprue shots of them and the new French Cuiraisser.  I was wondering how much more he'd be than the previous 1/16.  I was browsing their site earlier when I saw them.

Ah yes, thank you. I am aware of the distributor for these, but thought you had seen them actually for sale and currently available by a retailer. I see these are still listed by DragonUSA as "available soon".

Cheers.