Tim, we need more pics of the Nautilus, March is a looong way off.

hi Marc, here's the link about painting gold, it was back on page 7:

http://surfacefragments.blogspot.ca/2012/10/how-old-masters-created-look-of-gold-in.html

... but yea, all I'm saying is since you are working in 3D, natural lighting will help create and add to the grey tones you lay down on your model, or that's my thinking anyways. 

Myself, I've never done a grey tone (or monochromatic) model, but have done a few canvas paintings.  

It was a while ago, but I don't recall premixing 11 shades, but certainly a few.  Much of the shading was achieved by mixing directly on the canvas.  I suppose it's a technique thing.

regards,

Jack

jibber

Tim, we need more pics of the Nautilus, March is a looong way off.

OK, one more, and that's it. The March issue will be on newsstands Feb. 4. The review, along with a bunch of pics, will be available on the website to subscribers in January.

Now, to rev up my Dremel tool and start laying waste ... I mean, modifying Conan's base.

Now thats cool. Love this build, thanks.

Good read Jack.  Thanks for the link.  I am cutting the number of colors by at least half by using every other shade.

And so it begins.  The completion of the Abrams has made way for the start of the Moebius 1/8 scale Creature From The Black.  There is a little bit of flash around the fingers and toes... claws?... but none that looks like it will be problematic. Surface detail/texture I believe is as good as it has to be on something like this.  I don't see any benefit of the bumps in his skin being crisper than they are.  The one exception I would say would be the thickness of the fins at the edges.  It's not unlike an over thick trailing edge of some aircraft models.  If you've ever built an Eduard P-39 you know exactly what I mean.  Some time with a round micro file should help with that.

 I've started with the young lady and have not been to concerned with some fit issues.  The huge guide pins inside are best cut out so the seams can be aligned and glued.  There will be some filling and filing to get everything smoothly contoured.  I already filed one leg seam and will likely get by without any putty so it looks like it should go OK.  The seams that runs down the sides of the creature are another story.  The same working will need to be done but the bumps lost in the process will need to be replaced.  Gotta figure that bit out still. 

I figured I better get another update in here before this rolls off of page 2.

La chica is ready for primer.   Again I totally revaluate the comments about flash and fit. When joining the arms the cross section of the mating surfaces was off a bit making for a lot of filing and filling to get the contours right.  When you turn her the other way around she sure looks like the bride of Frankenstein.

I figured I better get another update in here before this rolls off of page 2.

La chica is ready for primer.   Again I totally revaluate the comments about flash and fit. When joining the arms the cross section of the mating surfaces was off a bit making for a lot of filing and filling to get the contours right.  When you turn her the other way around she sure looks like the bride of Frankenstein.

Hey Marc, nice work there so far. The actress was Julie Adams - so I guess I can say you just went from the Abrams to the Adams!!!

And yes she does have a bit of a 'Bride' thing going there in the last photo!

Marc, nice work on the seams.  Likely the hair is what is creating the bride look.  On the plus side, she's passed out, so you don't have to paint her eyes - or is she feigning while squinting at her captor and his fish eyes - lol.

regards,

Jack

Thanks guys.  yeah that's some crazy hair she's got going there.  Pretty effective when hanging down  but freaky when I flip her for some sanding.

Marc - Thumbs up!

Quick update on Conan: I've decided to start with the base. There's a large treasure chest that is my first project. I've drawn plans and will make a new one out of basswood and oak veneer. Also, grinding with a Dremel too and resin dust. Images to come ... Have my son's Christmas program tonight, so those might have to wait until Friday.

That's right! Finally, I'm starting on Conan.

As I said, I'm beginning with the base and treasure chest. Here's the base with some coins and treasure molded in and the resin treasure chest. Also, you'll see my initial sketches for the chest and my plans as they become finalized.

The chest is a box without 90-degree angles. Close inspection shows the line marking the separation of the lid from the rest connects at three corners, but not at the fourth. The trim details, handles, hinges, and lock make no sense, unless I go the extra mile and assume it's a magical chest and that's the reason everything is so screwed up about it. Thus a new one in the works.

I've ground off the treasure with a cutting wheel and carving burr chucked in a Dremel tool.

Update:

This is after the first layer of DAP patching plaster. I'll sand this tomorrow and hit is with another leveling coat. Then a thin layer of styrene and decking.

Hey Tim, nice looking base there.

So the chest isn't even square? Some odd Hyborian geometry at work there?!!

Gamera

Hey Tim, nice looking base there.

So the chest isn't even square? Some odd Hyborian geometry at work there?!!

I don't think we can blame all Hyborians--certainly, Cimmerians were not mathematicians, but I think the chest suffers from poor Zingarese workmanship. 

I think they engineered Robby too…...

After the putty dried, I sanded the top of the base. It turn out there is a hill in the center that rises and expands toward one side. I may have to resort to more extreme measures: the belt sander!

Tim, just like you, I've been working on the base while I wait for my sculpting supplies to arrive.

The green stuff is in, but awaiting some two part apoxy putty.  I've been advised to mix these two types/brands if I want roll a thin sheet.  Apparently the Kneadatite tends to crack if worked too thin.  I also noticed on a  youtube demonstration, the person was wearing gloves - is that just to keep hands clean or is there something toxic that can leech into the skin from the green stuff?

regards,

Jack

Base look great Jack.

The big guy and I got some face to face time yesterday.  Grinding of mating surfaces and thinning the gills with some work on the edges.  Still need to do some putty work to get rid of some gaps and seems that are out of place.

The before 

The after

Tim: That's not generally a good sign when you have to break out the power tools for a model...

Jack: Is that the base you're using for 'Red Sonya'? Wow, you're making great progress, very nice work on the detail, it all looks so perfect I'm not sure what you added there? And the painting looking so good.

Marc: Nice, I like how they molded the gills as separate parts for better detail there. Sad to see that you had to file and putty to get a cleaner fit.  

jgeratic

The green stuff is in, but awaiting some two part apoxy putty.  I've been advised to mix these two types/brands if I want roll a thin sheet.  Apparently the Kneadatite tends to crack if worked too thin.  I also noticed on a  youtube demonstration, the person was wearing gloves - is that just to keep hands clean or is there something toxic that can leech into the skin from the green stuff?

Beautiful looking base, Jack. 

I've always used it with my bare hands. However, some people might have an allergic reaction to the epoxy resins, so if you don't know if you'll have a reaction or not, you'll probably want to wear gloves. Here's a link to some info.

Marc - great job fine tuning  those edges of the gills.

-------------------------------------------------

Guys, thanks for the comments on the base.  It came as part of the female figure kit I'm using.  Didn't add anything structurally to it, except leveling a small section where her right foot will be.  The putty talk is for creating some gloves, more detail on her boots, etc. which will be up next.

Tim, thanks for the pdf. link.  I've already tried some green stuff to repair the plastic handles on some scissors.  No gloves, and I didn't experience any negative reaction on the skin.

regards,

Jack

Hi all!

I'm back in the office today and my son, who's online moniker is Kid Kidwell (though he also goes by Dark Power) wanted me to snap a pic and let you know what he built on Christmas day. I thought it appropriate for our GB:

He's also completed a Sherman and P-51 in the last two days. He wanted you guys to know.

Tim

From a fellow Iron Man builder I'd have to say well done and I also wish I could build that fast  

Phil

P mitch

Tim

From a fellow Iron Man builder I'd have to say well done and I also wish I could build that fast  

Phil

Phil, 

On behalf of Kid Kidwell, thanks!

You ain't kidding about the speed. But at 5-going-on-6, it's GO GO GO all the time. His mom had to put her foot down to keep him from building the last model under the tree ("No. You've built enough models. Let's do something else.") So, it was on to the new HO railroad set (now running around the base of the tree--"Dad! It can go 100! LOOK!" as passengers scream in terror) and LEGO blocks.

On the agenda for this weekend: lots of running in the snow.

Also, I've bought the wood for Conan's treasure chest. Gotta dust off the mini-table saw so I can cut some grooves.

An Erector Set may slow him a bit, you should be very proud.

Tim tell Dark Power I'm impressed, looks good. Wish I had that kind of energy!

I did get a little more work done, mostly painting the leather or vinyl or whatever they use in the future of the figure's boots etc.  

Then I worked on both figures black pants till my airbrush that I'd just cleaned that morning decided to gum up. Hope Santa doesn't remember all the cussing I was doing a few days after Christmas next year...

Tim- If I had that kind of get up and go I would be doing a GB build every other day. Really nice job on the Ironman.

Gamera-coming along nicely. I see the federation really likes it spit and polish. I really like the shine on the boots. Or is that just from the flash?

Still on vacation here in the maritimes. Going to be another week and a half before I see any bench time. Hope everyone had a good Christmas and enjoy your new year.

Tim, about those firing pins...I was out and about the other day and stopped by your house and a young man answered the door and I gave them to him.  Might that have been Dark Power?  If so, sorry....but he had them before I knew it and was gone!

Thanks guys!

Shiv: I think Picard's shiny boots are another one of young acting ensign Wesley Crusher's duties...

Enjoy your vacation- wet, cold, and rainy here! 

Gamera - Thanks!

Jeaton - Well played! Still wiping tears from my eyes.

It seems to me that I promised you all some pics of my first figs. I dug them out and here they are in all their 25-year-old glory.

They were painted with Testors gloss enamels (the square bottles). They were what I had at the time. That pile of crap on the end in the third pic is a shambling mound, so it's supposed to look like a big mass of rotting vegetation. To me it just looks like gray poo, but whatever.

It wasn't long after I painted these that I was introduced to two artists who worked for TSR (the original publishers of Dungeons & Dragons) Larry Elmore and Keith Parkinson. They shared a studio in Lake Geneva and both had a ton of figs. Keith liked to paint his. Not considering that Keith's were better than mine because he was older, more experienced, or an artist, I asked about the paint and brushes he used. He introduced me to acrylics and those became my paints of choice from then on. 

OK, I spent the morning cleaning up my workbenches. The WWI Aeroplane Group Build and the Nautilus left everything a gigantic mess. Not to mention the ship that continues to take up one end of the work area. Note to self: Gotta get that done!

After getting the clutter cleared, I cut a groove down the center of a length of 3/16" x 3/16" basswood with a Dremel table saw. Using a jig and a miter saw, I cut the basswood to the appropriate lengths. To the left you can see the birch plywood I intend to use for the chest's panels.

Here are the handles and hinges I've decided on, digging them out of the substantial stash I inherited from my dad.