Tim,

Just following along, but your work on Conan looks great!  Must be an old Grognard using black as a base primer. 

Gary

Hi Gary,

I'm glad you're coming along with the rest of us on this ride. It's been bumpier than I'd hoped, but rewarding all the same.

Thanks! Nothing primes your Squats and 23rd Light Dragoons like black. Oh yes, my basement is full of the materials to make miniatures wars ...

However, I'm not stopping with black on Conan. I'm going to come back through after I've cleaned up my work and spray light ghost gray from directly overhead. That'll give me a reference for the noon sun.

Thanks for commenting!

Tim

Yeap, now that they're primed I'm looking forward to seeing the paint slapped on!

Tim, nice to see some paint on this. Will be looking forward to seeing where you go from here.

So if I understand it right, the grey will help you determine what areas would be in sun light and what in the shade and then paint accordingly. Have I got that right.

Bish

So if I understand it right, the grey will help you determine what areas would be in sun light and what in the shade and then paint accordingly. Have I got that right.

Right. Essentially it acts as a visual reference, helping me see where the light is coming from. Another method I use is to keep a small Maglite handy and hold it from the position I want the light to shine on a figure--usually directly overhead. The nice part about using the lighter primer is that it's a constant reminder.

I've painted a couple of figures using other lighting positions. However, as I discussed with Aaron yesterday, unless there is a point of reference on the figure (a lantern, lightsaber, glowing gem, etc.) it usually leaves the viewer wondering what the hell the painter was thinking. It doesn't help that I'm not very good at it yet.

By way of example for this last, consider a scene from The Empire Strikes Back. Remember Luke and Vader's duel in Cloud City's carbon-freezing chamber? It's a very dark scene, but when they ignite their lightsabers, that are lit up by either blue or red, but the farther away from the source of the light (the sword in this case) the effect lessens until you they are awash in shadow.

Interesting idea, I would never of thought of that. I would never dream of trying it on vadar, especially now, but I will defiantly be watching to see how its done.

What you say about a point of reference makes sense. If the source omitting the light is not in the scene, it can be hard for people to understand what exactly is going on.

And you source of light for this one is the sun, now that should be interesting.

Just gave Red an overall flat spray.   Tomorrow some  touch ups and then should be ready for the final photos.  

In the meantime, here is how I solved the belt and method for slinging the sword:

regards,

Jack

Looks great Jack, just like it was made for the figure.

Red Sonja is now done, all decked out and ready to smash some skulls - lol!

Tim and Aaron, thanks for hosting this.  A really different theme this one, and not sure I could even begin to guess what the next group build will be if it is going to top this one in terms of uniqueness.  Anyhow, on to the pics...

regards,

Jack

absolutely stunning piece of work there Jack. My applause and hats off to you.

Due to technical difficulty (I ran out of plastic strip and had to wait for the LHS to order some more) Spidey is a little behind schedule, But I have lots now and can finish the leg and hands.

Fantastic job. Well done, sir!

That's just stunning Jack! The modifications you made work so well I can't tell the original figure ends and your mods kick in. Plus an excellent paint job- just beautiful work there!

Jack, you are the man! I'm swinging through before a morning meeting, so I'll be back later with a longer post, but thumbs way up! Grab the ribbon. I'll put Red in the Hall of Fame.

My 109 fever has broken somewhat and the green guy is back on the bench so there be an attempt to get this don by the end of the month.

While not participating I have been lurking regularly.  A huge OMG for the stuff that is being produced here.

jgeratic

Red Sonja is now done, all decked out and ready to smash some skulls - lol!

Tim and Aaron, thanks for hosting this.  A really different theme this one, and not sure I could even begin to guess what the next group build will be if it is going to top this one in terms of uniqueness.  Anyhow, on to the pics...

Back from the meeting ...

Jack, you've got me gnawing at my fingernails and worrying over Conan now. What you've demonstrated with Red is, I think, perhaps the most important skill when it comes to figures: attention to detail. Right from the beginning, you jumped in with improvements, and had to, considering the figure was of a generic female fantasy warrior. In fact, as Ruddratt did for me with the WWI build, you got me thinking of my improvements to Conan early on. Great work, and I don't think I over-praise when I say it's inspiring.

As for the next GB, we have ideas sketched out for three more. Each one with, what we think, have a unique perspective. We'll have to look at the calendar to see when we should kick off the next one, but we'll definitely give ourselves a couple of months to recuperate from this one. 

Wingnut - You're back! You can make the final push with Aaron, Bish, Gamera, Shiv, GMorrison, and me. I hope Ruddratt and a couple of the others are able to get back in here, too. Keeping my fingers crossed for a HUGE finish to this baby.

Only 27 days to go!

Jack, Red is is stunning work. Tim hit the nail on the head when he said it was inspiring to see your progress.

Cheers, Aaron

Shiv, GMorrison, Gamera, Marc, Tim and Aaron - thanks a bunch for all those kind words.  Looking forward to seeing everyone's completed figures in the coming weeks. 

By the way, the Psylock figure finally arrived during the last week of February.  So it's a good thing I did not wait and went ahead with the Red Sonja project.

regards,

Jack

Jack, not sure I can add anything else. That is simply out of this world. Been an absolute pleasure watching this and learning from you. Stunning work.

I'll get some pics of Vader up tomorrow. I have all the detail on the chest plat and belt done, and the base is finished which took ages. So I just have the light sabre to finish and he is done.

Jack - I'll use the words I used before. Truly masterful work.

You inspire and challenge us all.

Bish and Greg - thanks guys.

Tim - do we get any hints on the next possible GB - military, civil, century?

regards,

Jack

jgeratic

Tim - do we get any hints on the next possible GB - military, civil, century?

OK, I think we've settled on the next GB, so two hints in one: 20th-century military.

Tim Kidwell

jgeratic

Tim - do we get any hints on the next possible GB - military, civil, century?

OK, I think we've settled on the next GB, so two hints in one: 20th-century military.

MMMMM, one wonders. So many options.

As promised, a little up date on Darth. As I mentioned before, all of the detail's and the chest and belt are done and I have just finished assembling the sabre handle, just need to paint it.

Looking at various images, some of the buttons on the chest changed colour between Episode IV and V. I decided to go for the latter look. The 3 buttons I have done white look silver in some images and white in others, so I went with white for a bit of variety.

And a close up of the sabre handle.

Does look like much progress, but between doing the base, which I am saving to the end, and trying to get my 88 done, its been not stop. Darth should be done in a few days. 

Lots of equipment mechanics have been going on.

Nemo has been drilled 178 times for rivets to be installed. Predictably it cost him an arm, but he's in the sick bay having it re-attached.

The under water rifle is just starting to take shape.

There's a sort of suit pressure compensator that that goes on his chest.

And the scuba tank set up.

Bish - All I can hear is the Imperial March. The surcoat has turned out wonderfully -- good use of the red to highlight the black. And you've gotten the gloss black to really pop, like it did in The Empire Strikes Back. I do wonder, though, are you going with the silver inlays on the upper breastplate?

I'm not sure what color it is --  flat aluminum? I've always wondered about that section of his armor, because in some shots it looks black, and in others, like this one, it has the gray (aluminum) stripes. 

Vader is looking killer! Keep up the great work!

GMorrison - Awesome progress! Despite the loss of limb, it looks like you're well on your way to finishing Nemo.

And a wine glass at the workbench -- I like how you think!

Bish: Looks great, hard to do something that's all black and make it interesting but the different shadings and gloss and matte finishes look really good.

GM: 178 rivets!?! OUCH!!! This is going to look great all painted up!

Bish, GM... crickey!  That's nice.

20th century military works for me. There is a plan to tighten just a litle I hope.  I think the only that is more encompassing as that would be the..

"Anything Since The Big Bang with Emphasis on Curved Time & Alternate Universes GB"  

Because of the curved time that one has actually already started and yet is already over.

Bish, your Vader looks great! Especially I like how body suit came out. Looks like real leather.

Tim Kidwell

I'm not sure what color it is --  flat aluminum? I've always wondered about that section of his armor, because in some shots it looks black, and in others, like this one, it has the gray (aluminum) stripes.

Tim, here you can find propably most accurate info for different episodes Vader:

ANH (wich Bish´s one is):  http://www.501st.com/databank/Costuming:SL_anh_vader

ESB: http://www.501st.com/databank/Costuming:SL_esb_vader

ROTJ: http://www.501st.com/databank/Costuming:SL_rotj_vader

Guy's, thanks a lot.

Tim, I have ben looking at those inlay's, I am glad you brought it up because it means I wasn't seeing things. Like with the white button's, in some images, as you point out, they seem silver and in other's black and I wasn't sure if it was the light.

I just came across this image, the top part, and I think its the best one I have found.

 I might try a few mixes and see what I can come up with.

Trabi, thanks for those, they really show the changes. Especially between Ep IV and V. And it has all the info, brilliant. So those 3 white buttons are light grey, I can sort that out. And it shows those inlay's perfectly, gloss gunmetal/dark grey, I will try and go for the slightly darker on from Ep VI.

Thanks again, brilliant.