Heavy Roman Infantry - First Painting Session

It was a nice evening to finally start painting these two figures. As always I began with the flesh on both. Here are photos of the full figures from a few different angles. If nothing else it shows the wealth of detail that Adriano gets in his 54mm figures.

These last two photos are close-ups of the faces at this early stage. I never cease to be amazed at the detail and character that Adriano can get in his faces. I have used my usual mix of Burnt Sienna, Medium Cad. Red, Medium Cad. Yellow and a touch more Yellow Ochre than I normally use. Once applied and the excess removed, the first highlights were added and then I started working touches of the base mixture mixed with Prussian Blue into the areas where you would expect some early beard growth. I then went back to work the highlights with more of the usual yellow/white oils. In the case of SR-60, I think this is the most work I have done wet-on-wet in a long time. Once I feel that I am starting to muddy the colors I stop but this face let me pull out the highlight blends longer than usual.

Once dry I will work on the shadows mouth and eyes before adding final highlights.

Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst v. Sachsen-Weimar - Update

My work on this bust has been along the lines of making everything darker before lightening it back up it seems. In the process of working on shadows I decided the whole piece needed a darker feel. In the end this is going to work out well as there is a lot of little detail work that needs to pop out to be seen. The bandalier and it's belt are highly decorated in silver details and there is a wonderful texture that would only show up if made darer like this. The same holds true for the gold lace on the tunic. You will see what I mean when you next see this piece. I have also been lightening and detailing the plume of the helmet as well. The feathers are fluffy and not longer single feathers so it is difficult not to make it look more like fur. I'm still working on it. Stay tuned for more.

Heavy Roman Infantry - Finally Ready To Paint

So after all the time I have spent recently exploring my love of World War I and Imperial German subjects I am finally ready to get started painting these two figures. The base has been primed with Floquil "Dirt" as a base color to recreate the earth tone found in this part of the world. The figures have been primed as usual with automotive flat white primer. As can be seen, one of the figures will have mail and leggings that were masked prior to priming. I do like to use the base of the metal casting for these items.

Of particular note would be the use of the original SR-39 in certain areas as the basis for the creation of SR-60. This is particularly noticeable on the shield arms of both figures as well as the folds in the pant legs (left knee). These things will be less noticeable once the shields have been attached.

Ulrich Puchala 1/10th Ferdinand Graf v. Zeppelin - Completed

One of the current projects is completed. There will be some little details I might see after it's sat for awhile but complete for the moment. Now on to the other bust. Hopefully completed by next weekend. I have also primed my two Romans so work can begin there as well.

Puchala 1/10th Wilhelm Ernst Saxe-Weimar - Update 2

The other subject is the bust of Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe-Weimar. Again, the first four photos show the basic blocking of mid-tones as well as the beginnings of the gold lace, tombak helm and epaulettes. The blue tunic is a mixture of Sevres Blue, Indigo and Prussian Blue. The Indigo is really used to "grey" the blue a touch and for shadows. The feathers of the helmet are started with light grey and a bit of subtle shadows on the inside.

As with Zeppelin, All of the various silver bits whether they are cloth or metallic, begin with a base mix of silver inks and Mars Black oils. Washes and glazing of black will be used to pop out the details prior to highlighting. Quite a ways to go on both but progress is being made.

Puchala 1/10th Ferdinand Graf v. Zeppelin - Update 2

Two very overdue reports on projects, the first being Ferdinand Graf v. Zeppelin. The first three photos below show the start of blocking in colors and subtle mid tone shading that doesn't really show well in pictures. The uniform is Prussian Blue with a bit of Indigo and Mars Black added. The reds are mixes using Cadmium Red Light, Medium and Deep with both the red of the cape and the blue of the tunic blended into the black on the bottom of the bust as a transition.

The three photos below show my continued adding of colored undercoats as I begin to build up my tones. More work has been done on the cape and the plastron of the Uhlan tunic. A mix of silver printers inks and Mars Black has been applied to the cords, tassels, crest, awards, sash and buttons as a base coat. I will apply some washes and glazes of black for depth and then start highlighting with the silver ink.

Deeper shading of the sash was done with the same orange and a bit of Prussian Blue to darken the color. These decisions are where a good knowledge of the color wheel comes in handy. I shade yellow with purple, orange with blue and green is used on reds as these colors are directly across from one another on the wheel. This allows for wet-on-wet blending where appropriate.

My next steps will be overall deep shadow tones before building highlights.

WWI Busts Progress Report

I have been working on two busts from Ulrich Puchala's line of Imperial German subjects. The first is Ferdinand Graf v. Zeppelin in his uniform as General der Kavallerie of Uhlan-Regt. No. 19. Both busts are at about the same point with the flesh just completed and work beginning on the uniforms. I am a bit further along on Zeppelin. The photos below show the progression of flesh painting. Nothing new here and followers of my blog will know the colors used by now. Basically what you see below is mid-tones, shadow tones and final highlights in their stages.

The second bust is Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst v. Sachsen-Weimar in the uniform of General der Kavallerie des Karabinier Reg. 2. Same process as above. The uniform coat will be a wonderful mid blue.

From this point forward I will probably separate out the posts on these busts. With the flesh completed the focus on uniforms and equipment details will begin. My focus will be on one bust at a time until completed.