It Started With a Bike.....1/35 Alsace rest stop with playful kids.

[Neil Merryweather]

That's quite an achievement Richard! Great work with limited facilities

[Jim R]

Hi Richard
The children must be very hard to do. Sculpting figures is very difficult but these are half size :rolling: The tower and the spiral steps really make this whole scene.
Jim

[rtfoe]

Thank you Gentlemen, after discovering Magic Sculpt I'll only use the previous putty for base build ups. Haven't done any children since but have gained experience and confidence to try again sometime.

Cheers,
Richard

[GerryW]

Are these a 'first attempt'? I can't believe how well you're doing with them and the 'basic' putty and tools, another master at work!

[JayCee]

I remember this one Richard. Thought it was brilliant the first time, even better this time round.
John.

[rtfoe]

Are these a 'first attempt'? I can't believe how well you're doing with them and the 'basic' putty and tools, another master at work!

In terms of building from scratch, yes especially with heads, Gerry. In the past I usually modify from existing kit figures often remaking the arms or legs positions.

I remember this one Richard. Thought it was brilliant the first time, even better this time round.
John.

Thanks John, this time I'm able to show it in a particular sequence rather than in situ as it was before.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Five years ago this came out new and was ideal for my little dio. The poses were quite natural and saved a lot of modification. I used three from the is batch and basically just twisted their heads for the right focus. They'll be occasionally seen set in the dio as I planned their positions.



But certain figures still needed scratching so it's back to the little kids... The girl is tarting to get rudimentary hands and feet.



Testing the poses again...the newspaper reading Miniart figure is also posed with his head turned as far right as possible.



The feet are tweaked like the boy on his toes trying to get a better look over the parapet.



The girl gets a bit of clothing with layers of putty and a bit of sculpting while the putty was still soft.



Now the boy gets a pair of large shorts and his left hand.



He now has a vest over his shirt and a rough pair of oversized shoes...His hands are slightly better sculpt.



I've given bobbysocks for the little girl...



Little boys shoes are slightly more detailed with the front tongue opened and unlaced...probably a pair he may have found that he could use.



More later...

Cheers,
Richard

[Jim R]

Hi Richard
The two childen are coming on nicely. Making them specifically for this dio means that they work perfectly.
Jim

[rtfoe]

Thanks Jim,
Yes, I'm glad you see the point unless there are figures that are already in the market posed specifically for a scene. But most of the time for an ideal vision of what you want is hard to find so tweaking and switching of limbs just to soften the pose is often required.

Some nice dio scenes are ruined with stiff figures staring at nowhere even if they are facing each other. One has to to be brave to cut or replace limbs or even just move the head slightly to get it right. It's not like a Napoleanic battle scene where everyone stands facing the enemy at attention with musket and cannon balls flying at them...some slight variations of expressions of these soldiers can make a huge improvement to the scene.

Sorry rambling away over badly composed figures I see so often but can only offer encouragement to do better. I don't think mine are perfect either...just slightly better than the last one.:smiling2:

Cheers,
Richard

[Mini Me]

Yours fit the scene perfectly Richard, I couldn't sculpt my way out of a paper sack and you make it look like you did it in your sleep. :thumb2: Rick H.

[rtfoe]

Thanks Rick, I ought to sleep more often to improve.:smiling2:

I added volume to the girl by clothing her and gave a her a pleated skirt and a large tied bow...



She does have thunder thighs so I later whittled her leg down to size...



Wasn't easy working with the putty as it was similar to hardened wax and brittle but she was done and ready for painting. I hoped the painting would hide some of the faults but I was wishing for miracles. :smiling6:



I wanted to fill the empty area above the little boy and decided on a GI probably on watch duty peering down at the scene and the Dragon figure on the left fit the bill but with minor alterations.



He had to be looking right and down. He had to have his body tilted to the right at the waist, his right arm resting on the parapet and still holding the Thompson.



To hold the Thompson right, his fingers needed alteration and I had to cut away his hand, build his wrist to fit the hole I drilled out at his cuff sleeve.



I smoothed out the putty in the back of his neck...



Then I made a strap from left over putty and fitted that on the back of his helmet. His hand was detachable for easy painting of the Thompson and hand.



More later.

Cheers,
Richard

[JR]

Richard I remember this so well , 5 years ago wow , how time flies !:surprised:
Admired the whole build, esp the curved stair case and the construction of the tower. Love the way you finish your builds as well , something I tend to leave :cold-sweat:
Great to see it again.:thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:

[rtfoe]

Thanks John, yes time really flies. Although the putty was a pig to work with I enjoyed the build as it was the first time I tried two part putty even for the base cobble stones, stairs and building.

Cheers,
Richard

[Steve Brodie]

WOW simply superb

[rtfoe]

Thanks for the shout out Steve. :smiling3:

Cheers,
Richard