The Three Musketeers ( all 4 of them ) !

[JayCee]

Hello Jim and Garry. Welcome and thank you for joining me. A smidgin more done. Painted his somewhat grubby leather jerkin, also a wayward blob of paint on his backside.

[JayCee]

Well, Dr Frank Einstein ( AKA me ) has got a bit more done to his creation. He now has a head and both arms, although he is still missing his right hand. This hand/sword hilt comprises of 3 parts so needs careful construction to enable it to fit correctly. The big silver lump on his head is not some hideous 17c disease ! It is where his hat fits. Viewed from the obligatory 2 feet away he looks reasonable although there is touching up to be done.

As always, C&Cs welcome.
John.

[GerryW]

Just arrived (in time for you to finish!) loving the work, never worked with acrylics or oils, tempting when I see the results that people get with them.

[JayCee]

Well, I think I can call this one done. I don't remember reading these books as a child, although I have seen one or two of the films. I always just presumed that the characters were fictitious but, researching for this build, I have found that they are based on actual people. This character, d'Artagnan himself, is based on "Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan" a very distinguished Musketeer who was promoted through the ranks ,eventually becoming Captain of Musketeers before his death at the siege of Maastricht during the Franco-Dutch war. ( He was hit in the throat with a musket ball.) So the man himself.


The base is not finished. This will be done as one with the rest, to tie them together.
All comment and abuse gratefully received.
John.

[Steve Brodie]

coming along nicely, looks like some of the paint has come away. did you prime them before you started painting them ?

[JayCee]

Cheers Steve, No, I have never bothered priming any figures. Never had any problems if handled carefully.
John.
P.S. Haven't noticed any paint coming off. Look alright at normal distance. Trust old eagle eyes. I will have a closer look ! :smiling: .

[PaulinKendal]

Lovely bright colours - great subjects for pushing your palette to the limit. Look forward to seeing the others!

[JayCee]

The second of my quartet will be Athos, who was based on the historical character "Armand Seigneur de Sillegue, d'Athos et d'Autevielle", better known as "Armand d'Athos".

Here is the box art and the main pieces of the sculpt. There are actually 24 pieces to the complete figure, so it will take a bit of working out what to glue together when.
My finished figure will be posed slightly different to the box art. He will be interacting with the d'Artagnan figure already done. A second right hand is supplied just for this purpose. This means, luckily, no butchery needed.
All C&Cs welcome.
John.

[JayCee]

I have started assembling the main parts of the figure, legs and trunk. I have left his right arm off until his sash is painted. If you put it on you cannot get to the creases in his sash. His left arm will be left off until near the end as his rapier needs assembling/painting and fixing to his body before the arm is fixed in place. It really is plan ahead or hit problems, but I am enjoying it. Better than just stick together and sling paint. Now painted his sash so can proceed further.

Also undercoated the flesh parts.
John.

[JayCee]

Base coat colours now on his jacket and breeches. Now can begin detail painting and more assembly. Still spending most of my time working out sequence.

Apologies for poor photo quality. The light here is terrible. Pouring down so cannot do my preferred outdoor photos. Lighting indoors is rubbish.
All C&Cs, Abuse gratefully received.
John.

[JayCee]

Well I thought I had his legs finished, apart from maybe a dull coat on his boots. Looking at this close-up some more tidying needs doing to the tops of his boots.

Looks okay if you go by the 2 feet rule .
John.

[JayCee]

I have finally managed to get a bit more done. Attached his right arm and cloak (minus hand).

Have assembled the rapier hilt (3 pieces), and attached the complete assembly to his baldrick. I also managed to knock off the bow on his right calf. The problem with using CA. It has no shear strength. A gentle nudge from a wayward finger and off comes the part, especially if the contact point is the size of a pinhead, like this one.
Hopefully more soon. All the best, gents. Comments, criticism, abuse welcomed as always.
John

[adt70hk]

John,

Missed the start of this. Coming on nicely. Hadn't realised that the characters - at least d'Artagnan - had a real life inspiration.

I remember as a kid (late 70s, early 80s) the BBC used to show a French series of the story which had been dubbed badly into English.

Keep them coming.

ATB.

Andrew

[Jim R]

Hi John
Another one of the quartet well on the way. Looking good. These figures are a real opportunity for some bright colours as opposed to the drab uniforms of modern armed forces.
Jim

[JayCee]

Hi, Andrew and Jim. Thanks for the comments. Something has gone wrong in the world !! Two updates in two days ! Never before, and probably never again. I have got his left arm attached and his right hand. On and off a number of times, but I have finally got my few remaining brain cells lined up and working ( a stroke two years ago robbed me of a lot. ) I did what I should have done to begin with, I drilled and pinned his wrist. There is now only his head/hat and his extra weapons (pistol and dagger) to detail and attach, then just the usual touch-ups.

As always all comments ,good and bad, gratefully received.
John.