Eehaw!!, a Donkey, a Bedouin and a Snake vignette

[scottie3158]

Richard, the ripples have turned out well.

[Richard48]

Looking great Wabble.Great start on the base.
Richadx

[rtfoe]

Hi,
Latest on the base, I have masked the top and sprayed gloss black for the sides and wooden base...


I covered the plaster of paris with a coat of polyfilla and sculpted the ripple effect of wind blown desert over the dunes...

More later...

Cheers,
Wabble

[rtfoe]

Hi All,
Working on the base obviously starts with a base which I made with 3/4 inch plywood edged with timber bidings.
After sculpting a block of polystyrene using slicing motions with a blade cutter. I covered the surface with a roll of plaster of paris sheeting.
It hardens very quickly so I set it aside before gluing it onto the wood base. I usually cover the sides with thick card.
And cut it following the contours of the surface leaving just a millimeter for the plaster that I was going to coat over the hardened sheeting.
More next...

Cheers,
Wabble

[rtfoe]

Top work Richard. Looks very convincing. Your alterations and aditions have raised it to a new level.

Thank you kindly Steve, I hope I can maintain the level to painting and the base.

Cheers,
Wabble

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Top work Richard. Looks very convincing. Your alterations and aditions have raised it to a new level.

[rtfoe]

Hi All, additions to the Bedouin after I decided that he shouldn't show too much skin. His legs below his tunic was covered with putty erasing all the effort of shaving his legs.
Looks rough now but was reshaped and folds smoothen out...
Laid the figgies out to determine the amount of slope to carve for the vignette base. I wanted them to be walking down a sand dune or Wadi.
Notice that this was before the rear tassels and hind leg arrangement was done. Next will be the building of the vignette base.

Cheers,
Wabble

[rtfoe]

Those two look really nice Richard. Having the figure turned ties them together.

Thanks Jim,
Since changing to a new vignette, I have made alterations to the mules legs to pose as if to resit moving forward. Also I have added tassels to the front and back of the harness...
But. Efore that I also readjusted the hind legs to fit the new vignette.
More later...

Cheers,
Wabble

[Jim R]

Those two look really nice Richard. Having the figure turned ties them together.

[rtfoe]

Hi All, the donkey business continues with the musket test fitted to see how it looked. This is where it was stowed...later I will fasten the loads with tie down rope probably made from fuse wire.

I have tied thread to simulate rope securing the stowage on the donkey and brushed on some grey primer... I have changed the position of the Jezail.

Picked up the airbrush and did a zenithal coat on the figure and mule...better than calling it a donkey.

Second picture shows the figure turned revealing his dagger and vest front. The lighting doesn't show the shadowing of the black well. Still haven't decided what colours to paint his garment. Not many references as most are modern day shots.

After doing so much to these two figures I decided it needed its own vignette and this is where I begin where I left off the last time. New images coming up next.

Cheers,
Wabble

[rtfoe]

Wow great urns Wabble.Thats a great idea for turning items for modelling.I learn so much from so many on here.
Nice work.
Richard

Thanks Richard, I don't think it's an original idea but glad to have contributed to your learning. Can't afford a real lathe so I improvised. Better to hold the motor tool in a vise for a steadier platform to work from. I used the edge of the table to steady my grip on the motor tool instead.

Cheers,
Wabble

[Richard48]

Wow great urns Wabble.Thats a great idea for turning items for modelling.I learn so much from so many on here.
Nice work.
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi All,

I started on the terracotta urn containers for the mule. Made two from two part putty by first roughly shaping them on a cocktail stick and lathed them with my power drill. Here's what the progress looks like before i do the handles and cover...

The lathing lets you create beveling around the urn. The unique sharp edge bottom of the urn is basically and Aegean style of pottery which I think could have crossed over the Mediterranean. I can see the practicality of it being dug into the sands to sit up right.

I really did this on purpose to have two different designs and shape.

Tested on the mule for scale and fit. This donkey has every reason to bite the Bedouin just look at his extra load.

Then made a slight dip towards the opening. I will then cut the cocktail sticks after I have added the handles and then the covers.

I've done the handles for the urns...rolled putty and teased to shape.

The handles make them look like two ladies with their hands on their hips.

While I smell the smoke and dust from the snails overtaking me I started on the urn covers by slicing some plastic rod and rolling left over putty between my fingers for little ball bearing sized globes.

With the added vessels and covers but minus the Arabian musket.

More later.

Cheers,
Wabble

[rtfoe]

Wabble, really looking good.

Thank you Scottie, so far I have done street ruins, bridges, winter, jungle, water so now it's the stark empty desert

Cheers,
Wabble

[rtfoe]

Looking good Wabble.Still watching with interest.
Richard

Hi Richard, good incentive to keep posting then.

Cheers,
Wabble