Flying Nightingale

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Guys

I didn't have a lot of time over the summer (weeds and hedges kept growing) and I am only now getting time to do some painting. I had thought joining in with animal antics with ts one, but I realised that is for vehicles, and the Flying Nightingales was a nickname, so here it is, a thread of its own.

A week after D-Day three RAF nursing orderlies landed in Normandy to help medivac wounded from Normandy. The first to land was a lady called Lydia Alford, who also flew into the Arnham area to support those wounded during operation Market Garden.

This bust is my latest release, part of my 'women at war' series and depict Lydia wearing the RAF battle dress, 'mae west' and flying harness.

Peter

[Neil Merryweather]

A great subject ,Peter, and one of your best sculpts, in my humble opinion.

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Niel

I agree, I think it is one of my best. This is version 3 of the bust, the face and harness have been reworked a lot from the first version, I had hoped to have released it in time for The D-Day anniversary, but decided it needed more work.

Peter

[adt70hk]

Good evening Peter

I have to be honest and say that busts are not my particular cup of tea but nonetheless I can appreciate ones that have been painted well.

I can also appreciate fine craftsmanship, as you have clearly demonstrated with this example. It really is very good indeed.

I've always wondered how you go about creating them, as I wouldn't even know where to start. Would you mind explaining how you do it?

Thank you and again well done for some fine work.

ATB

Andrew

[Peter Gillson]

Andrew - thank you for the kind words.
How I make them - I have recently changed my methods slightly. I start with a 10mm diameter ball of milliput on a length of wire (which is used to hold it), onto this oven baked clay is added until a rough head shape is formed. Then a verticla line if marked - this is the centre of the nose, in relation to these are two horizontal lines which are the mouth and eyes. Recesses for the eyes are made, after that its is a matter of adding details, removing them and doing it again! The nice thing about oven baked clay (Sculpy or BeesPutty) is that you can leave it for a while and it stays workable.

Here is tonights start on the bust - the eyes:



I was a little distracted by a sudden urge to bake some ginger cookies! :

[Si Benson]

Excellent sculpting Peter :thumb2:
Hmmmmm.....coookies

[Guest]

A great addition to the range Peter. The cookies smell good too!

[Jim R]

Hi Peter
Bust looks great but the cookies look better :smiling2:. Most yummy!
The bust is certainly the best I've seen from your good self. The role that women played during the war is often overlooked. From SOE operatives, nurses, pilots delivering war planes to keeping factories and farms running at home.
Jim

[Guest]

Do you get a pack of those biscuits with every kit ?
Seriously Peter the sculpes look brilliant and a fitting tribute to those ladies .

[rtfoe]

Great series Peter...eerrr for a moment I thought those were the bodged castings accidently putting them in the oven and ending up looking like cookies. :tears-of-joy:

Cheers,
Richard

[Peter Gillson]

Thanks for all of the support.

Those cookie do taste lovely - I may be better at baking cookies than modelling! I did toy with the idea of getting some food grade silicon and casting busts out of chocolate!

Here is this afternoon's work - the head. May need a little refining when placed on the torso which I am starting today with the lifejacket. i don't like painting yellow so I'm getting it out of the way next.

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[Steve Jones]

Stunning sculpting Peter. You must be very pleased with the final look. It will be a good seller for you

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Steve - glad you like it, yes I am pretty pleased with this one.

Here is yesterday evening's work - the Mae West:



Tonight it's the RAF blue battledress

Peter

[scottie3158]

Peter,
That's a fine piece of sculpting.

[Peter Gillson]

Thanks Scottie. Here is an update - the battledress painted.



Next the harness which i am not looking forward to.

Peter