discussion 1/16 African Gladiator

[Si Benson]

Peter,
I always look in to see what your currently tackling, even if I don’t comment or hit the like button....top work on this piece....certainly wouldn’t want to bump into him down a dark alley:surprised:

 

[Richard48]

Nice work Peter.Love the lower garments colour.He would make a nice Zulu conversion.Smashing painting once again.
Richard

 

[scottie3158]

Peter,
Great work as always. May I ask what golds and brasses you use as they always look very bright mine always seem grainy.

 

[Guest]

No problem Pete - perhaps I should challenge you to make Miniart's 1/16 Samurai figure - I've failed twice!

Peter.
No no you wouldn't inflict that on Peter would you, show some leniency. :smiling2:
John.

 

[Guest]

Si - Comment isn't obligatory (but nice when it happens!). Many thanks.

Richard - The head is from Verlinden's Zulu figure. I sacrificed an old version I'd done some time ago for this build.

Scottie - The metallics are just Vallejo Model Colour. They can look grainy in extreme close up, but you can smooth them down with a blunt instrument (!) when they're almost dry, which does seem to even them out. I also use a purer gold artist's acrylic for the highlights.

John - No, I wouldn't really inflict that on anybody - not even my worst enemy.

 

[Guest]

Fixed up the new shield:

View attachment 319072

Part of the problem with the first version was that I'd cut it down and hadn't done a great job of sanding down the back - I'd already painted the front when I realised I had a problem. I've left this one full-sized, but instead of using the kit decal, which I've used on an earlier version of the figure, I decided to decorate the front with strengthening strakes (split cocktail stick) and bronze plates (lead foil). The plates will have rivets added at the corners.

 

[Guest]

This one's finished:

View attachment 319129View attachment 319130View attachment 319131View attachment 319132

Unfortunately the second shield also went pear-shaped, so I dug out the one I'd saved from my defunct Varangian project. I think I prefer it, as I'm sure that the Romans would have tried to give an African gladiator a more tribal (or Barbarian i.e non-Roman) look. I spent some time trying to tidy it up, but it was a pretty rough sculpt in the first place - it will do.

The final job was to add the dropped dagger (Verlinden Assyrian I think) and make a strap for it.

 

[scottie3158]

Peter,
A stunner as usual.

 

[Guest]

Cheers Scottie - At least I finished this one!

 

[SteveH]

Morning Peter

Another super figure, well done,

Is the other gladiator still in your cabinet for a side by side?

What's next?

Have a good weekend

Regards

Steve H

 

[Guest]

Morning Steve and thanks for looking in as always.

I have a kit version in the cabinet:

View attachment 319178

The other African I did is long gone.

Next, some bust work for Richard at Mookies.

Hope it's dryer where you are.

 

[Steve Jones]

Its not everyone who has a spare shield in their draw! A terrific save and as you say its the best of the lot. A wonderful figure to boot. Looking forward to your next project already:thumb2:

 

[Jim R]

Hi Peter
I really like this guy. Maybe the subject or the superbly rendered skin tones but whatever one to be proud of.
Had to smile at Steve's "spare shield in a drawer". Nestling between the socks and Y-fronts, a gladiator's shield!!
Jim

 

[Guest]

Steve - Well I suppose not everyone has a set of spare Tiger tracks in their's! Glad you like him.

Jim - Many thanks. There's more in my drawer than I'd admit to publicly.

 

[Guest]

Peter.
Well I'm not going to comment on such things as what's in your drawer !
Beautifully painted, I like the loincloth colour, not seen that before.
John.

 

[Guest]

Cheers John - The drawer stays locked...