Mu 14 - Hombre Toro, Sphere Wars

posted by roman, jarhead, kong

Now what can I say?
I am really looking forward to find a text about this great model and it ain't easy as i just think about painting it all the time. Now I'll do a little break from painting to get things mixed and keep me motivated. Hah! I am motivated like hell and this great model is the reason for it.

I always liked the models of the company Spherewars but never did get hold of one so far. In fact i do love the Hombre models for their dynamic poses and alive looking great concepts, for example this one or that one. I planned to paint both of them someday as i am just in love with these sculpts. But now, suddenly through the dark Forest breaks a big mountain of flesh and hits hard directly in my heart. El Hombre Toro - a model that i would say is one of the best from the feeling and good vibration you get when preparing and painting it. It is alive and it will call your brush to unimaginable fortune. I feel in love from the first second on i saw photos of the sculpt. Now i want to take you on a trip having me talking about unpacking this beast. This is what it looks like when you get it:

This is a big blister with everything included, also dice for gaming. Unpacking it brings you the following parts:

1x Gaming Base
1x Big Black dice
1x small white dice
1x Main Body
2x Arms
1x Leg
1x Tail
2x Horns
1x Shoulder Armour
1x Head

 Taking a closer look shows me already that this sculpt is not a good miniature for absolute beginners. Without thinking about the painting i already could see that there is much work to do in preparation. The model comes in good quality resin and is easy to handle if you know how. In fact the first closer view showed me that there is much time needed for bringing the big bull together and as this would be a bit more challenging than glueing together a Bust i've decided to do an article about preparing resin soon. Now bakc to topic. The closer view - work ahead:

 In fact preparing a miniature for painting isn't my favourite activity, but it has to be done so i do it. With Hombre Toro it is a whole different story. Sometimes Miniatures call your name and there is no sign of disbelief in my chest - i was really looking forward to prepare him. Having a closer look at all the parts shows that the work isn't that hard as it looks on the first sight. Sure there are mouldlines but the model itself fits together very well - and hey c'mon mouldlines in Resin, they are gone already when i am introducing and showing them my sandpaper. Here comes the closer look report:

The main body is such a beautiful part and allows already visions of the dynamic pose when the model is completed. I had an bad ass evil mouldline on his right flank but i told you sandpaper (soon there will be an article about it). You also have small pins everywhere on the parts that you have to remove before you can check the accuracy of fit. So i did with my caliper (preview to the article, yeah wow!):

I discovered some problems with the accuracy of fit at some places but did not have big problems to work with the resin and make it do my will.

The smaller parts have to be threated with gentle hands as they are really thin, but the Resin of the Spherewars cast is really good, so no problem there too. I just love to see the single parts as every muscle, every wrinkle, every motion fits already to a great vision. Even the cast is not perfect and there is work to do i just don't care as i can do clean and prepare Resin - passion hit me again with this sculpt and where passion appears worries are far away. Maybe i am recalling this when writing the article about the preparation but i don't think so - i already did it and i already know that it wasn't that bad :)

After the Preparation process, including cleaning, sanding, fixation, etc. I am still stunned like a Turtle after sexual activity - this sculpt kicks butt so greatly with some much elegance and power - i am just stunned and love bring my brush to work on it. Don't you be confused - i did remove a branding on his left back leg during sanding.

 

If you are intreseted in the question on how big that guy is to your casual 28 mm gaming miniature check this photo!

I do love every muscle of him and already have about 3 different visions for him, but for the first go on him i have decided to just catch the motion and every muscle the sculptor did create. I will just follow his lead and enjoy, so i get to know the model and will be ready for my personal vision which are around 123 at the moment after i already did start painting him. I know i will paint him again and i don't say this very often - here is a little preview and an early work in progress photo...

 

If you are intrested in this monster check Spherewars Homepage.

Closing Words
The cast is not the best, honestly, but it isn't that bad either - i would say it is normal. With a little experience in how to work with Resin and taking care you will have this bull ready for your brush in about 2 hours plus minus. For me - at this  adorable sculpt - the cast comes second - i am just in love and will prepare the "How to prepare a resin Miniature" Article next week to share my experience and maybe help one or the other ... in this little Miniature world there is nothing anyone should fear :)

If you are intrested you can find more Miniatures Unpacked here!

Keep on happy painting!
Best Regards
Roman

Sponsor a cup of coffee if this article helped you...

Mu13 - Roman Gladiator Thraex, 90 mm

posted by roman, jarhead, kong

"The time has come - fight with honor and die the same!"

Another Miniatures unpacked now brings you the pleasure of introducing Pegaso's Roman Gladiator Thraex in 90 mm, sculpted by Gianni La Rocca, box art painted by Emiliano Locabacci, who both did an amazing job. I have to say this is my first 90 mm Miniature i am starting. I feel very comfortable with the scale of 54 mm and i am still working on the 75 mm Arkvenger, where i like the scale too but hell yeah 90 mm is something completly different so this Mu will be a bit different too :)

I was lucky enough to get this model second hand on a forum's trading place for a cheaper price and what can i say - i am totally in love as i am a big fan of gladiators since i am a little boy, remembering my old books of the series "What is What", remembering building up the collosseum in 5th grade in school with some friends by using LEGO for a school event and having the fan feeling refreshed by the wonderful series of STARZ. As this is the place of unpacking the model i hope it is ok if i write a little bit why i have so much fun with this model even this is not the right place for it. The mind works tricks on me right now but i carve them in words and do what i like - i am getting tons of inspiration of the series by STARZ but won't link up much of it as it is very bloody and i don't want kids reading in here being shocked by cruel videos. Here are the names of the series:

Spartacus - Blood and Sand (main series)
Spartacus - Gods of the Arena (prelude, actually running)

I found but one Trailer that is cool and not that bloody and gory so i'll show you this one - i am not very good with my intentions but this has to be a glorious beginning, muharhar:



So now to business, unpacking the model. This is how the box arrives, like always i marvel of the seight of Pegaso's wonderful boxes. I most time hear the model call me from the inside out and sometimes the gods answer my prayers to bring me the right model in the right time. I already knew that with the powers i have these days that this model will not be a long time WIP. My mind again is drifting, the box:

Opening the box did not roughly stop me from dreaming of the arena. It calls me, even i feel much respect for the size of 90 mm at this sculpt - you can always click the photos to get a bigger insight, don't you forget that:

As you can see in the photo above there is again 2 sheets of paper bringing information about the detailed historical background and the painting suggestion. At this point many thanks for the talk to my man Peter T. who is working on it to do a doctor's degree in history, you are really a book full of treasures, you shall recieve my gratitude for all these little hints and stories which sculpted this idea even more. Looking inside and counting, list follows:

 In the box you find 17 parts of white metal to build your Thraex:

1x base
1x head
1x torso
1x shield (parma)
1x sword (sica) with hand
1x shieldarm
2x legs
1x helmet
1x facemask
1x addition to the helmet
2x big feather trimmings
2x small feathers
2x shinguards

"The helmet of the Thraex was decorated with a tall solid crest terminating in the head of a griffin, the companion of Nemesis, goddess of vengeance and retribution."

I guess i will use every piece, except the base - i am stupid and want to build up my own sand arena base, haha. Much stuff but easy to handle because of its size. Now having a closer look on the parts, talking about mould lines and fitting accuracy. The main parts are for sure the legs and the torso. There are some small mould lines from the process of casting, but in this seize they are really easy to find. On the shins you have prepared places to put the shinguards in. Legs together give hold for the torso. There are some minor rests of the casting as you can see on his toes, but they are also fast cleaned. If you are intrested in the way you can clean your white metal model please read this article - it will help you understand that a good cleaning is important before painting and will make it easier to understand my talk here:

I started to clean these big components first by using a scalpell and fine sandpaper. I pinned everything together with a small metal pin, but before i did i drilled a hole, damn still no pinning article in the jungle, gnurks!! I removed the metal part under the feet because they were done for the delivered base that i don't use. A round up check on every place where the model is glued together later on has been done to prepare everything with sand paper for a good fit when glueing starts.


Taking a closer look on the smaller pieces you will find the same quality. Easy to clean if you are patient and take your time needed. Don't you hurry at cleaning, don't you hurry at all :) - everything fits well together after some minor cleaning but i would recommand pinning everything together for the safety of such a heavy model. Smaller parts before the clean up, here we go -  you can find the small mould lines easily i hope (there are not many), understand the path of assembling the parts, which even works with a fresh banana and my gorilla brain. Also make sure you'll clean up the sides of thinner parts like the shield, helmet or shinguards. Important again is that you check the assembly fit piece by piece.

It took me about 5~6 hours to completly clean every part, preparing a good fit, pin everything and drink litres of coffee meanwhile. I guess i was fast and i am sure i did forget something, just for you to understand that patience takes time. In this Scale even more... now he stands tall in the shine of fortune and is pinned for sure to my alternative sand base, which is simply wow, haha :) - i've already filled some gaps (small ones i could not avoid) while i was bringing the parts together one by one - i did not glue the shield yet as i would not be able to reach the body for painting, instead i cleanded the place well and prepared everything for the good fit later on. I did glue the facemask as i plan to paint him way less shiny than the box art, so there won't be anything visible of it in the end.

 

Always remember: Preparation comes first before the sands will decide the path of destiny. So I still did some minor cleanings without taking much photos and after this went to priming. 90 mm is really great, when priming with the 2k method of black and white you can see the light fall so clearly - here are two photos of the model primed but made black and white for a better understanding of what i mean - i can now already read the hot spots :)

Closing words
The sculpt is magnificant in its quality, but also its pose. I would say that the model and the cleaning process, for sure also the size of 90 mm and the weight that comes within is not for beginners, but it is for sure something you can gain experience from. I've learned from starting him that there is nothing to be  feared by such a 'Miniature', instead i can feel it calling very strong for my colours and as a man must accept his faith or will be destroyed by it i've already begun to enjoy swinging my brush. He will not be dark skinned, as i have completly different vision of him than shown in the box art. I am planning to paint him fitting into the mood of the series Spartacus, he shall look like he is edging his legend in blood in this glorious moment, never forgotten by the history of the republic. And believe me 90 mm has nothing to do with miniature painting, it is about painting with full force in the beginning, this is my Thraex after 2 hours of painting, ... with more yet to be presented :)

For me this is a glorious beginning that is why i wrote much of blabla to this Review. I hope you enjoyed the read. Let the games begin and happy painting!
Best Regards 
Roman

Did this article help you? Do you want to say thanks in form of support? If so, do a

Mu12 - US Marine Rifleman, Pegaso Models, 90 mm

posted by roman, jarhead, kong

As some of you already know i am intrested in war. Sounds stupid. I am no warrior. Reading a lot of books to know around the happenings during different wars really caught my intrest but i guess it also drowns my mood somehow. I am completly into the Vietnam War the last months, with books, movies and even reports from my half-uncle who has been there as a pioneer (his mum is american, my grandpa has been a stallion with several marriages). Everytime i read or listen i pump these infos inside myself and close the door, but the room is too filled right now, there has to be something removed, breaking out, being unleashed...

Therefore i have chosen the Pegaso US Marine Rifleman Model in 90 mm as a personal project until the Duke of Bavaria. There is still much time left and will do some other projects before but making a Miniature Unpacked is always a good start, even when the workflow will come later on...

      Information around the model

PEGASO Models, Modern Era
U.S. Marine 1968
Scale: 90 mm
Sculpture: Andrea Jula
Official Painting: Diego Ruina
Material: White Metal

      Unpacking the model

The model arrives in a very pleasing hard cover box by Pegaso, quality starts with the packing and here you really get what you are paying for:

Opening the box brings you to a soft foam which has the treasure inside:

Taking a closer look on the insight brings you 20 parts. Here is a list of pieces, picture follows afterwards:


1x Main Body (1 Piece!!!)
2x different heads (black and white)
1x left arm
1x right arm
1x base
2x canteens
4x pieces of belt
1x helmet
4x bags
1x knife
1x  smoke grenade
1x M16 Rifle

2x sheets of paper (Information about historical background to the model in various languages)

     Closer Look at the model

Sharpen your eyes - there isn't much to complain about. Sure you got the casual cleaning process of white metal casts, but nothing serious. I would not recommand the model to early beginners as the detail bag stuff might be challenging while cleaning. The pieces of the model are easily to fit in place but i would recommand pinning them for maximum security.

As the sculpt is 90 mm it is really heavy. I fear a bit the weight of the complete build kit, but my arm is strong. Maybe the future will bring such great sculpts in grey resin. It would make them much easier to handle, just a thought.

You got the option of making the Rifleman white or black. This is provided by 2 different heads. It's up to you to choose. I might like the white at the moment, as i had serious problems in being satisfied with my results in painting black skin.

The base which is included in the kit fits him perfectly and also fits my personal wish to show him. After reading so many books i feel like this is the right choice, sure i was thinking about jungle or a vietnamese hootch but that doesn't feel right. For me it is best to keep him on these sandbags. I thought about it but can't provide a realistic jungle terrain in this Scale without building a football field seized base. Like i said the details on the sculpting work are enormous, check out his boots:

So far - i hope you like this Mu - i am on the road for cleaning maybe or reaching some other goals ;)

Best Regards
Roman

_____________________________________________________________________
Did this article help you? Do you want to say thanks in form of support? If so, do a

Mu 11 - Nubian Guardian bust, SK-Miniatures, 200 mm

posted by roman, jarhead, kong

This Miniature Unpacked is done about the already seen Nubian Guardian bust i am painting at the moment. The model comes from SK-Miniatures and is sculpted by Carl Reid in 200 mm, who did a fantastic job. The promo paintjob is done by Song-Eon Lee whose skills i admire very deeply.

As i plan this bust as a Christmas gift to my parents i was really excited when the model arrived. It looked like this when it arrived(click to enlarge like always):

The price is not low, but you really get a high quality sculpt which looks incredible real and alive for your money - so from my side it is truely worth every penny. Opening the box made me a bit unhappy as the parts where somehow loose in the box. There was foam for sure but it didn't help to make everything lay tight.

Looking at the parts which are included in the box makes this bust even more enjoyable. The torso and head do come as one part. Here is a list of the parts that are waiting for you in the box:

1x torso with head
1x right arm
1x right hand holding the sword
1x gun
1x knife 

Taking a closer look on the resin cast i fast realized there will be hard work ahead. There is a lot to clean up from the production process and this makes this bust not really easy. For example i really had some hard fights with some mould lines, also i had to recut a clean connection between the face and his turban. These minor spots really are sad, but the face made it all good for me. The overall quality is well, but far from perfect.

I truely fell in love with the sculpt and love to bring paint on him, but i really got to say that cleaning and preparing up this fella was not an easy task. So keep this in mind when you get hold of one - whatever, it is a great piece. Here are some more shots of the assembled model:

As mentioned i've already started painting him. I will try to stay close to the box art as Christmas is rolling in as fast as snow falls here in germany. Here is an early Work in Progress shot of the bust:

I hope you like this Miniature Unpacked and hope to see some painted versions of this guy around someday. This face is so stunning...

Best Regards
Roman

_____________________________________________________________________
Did this article help you? Do you want to say thanks in form of support? If so, do a