Converted Hydra Legionnaire Robots with a female command figure from Graven Images, the 40mm Cliffhanger or Flash Gordon range.
Tony
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Flash Gordon - Lizardman
The miniature is from the American company - Lance & Lazer Models INC. a Dragonewt Champion (no. 03031).
Mounted on a 40mm round base the model is 46mm tall. The claws on the feet had to be cut off and re-modelled with 'green stuff' to fit the 40mm base and the green colour scheme is a little predictable, but I like the miniature and it fits a classic Lizardman profile better than others I have seen.
The casting was very well done, with fantastic skin and scale texture. The miniature was painted over a black undercoat with a mixture of acrylic paints.
The service from Lance & Lazer Models was very good, with the figures arriving from America within 14 days of ordering. There are others in the range that I would expect to order in the future, but for now I will try to paint the lead mountain I already have before ordering any more!
Tony
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Inspirational Artwork
The Internet is full of great inspirational artwork, one of the best and one of my personal favourites are the illustrations of Keith Thompson, see the link below.
http://www.keiththompsonart.com/index.html
Tony
http://www.keiththompsonart.com/index.html
Tony
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Flash Gordon - Robots (the animated series) part three
This latest Blog entry shows my 40mm Flash Gordon Robots - inspired by Flash Gordon (the animated series) robots. The basis of the models are Hydra Miniatures Legionnaire Robots with scratch built and resin cast heads as well as Ming 'sun burst' motifs on their chests.
The third photo shows the new heads in profile. For more details on how they were made and cast - please see earlier posts.
The miniatures were painted with a mix of acrylic paints over a black and dark brown undercoat, then washed with Games Workshop brown wash before the detail was picked out. A variation from the animated series colour scheme are the black eye sockets rather than red. I felt that the red eye colour just looked wrong.
The robots are varnished with a 'custom mix' satin varnish - 50% Kleer and 50% artists matt acrylic varnish. I have stated in the past that I feel gloss varnish just doesn't look right. The base is all matt.
One recommendation concerning these superb miniatures - I would suggest that any painter thinks about painting the individual arms separately and gluing the figure together when the paint has dried. The manufacture of the figure makes painting the rear of the gun very difficult once the figure is constructed. In addition any modeller who knows these miniatures will see that legs and poses have been altered slightly to offer some variation - cutting the base and moving the legs either further apart, closer or forward.
Each miniature is mounted on a 40mm round base and stands 45mm tall.
Tony
Monday, 8 September 2008
Flash Gordon - Robots (the animated series) part two
I have finished the modelling and moulding of the robot heads and have started painting. I felt that a short description of the casting processes I have used for the heads might be useful.
As detailed in the earlier entry I wanted to model some 40mm robots based on the Hydra Legionnaire Robots and inspired by the golden Ming Robots in the animated series flash Gordon. My first job was checking out the series on You Tube and making rough sketches. The problem with the series is that the design and drawing of the robots, profile and straight-on do not match up. The final drawings were an amalgamation of two or three images and sketches.
Once I had the design I wanted, I re-scaled the drawings to the same size as the Hydra Robot heads (about 10mm tall) and modelled the shape from lamination's of plastic card. The initial shape is very much like a traditional viking helmet. The shape was first carved and then sanded smooth. Please note - the finished head was the third attempt, the first two being discarded long before I started to add 'green stuff'.
Modelling with 'green stuff' followed and this was pretty easy. The only issue I had was the two 'eyebrows' which being so small, but such an important part of the cartoon robot needed to be modelled with some care.
I then needed to make a mould. I used a product called Siligum, a silicone moulding paste made by Gedeo which you can pick up in specialist arts and crafts stores. It is a two-part soft clay material, which comes in blue and white parts and when mixed you have about 10 minutes before it goes off. I used a Plasticine base in a Lego box and then pressed the Siligum into the Lego box with a small plastic card rectangle. Once the first part was set, I produced the second part in the same way - with a Vaseline barrier between the two parts.
I cut a small air vent that will help later, which was carved as an extension to the neck of the robot head and now on to the resin casting. I mixed up some standard two part automobile repair resin, bought from Halfords and while I was waiting for the two parts to react, I brushed on some warm Vaseline to the two part mould. I added the resin to each of the mould halves and prior to going hard, pressed the two mould halves together. I use two small pieces of plastic card either side of the mould and gently squeeze the mould to ensure that the resin is fully filling the mould.
DANGER; I then blow into the vent hole that I carved into the mould. I believe that this forces the resin into all parts of the mould and should give a better casting. I am not sure how safe this is, so anyone copying this technique should be very careful.
The mould is left for about 20 minutes while the resin fully sets and then the head was removed. five castings later (actually six as one of the castings had a huge air bubble) I have my Flash Gordon Robot heads. They were washed and cleaned, then sanded smooth with a fine sanding stick, before the neck area was cut to size and super glued to the bodies.
The only issue I had during the whole modelling/casting process was the large amount of waste resin, caused by having to mix up six separate cups of resin, one for each head. I am not sure that there is an easier way to do this?
The five miniatures were then undercoated and sprayed black, before I started painting the figures. I hope that this tutorial helps other modellers produce their own castings.
Tony
As detailed in the earlier entry I wanted to model some 40mm robots based on the Hydra Legionnaire Robots and inspired by the golden Ming Robots in the animated series flash Gordon. My first job was checking out the series on You Tube and making rough sketches. The problem with the series is that the design and drawing of the robots, profile and straight-on do not match up. The final drawings were an amalgamation of two or three images and sketches.
Once I had the design I wanted, I re-scaled the drawings to the same size as the Hydra Robot heads (about 10mm tall) and modelled the shape from lamination's of plastic card. The initial shape is very much like a traditional viking helmet. The shape was first carved and then sanded smooth. Please note - the finished head was the third attempt, the first two being discarded long before I started to add 'green stuff'.
Modelling with 'green stuff' followed and this was pretty easy. The only issue I had was the two 'eyebrows' which being so small, but such an important part of the cartoon robot needed to be modelled with some care.
I then needed to make a mould. I used a product called Siligum, a silicone moulding paste made by Gedeo which you can pick up in specialist arts and crafts stores. It is a two-part soft clay material, which comes in blue and white parts and when mixed you have about 10 minutes before it goes off. I used a Plasticine base in a Lego box and then pressed the Siligum into the Lego box with a small plastic card rectangle. Once the first part was set, I produced the second part in the same way - with a Vaseline barrier between the two parts.
I cut a small air vent that will help later, which was carved as an extension to the neck of the robot head and now on to the resin casting. I mixed up some standard two part automobile repair resin, bought from Halfords and while I was waiting for the two parts to react, I brushed on some warm Vaseline to the two part mould. I added the resin to each of the mould halves and prior to going hard, pressed the two mould halves together. I use two small pieces of plastic card either side of the mould and gently squeeze the mould to ensure that the resin is fully filling the mould.
DANGER; I then blow into the vent hole that I carved into the mould. I believe that this forces the resin into all parts of the mould and should give a better casting. I am not sure how safe this is, so anyone copying this technique should be very careful.
The mould is left for about 20 minutes while the resin fully sets and then the head was removed. five castings later (actually six as one of the castings had a huge air bubble) I have my Flash Gordon Robot heads. They were washed and cleaned, then sanded smooth with a fine sanding stick, before the neck area was cut to size and super glued to the bodies.
The only issue I had during the whole modelling/casting process was the large amount of waste resin, caused by having to mix up six separate cups of resin, one for each head. I am not sure that there is an easier way to do this?
The five miniatures were then undercoated and sprayed black, before I started painting the figures. I hope that this tutorial helps other modellers produce their own castings.
Tony
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Flash Gordon - Robots (the animated series)
For some time I have been thinking of adding some new robots to my collection - the style I wanted was inspired by the robots from Flash Gordon - the animated series. I purchased a set of 5 Hydra Miniatures Legionnaire Robots and have now based and converted the bodies.
The robot head needed to be completely scratch built from layers of plastic card and 'green stuff'. The photos below show the prototype head and the conversions I have done to the robot chests, which now display the Ming 'sun-burst' motif.
The robot head needed to be completely scratch built from layers of plastic card and 'green stuff'. The photos below show the prototype head and the conversions I have done to the robot chests, which now display the Ming 'sun-burst' motif.
I have started to mould and cast the five heads in resin (automobile repair resin from Halfords) which takes some time, due to the mould cleaning and resin setting time, however by the end of today I will have my five robot heads cast in a rather fetching rose coloured resin! Once they are cleaned up I will attach them to the finished bodies with super glue and try to take some more photos before I start to paint.
I would have liked to have re-modelled the legs and arms to closer resemble the Flash Gordon robots, but I feel the new heads and chest detail should be enough.
The rose coloured robot heads have not photographed very well, but I have included this photo to show the progress so far. The photo also shows how I model bases - small pieces of broken cork, DAS modelling clay and sand.
Tony
Friday, 5 September 2008
First weekend of September
There are no photos this week, but that does not mean that I have been relaxing - NO it's more to do with the weather being too wet and gloomy to take any!
The main project all this week has been a Flintloque or Spanish style windmill. The full article and photos will eventually appear here, but for now the project is being rushed-through for the next edition of the Flintloque/Slaughterloo Fanzine 60 Bloody Rounds. The construction is complete and if I have time this weekend I will start the painting.
The second project is a group of Hydra Miniatures Legionnaire Robots, which I am hoping to convert and paint (new heads and small details) to resemble the Ming Robots in the animated Flash Gordon series. The miniatures stand about 40mm tall and are perfect for my 40mm Flash Gordon collection. All five miniatures, well the bodies (no heads or arms yet) have been mounted onto 40mm round bases and the groundwork built up with small pieces of cork and DAS.
The Large Farm House has taken a 'back seat' for now, but this is just while I work on the windmill model and magazine deadline.
Tony
The main project all this week has been a Flintloque or Spanish style windmill. The full article and photos will eventually appear here, but for now the project is being rushed-through for the next edition of the Flintloque/Slaughterloo Fanzine 60 Bloody Rounds. The construction is complete and if I have time this weekend I will start the painting.
The second project is a group of Hydra Miniatures Legionnaire Robots, which I am hoping to convert and paint (new heads and small details) to resemble the Ming Robots in the animated Flash Gordon series. The miniatures stand about 40mm tall and are perfect for my 40mm Flash Gordon collection. All five miniatures, well the bodies (no heads or arms yet) have been mounted onto 40mm round bases and the groundwork built up with small pieces of cork and DAS.
The Large Farm House has taken a 'back seat' for now, but this is just while I work on the windmill model and magazine deadline.
Tony
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