Bailey03's WIP

[AndyG]

Flag is fantastic! I love the detail spot on! However I think you should kill your darlings with the cape. It's not historically accurate and it doesn't seem to add anything to the overall mini. You have the free hand covered with the flag etc. If you want to add interest to the cape then some weathering would do the trick I feel. Sorry to be negative with it but you did ask.

 

[Khonner]

It is very nice freehand, but I agree with Andy about getting rid of it and just stick with some weathering in key spots.

 

[Milosh]

That's a tough call. I could go either way with it but maybe without it would be closer to accurate.

 

[Bailey03]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll give myself a few days to think about it (road trip to visit the in-laws this weekend so won't be doing any painting) but it looks like the consensus is dump the detail. I think I like the idea of the border more than I like the actual border, if that makes any sense. I'll probably just leave a keep a small fine line around the edge of the cape and leave it at that.

 

[dennis.]

As said, weathering it would suit the 'realism', it may well work out to weather over just as it is to become almost obscured but still there, i do like the design.

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

That AndyG sure can be a meanie, huh?

Love the cape freehand. That's waaay too much white cape to NOT get some freehand. Otherwise, to me it looks like a large blank canvas. It would make the mini look empty if you didn't do something with it. So you can erase that design if you want, but my thoughts are that it needs something. And how do we know if this crusader's wife didn't go through the trouble of hand stitching the design on the entire Chapter's capes because she felt it helped her atone for her heathenous sins and adulterous ways? Answer: we don't. Historical fact!

 

[SkelettetS]

or why dont you freehand some space marines shooting some orks, yeah? perhaps the crusaders wife also was a wh player, who knows?

i really like your mini, skills man! but i guess this is why i dont like to paint historical much. if it was fantasy you could pretty much go bananas with that cape, now you have to be (well not have to) accurate to what-we-know sort of. I have to agree with Andy here.

 

[Webmonkey]

I like the cape a lot. The question is,.. do you leave it white and "understated" like it is??,.. or do you fill in the scroll-work with a color?? You could pull the red from the cross down into it, but I think perhaps something in an off-white or cream color would work. Enough contrast to show that it's colored-in, but still close enough in tone to the white to stay understated,.. if that makes any sense.

 

[Bailey03]

I posted the same question over on the MedRom forum (a site dedicated to historical figures from ancient Rome to the Medieval period and the place I usually go for questions of historical accuracy). Oddly enough the consensus there was keep the design. They said he's just a guy with a lot of cash who can afford to buy the fancy cape. So now I'm back to thinking maybe I should keep it.

In other news, here are a couple sneak peaks at what else is on my work station. The first is a 75mm gladiator from Alexandros. Just starting on the skin for him. He's a bit fatter than your standard movie/tv gladiator but probably closer to what they would really have looked like. I think I read somewhere that the fat gladiators with clogged arteries meant you'd get enough blood from the cuts for a good show but not too much that the fight would end early.
View attachment 31238

The second project is a 54m Saxon from Latorre. Obviously this guy is at a real early stage. I bookmarked a neat tutorial on a heavily weathered helmet I want to try out. It was on a bust, but I'm hopeful I can transition it to this scale. Fitting with the beat up look I switched out the axe head with one from etch masters (the rewards from their indiegogo campaign arrived yesterday). Lot's of fun etched brass toys to play with and hopefully work into future projects. This piece is actually from their 28mm fantasy sheet, but works just fine for a small 54mm axe. I was tempted to add another belt or other stuff to him but I can't really think of a good reason for it to be there. So maybe I'll find something for the base.
View attachment 31239

PS - Sorry for the less fancy photos. Just a couple quick snaps with the iphone without the nice setup.

 

[Webmonkey]

umm,... you missed a spot,.. *snickers*

(sees if I can lure you into the october challenge. just because i'm curious to see what you'd produce)

 

[Bailey03]

Don't think I wasn't tempted by that. I've got a couple large scale anime kits and I really want to give them a try. Unfortunately I'd be more likely if it was the following October. Already a lot on my plate and I really want to get more practice with the airbrush on crappier figures first!

 

[Sionid]

Glad you decided to keep the pattern, it's such a lovely detail.

I like seeing a gladiator with a non-idealized body. And don't actual hella-strong dudes tend to have a bit of a tire iron, anyhow? Excited to see what you do with him!

 

[Webmonkey]

Don't think I wasn't tempted by that. I've got a couple large scale anime kits and I really want to give them a try. Unfortunately I'd be more likely if it was the following October. Already a lot on my plate and I really want to get more practice with the airbrush on crappier figures first!

Well,.. if everyone likes it, then I see no reason not to do it again next year too. Might just have to become a C'mon annual thing.

 

[KruleBear]

Cool new figs and now I know I have the body of a gladiator!

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

I too am happy you are keeping the cape. Feel a bit of redemption, as it seems like lately I am in the minority with every opinion I offer Especially since the history buffs agree. Of course I was being coy when describing the wife sewing the design for the whole chapter (see KKK hoods, Django Unchained) but point was that a soldier at this time wasn't bound by the uniformity seen in later armies. Notwithstanding, aesthetically speaking it was just too large and too white to be left without character. The Cistine Chapel with a popcorn drywall finish. Yuck.

I think that as an historical painter, being accurate to the time and circumstances is important. But as I said before, this does not rob you of creative nuance. Even modern day militaries that pride themselves on disciplined uniformity contain soldiers with a strong, strong desire to stand out from the masses. A bandana, a different chinstrap, custom boots, rifle attachments, etc. we often call them geardos for their obsession with the flashiest customizable equipment. Silly comparison, I suppose, but I can't help but rationalize that all but the greenest soldier in any army at any time would equip himself with equipment or modifications outside of the basic issue. The challenge is to make the accessory an accurate and believable one.

 

[dennis.]

One thing in colouring the design that would pacify both worlds may be to use desaturated/natural dye colours, as in an old tapestry. I know they had super bright colours in them there days too but it wouldn't suit/take away from the subtlety of your work. BIG Gladiator, keep going this way you'll be doing life size busts in a fortnight

 

[NthPower]

The cape design looks so nice, I hope you decide to keep it. It would be a shame to have to erase it.

 

[Milosh]

I too am glad it will stay now. It is so well done. I hate to say it this early but your work is trending away from Hardy Tempest and closer now to Dimitrios Kotronos (Jimias) from Greece. He is one of my favorite painters and the one who helped me the most when I was starting to improve. Huge huge compliment sir.

 

[Demihuman]

That gladiator is so sweet. According my recollection of the history channel the tubby gladiators were all about being able to take a few slices, bleed some for the audience, and still do it again the next week. Natural armor. They did not mention the clogged arteries. I imagine if the gladiators lived long enough to bulk up they were also relatively fit. And don't kid yourself, some of those big guys can MOVE...

The Saxon looks like he could have something in his left hand. For some reason I keep thinking of beautifully quilted white blanket with a touch of blood on it.

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

I too read about gladiators getting big in order to be able to bleed spectacularly without dying and IMO that has to be hogwash. No warrior planning on fighting another day could possibly find it reasonable to count on a millimeter of subcutaneous material and fatty tissue to keep himself alive. And certainly not as a means to bleed just enough. The idea being to not bleed at all. I challenge whatever historian made this ridiculous assertion to a fight to the death.