CT's secret project: The "other" General Lee

[CreganTur]

Last time I posted something about General Lee everyone expected the car, so I just want to stave off any disappointment by pointing out this thread is about the other General Lee.

I painted a miniature for my mother-in-law about 5 or 6 years ago and my father-in-law recently started hinting that he'd like one too. It took me a long time to figure out what would be good for him when I suddenly remember he's got some interest in the Civil War (American Civil War for everyone else). Instead of guessing I just asked him who he admired the most from that period and he told me it was Lee. I found a great cast from El Viejo Dragon and just started working on him.

All I've done so far, besides basecoating, is the first 2 levels of highlights on the pants. I've still got a way to go, but a cold has knocked me out of commission for the moment.

Anyone commenting that I'm not using historically accurate colors will be ignored

 

[Torn blue sky]

You're not using historically accurate colours! I dunno actually, all I really know is the confederate gray colour has to be on the hat and coat...
If you painted this guy in a white suit he could just as easily be Col Sanders... Good start though. How big is this chap?

 

[Empchild]

As far as historically acurate colors. As long as you use earth tones no one can really say squat as the Southern Army didn't have a set uniform per say. They wore grey because dyes were expensive, and grey is what the clothes started at. I love though seeing historicals, and especially General Lee as he is still to date the most beloved General in American history undisputed.

 

[CreganTur]

Thanks guys. I'm actually taking inspiration from the studio paint job, which means the hat and coat are going to be highlighted up to more of a cream color with grey shadows. This is more of a Lee the Southern Gentleman figure than a battlefield general one. Oh, he's 54mm btw.

 

[CreganTur]

I felt good enough to do a little more work on this guy, mainly finishing the highlights on the pants and vest. I also added the first layer of highlights to the coat- you really can't see the effect on this picture, but in RL it helps to block out the shadows a little better. I'm wondering if I need to take the highlights brighter or not.

 

[Empchild]

I love where your heading with this. Keep up the good work, and best of luck.

 

[CreganTur]

Thanks, I appreciate it! I just hate how rough the transition is on the pants between the base color and the highlights. I've worked over it numerous times, just can't get it smooth. I'm mixing all of my shades off of the same base paint- VMC French Mirage Blue. I think I might need to just do a couple glazes of the base color and see if that handles it.

 

[Torn blue sky]

I was going to suggest a glaze. Use a mid colour though and apply it where needs be as opposed to basically washing the whole thing. Glazing over the highlights with a mid tone help a lot, it also makes it easer (and less work" to "re highlight" the points you want with minimal difficulty and a much smoother blend.

 

[CreganTur]

I'm getting close to finishing this guy and I wanted to get some feedback before I base him. I feel like the skin is done, but I'm always up for any suggestions. I finished the buttons with a new gold recipe, smoothed out the pants with a glaze of the base color, and finished the highlights on the cloak and vest. The only things that aren't done are the bowtie and boots.

From watching the Speed Painting tutorial from Miniature Mentor I leanred that I tend to overdo my highlights, so I made a conscious effort to pull back and be more careful when placing them. I think that's made this guy much better, since I didn't cover all of my mid-tone work with an aggressive highlight.

 

[Empchild]

I'm not really a fan of the skin as it seems a little reddish, but I love where your heading with the rest of the model.

 

[CreganTur]

General Lee is finally finished. My fahter-in-law knows that he's getting this guy for Christmas, he's just going to be surprised at the quality paint job He designed and turned the plinth and I did everything else. I wanted to do something simple but good looking for the base, so I thought having Lee strolling across the grass would be a good look, especially since this is more of a Southern Gentleman piece than a blood-and-glory-general type mini.

I wasn'y sompletely satisfied with the depth of the shadows from the last pic, so I took babab black and pushed it into all of the shadows, which gave them a nice tint without pushing it overboard. I also di a lot of glazes to smooth out the highlights and transitions. The skin's a little more ruddy in the pic than it is in real life, but all of the other colors are a very close match. I can't wait to see the reaction when my father-in-law opens this guy! I'm just going to have to figure out a good and safe way to wrap him...

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