Dims' Mini Exchange: Isabella von Carstein

[dims]

Hi all,

I am on the verge of starting a new little project. With a couple of friends we do a mini exchanges once in a while. And we like to challenge eachother. This time I picked an Isabella von Carstein model...a really old model that is (see below)!

While I was cleaning and such, I was pondering what to make of it. Not only the model itself - fantastic flowing robes and all - but also I am able to do a small display base underneath. But unfortunately, my head is cramped at the moment of studies, so I am seriously lacking inspiration.
Help me out, if you please? Send me your ideas, inspirations, yur previous work, whatever, so that I might make a cool blog post thingy here. Would love that!

Thanks in advance!
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[10 ball]

Hi, the best place to look for inspiration is the gallery, ive attached a few picts of some great work from there

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[PegaZus]

Some ideas that popped into my head were victims of some sort. Some slain vampire hunter or knight that was bleeding out that she caught up in the chalice. Or you could go with a willing victim, and they don't necessarily need to be deceased either. Image in my mind on that is some naked guy holding his fingers to his neck.

And if you want to go goofy, a table with birthday cake that's been recently cut. Put some cake bits on the knife, some plates and more chalices. Have a large punch bowl and things like that.

 

[dims]

With every stroke of my brush, I feel my disposition towards the old sculpt of Isabella shift from 'UGG! This is horrendous!' to 'I think I can actually make this work...!'

Now that I have added some more color on her, I can clearly see where my choices will lead to. I was afraid at first that the off-white 'wedding style' color of the dress would prove too pale for the entire model, but now I see that it really brings out her eerie beauty. Sort of.

I see that my idea for the sleeves (actually gloves) work, but somehow it just is not right just yet. I can't lay my finger on it though, so if you know...don't hesitate to tell me!

I still need to do so much: the gold, the silver cp, the metal dagger, heer make-up and eyes, and I am certain to do some cobweb pattern on the dress. But I don't want to make it too obvious, so I might use grey colors only.

I am also pondering if and what I should put on the cloak - embroidery, a sigil, runes...? Still not sure. Like I am not sure of what to do with the base. But that'll come soon enough.

 

[dims]

I found some spare time to work on Isabella.

I added the cow web to the dress, and frankly, I think it's not that bad. Thanks to Malebolgia (GWHobby.net) for that idea. I still wanna do a cool tribal on the cloak that Adam Halon showed me. But that's for later.
For now: enjoy.

And yes, those eyes SUCK! It's the sculpt...always the sculpt...

 

[10 ball]

I think she looks great, nice freehand also

 

[TrystanGST]

I have this mini sitting around, and I wasn't sure anyone could save it with paint. But you've done a nice job.

 

[stevey293]

Oh god look at how wrong that hand looks!!! Terrible sculpt indeed! Good painting though.

 

[ischa]

i wanna try this mini=) looking really fun!

 

[dims]

Wow guys, thanks for the kind words. I really take it to heart what you think and am inspired by it. I'll start on the base soon.

 

[Goblinho]

Looking really nice man, loving the web. I had an idea for the base to make it really different.

Now a Vampire that spends that much time on her hair is not gonna want to get it wet How about making a water base with thralls holding her above the water. They could be up to their shoulders in the water arms raised to hold her or to hold another thrall that she is standing on?

Just an idea

 

[dims]

Here's a quick update on Isabelle. I have been doodling with her base, and I took the advice of Breadhead (WAMP forum), and did a theme with a spiral case.
I have bought casting moulds once for my Skaven Army, which proved useful here. I made a few casts in plaster, and just stacked them up in a spiraly way.

Now my friend Gert has challenged me to make a banister of some sort. Since I want to give it that real gothic/ victorian feel, I thought to do it in metal wire and weld it together. Or something. Dunno yet. Some inspiration:

 

[khavor]

With every stroke of my brush, I feel my disposition towards the old sculpt of Isabella shift from 'UGG! This is horrendous!' to 'I think I can actually make this work...!'

Dude! you've done more than make her work. That's awesome! And the stairs on the base are going to be great.

I do love MOST old minis, and find they're usually really enjoyable to paint since they're so much less complicated. But those hands are HUGE. So, if your hand is bigger than your face you have cancer (at least according to elementary school students). What does that mean if your hand is bigger than your entire head?

 

[dims]

Slowly but steadily I manage to pick my moments to work on the base for Isabella. I have completely let the idea for a banister go, and decided for a more sinister option.


The main reason for dropping the initial idea was for practial purposes. I have been searching the web for easy materials, I borrowed solding tools from a friend, and I even entertained visiting train modelling shops. And simply put: I found it far too much trouble.
So I thought up another idea, of placing candles on each stair. This might make for a far more medieval look, instead of a sort of Victorian look.

I am almost done. Painting is going fast with a few quick drybrushes for the steps, and some light green washes. I am down to the candles now. When it is finished, I'll also add some cobwebs, and then - after mounting the Isabella model on top - I am finally finished.

 

[Meph]

Those are some nice stairs, the candles are a nice touch indeed.