Boxer Rebellion: Box-Turtle Folk, WIP

[Shpam]

These look amazing! I’m definitely looking forward to that Kickstarter.

 

Something bugs me with the rogue’s left hand. Isn’t it a bit too long ?

Also... To me she’s got more of a monkish feel, wearing cloth and fighting with a fan. She looks great though.

[Sanael]

I also thought the fingers were a touch long on the rogue. But I love that fan! I want these minis soooo much.

 

That eagle is also really incredible. Seeing that armature come together was a treat, thanks for sharing that process.

 

Has your client offered any idea about prices on these? Budget this year will be very tight, but I'd like to set something aside in anticipation of the Kickstarter...

[TaleSpinner]

19 hours ago, Shpam said:

These look amazing! I’m definitely looking forward to that Kickstarter.

 

Something bugs me with the rogue’s left hand. Isn’t it a bit too long ?

14 hours ago, Sanael said:

I also thought the fingers were a touch long on the rogue. But I love that fan! I want these minis soooo much.

 

Yeah, it was bugging me too, but since several people who shall remain nameless always give me elf about having too small of hands on minis, I figured it was my own skewed perception.  I gave her hand reduction surgery last night.  Better? If not, I'm going to cut the whole thing off and sculpt another fan for that hand.  One of the hardest things to get right on a mini and have it look really good is an open hand holding nothing.  Even the greats like Werner Klocke seem to struggle with this if some of the minis I've painted are any judge.

 

 

 

19 hours ago, Shpam said:

Also... To me she’s got more of a monkish feel, wearing cloth and fighting with a fan. She looks great though.

 

Yeah, since the rogue class has always been a catch all class, everyone's view of what is or is not a rogue is different.  For this line, I have to maintain Oriental, and I'm not going the ninja route, so any rogue like character will end up being a monk crossover. As for armor, she has leather armor on her groin and thighs.  Given the shell, what more would a rogue wear?

 

14 hours ago, Sanael said:

 

That eagle is also really incredible. Seeing that armature come together was a treat, thanks for sharing that process.

 

Has your client offered any idea about prices on these? Budget this year will be very tight, but I'd like to set something aside in anticipation of the Kickstarter...

 

No, I don't know prices (couldn't discuss it here if I did).  They will be pewter.  I can't see them being on the low side of pewter as they each are quite heavy.  That shell contains a fair amount of metal, probably about 1/3rd more than a human mini.  Add to that that the Druid, Sorcerer, and Cleric all have extra mass due to what accompanies them...<shrug>.  I've tried to keep the mass down where I could, but don't want to sacrifice too much detail to do so.

 

In addition to the previously mentioned hand surgery,  I worked on the quiver, belt, and leggings of the Ranger as well:

 

 

[kristof65]

On the quiver of arrows - it almost looks like there might be gaps in there between the pins that would cause mold making issues. Since you're a professional, I assume that's not the case, and it's just the photo, but I am curious as to how you make sure there isn't. 

[TaleSpinner]

33 minutes ago, kristof65 said:

On the quiver of arrows - it almost looks like there might be gaps in there between the pins that would cause mold making issues. Since you're a professional, I assume that's not the case, and it's just the photo, but I am curious as to how you make sure there isn't. 

 

Dang, you guys catch everything.  I plan on flooding the exposed parts with epoxy glue to fill the gaps.

[kristof65]

9 minutes ago, TaleSpinner said:

 

Dang, you guys catch everything.  I plan on flooding the exposed parts with epoxy glue to fill the gaps.

 It's partially your fault - you've been an extremely good teacher to those of us who are interested in the process.

I've become more interested in this sort of stuff since I started designing things for 3d printing last year. 

[Shpam]

Yup, that new hand is way better! :)

[chaosscorpion]

So back in November work decided to block the forums.  I can see the main Reaper Site and shop but cannot read the boards on my lunch breaks anymore.  I had the time today to sit down and get caught up on some of my favorite posts.

 

Andy sorry for the Like Bombing but this and your owl coin posts were the first for me to get caught up on.  Amazing work!, and Nice BASS.

 

 

[TaleSpinner]

This weekend I made good progress on the Ranger.

 

On the eagle, I snipped it from the wire so that a stub was left on the bottom of the bird.  I then made a set of leg armatures, bent in a U that went around the stub and out.  I lubed the area of the stub, and applied putty over the wire forming the attachment point that I will sculpt the legs onto.  This I was then able to remove from the bird.  I prepared the wire to be soldered to the branch.  Here are the leg armatures on and off of the bird.

 

 

Then I soldered them to the branch and replaced the bird (later I'll sculpt the feet, legs, and leg feathers up to the bird so they fit seamlessly).

 

 

 

I sculpted the perch as a piece of dead wood as indicated in the concept art.

 

 

 

On the bow, I added a grip and the hand, sans thumb which I will add once it is cured.

 

 

 

 

On the ranger, I finished his leggings, sculpted his back sash, and applied the quiver.  Then I repositioned and resculpted the arm reaching for an arrow to match the quiver position (I have to rework this I think as the bicep and triceps look off to me).  I also sculpted his bow arm bracer and hat.

 

[Sanael]

Hand looks just right, now.

 

That's cool about using epoxy to flood little gaps like in the quiver.

 

Loving the ranger so far... The hat looks great!

 

I'm not surprised you don't have any firm knowledge on prices, or that you can't discuss it over much. I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. Good points about it being all pewter.

[Rainbow Sculptor]

Yeah I think his right arm (the one reaching for the quiver) is off. Either the elbow is too high for the shoulder or the shoulder is too low to match the elbow. I'm assuming you have some specific concerns about casting in that area so I would alter whichever one maintains your casting integrity the best. Looking great so far though, that eagle is super impressive!

[Kuroneko]

That eagle is absolutely gorgeous!

 

Actually, everything looks amazing. Looks like I'm breaking my " Back less Kickstarters" resolution already

[Morihalda]

Everything looks so amazing!!! 

 

On 1/2/2019 at 7:22 AM, TaleSpinner said:

OH wow, once you find Sibley, you'll never look at Peterson's again, it is so out of date and has none of the modern features Sibley introduced.  But, don't buy the book.  Get it on your phone or tablet (or both) (it sells for about $20).  The Sibley app has everything the book does, plus the full Cornell Bird Song Database and a really good smart search.  I never even bring my books out of the house anymore; I have it all on my phone.

 

When I read that last sentence, my face went.  

No books ! What! I'm both impressed, sad, and super interested. LOL.

I used to bring my tree, birds, and star books when we'd go camping. My father-in-law would tease me every time. "Don't you know all those things in there yet? Books when you could be fishing?"

 

I did try to fish and read together a few times. My bird book still retains a faintly saltwater scent. 

[TaleSpinner]

2 hours ago, Morihalda said:

Everything looks so amazing!!! 

 

 

When I read that last sentence, my face went.  

No books ! What! I'm both impressed, sad, and super interested. LOL.

I used to bring my tree, birds, and star books when we'd go camping. My father-in-law would tease me every time. "Don't you know all those things in there yet? Books when you could be fishing?"

 

I did try to fish and read together a few times. My bird book still retains a faintly saltwater scent. 

 

I used to bring several field guides with.  I own a huge collection of field guides (it has been a long standing practice of mine to buy field guides to flora and fauna of the places I visit as souvenirs).  I tend to read them cover to cover many times over (if ya'll haven't noticed yet, I'm a bit of a nature buff), but for actual field study, the phone and tablet apps have surpassed the books in information and features.  I guess I do still bring the Sibley guide with me, but it usually stays in the car. I don't bother with the rest of the collection.

 

For birds, my two favorite apps are Sibley and iBird.  Both are very good.

 

I haven't gotten it yet on my current phone, but there is also an app that lets you point your phone/tablet at the night sky and it will label all the stars and constellations for you.

[TaleSpinner]

I had the day off yesterday.  My eldest had gone on a medical mission to Guatemala to help treat people in outlying villiages; he came home and needed a pick up at the airport at 2 am.  Instead of being tired at work all day yesterday, I took vacation, slept in, and spent the remainder of the day sculpting and other stuff.

 

I finished the hand on the bow.  The picture is so blurry I can't use it, sorry.

 

I finished the eagle.  The first step was to sculpt its talons:

 

 

 

Then add the skin and scales to the feet and legs once the talons had cured:

 

 

 

Then I sculpted its leg and belly feathers:

 

 

 

On the ranger, I finished his clothing, added the medallions, and sculpted a belt pouch and bag.

 

 

 

 

 

All I have left is to fit the eagle to the ranger's back, fit the bow hand to the arm, sculpt the fastening on the belt pouch, add a slot tab, and cut him up for casting. It should be done by the end of the day today.