1/9 Wellington 'v' bust

[Dave Ward]

This is my first foray into painting a resin bust. This is the subject:


I sourced this from Mitches Military Models, in Cumbria via a cheeky bid on his ebay shop - at a very good price....................

I thoroughly degreased, and gave a coat of primer.................

l think I need to have another go with the primer!, looks like I thinned it a bit too much! At this high magnification everything shows up - looks like His Grace has a load of pimples on his forehead - I'll have to deal with that & reprime!
I 'm going to use a mixture of oils and acrylics, but this is somewhat an unknown territory for me. I think some metallics will be needed for the decorations & braid
This is probably going to be a slow process, and I can see a lot of paint removal & redoing will be needed
Dave

 

[papa 695]

I looks a nice bust Dave, good luck with it, I don't do much in the figure line, and may try one myself one day. Watching with interest.

 

[Dave Ward]

Ian,
I'd been thinking about doing a larger figure after my 1/16 SWAT, but the cost put me off - it had to be cheap enough that If I made a real pig's ear of it, it wouldn't hurt too much! I bid on a 1/9 Napoleon, but didn't win that - so I put a cheeky bid of £10 on Wellington. I was the only bidder, so total cost including p&p <£14 .
Dave

 

[Deleted member 6559]

Great choice Dave. I've done all three in their Waterloo Commanders Range. Mitches are currently offering the set for £55.00, which isn't a bad price.

Have fun.

 

[Dave Ward]

Peter,
I did look at Blucher, but I realised that apart from painting a soldier, he was an old man. At Waterloo, he was 72, I think I'm going to be pushed to do Wellington, who was 46, let alone an aged faces!
Dave

 

[JR]

Good luck Dave.
It will be interesting to follow .

 

[Richard48]

Nice one Dave.Nice to see you having a go at a resin bust.Watching with interest.
Richard

 

[Dave Ward]

First Paint on - The tunic is painted in oils - brilliant red. The head has an overall basic skin tone, ivory eye whites & carefully applied pupils
His Grace looks a little sallow & goggle eyed, but, early days. According to paintings by Goya & Lawrence, the Duke had dark grey blue eyes, so that'll be the next step. Wikipedia has a page " Arms, titles, honours and styles " on the Duke, and I hope to identify some of the fancy decorations, and hence their colours.
Dave

 

[Deleted member 6559]

A good start Dave. Nice red!

 

[Dave Ward]

Peter,
I did start with crimson, but that looked a little dull, so, Brilliant Red. My oils aren't of the highest quality, Reeves, but they'll do for the moment. I'm still pondering on how to display the Duke - obviously a rod inserted into the base, but I don't have anything for a plinth, any ideas on where to source one? Will need to be 60 -70mm square/round.
Dave

 

[Deleted member 6559]

Hi Dave. Historex have a wide range of plinths. Just go to the website and have a look in the 'find' section.

 

[Dave Ward]

I think I'll hold off on the plinth, until I see if he's actually worth displaying!
I found this interesting page https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phillips-Arthur_Wellesley,_1st_Duke_of_Wellington.jpg
If you hover over the picture with your mouse, it shows the name of the decorations!
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

I primed the braid & buttons with Vallejo Golden Yellow paint before using Mr Hobby Gold paint ( the only gold paint I could find in my box! ). Sash painted with Royal Blue oil.

a wash of dark ink will bring out the texture on the braid

The head, definitely a work in progress!


A lot more blending needed on certain areas (!), but I think he's getting there. I'm finding that I can only paint the small detail for about 5 minutes, then my hands start to shake & I have to stop!
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

More work on the torso - the decorations have been given a black priming coat
The head - I've redone the eyes, as I wasn't happy with the result............
They still need tidying up - even with a 000 brush, I'm finding it a struggle to do such small work - I can't keep my hands still enough!


I've blocked in the hair with a light brown, I'll darken it up & add some grey at the temples.
That collar is going to be a bit tricky....................
Dave

 

[Deleted member 6559]

Coming along very nicely Dave. Looks like you're having fun.

 

[JR]

Agree with Peter.
You certainly are enjoying this and making progress.
Keep it going .

 

[Steven000]

Nice progress Dave, it ain't easy painting faces. Sorry to hear about your hand, take a break when needed ...
Steven

 

[topgazza]

Following this with some interest as I live about 3 miles from the Duke of Wellington estate in Hampshire. In fact every piece of land around me as far as the eye can see is owned by the estate and gifted by a grateful King George after Waterloo

 

[Steve Brodie]

Bit late now, but i always use Tamiyas Grey Primer in a can. Works a treat and dries quick and very Matt, can speed up the drying process with the use of a hair dryer on a warm setting, dont wont to melt the reisn.

 

[Dave Ward]

I took the paint off the eyes, for the third time, for another go - I also went over the hair with a darker brown
That's the best I've done, so far - I've managed to keep the hands steady, today
Dave