M J Miniatures Saxon Bust

[Deleted member 6559]

My next bust will be this 1/9 Saxon by M J Miniatures. The figure is depicted holding a Draco standard, a remnant of Roman military practice and used by the Saxons to imply links with King Arthur and the ancient post-Roman kingdom of Wessex.



Harold used the standard at Hastings, and it's shown here in the Bayeux Tapestry in the panel that depicts Harold's death (I go with the theory that he's not the chap with the arrow in his eye, but the figure shown further along the panel being felled by a Norman knight).

The box contents:



A lot of parts for a bust, and the nice thing is that our Saxon is presented as quite chubby, something that is fairly unusual with resin figures. He's not wearing chain mail, which would be unusual for a man of rank like a standard-bearer in battle, so perhaps he's depicted during the forced march from Stamford Bridge. Nice also to see a complete shield.

So, onto the head:



I've gone with quite a lot of contrast, considerably darkening the sides of the head which will be mostly covered by the helmet's cheek guards.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looking good so far....

 

[Deleted member 6559]

Cheers Tim.

More work on the face:

 

[Richard48]

Another one thats new to me Peter.I like this one very much,Did the celts carry something similar to the Draco or am i thinking of a musical instrument.
Face reminds me of someone and i cant put my finger on who he is.
Richard.

 

[Deleted member 6559]

Hi Richard. It quite a complicated kit, so should take a bit longer than usual. As I understand it the Romans took the Draco from the Dacians, so it odes appear to have Celtic roots. I saw a TV programme where they reckoned that it produced a wind-powered roar.

 

[SteveH]

Morning Peter

The IT is playing up again, hopefully I can add this.

Another super head

Enjoy the last warm day?

regards

Steve

 

[Deleted member 4539]

Very nice face Peter .

 

[Deleted member 6559]

Steve - Morning. Going to work on the hood today then get the helmet on.

Ralph - Glad you like him.

 

[Andy Belsey]

Excellent face Peter.
Andy

 

[Jason Crausby]

Excellent start,
Jason

 

[Deleted member 6559]

Thanks Andy and Jason

As it happens it's been stripped down in a bath of Flash, ready to be repainted. Today I painted the hood and helmet and attached everything to the torso. Unfortunately, the shading to the face just didn't work under the helmet, and although I tried to re-paint it in-situ, it started getting very encrusted. So, nothing for it but to strip it all down and start again.

 

[Neil Merryweather]

Face reminds me of someone and i cant put my finger on who he is.
Richard.

Herman Goering?
no offense, Peter, it's the sculpt.....

 

[SteveH]

Morning Peter

A good day, the IT is working!

Just in time for a do over too.

Its been a while, but I can understand that the helmet makes the the face shading look odd and all wrong.

I guess it will be easier to re paint as you know where it should be.

Its finally raining here, but still quite warm too?

13 C at 4 am, up tooo early as a cat was sick!

Hopefully you will have better light this morning, though the BBC did say the rain will eventually hit the whole UK, as the wet front is coming down from the North/Arctic,
so colder too once the rain has past.

Have fun with the head, a little chubby but not really a Reich Marshall!

Regards

Steve H

 

[papa 695]

Wind socks for the archers.
Nice subject Peter and a nice start.

 

[Deleted member 6559]

Neil - He does look a bit like old Herman doesn't he?

Steve - A lot of people would paint the face with the helmet on, but I'd find that too difficult. Happy to have another go at it, and pleased that the light will be less glaring - these extra bright days show up every lump and bump.

Ian - Like it! An archer's wind sock, or rather an aiming point for the enemy.

 

[Deleted member 6559]

The second go at the head:



I've tried to use softer transitions between the light and dark, and have used a lighter palette overall.

 

[Neil Merryweather]

very nice eyes.............for a nazi

 

[Deleted member 6559]

So he's Herman the Saxon now is he Neil?

Slogged on and got back to the stage I was at yesterday:



Getting the head on was quite a complicated process. I first had to paint the hood/cowl, then attach the the neck guard to the back of the head before attaching the head to the body. I then painted the helmet, except for the rivets which, as blobs of silver can be easily damaged. I glued it in place, painted the rivets, then finished off the metallic parts with a graphite pencil. Next I added the cheek guards and painted them in situ. Finally, all the leather parts were given a coat of satin varnish.

I've used Luftwaffe Uniform for the cowl and I was thinking of stone grey for the tunic. I'll need to have a think about that overnight.

 

[Neil Merryweather]

Blimey that's good!

 

[Tim Marlow]

+1 Neil....really fine work Peter.