North African Build

[rtfoe]

While I smell the smoke and dust from the snails overtaking me I've started on the urn covers by slicing some plastic rod and rolling left over putty between my fingers for little ball bearing sized globes.



That extra left over putty came from the Date palm trunk I was carving. This shot was reversed as it was being held on a vice so you'll see the shadows in reverse with highlights from the bottom. It's only half way up the trunk as the rest will be done when this portion cures.



The reason for this carving is because I've always wanted to do a more realistic palm trunk. Each palm has its own distinct look from the trunk to its fronds. So far I've been able to do coconut palms for my Pacific dio so now its North African Date palms. Hope it turns out okay.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Steven000]

I love all your sculpting work Richard, very impressive
Steven

 

[rtfoe]

Thanks Steven, I get more daring with every new sculpt I attempt. I hope there is a sign of improvement. I only wish I can get my hands on some green stuff...I see people do wonders with it.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[JR]

You certainly do Richard, that is superb.

, As to the Donkeys, I had a friend who bread donkeys and yes there is some difference between those two types. If your interested and have a week to read and digest !

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19813-7.

The north African Donkey comes from from the wild Ass , oh to be a nerd

 

[minitnkr]

Lost track of this one. Some excellent work on display. PaulE

 

[rtfoe]

Thanks John and Paul, so far so good.

So the mule/donkey/ass originates from North Africa...well wadda you know. Colors will keep to grey and hairy. Thanks for that John.

Well, the urns are covered and I have stuck a thick wire into the trunk of the Date palm...



I power-drilled a hole into the base to receive the other end of the wire for the trunk. I just dry placed it...will remove it to continue the rest of the trunk sculpturing.



Cheers,
Richard

 

[JR]

Definitely going in the right direction for the Dog's Award Richard.

 

[GerryW]

Not sure if donkeys leave a 'single' track like a deer, or leave a 'double' one like a horse? Would think that it's like the horse, especially if it's carrying a heavy load (for me, it's all in the detail!)

 

[rtfoe]

Oh dear not the Doggy award, John. Perhaps just the scraps if it turns out right.

Not sure if donkeys leave a 'single' track like a deer, or leave a 'double' one like a horse? Would think that it's like the horse, especially if it's carrying a heavy load (for me, it's all in the detail!)

Thanks for that Gerry, I haven't yet decided if that's the spot it's going to finally be. For the moment it's propped up with wire. The tracks will be blurry as it's soft sand and he'll be well dug in, I haven't figured out how I'm going to approach that perhaps with a soft wet brush. We'll see once I've painted the subjects. I will be sanding the surface with fine grit paper to get some of the rough textures off.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Jim R]

Hi Richard
No worries about being slow although I like the thought of snails whizzing passed you
Fine work as always. Your palm tree trunk - is it moulded around some kind of rod?
Jim

 

[rtfoe]

Jim, yeah them snails must be on high octane slime.
Thanks, I molded the putty around a curved branch I picked up in the garden. Just made sure it's totally dead wood. Used the same thread method for the trunk grooves but this time in a crist crossed fashion...a bit like a pineapple. Then using a hacksaw blade to create the rough texture.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Graeme C.]

Overtaken by racing snails Richard? Never mind, the build is top notch.

 

[adt70hk]

Greta work as always Richard.

ATB.

Andrew

 

[rtfoe]

Thanks guys, not only am I overtaken by racing snails but it's depressing seeing guys here start and finish their builds some even a couple while I'm still composing. I ought to stop having too many builds on the go at the same time and just concentrate on one to finish first.

So far I have the Kure Harbour, Church scene, David and Goliath, Hell in the Pacific(still tweaking it), Hellcat, USS Bogue, USS Constipation, WW1 vignette, Mowhawk, Brummbar, Israeli Six Day War, Humvee and F-4. Many more on the drawing board.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[GerryW]

Personally, I'd say not to worry about those racing snails, proceed at your own pace and get the results that you want - if working on several projects at once, it's better than getting fed up with doing the same one all the time or rushing to finish and not being happy with the end result (though you're probably going faster than I am!)

 

[rtfoe]

I get what you mean Gerry, I do jump from build to build depending on the mojo but it has it's pros and cons. You either keep enjoying or be patient for a finish.
Well if you knew when this dio got started you'll figure out that you'll be ahead of me in no time.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[rtfoe]

Hi, just a bit of sculpturing to finish up the rest of the trunk... with the help of my special tool...



And here is the tool I used...nothing fancy, just a hacksaw blade. Best used when the putty is still soft. Thread was used of course wound round in chriss-cross fashion and removed before using the hacksaw blade.



Cheers,
Richard

 

[Neil Merryweather]

brilliant!

 

[rtfoe]

Thanks Neil, not that brilliant once you see how simple the actual tool is itself.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[JR]

Amazing Richard.