Figure Fridays #8:
TLDR: Completed both Glorfindel, and Strong! Picked up some varnishes – 1x mat and 1x gloss. This is my first time using varnishes to seal up figures & was really chuffed with how well they work and look. Started on Gimli son of Gloin! Oct starts next week, with that some new goals – like attempting some video! Hopefully temps will drop soon so I can go hiking to make progress on Halsin’s base soon. Till then thank you for checking in!
The Long Rambley:
I managed to finish both figures from last week – Glorfindel of Gondolin (Rivendell), and Strong from Fallout 4. I feel like I’m getting better at seeing where I want to go and taking less time muddling about. With that my estimation on how long it’ll take to finish up a figure is improving – which is exciting for someone who struggles with time-blindness!
With finishing up both figures and having 3 total done now – I knew I needed to get some varnish to ensure the paint stays put (especially when living with many cats!) So I picked up a gloss and matt varnish from Vallejo – I think I want to get a satin soon as well – as some things I think would look best with a little sheen and not just full blast in either direction. I was excited to see that varnish really punches the color up, and really just aids in final touches.
For Glorfindel I really wanted to push the white in his base – it really wasn’t looking marble/granite-y enough for me so I added more white/light grey and reduced the grey zones. For a first time go at marble/stone – I’m pleased with it. I finished up highlights on his hair, armor, and then utilized the two varnishes I procured to finish up the look – really like the contrast of shiny armor & less flashy cloth. I can tell I’ll want to find a ‘hairy’ model at some point to really work on tiny hair to improve my strokes.
With Strong I really had fun with his armor pieces that are rusted out with just a bit of the original automotive coloring still retaining it’s hue & sheen. I also had fun utilizing the gloss varnish to create a wet pavement look. I am however displeased with my photos – hopefully I can improve at that (or video) to better show him off at some point. I realized as well I need a satin-style varnish with him as I don’t feel the gloss works well for the armor bits that aren’t rusted – too shiny but matt was well… too matt. A real goldilocks dilemma there!
Started up on Gimli son of Gloin – just some base coats nothin fancy yet!
With October coming up I have a few projects I am going to be attempting. One is filming, even if it’s just shoddy little rotationals – I gotta start somewhere! Secondarily I hope that with fall in full swing the temps will start dropping out here in AZ (Hurricane Helene isn’t helping atm) so I can go hike to get the components I’d like for Halsin’s base so I can continue with a finish line in view for him. Thank you to any & all who’ve been checking in – I greatly appreciate your support! It helps keep me motivated and looking forward, with less brain gremlin activity – which is peachy keen in my books!
