Beau Geste: The sculpting process (1 Viewer)

[Ana Donzino]

Hi Guys,

I thought you'd be interested on following a sculpting process to see how it's done. Here's the one for the Ladakhi Dancers and Monks from the Delhi Durbar, 1903.

I'll be posting the sculptures we have just finished, and the ones that are in process (I'll try to update it every 2 days, or when the chages show).

Please, feel free to ask anything you want, or comment about the masters (whatever you want to say)

Ana Donzino

 

[Ana Donzino]

Here's the rest of the process:

Ana

 

[Alexdakar]

What material do you use. Is it clay or epoxy?

 

[Ana Donzino]

Epoxy putty Parsecs, A+B and Green Stuff from Kneadactite; 10 minutes and 24 hours (depending on what you are sculpting)

 

[Gideon]

What company is this? Who makes these figures??? I like them so far...

So, after you have finished this process you reverse engineer them for the production process?

 

[Ana Donzino]

We are 'Beau Geste - New Toy Soldiers', and our main (and definitely favorite) dealer in the US are Shannon and Pete, Treefrog Treasures.
You can see the Devil Dancers in detail at:
BG 159-Ladakhi Devil Dancers, Delhi Durbar, 1903

The Musician monks, at:
BG 160-Ladakhi Musician Monks, Delhi Durbar, 1903

And the whole group at:
BG 159-160

After having the master sculpture polished and sealed, we make a single mold made of RTV silicone rubber. We hand-cast by gravity the masters that are going to be molded as masters in the vulcanized rubber mold; then, we spin-cast the production from it, in white metal or pewter.

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

Beau Geste: The sculpting process continues

About the reverse ingeneer, in case of the Ladakhi Dancers and Monks, they were designed as to be casted in one piece, or 2 pieces in the case of those who used the same body and different heads.

The boy monk is one piece too, and the other monks were designed as one body (2 in fact, with different hats), without arms. Then Daniel sculpted each pair of arms for the different instruments so all of them could fit in the same body.

I post today the sculptures, already finished, of the new sets of tirailleurs algeriens in WWI. The French officer is on the right, the drummer (for the military band set) is in the middle, and the standard infantry is on the right. In all these sculptures, the arms were made after the body. This is the most usual procedure. Arms are not made together with the body, and then sawed. The best thing is to model them along with the body, as a different piece.

I include below one of the images that inspired us.

Off to the workshop now. I'll be back in the evening.

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

Hi,

More images of sculptures in process. Russian soldier and officer from the Russo Japanese war. The images are from tuesday and wednesday. I couldn't take pictures today, but I will tomorrow.

Tuesday

Yesterday

Ana

 

[DMNamiot]

Really excellent work! I used to do a lot of models when I was younger and had better eyes these are really detailed and I am really looking forward to more of the Durbar series!

Dave

 

[Ana Donzino]

Thanks, Dave. About the Delhi Durbar 1903, we are working on the Bikaner Camel Riders right now. I'll be posting some pictures soon.

Also, I still have to take photographs of the last stage of the Russo-Japanese russian guys (they are inside the mold right now), and the painted Algerian Tirailleurs (I've been painting the samples today, so I'll probably have the pictures ready by tomorrow)

On the other hand, today we decided to release the Alwar elephant for the Chicago show. I still don't know if I we'll be able to finish it in time, but at least we'll try. The Maharaja of Alwar is quite a superb personality; he went through almost the whole Delhi entrance standing in his howda, and his elephant had chandeliers in its tusks.

Looks great, doesn't it?

Ana

 

[DMNamiot]

That was totally fantastic! I would love to see a copy of your reference book. I have been trying to find items for my reference set but it has not been easy. I did see an actual invitation with a series of phamphlets that had some very nice detailed drawings and a list of teams competing in some of the mounted events and challenges, of course I was out bid at the last second. Anyway please keep the great set coming!

Dave

PS Anything to anounce about the figure of Edward we have discussed?

 

[Ana Donzino]

Unfortunately these images are not easy to find: I bought this copy of the original picture (among other copies) from the British Library last November, when I visited London. I've been ordering images from them since then, but they are not cheap at all. I pay US$50 for each. But they are awsome!
I saw ALL the Durbar original photographs from the Albums at the India Office during my visit to the BL. The originals are fantastic. If you like the Durbar, that is something that you shouldn't miss.
I have a copy of the program to send you if you wish. It was not totally correct, because the Baroda and the Cutch elephants didn't entered Delhi on Jan 31st 1902 at the last moment. Also, I have the Retainers Review programme, from Jan 7th, 1903.
We might have your Edward for the Chicago show. I'll keep you posted.

Ana
PS: I don't know if this will make you happy or sad, but it might be good to know in case you can get them on your side. A good friend got for me a copy of 5 B&W films taken during the Durbar, but I promised not to pass them to anyone. You can request a projection of all the films that the BL India film department owns during a visit.

 

[DMNamiot]

All I can say is wow! You have some great sources and if I see any for sale that cost less I will let you know. I hope to go back to London sometime in the next few years so I will visit these places. Have you tried contacting the unit historians for the British units involved? They can be valuable sources for information if they are still on the active rolls. Just a thought. Do you know if Ms Bell ever published a book on this or did her photos just go to the big museums? I would love to get a copy of the program I will be happy to send you an email with my address so we can discuss this some more.
Have a great time in Chicago.

Dave

 

[Ana Donzino]

Unfortunately Ms Bell didn't get anything published, at least not that I've know of. Her pictures, letters and chronicles are on her website.

I haven't tried to get in touch with historians about the British rolls, mainly because we are trying to feature only the Princely States elephants and reviews groups. There are a few companies that have been focused on the British part of the Coronation Parade, so we decided to go for the Indian one. But thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Send me an e-mail, and I will send you a copy of the program.

Won't you be attending the OTS show?

Ana

 

[DMNamiot]

I wish I could go to the show especially with all of the really great things happening in the field. But I doubt my wife would be willing to let me go this year. Maybe next year.

Thanks again for the great info and the email. I have your site saved and will also keep an eye on it thru the news letters. Take care.

Dave

 

[Ana Donzino]

The sculpting process continues

Hi guys,

More pictures to see how are things going.

The final part of the Russians of the Russo-Japanese War

And the first castings:

Also, the Algerian tirailleurs. First castings painted, the paint samples this time:

We decided to switch the officer in the last minute. This one is more accurate for the year 1914. We'll use the other one (the one with the helmet) for a future French in Africa set, from 1916.

Bye for now,

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

The sculpting process: The Bikaner Camel Riders

Hi again,

New process: The Bikaner Camel Riders.

I'll keep you posted.

Ana

 

[DMNamiot]

Those look really great! I cant wait to see the display that you are doing for Chicago, unfortunately I will not be there but I am looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Dave

 

[Alexdakar]

Did you do the camel in one shot or did you have to smash it up a few times.

 

[Ana Donzino]

The camel was made before, without saddle or bridles, so we could use it for many periods. This one is yellow, because we casted one in epoxy resin from the original mold, and work on the rider, saddle, bridles, etc. This one will work as the original master for this rider.

We'll cut it in pieces when it's finished,so we can mold it in silicone rubber to be metal casted. I'll post some pictures of that stage when we get to it.

Ana