Kato Kiyomasa converted from an Andrea kit (1 Viewer)

[blaster]

Hi All,

I scoured around for more samurais in my collection and found this piece. I had made it eons ago, basing it on a legendary Japanese warlord Kato Kiyomasa, immortalised in an Osprey painting and a 90mm Poste Militaire kit. My conversion was based on an early Andrea kit, converting the kabuto helmet with the addition of a towering structure and the tigerskin seat. I has also painted the peacock design on his jinbaori coat, using the instruction notes from the PM kit.

I now think that the hat is too large in my conversion and will redo this piece.

Rgds Victor


Poste Militaire 90mm kit Osprey illustration

 

[blaster]

Reviving this thread. I removed the plastic spear and converted it to a brass-tubing shaft for strength. The hat was trimmed down in height and I will be working on the kabuto helmet later.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I removed the helmet to work on it separately. The right arm was removed and repositioned to hold a war fan.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I added details to the jinbaori coat, including lapels with some small decorations near the top. The war fan is being bulked up, starting at the top. The war helmet is being modified, but is too ugly to photograph.

Rgds Victor

 

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The war fan is nearly completed.

 

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I have finalised the shape for the helmet.

View attachment 169645View attachment 169646View attachment 169647

 

[theBaron]

Another excellent project, Vic!

 

[blaster]

Hello Brad,

Thanks for your kind comments.

As is usual with these upgrade projects, there's always something unforeseen at the embarkation stage. After another round of review, I decided to refit the right hand into the shoulder. I also resculpted the Jinbaori coat right shoulder. I added a mempo face mask. Then, I changed the pose of the head to look up and forward. I think that this greatly improves the figure. The hat is still being sculpted.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I epoxied the hat to the head making a strong joint for any hat sculpting to come.

After all this time, I have finally rediscovered the auto flash function and this picture is now in glorious Technicolor. You learn something new everyday...

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

The towering headdress is being worked upon. I gave the armour a wash of black paint and noticed a slight imbalance in the tilt. I am building up the right side while filing down the left side.

Rgds victor

 

[blaster]

I've also noted that the height of the headdress on my figure should be extended to match the Poste Militaire model, which I think is a very accurate representation of this piece.

rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I built up the headdress by a few mm with more putty and then carefully sanded down the sides, trying to make it smooth and balanced. The jinbaori was further sculpted.

 

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I painted the helmet with gloss black and let the paint really dry.

 

[blaster]

I further sculpted the Jinbaori. "Ears" made from copper sheet were added to the helmet shikoro. Final trimming was done with tiny scissors. The battle fan was now glued to the grip. Tiny Historex cords were added to the fan grip and sword grip. The finicky sculpting is completed. I am now starting to paint the piece.

Rgds Victor

 

[theBaron]

Coming along beautifully, Vic! You make me think that I should watch "Shogun" again tomorrow.

Prost!
Brad

 

[blaster]

Hello Brad,

Thanks for your comments. Have you also seen some of the Zatoichi (blind swordsman) TV series? Quite entertaining, too.

I have started to paint the figure in oils. My efforts so far.

 

[blaster]

As usual, there is some confounded spear shaft blocking a clear shot of the face. So I decided to repositioned the left hand. The whole left shoulder and costume detail was resculpted. I found a suitable size washer which I used for the hat ornament.

 

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The left shoulder is fully sculpted. I have reattached the left hand and spear to the figure which is now ready for final painting.

 

[blaster]

I started to repaint the jinbaori and noticed that the left shoulder needed some paring down. The hat device was painted yellow in readiness for some gold paint. Blue lace was painted on the armour.

 

[blaster]

I finished updating this piece and signed it.