Matte to Glossy (1 Viewer)

[marco55]

Really looks great konrad,The gloss really enhances the green.
Mark

 

[kogu]

Thank you, Mark,
I just wish, my photos would show how wonderful these figures really look like, but I guess it needs a lot more equipment to manage reality shots.
Oh well, at least everyone gets a good idea of how I am treating my figures :wink2: ^&grin
Konrad

 

[kogu]

Got one more to show for tonight.
Getting back to Britains and the WWI.
Here is set no. 17674 German "Deaths Head" Hussars Officer.
As with the mounted German Uhlan, previously posted on this thread, I am most pleased with the result after the "glossy" treatment.
The sculpting of the figure is very well done.
I just wish, that Britains would get their horses sculpted in the same quality as they do their figures.
The horses leave a little bit to be desired, but nevertheless the mounted figure makes for a nice display piece.
Konrad

 

[kogu]

And, last ones for tonight, two real close views of the WWI German "Deaths Head" Hussar Officer.
Konrad

 

[mikemiller1955]

Konrad...

as always...these conversions look spectacular...the Rangers look especially nice...great job...

 

[aujj65]

Really looks great konrad,The gloss really enhances the green.
Mark

I couldn't have said it any better! Well done Konrad.

Jeff

 

[johnnybach]

Got one more to show for tonight.
Getting back to Britains and the WWI.
Here is set no. 17674 German "Deaths Head" Hussars Officer.
As with the mounted German Uhlan, previously posted on this thread, I am most pleased with the result after the "glossy" treatment.
The sculpting of the figure is very well done.
I just wish, that Britains would get their horses sculpted in the same quality as they do their figures.
The horses leave a little bit to be desired, but nevertheless the mounted figure makes for a nice display piece.
Konrad

It's not really the sculpt of the horses that's too bad - its the painting that's sometimes more of a problem with them Konrad.

Why not try moving on just one step further with the horses. You have already done so well with the gloss varnish treatment.

Quite a simple thing to do - which will "lift" the piece greatly - is to give the horse some "socks". Just use a tiny amount of Humbrol Ivory paint, and work it around the foot - above the hoof. You don't need to do all four legs - or get the paint too evenly applied - as you will see when looking at pictures of real horses. You could also add a thin coat of black/brown to the legs and knees - tailing off to the original colour brown as you get towards the top of the leg - as most brown horses are not of a uniform colour throughout. If you do try this though - do it before the socks treatment.

Maybe have a practice on a few cheap plastic figures to begin with - and then give a real one a go? Start off small - and you will soon be shading along merrily - BEFORE - giving them the Glossy look. You'll be surprised by how much this can lift the horse sculpt - I'm sure. johnnybach

 

[kogu]

It's not really the sculpt of the horses that's too bad - its the painting that's sometimes more of a problem with them Konrad.

Why not try moving on just one step further with the horses. You have already done so well with the gloss varnish treatment.

Quite a simple thing to do - which will "lift" the piece greatly - is to give the horse some "socks". Just use a tiny amount of Humbrol Ivory paint, and work it around the foot - above the hoof. You don't need to do all four legs - or get the paint too evenly applied - as you will see when looking at pictures of real horses. You could also add a thin coat of black/brown to the legs and knees - tailing off to the original colour brown as you get towards the top of the leg - as most brown horses are not of a uniform colour throughout. If you do try this though - do it before the socks treatment.

Maybe have a practice on a few cheap plastic figures to begin with - and then give a real one a go? Start off small - and you will soon be shading along merrily - BEFORE - giving them the Glossy look. You'll be surprised by how much this can lift the horse sculpt - I'm sure. johnnybach

Hi jb,
I think you are right, this horse could be a good bit enhanced with the addition of a few socks and maybe also that dot or stripe on the head. Don't know what you call it in English, but most horses do have a colored mark on their forehead.
If I put some socks on this horse, I will make sure to let you know first :wink2: ^&grin
Konrad

 

[johnnybach]

Hi jb,
I think you are right, this horse could be a good bit enhanced with the addition of a few socks and maybe also that dot or stripe on the head. Don't know what you call it in English, but most horses do have a colored mark on their forehead.
If I put some socks on this horse, I will make sure to let you know first :wink2: ^&grin
Konrad

Hi Konrad - I forgot about the head - it's sometimes called a "blaze" I think. Yes, good idea. I have also tried darkening around the nostrils , lips and muzzle of the horse as well (like the shading on the legs) - with some success. You don't have to go over the top with additions like this - just a suggestion of a darker shade does the trick. I mix a Brown with a touch of Matte Black - which darkens it down. The more black you use - the darker brown it goes.

But do be sparing to begin with - and try it out on some of the cheaper plastics first. It's surprising what a difference it makes. Here's some that I tried to do tthat way recently.. Good luck - I'll watch out for how you do. jb

 

[wadepat]

Hi Johnnybach,

I am amazed at what a great difference you are able to make by adding the painting improvements to those horses! They look much, much better than they do in their original paint presentation. My compliments for some excellent work!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[johnnybach]

Well, thanks Pat - but those particular ones shown were done from bare metal - from castings. However, the principal is much the same.
A lot of manufacturers, save a bit of money by painting horses as just one plain colour.

It's very much the same when I paint a casting from scratch. I frequently paint the whole animal a uniform base colour - and then, once that coat of paint is on - then start adding in some darker shades on the lower legs, face, etc. You can do it wet on dry - or even wet into wet. Then the socks can go on when all that is dry.

I just added in that picture to help show up the difference shading can make. You can do almost EXACTLY the same with a pre-painted, plain colour horse quite quickly and easily - and that is what I was suggesting that Konrad might care to try out. He has become VERY good indeed at converting matte figures - as we have all seen. My suggestions are purely intended to encourage and help him go on just one or two steps further - as I am SURE he is going to turn into a Glossy painter one of these days. I can see it happening before my eyes - and it's really great - sharing his enjoyment of what he already does.

Keep it going Konrad - you're doing a great job. jb

 

[jrsteel]

Here are some King & Country Collector Club figures I glossed..

 

[aujj65]

Here are some King & Country Collector Club figures I glossed..View attachment 97276

These have transformed very well, just like the SOE figures you glossed! I'm sure the Marine figure would look just as good. ^&cool

Jeff

 

[GICOP]

Here are some King & Country Collector Club figures I glossed..View attachment 97276

Very nice :salute::

Cheers

Martyn

 

[kogu]

These figures look great.
Can't beat troops on parade in gloss :wink2:
And like Jeff said, I bet the Marines would look splendid as well in this finish.
Konrad

 

[kogu]

A new one to post for me tonight :smile2:
It is Captain Lewis E. Nolan from the Crimean War series, exclusive to King & Country U.K.
A great figure with lots of detail painted on the splendid uniform.
Here are a few views how he looks in gloss now.
Konrad

 

[kogu]

Two more views, a bit closer to the detail, and the third picture is a comparison of the King & Country U.K. Captain Nolan to an "authentic" glossy version, the Britains Captain Nolan from the Victoria Cross series, which unfortunately is retired.
Konrad

 

[theBaron]

I just added in that picture to help show up the difference shading can make...

You make an excellent point, John! It's interesting how we're approaching one of the characteristics of a connoisseur finish, compared to the classic toy soldier finish of solid colors with no real transitions, while working in the glossy style. I'm experimenting with shading, too, and if I can get it down, I think it'll be a richer effect.

Prost!
Brad

 

[lancer]

Two more views, a bit closer to the detail, and the third picture is a comparison of the King & Country U.K. Captain Nolan to an "authentic" glossy version, the Britains Captain Nolan from the Victoria Cross series, which unfortunately is retired.
Konrad

That KC conversion looks spectacular, Konrad. I have the Britains Nolan and am quite pleased with it, but your glossed KC version is much more detailed. Beauty of a job. -- Al

 

[kogu]

Here's one more figure to go along with my "Thin Red Line".
It's a converted NA127 Coldstream Guards Officer with Colour.
The last pic shows him with a few other members of the 93rd.
Konrad