War Elephant (2 Viewers)

[blaster]

Hi All,

You all know I can't resist starting yet another thread. Anyway, here's a more ambitious project. A friend asked me to make him a War Elephant of the Mauryan period in India.

I actually had an Elephant piece made about 20 years ago but never utilised. The elephant was made from cut up parts of a Britains toy elephant, and cast in resin. A wire armature was made and a pose was created. The body was filled and sculpted with epoxy resin.

I dug up this piece from my junkheap (it shows the value of keeping your collection in order...) and am now refurbishing it for this project. I am now making three warriors from commercial parts to sit on top of the elephant.

Rgds
Victor

 

[blaster]

I salvaged some lower legs from some failed nude castings (remember my thread on the Manchu Dowager figures?) and fitted them to these elephant warriors. Holes were drilled and wire was inserted to strengthen the joints. Some putty was added to solidify the joints. The figures were posed on the Elefant.

Here's a link to a nice video on the Battle of Kursk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IHBRsIJRxA


Rgds Victor

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Hi Victor,
what a nice project. Did you use Preiser parts for the crewfigures and Tamiya putty as sculpting clay? I like the animation of the elephant.
Looking forward to follow you on this project.
rgds
Wolfgang:salute::

 

[blaster]

Hi Wolfgang,

Yes I used Preiser and Historex nude torsos, Airfix heads etc to speed up some of my work. I never use Tamiya putty. I prefer A&B putty as it sets rock hard and I am familiar with its properties.

I changed the pose of the elephant head to better support the mahout. A basic howdah was created to seat two warriors. This will probably be covered with cloth.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Started to work more on the figures. The central figure is the mahout (elephant driver) and I've decided to make him a fat guy.

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Hello Victor,

this is still my favourite sculpting thread of those you have posted here recently. Looking forward to see how you are going to dress the riders.
I am just doing a little bit of sculpting/converting right now - also an "Indian" subject.
Kind Regards
Wolfgang:salute::

 

[blaster]

Hello Wolfgang,

Thanks for that nice compliment. Not sure about dressing these guys up, more like undressing them (oops - now this thread will be under scrutiny...)

I did a little bit more work but did not take any pics as I disappeared over the weekend for a holiday. Your Indian project sounds intriguing.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Worked a bit more on the mahout. I covered the elephant with copper sheet and glued the completed simple howdah on top. This was tied with thin rope and the drapery was then base coated with matt red.

 

[blaster]

I added some putty to the forearms and posed the mahout on the elephant. I will create a padded seat for him as well.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I completed the poses on the two warrior figures in the howdah. I will next work on refining the musculature.

 

[Markster]

Nice job Blaster ,you have been very busy I see !

 

[blaster]

Like a beaver...

 

[blaster]

The figures are starting to look satisfactory. I mounted the elephant on a low base. The figures were posed on the elephant for fitting. The lance was made from brass tubing. I am starting to add ornaments and jewellery to the figures.

As an aside, I just got hold of an Egyptian and Celtic chariot each in the wings...

 

[blaster]

I started to paint the elephant. I added tusks from putty, predrilled with wire inserts and superglued. The figures were given a brown undercoat to highlight any errors for general cleanup. More details are being added.

 

[blaster]

Some updates on the figures. Chainmail and plate were sculpted on the spearman. Another figure was given a sword and shield.

 

[GICOP]

Great job Blaster, I love Elephants and have a few Trophy in my collection :salute::

Cheers

Martyn

 

[blaster]

Hi Martyn,

thanks for looking. I was away for a nice driving holiday. Now back in the proverbial yeomanry saddle )) and will start to post more soon.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

I spent some time to paint up the figures and didn't have time to take any photos. But here's one of a converted Britains to look like a toy elephant. Ear has broken off and there is dust on the trunk. Made a very long time ago...

 

[blaster]

Hi All,

Painted the elephant howdah and ropes. Painted partially some figures. I decided to add a rug from copper sheet to the elephant. Hoping that this will be a colourful piece.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Here are the partly painted figures posed on the elephant. I've removed the howdah rug to paint it separately.
I will add a couple more accessories and necessary adjustments before I go on to the final painting.