Game of Thrones Bronn using the 54 mm Nocturna Model Crusader as proxy

If you follow the fully painted works of Shire Works you would know by now that we frequently use existing figure model kits as proxies for their more famous alter egos. Our latest one involves the Nocturna Models Crusader 54 mm resin figure kit from their Heroes and Legends series. Here he is used to represent a character from the Game of Thrones fantasy universe namely Bronn the Sellsword.

54 mm Nocturna Models The Crusader painted as Game of Thrones Bronn the Sellsword

Bronn's woeful expression befits his situation as someone caught up in events bigger than himself

Bronn the Sellsword has been painted in the colours of House Lannister

Detailed freehand painting of the House Lannister heraldry/sigil is the clearest indication that this miniature has been painted as a proxy for a character from the Game of Thrones fantasy universe. It helps that this figurine has facial features that closely approximate those of the intended character i.e. Bronn the Sellsword. 

Freehand painting of the House Lannister heraldy on Bronn's leather armour

White underclothing, brown boots and green grassy base round up the mainly red colour scheme

Leather armor is sculpted with realistic folds and accessories

Detailed scabbard and leather straps adorn the waist area of Bronn's armour

Bronn's overall colour scheme was inspired by the character's appearance in Season 7 of the Game of Thrones television series. Painted, of course, using some creative license.

54 mm Nocturna Models The Crusader [Completed as Bronn the Sellsword]

Technically Bronn is now an anointed knight of House Lannister ...

... and no longer the mercenary he once was

This figurine has excellent sculpted details which have been brought to life through paint

The reds of House Lannister are dull and dark ...

... brightened up only by the golds of its heraldic design i.e. the Lannister Lion

Side view of Nocturna Models The Crusader

54 mm Nocturna Models The Crusader is an excellent resin figure kit

Coming in at 54 mm scale, this figurine is larger than your average tabletop gaming miniature. Shown below is the size of the figurine in comparison to a paperclip and a five sen coin.

Bronn the Sellsword aka Nocturna Models The Crusader resin miniature, scale comparison

Below is a video of the fully painted 54 mm Nocturna Models The Crusader resin figurine showing a complete 360 degree view. 

This project shows that you don't always have to paint the miniature as how it was intended. Your imagination is the limit and you should always paint figurines based on what inspires you most. Most importantly have fun with the hobby and enjoy what you do.

Coming soon ... painted miniatures and model kits

To complement Shire Works' existing products, we plan to offer customers fully assembled/painted miniatures and scale model kits in the coming months. Here at Shire Works, we understand that not all collectors want to assemble/paint miniatures and model kits. Good news then to those of you who would like to collect figurines and model vehicles as finished end products of display quality.

For now at least, the fully painted/assembled miniatures and model kits will come from our main product lines namely Ax Faction, Knight Models, Nocturna Models as well as from Bandai's Star Wars Plastic Model range. Also for the time being they will not be commissioned works but rather selected pieces chosen by Shire Works.   

Due to the fragility of some of the fully painted/assembled miniatures and model kits, they will be made available only within the Klang Valley on a COD (cash on delivery), for now. However, we do harbour hopes of expanding the availability of these fully painted/assembled miniatures and model kits, outside of the Klang Valley, in the future. Until our next post, here's wishing you a Happy New Year!

Use a proxy for your favourite characters or go original

Be it sourced from books or movies, memorable characters form a large part of what inspires us miniature painters to recreate them artistically. But there are occasions when the characters we want to paint are just not available in miniature for. That's when we look for proxies or replacement figurines that best capture the spirit of the character we want to recreate in paint form.  They aren't easy to find, but when you do it's a glorious feeling.

Harley Quinn and Katana from the Suicide Squad - characters worthy of a search for proxies to paint

An example of such a proxy hunt revolved around characters from the latest superheroes (or more accurately supervillains) comic book adaptation movie Suicide Squad. More specifically, proxies were being sought for Harley Quinn and Katana [see above]. There were found in the Nocturna Models 80 mm resin figurine collection, namely the Nocturna Models 80 mm Alice (Fairy Tale Girls) and 70 mm Soum, 13 Moons (Malefic Time) [see below]. 

Nocturna Models 80 mm - Alice (Fairy Tale Girls) tin box packaging

Nocturna Models Alice (Fairy Tale Girls) unboxed

Resin miniature parts of Alice, Fairy Tale Girls

Nocturna Models 70 mm - Soum, 13 Moons (Malefic Time) tin box packaging

Nocturna Models Soum, 13 Moons (Malefic Time) unboxed

Resin miniature parts of Soum, 13 moons (Malefic Time)

What made these resin miniatures so suitable as proxies for Harley and Katana? Well, features of the Noctuna Models Alice figurine which lend itself perfectly to a Harley Quinn-Joker themed diorama piece were, in no particular order:
1. A teacup in hand (from a scene in the movie);
2. Pigtail-like hair for Harley's iconic tri-coloured hairstyle;
3. Large leg stockings which can painted to resemble her in-movie ones;
4. Playing cards which offer the opportunity to paint Joker cards; and
5. A large mushroom which can be painted in purplish Joker hues.

The scene that produced a light-bulb moment linking Nocturna Models Alice to Harley Quinn

With Katana it was all about finding a miniature with an Eastern Asian look and a ... well ... katana

Meanwhile for Katana it was more a case of finding a miniature with oriental features who happened to be holding on to a traditional Japanese sword i.e. the character's namesake. Cue the Nocturna Models Soum, 13 Moons figurine from the Malefic Time series. She also had some workable similarities to her DC counterpart which made her a good proxy:
1. Soum's katana which is self explanatory;
2. She's of East Asian ethnicity, also self explanatory; and
3. Round signage offers an opportunity for some Suicide Squad-related freehand painting.

But all is not doom and gloom in terms of finding an accurately sculpted superhero miniature to paint. Shire Works carries some of the more iconic Marvel characters from Knight Models some of which are shown below. Pictures courtesy of our resident painter who blogs at http://foureyed-monster.blogspot.my/

Knight Models Logan

Knight Models Spiderman

Knight Models Iron Man

Knight Models The Hulk

Coming back to finding proxies for your miniature painting projects, the following are some miniatures from the Nocturna Models and Ax Faction line which has been used as proxies for a popular book and TV series i.e. Game of Thrones. These miniatures were also painted by out resident painter FourEyedMonster.

Nocturna Models 70 mm Crusader, painted as Ser Gregor Clegane

Back view of the Nocturna Models 70 mm Crusader, painted as Ser Gregor Clegane

Nocturna Models 70 mm Akelarre Enchantment, painted as Daenerys Targaryen

Ax Faction 32 mm Giant Hunter painted as the wilding Ygritte

So don't fret. If you can't find the actual miniature of a character you want to paint, then look for a proxy. If you can, all the better to go original. Either way, remember to have fun!

Happy New Year 2016

Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

May you be blessed with peace and happiness in the year ahead.

Quick Tips: Reshaping a resin miniature part

Often times, a resin part(s) straight out of the box may not resemble the shape shown on the cover art. An example of this is the Nocturna Models Akelarre Enchantment 70 mm resin miniature. But fear not, the solution to this little problem is actually pretty straightforward and simple. And all it involves is a simple household appliance i.e. the hair dryer.

Akelarre Enchantment is an example of a resin model kit in which a part requires reshaping

Firstly, you can either paint a basecoat layer on the part concerned or leave it unpainted before reshaping. In the example below, a basecoat layer was painted on the ribbons before they were blasted with hot air from the hair dryer for about three seconds or more (the length of time the part is exposed to hot air varies with how thick it is).

Ribbon parts before they are reshaped

A simple hair dryer was used to generate the required heat to make the resin parts pliable

Then, while the ribbons were still pliable after being softened by the hot air, they were reshaped into a more dynamic form resembling the cover art. You have to work quickly though as the resin parts cool very quickly and in mere seconds will have cooled and re-hardened. Remember NOT to use excessive force when reshaping the resin parts in order to prevent them from accidentally breaking. Always err on the side of caution as you can always reheat the parts if they have cooled before you achieved your desired shape.

Ribbons were quickly reshaped to a more dynamic form before being allowed to cool and harden again

Once reshaped and painted, the ribbons were then attached to the Akelarre Enchantment with an alternative colour scheme as painted by Shire Works' resident painter (see photos below). The usual super glue-pure baking soda combination was used to glue such a small part. This gluing combination is describe in another post. Some additional midtones and highlights were then painted on the ribbons to finish off the reshaping process. 

Nocturna Models Akelarre Enchantment, as painted in an alternative colour scheme

Ribbons were glued on with the help of the Super Glue-Baking Soda combo

 And this concludes Shire Works' latest quick tip guide for the beginner miniature painter. For more detailed photos as well as a video of the Nocturna Models Akelarre Enchantment, please click on the following link => http://foureyed-monster.blogspot.my/2015/11/nocturna-models-akelarre-enchanment.html

Nocturna Models Battle Chick [Assembled; unpainted]

Part of Nocturna Models' Necrospace line, the Battle Chick is a 70-mm (1:28 scale) resin miniature that is synonymous with the Spanish company's exquisitely detailed figures. 

Nocturna Models Battle Chick, freshly assembled sans a paint job for now

Shown here fully assembled, the Nocturna Models Battle Chick actually comes in nine separate resin parts of varying sizes. Click here to see details of an unboxing of the mini. 

Going forward, progress on her paint job will be posted on Art and Musings of a Miniature Hobbyist which is the personal blog of Shire Works's in-house miniature painter.

The Battle Chick is currently available from Shire Works. For more information, please select the Nocturna Models product tab below the blog banner, click here or on the ad below.