Knight Models Spider-Man [WIP - Basecoating Spidey]

It was supposed to be a fairly straightforward exercise. After all, how hard could it be to basecoat a miniature. But things never come easy to me and so it proved with the Knight Models Spider-Man.

Knight Models Spider-Man, work-in-progress (basecoat, lower mid-tones)

Firstly, I wanted to recreate a particular look or comic book version of Spider-Man which caught my fancy. This meant I needed to find the exact shade of reds and blues that would allow me to recreate the version in question. After experimenting a fair bit with (almost) all the reds and blues in my collection, I finally settled on Citadel Mechrite Red and Vallejo Model Dark Prussian Blue as the starting point, both of which forms a sort of lower mid-tone (close to the final shadows) basecoat. 

Looking for the right shades of blue and red for Spider-Man

One of the many comic book versions of Spider-Man which I particularly like

Secondly, I haven't got the vaguest idea of how to firmly (but temporarily) anchor Spidey so that I can paint him without having to touch the miniature with my bare hands. So for now, I am painting as fast as I can to minimise the transfer of any oil in my hand on to the miniature itself. Only time will tell whether this is will be a problem as I start painting additional layers e.g. shadows and highlights. 

Old school spider symbol on Peter Parker's back

The more I work with the Knight Models Spider-Man the more I appreciate how dynamic the sculpting is

White Spidey eyes are screaming out for some shading

Still trying to figure out how to paint the web linings on Spidey's costume

Staying on the subject of superheroes, I managed to catch the latest Marvel movie recently and really loved it. [Minor spoiler alerts ahead] For me, Guardians of the Galaxy easily ranks as one of the best if not the best Marvel movie ever made. Chris Pratt was excellent as Peter Quill aka Star Lord. He reminds me of Han Solo for some reason. The rest of the cast were also great as there was a real chemistry between them. But the movie's appeal is also due in large part to the superb song selection that was incorporated into the movie so much so that the songs became part of the plot/story itself.

Guardians of Galaxy's Awesome Mix Volume One is a compilation of great music

Comprising songs from the 1970s and late 1960s, the Awesome Mix Vol. 1 had many of the songs that I listened to and enjoyed when I was very young. But after the movie, I can never look at some of them in the same way again, especially the song O-o-h Child by Five Stairsteps which gives a whole feel to the final boss fight ... err dance off. Another song, among the many others that I now see in a new light is the one that plays in first scene i.e. Come and Get Your Love by Redbone, brilliantly acted out by Chris Pratt. A lot of the songs were guitar driven which suited me just fine. Now if you will excuse me, I need to put my headphones on and listen to the awesome mix yet again. Cheers!