Replenishing my project pipeline [2Q 2015]

It kinda crept up on me that the number of miniatures left to paint had been slowly dwindling since the fourth quarter [4Q] of last year. This has been due to a fairly busy period in terms of hours spent on the hobby, especially in the previous two quarters 4Q 2014 and 1Q 2015. For someone who paints miniatures one at a time as well as rotates among his projects while in mid-progress, this is about as busy as it gets. To add to my project pipeline, I assembled three more miniatures - one small, two big.

Two women and an evil bloke, new additions to my project pipeline

Beautiful doesn't even begin the describe the latest Nocturna Models 70-mm (1:28 scale) resin miniature. My self studies on figure drawing made me appreciate even more just how well this resin figurine was conceived and sculpted. It easily makes my Top Five all-time favourite miniatures, at least for the time being. She is prevented from topping the list because I don't really fancy the weapons that she is carrying on both hands. But both does naturally fit the dynamics of her pose. 

Nocturna Models Battle Chick, assembled and unprimed

It's great to see a female figure that doesn't have over-sized boobs for once

To my eyes, the Battle Chick has predominantly Asian features and will be painted as such

Assembling Loki from Knight Models (another figure at 1:28 scale) was more of a challenge that I had first anticipated. Due to some miscalculations on my part, Loki's left foot ended up dangling in mid-air after he was glued to his throne. This necessitated the use of Green Stuff which I sculpted to resemble his rocky throne so that his foot had something to rest on. So boys and girls, the lesson that needs to be re-learned here is the importance of dry fitting. Never underestimate it like I did in this case. I also used the extra putty left over to plug (or rather sculpted to resemble clothing) some gaps between Loki's arm joints. Most gluing contact points comprised the Super Glue-Pure Baking Soda combo to ensure strong bonds, especially on the plastic sprue behind Loki that was added to stabilise the miniature's centre of gravity. More on Loki's assembly issues were posted on my other blog.

Knight Models Loki, assembled and unprimed

Back view of Loki, with extra support from a piece of plastic sprue

Finally I dug up another Dark Sword miniature I had in storage - this one already primed, badly I might add as I was still new to the hobby - that is the Female Mage on Stairs sculpted by Patrick Keith. Together with the Battle Chick, the Female Mage will allow me to hone my skills on painting Asian skin tones as well as to try painting eyes to resemble slightly slanted almond-like shapes. Most if not all miniatures are sculpted with Caucasian features but both the Battle Chick and Female Mage have Asian-like features which I believe can, with some careful painting, made to look oriental. 

Dark Sword's Female Mage on Stairs, assembled and primed

Many folds of clothing would provided some practice on blending and layering

Female mage's features also has that Asian look

As much as I hate assembling miniatures, I never fail to get excited at the anticipation of putting colours on the freshly prepped figures. I guess it makes up for the hemming and hawing I go through before the first pieces are even glued together and the whole piece is eventually primed. Speaking of which, both Loki and the Battle Chick have yet to be primed. For once, this isn't due to my procrastination but rather constant rain which has ramped up humidity to very high levels. Priming will have to wait for more sunny days ... better safe than sorry, although the Tamiya Fine Surface Primer has worked before under humid conditions. After all, patience is always key in this hobby.