[11/7/19] Eurocalypse: Mediterran Mega Update pt. 4 of 4(!)

Looking good. The shells with the holes are really interesting — and how convenient.

Thanks guys! And yes, those shells are very convenient. They are from snails called Haliotis varia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haliotis_varia

I started with a shell man. Both figures swap shells and inspre each other in a way. Synergy and stuff. My male head sculpt is on the way but not there yet, and I don't own a single male head sculpt yet (not counting zombie's!) so I used a sea urchin and a shell as placeholder. I might turn the urchin into a mask. It's a cheaper body and not seamless so I had to get creative.
(And yes another pic directly from the phone..)

Shellman looks quite promising, and no one would have suspected there isn't a face underneath.

This is an interesting technique, I imagine those shells are mostly lightweight so as to not inhibit the balance of the figures much at all. And the last photo of the figure's head kind of reminds me of a mushroom, which makes me start imagining a whole other line of plant/fungi-based designs for the other tribe.

Yes most of the shells are very light weight. Some are heavier, but it works out as well. And fungus hats for the forest people sound good!

And yes I will definitely turn one of the urchins into a mask.

I received another headsculpt, a certain 'Cuban Revolutionary hero'. I think it matches the theme quite well, a bit of a scruffy natural looking beard and the hair might be wet from diving. He looks like his ancestors could be from Portugal, Spain, Italy Greece etc.

Some of those Haliotis shells weren't smooth but quite rough, just 1% of the entire pack maybe. I think the smooth ones look better for the girls, while those rougher ones are for the guys. For the right shoulder I tried out some oysters. I first thought I will use the 'ugly' oysters just for Dioramas, but some fit the shoulders really well. I am not sure yet which one to use. The white one looks a bit heroic/leaderlike, while the dark one looks quite brutal. But I won't have to drill holes into it.

I like the look of the pieces in the 2nd photo.

Second and third photos look the best. The whole thing looks very promising, and the post-apocalyptic setting allows dissociation from the more negative associations of the original character (albeit romanticized by people with no sufficient sense of history, etc, in my book). Perhaps he can be the leader of an underground movement to unseat Aquaman... But if so, I'd be rooting for Aquaman...

These continue to be absolutely fascinating!

Just a couple of ideas that pop into my mind here;

1.  The armor they are wearing leaves a lot of vulnerable spots in critical areas like the chest cavity and:

2.  Have you thought of trying to use really small shells to make a form of scale armor?  

3. Finally, what seems like a natural weapon for these folks to use would be something like the Polynesian spears and leiomano, which are bristling with shark's teeth.  Just a suggestion is a all.

Stryker2011 wrote:I like the look of the pieces in the 2nd photo.

Thanks! And yes, I will go for the dark oyster and use the white one for one of the girls.

GubernatorFan wrote:Second and third photos look the best. The whole thing looks very promising, and the post-apocalyptic setting allows dissociation from the more negative associations of the original character (albeit romanticized by people with no sufficient sense of history, etc, in my book). Perhaps he can be the leader of an underground movement to unseat Aquaman... But if so, I'd be rooting for Aquaman...

Well, as the shell people don't wear t-shirts, he won't have that great cult of personality.
Hah, and yes, Aquaman Vs. The Evil deep sea communists.
But these are just normal people trying to survive, not superhuman overpowered lasershark riding beings like...Jason Momoa.

skywalkersaga wrote:These continue to be absolutely fascinating!

Thank you!

ThePhotogsBlog wrote:Just a couple of ideas that pop into my mind here;

1.  The armor they are wearing leaves a lot of vulnerable spots in critical areas like the chest cavity and:

2.  Have you thought of trying to use really small shells to make a form of scale armor?  

3. Finally, what seems like a natural weapon for these folks to use would be something like the Polynesian spears and leiomano, which are bristling with shark's teeth.  Just a suggestion is a all.

Thank you for the suggestions Photogs! The 'armor' was actually supposed to have more of a ritualistic/religious/fashion function than be actual protective armor, as the giant claws of the mutant lobsters crush everything easily anyway, but they might get into conflict with other human tribes, so you are right about the lack of protection, of course. So I used the 'standard' shells which have not seen much use yet. They come in many colours, I am open for suggestions!


Just a simple try to create primitive body armor. The scale armor idea is great of course, maybe combined with a fishing net and fabric padding. But I don't have the right shells for it yet,  I think.


And yes, shark spears are also a great idea. For now I used cony shells for spears. I will combine them with towershields made from very, very big shells.

Those shells, however "standard" in appearance, look so cool in the different colors -- whether or not that can be worked into the story. In fact you have so much potential with your sea peoples (or whatever they were called -- sorry if I got confused), that you could probably easily create a self-contained world and story for them -- whether post-apocalyptic, pre-modern, or pure fantasy.
As for Jason Momoa, since I'll probably end up with 3 different head sculpts for him at this point, it occurs to me (admittedly on the basis of various films he has been in) that he can star as three different characters at once: a sea prince, a steppe prince, and a woodsmen prince, triplets separated at birth, pitted against each other by fate, united (or divided?) by love for the same platinum-blonde. I hereby claim copyright on the idea and am definitely designing a sultry over-the-top romantic book cover

Thanks!

And yeah I guess you mean the new sideshow Aquaman head, the good face+bad hairline head and the perfect head? Cringy book covers are always welcome.

I started to make necklaces. I had to drill a hole in every shell. I used the smallest shells and one bigger pendant in the middle.


The cony ones for the man.


And I started to work on the Painkiller Jane/seamless phicen body. I read all about it, but those steel skeletons, top.

Anyway, what could be the purpose of that closed clam?

It opens, of course.


Sawed/drilled some dents into it.


The latest trend in Post-European light combat swimwear.


Of course I had to cover the joints.


For these necklaces I used a more interesting, bigger shell as pendant, getting smaller on both sides. And starfish!


Is that a hiplace? And a starfish, just like in the drawing.


Experimenting with shoulder shells.
1


2


3


And to raise badass levels, now with creepy shell mask. Not sure yet if to put holes or a slit in for viewing.


And here the 'tower shield' shell, Atrina vexilium (or Atrina scutum, how it is called in Post-European Mediterrania)
Two were broken during transport. The smaller segments have many uses, when I broke down the sections I accidentally got a little sword or spearhead, it's the one Mrs Jovovich wields in the photos, I will get better pictures of it another time.

Wow, she looks stunning! I'm also seriously impressed by your collection of gorgeous shells! 

Random question... what is that gauze type material you are using as their clothing? It seems like something that would come in really handy for 1/6 customizing in general...

Very nice work, I've been thinking about getting my first female Phicen and you may have inspired me to finally go through with it.
Are the marks/bruises intentional? They seem like just enough to look real without overdoing it.

Looks very good -- I'm particularly impressed by your choice and ability to string up these tiny shells, which still look plausible on sixth-scale figures. The details are falling into place quite nicely.
AlKelAstra, the body used is from a TBLeague set (Painkiller Jane) which had the bruises on it by design.

skywalkersaga wrote:Wow, she looks stunning! I'm also seriously impressed by your collection of gorgeous shells! 

Random question... what is that gauze type material you are using as their clothing? It seems like something that would come in really handy for 1/6 customizing in general...

Thanks a lot!
And the material is actually old socks and tights from my late grandma. She would find their new use funny I think. There is a drawer full of those. Some are rough, some smooth, I use the rough ones for the shell people. They come in grey, dark grey, tusken beige, Jedi brown, senator white silk, dark green and rose etc. I don't think they are expensive to buy but I never had a look yet. It is a great material, very stretchy, and you can regulate the transparency with multiple layers etc. Best cut with round blade.

AlKelAstra91 wrote:Very nice work, I've been thinking about getting my first female Phicen and you may have inspired me to finally go through with it.
Are the marks/bruises intentional? They seem like just enough to look real without overdoing it.

Yeah, thanks! Tell them I send you, maybe I get a discount.
And yes as Gubernator said, it's from that Painkiller Jane figure. I think those bruises make sense here, since there are so many sharp objects she is confronted with.

GubernatorFan wrote:Looks very good -- I'm particularly impressed by your choice and ability to string up these tiny shells, which still look plausible on sixth-scale figures. The details are falling into place quite nicely.
AlKelAstra, the body used is from a TBLeague set (Painkiller Jane) which had the bruises on it by design.

Thanks again. Yes those little details are quite important, I see it every time I remove them.

Another male headsculpt arrived. It was unnamed and looked a bit like Tom Hardy on the eBay image. It's a bit bigger than Che 'Cuban Revolutionary Hero'
I actually planned to use the second male body and this head to start one of the forest Guys, but I experimented with shells again. I might change it later, his sad eyes are better suited for the forest guys than the shell people.


But the sculpt doesn't look like Hardy. And I think it's good, I want the sculpts to look realistic, but also want to avoid getting real famous people. A bit of Charlie Hunnam? Charlie Hardy? Tom Hunnam, who plays that Jedi on this 'Peaky Vikings' show? I might confuse something.


Tried to use one ugly long oyster as a kind of parry shield, and the long white shell as shield/blade. I imagine this thing is quite sharp.


He might be one who draws the attention of the giant sea crabs and parries it's attacks, distracting the creature long enough until one of the girls can finish it with a precision strike on a weak spot.


Yes, fancy bright colours. Sorry Christopher Nolan.

I'm loving this, and your commentary on top of it... I like the new kitbash/custom and the "sad" Tom Hunnam/Charlie Hardy sculpt. Any chance you happen to have a link or the specific product name?

Thanks Gubr!

The head sculpt is called km 16-92. Km is for kumik I guess.
https://www.kesavamall.com/kumik-16-scale-male-head-sculpt-carving-model-km1691-f-12039039-action-figure-toy-p-598177.htm

I now have all the head sculpts (for now, ha, ha..:/)

I got a ym toys head with 'real' (or unsculpted, rooted, whatever) hair. It looks like that on the promo pics.


It looked like that when it arrived...

It has no texture at all, one plain skin tone like color and lazy red lips. But I guess that all might be intentional. A nearly blank canvas with eyes and primer, or something like that. (...)

I hoped I would get around painting heads but we'll why not? I used my humble face painting skills from my 1/12 stormtroopers, added some shading and freckle texture.  That's the third time I toned down red lips I guess. (Jovovichs blood red lips where toned down too as you might have noticed in the previous posts) So is there anyone with a link about 1/6 hair styling? Does it depend on the material? Water and styling gel? How to make braids? A lot to learn...


Added a headband for style and a bead for testing. The hair became a bit frizzy when handling. But I guess she can sell that post apocalyptic Mediterranean look now, what do you think?

I like where you are going with this.

Thanks for the link, just ordered one.

She looks good, even if not exactly like the promotional photo, and you have certainly found a way of integrating her with your intended look. Photogsblog posted on artificial hair manipulation HERE. My experience is with tibetan lamb hair, which is different (there the trick is to apply some shampoo + conditioner, slightly diluted in water); that's what I've been doing with Fireman Chad, for example.

ThePhotogsBlog wrote:I like where you are going with this.  

Thanks, it's a journey.

GubernatorFan wrote:Thanks for the link, just ordered one.

She looks good, even if not exactly like the promotional photo, and you have certainly found a way of integrating her with your intended look. Photogsblog posted on artificial hair manipulation HERE. My experience is with tibetan lamb hair, which is different (there the trick is to apply some shampoo + conditioner, slightly diluted in water); that's what I've been doing with Fireman Chad, for example.

Has your Hunndy arrived yet? Mine had some eye glaze on the lid, but otherwise good product.
And thanks for all the hair tips you two.

I think I finished her weapon. I think it's more axe than sword. But can also be used as a spade.



As you can see I also experimented with beads for fancyness.
Which cony shell on the end? It's like building your own lightsaber but much, much cheaper.


She is quite proud.


*Primal predatory roar* More beads also, used some to keep the shoulder shell in place.


That blade is very shiny.


The next one will be the spear for the guy. Glueing driftwood together etc.

I like the weapon, including the beads for fanciness' sake.

"Hundy" hasn't arrived yet -- still in the process of getting shipped from China by the looks of it -- but now he has a name

Cool looking weapon. Nice touch with all the different elements.

GubernatorFan wrote:I like the weapon, including the beads for fanciness' sake.

"Hundy" hasn't arrived yet -- still in the process of getting shipped from China by the looks of it -- but now he has a name

Yes those beads also serve as 'filler' for the little necklace shells. I like to imagine those matte/frosty transparent beads are made from old glass found in the sand.
My first attempt was much more colorful. I eliminated the red later because it was too dominant.

Stryker2011 wrote:Cool looking weapon. Nice touch with all the different elements.

Cheers! While I like painting things, it's much more convenient to use the right materials from the start, if that's possible. Works especially good with 'natural' stuff I guess. I wouldn't be able to paint wood like that, or the blade.

Spear/Harpoon now has a tip. I don't know how useful or balanced something like that would be in real life, photogsblogs shark teeth idea might make more sense. But it can always have a ritualistic or religious function. Or used as a club.


I will add some fancyness later of course.


And now also with a shield. I used elastic beaded bands to keep that heavy thing in place, still experimenting. I am not sure if to glue something like straps on the backside.




He is not the only one with a shield.


Step forward pls






As you see, both shields are from the same broken shell piece. And the blade of the weapon, too. I don't want to break shells intentionally, but when they break there is often much potential in the shards.

Those two found this hard to obtain shell in dangerous water and hauled it to the beach together. When they had a fight over it, it broke in two. They had a laugh and now have arranged with that.

At one point I was skeptical about shell shields, but they worked out great. And how cool that they are fragments of the same shell, giving you the opportunity to come up with that back story. The male warrior is coming along very nicely and the spear looks great. I also notice the effective way you have covered up all the joints on that body, giving it an apparent seamless look.

Thanks! Yes, a complete shell shield might be a bit too big or more fitting for an army with a shieldwall.
And yes, I have some kind of joint hiding OCD it seems. But I think I will get him a tbleague M31 or M33 ( I also reread your reviews. Now I can tell all the differences ) and use this body for someone, a forest guy maybe, with more clothing. While the upper body is textured and colored, everything below the belly is in a plain color, intended for long trousers I guess. The naked feet are also not that good for stability.

For the future, I think I might have to split the thread. Now that the 'concept phase is over for the shell people, I am preparing for the other factions/states/peoples and rethought what materials are used for each.

Shell people - shells, driftwood, thin fabric in natural colours, natural/grass-like looking strings, beads. I am experimenting with fish leather, but not yet pleased with the results. I don't buy that much fish with it's skin still attached.

Masked forest dwellers - leather in natural tones, wood/sticks, mulch, moss, resin, fur, small animal bones/skulls ( made from polymer clay, maybe some real skulls for mutated giant birds if I stumble upon them.

Tribes of North Africa - beads and fabrics in bright colours, painted metal plates (or plasticard or worbla resembling metal), wood, feathers, fur, leather, maybe insect parts

Cargo States - they are the jokers of it all. As the two characters I want to make are travelers and traders, they might use all the materials provided by the other people. They also have more old world equipment from cargo containers, quarantine stations and army bases. So also jewelry, wrist watches, rubber, old world clothing, some European 'modern military' stuff etc.

And a small shell people update, one of the sea urchins broke. New opportunities.

I drilled some holes into them and used them as protection for the hands and knee.


It magically fits into the place between the knuckles.


You don't want that knee in your face, now less than ever.


Or that backhand.


And another update. I think a popular weapon in Post-European Mediterria might be a sling. I watched two YouTube videos to learn more about it, quite interesting.
I want to give those two crafty slingers some credit here.
https://youtu.be/28r-MQejnHg
https://youtu.be/JhkwNg_qBd8

Leather and flexible string.


I will have to find a nice round stone. I wanted to keep it simple, but added the pearl for some personality.


Is that s typical slinger pose? I don't know. Looks cool enough. I think a sling fits her better than a club. Also some decent hairstyling.


The string can be stretched to a degree, but if I want to make spinning poses, I might have to use wire.


If you are out of stones, use sea shells.

LOVE what you have been doing with these! The weapons are coming along nicely and that hairstyling looks gorgeous. The overall aesthetic so far is very pleasing -- thanks for sharing.

I like the progress. Very inventive use of silver lining with the broken shells (I'm surprised more shells haven't gotten broken in the process). Fish skin/scales? I can only hope they don't stink. The sling and the slinger pose both look excellent to me.

PS I would advise you spare yourself the grief of using an M31, but then again maybe the batches available today are less problem-ridden.

Gah, I absolutely adore what you’re coming up with here, especially that shiny spear and shields! <3 The necklaces are gorgeous too!

My only criticism is, as an owner of boobs, the shell bikini makes me cringe a bit because you’d have virtually no comfortable movement in it, as the bottom of the shells are far too low and you’d end up jabbing yourself in the ribs every time you leaned forwards!
Nice concept but I think she’d be far more comfortable in one with smaller shells, unless you adapted it as part of a less flexible breastplate or something.