[2/22/21] The Children of the Monsters - Snow hike

Incredible, detailed work. I continue to be in awe!

It gets better and better. Just remember to be careful when you (inevitably) try to photograph one of your characters drawing and aiming the arrow. With that functional bow, we don't want you to get your eye shot out.

meticulous, genius-level attention to detail

GregT wrote:meticulous, genius-level attention to detail

I agree -- the way Ovy cut the feathers down to shape and size, and then made the glue that looked like tar.... these are things I would NEVER have thought to do. I would probably have just cut some 'feathers' out of paper or something, and then painted the area black. Not to mention making it fully functional... that would not have even occurred to me to bother with, I would have just been content with the illusion. But it's that high level of attention to the details that amps up the realism, and I greatly admire it. Especially since I struggle to have the patience for that level of minutiae, myself. ;p Though I can see it's worth it for the result! ;'D

skywalkersaga wrote:Incredible, detailed work. I continue to be in awe!

Thanks! I like details.

GubernatorFan wrote:It gets better and better. Just remember to be careful when you (inevitably) try to photograph one of your characters drawing and aiming the arrow. With that functional bow, we don't want you to get your eye shot out.

Thank you a lot, also for your concern. Fortunately I am sporting very durable plastic glasses required for my job, so only bystanders might be hurt.

GregT wrote:meticulous, genius-level attention to detail

Thank you, nice choice of words, Greg.

skywalkersaga wrote:

GregT wrote:meticulous, genius-level attention to detail

I agree -- the way Ovy cut the feathers down to shape and size, and then made the glue that looked like tar.... these are things I would NEVER have thought to do. I would probably have just cut some 'feathers' out of paper or something, and then painted the area black. Not to mention making it fully functional... that would not have even occurred to me to bother with, I would have just been content with the illusion. But it's that high level of attention to the details that amps up the realism, and I greatly admire it. Especially since I struggle to have the patience for that level of minutiae, myself. ;p Though I can see it's worth it for the result! ;'D

You should have seen me before I started, I planned to be very lazy on the arrows, just using toothpicks and paint the tip black and add plastic card fins. I failed.

About the working bow, it just happened as I wanted the string to be moveable for more poses.

Stryker2011 wrote:

The next update was supposed to be about Trikkiljuf's finished leather clothing and the quiver

But well, snow hit us. First time this winter. So when I finally got home in the late evening I took the opportunity and hastily wrapped some furs around my forest family, crawls through the snow and made many bad photos, some of which are not that bad. Not that much snow to see, haha....but I made it.

They look freaking awesome! 


I am terribly tired tonight and losing my ability to 'word', but these are very striking pics! They look like wild creatures caught in headlights, lol. The snow is visible enough to make it clear that it'sthere, so hey... it works. ;D

Speaking of caught in the headlights, what is the source of the light that illuminates this snowy landscape at night to allow you to capture these beautiful shots? A fallen satellite?

Really great captures, especially the lighting on the snow. Those arrows look absolutely awesome along with the rest of their gear. What's the headsculpt of the guy with long white hair and black furs? Is that a repainted Jake Gyllenhaal?

These photos are amazing!! So moody and FUN! I especially enjoyed those shots of her and dog peeking out of those "windows". AWESOME!! <3

And those winter shots... So convincing. Great lighting!

I think you’re selling yourself short. These pics are cool, and I love all the fur — looks cozy.

skywalkersaga wrote:They look freaking awesome! 


I am terribly tired tonight and losing my ability to 'word', but these are very striking pics! They look like wild creatures caught in headlights, lol. The snow is visible enough to make it clear that it'sthere, so hey... it works. ;D

Thanks, although your ability to word was impaired when you wrote this, 'wild creatures caught in the headlight' is a very good sounding description.

GubernatorFan wrote:Speaking of caught in the headlights, what is the source of the light that illuminates this snowy landscape at night to allow you to capture these beautiful shots? A fallen satellite?

I am not sure yet if/ how electricity is still available and in use in my post pandemic world, but some ideas:

Some sort of light beacon, maybe placed by anthropologists of a mirror community to be discovered by our family.
Maybe it's solar powered.

Also the source might be a mirrorman himself, using some kind of glow globe. With his reflecting mask and equipment, he is seen as some kind of extradimensional spirit by the family and thus encountered with curiosity and carefulness, but not aggression. The mirrorman on the other hand is curious himself, maybe it's the anthropologist I mentioned some time ago but was never shown in pictures yet.

AlKelAstra91 wrote:Really great captures, especially the lighting on the snow. Those arrows look absolutely awesome along with the rest of their gear. What's the headsculpt of the guy with long white hair and black furs? Is that a repainted Jake Gyllenhaal?

Thanks a lot! The headsculpt with the red facepaint?

It's actually Carol/Melissa McBride from the walking dead, posing as the mother/wife of the other two. Here is the WIP:
https://onesixthfigures.forumotion.com/t2385-02-28-20-the-children-of-the-monsters-snow-and-pelts#30922

Faceapp also thinks she is a guy.

AerynDiana wrote:These photos are amazing!! So moody and FUN! I especially enjoyed those shots of her and dog peeking out of those "windows". AWESOME!! <3

And those winter shots... So convincing. Great lighting!

Thanks a lot! Taking that shoot in the old van feels like ages ago already, haha. And the snow already melted away on the next day, missed the opportunity to do some daylight shots. But there is another winter. Maybe.

Stryker2011 wrote:I think you’re selling yourself short. These pics are cool, and I love all the fur — looks cozy.

Thanks, yeah very cozy, also the more 'civilized' people might not love the smell.


Salvaged two more photos.


Here after she fell on her face, the melting snow created some kind of skull on her mask, but I didn't quite capture it. By the way, an anecdote: When I took photos of them  the first time, in front of those forest backgrounds in my very first post on age 1, while sitting in front of the monitor in a dark room at night, her head slowly turned into my direction by itself because of the rubber neck.

The arrows are amazing, and the snow shots are really pretty. I really love the last photo where we see all the fur, looks comfortable and warm.

Ovy wrote:By the way, an anecdote: When I took photos of them  the first time, in front of those forest backgrounds in my very first post on age 1, while sitting in front of the monitor in a dark room at night, her head slowly turned into my direction by itself because of the rubber neck.

Now that's some folk horror nightmare fuel right there... 

skywalkersaga wrote:

Ovy wrote:By the way, an anecdote: When I took photos of them  the first time, in front of those forest backgrounds in my very first post on age 1, while sitting in front of the monitor in a dark room at night, her head slowly turned into my direction by itself because of the rubber neck.

Now that's some folk horror nightmare fuel right there... 

Agreed. That little anecdote made me think of Trilogy of Terror with Karen Black (in one of the stories a creepy tribal doll with sharp teeth came to life — not a happy ending for Ms. Black).

Theboo-bomb wrote:The arrows are amazing, and the snow shots are really pretty. I really love the last photo where we see all the fur, looks comfortable and warm.

A late thanks! Looking comfortable indeed.

Stryker2011 wrote:

skywalkersaga wrote:

Ovy wrote:By the way, an anecdote: When I took photos of them  the first time, in front of those forest backgrounds in my very first post on age 1, while sitting in front of the monitor in a dark room at night, her head slowly turned into my direction by itself because of the rubber neck.

Now that's some folk horror nightmare fuel right there... 

Agreed. That little anecdote made me think of Trilogy of Terror with Karen Black (in one of the stories a creepy tribal doll with sharp teeth came to life — not a happy ending for Ms. Black).

I am still alive, fortunately. I treat my figures well.


So, remember the Keanu/Wick head with the detachable scalp?





Added some putty and after the heating ritual for necked heads that Yurg, Marlon Brando and Hyufiht also went through, I sliced the neck.


This one is for you Gubernator, a short pseudo Greek experiment including Roy's helmet and shield and a Gladius.



But now for the real thing, rooting. Everybody is rooting for Keanu. Has he ever been a bad guy?

I get some Jesus vibes from him, originally wanted to have the hair shorter, but I think long looks cool.


















Leather placeholder clothing

Keanu looks great, I look forward to seeing him complete.

Excellent work with the hair and denecking. I like both looks very much.

Loving this Jesus-Keanu, lol!

And I know your question was probably a rhetorical one, but I do recall him playing Don John in the Kenneth Branagh ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ film from the ‘90s. ;D

bald, short hair, long hair, helmet... the guy always seems to look good!
Good instincts on the long hair though. Looks amazing.

Nice hair job. Looks good.

Theboo-bomb wrote:Keanu looks great, I look forward to seeing him complete.

Thanks, I too wonder how he will turn out.

GubernatorFan wrote:Excellent work with the hair and denecking. I like both looks very much.

Thanks a lot. Again, I got all my deneckingxperience from you!

skywalkersaga wrote:Loving this Jesus-Keanu, lol!

And I know your question was probably a rhetorical one, but I do recall him playing Don John in the Kenneth Branagh ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ film from the ‘90s. ;D

Thanks a lot! And you just know everything, haha. Anyway, this character will be the strong, silent type.

AerynDiana wrote:bald, short hair, long hair, helmet... the guy always seems to look good!
Good instincts on the long hair though. Looks amazing.

Thanks a lot, worked out surprisingly well!

Stryker2011 wrote:Nice hair job. Looks good.

Thanks!

Next update is about his Axe(s). Our Keanu Jesus has quite the lumberjack's arms.

Refined a stick into an axe handle.
I will only use real wood for wood from now on, I think.



Used Fimo/polymer clay for  some axes. Tried real stones too, but they weren't quite what I needed.



Used water and sanding paper to get them into form. Just like with real stones. To build up the polymeri clays confidence. Material psychology.
On the left and right are real stones, tried to grind sharp edges into the right ones (dark) but it's tedious work.
The greenwood handle still has to season...the axe head on it has a hole, while the others don't, they are intended for a handle with a hole. Our new forest man will have more than one axe, it seems.

I love your process... material psychology included! And the results, too! The very fact you even tried to do it with the real thing is impressive, as is your ability to replicate it in polymer clay. And it makes sense to outfit your forest man with extra weapons/tools -- besides he can lend some to his fellow forest folk...

Cool handle, I like the clay axe heads, I don't think making them out of stone for this scale would be any easy.

Cool update. The effort to use real wood is impressive.

GubernatorFan wrote:I love your process... material psychology included! And the results, too! The very fact you even tried to do it with the real thing is impressive, as is your ability to replicate it in polymer clay. And it makes sense to outfit your forest man with extra weapons/tools -- besides he can lend some to his fellow forest folk...

Thanks a lot! And the 'father' will use one of those axes too I think.

Theboo-bomb wrote:Cool handle, I like the clay axe heads, I don't think making them out of stone for this scale would be any easy.

Thanks. Well the real people spent 60hours on a real one. So 60:6=10 hours. That's a lot of time, still! ( Might not be the most accurate use of math here.. )

Stryker2011 wrote:Cool update. The effort to use real wood is impressive.

Thanks a lot, I actually don't know what better material than real wood I could have used, haha.


For the small axe heads, I drilled and sanded a hole into the strongest end of the stick.



Three versions of the hatchet, same handle. 








I collected quite a number of wood in the.. woods. Tried something like antlers...not that great but probably better than what I can do with putty.



They were dirty, gnarly, now clean, barkless, sanded, refined.






Artsy shot incoming: The basic holes.


Finished holes.



Every stone somehow fits into a handle.



Keanu looking like an Italian Renaissance artist. Can't remember the name...



He still has not outfit, just some basic wrapping. It's fur that I used my beard trimmer on, because the leather was so thin and soft.




















Two 'artsy' shots at the end.

Coming along very nicely. The axes turned out great, though perhaps some extra paint/weathering could give them even more character. But maybe they're supposed to look like this... it's been aeons since I last picked up a Stone Age tool. And I've got to say, yours is the least annoying Keanu I've ever come across...

Very evocative photos and great pose there at the end. And I’m in awe of your process and commitment to organic materials. Such impressive and detailed work!

The level of detail is amazing on all of your stuff. So, now what happens if all of your different communities happen to run in to each other?