Star Ace James Dean head repaint

Seems like almost a pattern. Just as in the case of Freddie Mercury (see the customized result HERE), I have no special attachment to James Dean, but when I saw the Star Ace head parted out, I thought it had potential that even my feeble skills could improve with some repainting. The idea was to add more realism, and also to make the head skin tone match that of a TBLeague body (since I tend to make all loose heads compatible with those bodies). I tried to keep the paint subtle enough to allow some measure of transparency and not to obscure the detail of the sculpt. It matches pretty well. As for whether it is improved for realism, I think so, but as usual I don't have the sharpest eye for that sort of detail. Let me know what you think.



I didn't pick up most of the pieces from the Cowboy or Rebel sets, and have extremely little in the way of Western gear, so I settled (for the purposes of the photos) for the more minimalist costume I've seen in some photos from the set of Giant (I don't know whether this was ever in the film or just Dean goofing around practicing his skills with the lasso and tying up Elizabeth Taylor). Of course the Star Ace hat was out of any sensible proportion (so as to fit over that slightly-too-bellowing hairdo), and normal hats wouldn't fit, so he is going to be mostly hatless.





















And finally one for the ladies! I guess this outfit was just lending itself to this...



What do you think?

#starace #jamesdean #head #custom #kitbash #male

I didn't even look twice at the original figure, but I can't stop looking at yours!!

Seriously, that's a nice repaint, and it it has a very unique feel to it.

I'm with Sky here, looks real pretty and nice on that body. You did a great job - I love the visualisation of tht first pic where you photographed him from all these angles. Looks cool.

That's one sexy cowboy.

nice work on the repaint!

Haha! James Dean as a Chip’N’Dales dancer — nice job, Ian. Head looks a bit dark compared to the body in some shots, in others not as noticeable.

Great HS review. Not to bad likeness, but it´s really hard to nail Deans Eyes. There was something very special in his eyes.
Maybe You have to give a cigarette and a comb to him  

skywalkersaga wrote:I didn't even look twice at the original figure, but I can't stop looking at yours!! Seriously, that's a nice repaint, and it it has a very unique feel to it.

Thank you very much, that is high praise indeed. I'm glad I didn't mess up the sculpt to begin with, and that I apparently improved the look, as intended.

Valiarde wrote:I'm with Sky here, looks real pretty and nice on that body. You did a great job - I love the visualisation of that first pic where you photographed him from all these angles. Looks cool. That's one sexy cowboy.

Thank you very, much I'm glad you liked it. I wasn't trying to be truly artsy, but that different-angle collage did work somewhat neatly, didn't it? And with all of those sexy female dolls proliferating all over the forum, just like you I thought we need to give the ladies something to look at.

BAMComix wrote:nice work on the repaint!

Thank you very much. I approach any such project with a great deal of hesitation, especially when it comes to messing with the face itself (which I did do here). That is what you could do if you had spare Jake heads.

Stryker2011 wrote:Haha! James Dean as a Chip’N’Dales dancer — nice job, Ian. Head looks a bit dark compared to the body in some shots, in others not as noticeable.

Thank you very much, I'm glad you liked it. I agree, light works differently in different instances -- sometimes the head looks a little too dark, but sometimes not. The original color was far too light and bright, and there was less in the way of contrasts within the face. Being an expert in such things, do you think this is a reasonable likeness (in fact, I also find a close likeness to another actor, but I won't name him -- yet -- because once you see it, it can't be unseen).

Ephiane wrote:Great HS review. Not to bad likeness, but it´s really hard to nail Deans Eyes. There was something very special in his eyes.
Maybe You have to give  a cigarette and a comb to him   

Thank you very much. You are probably right, though I am not enough of a Dean expert -- even if I did look at photos. Actually, I did pick up the comb and cigarettes, but I kept forgetting to use them in my photos -- the cigarettes, anyway.

Honestly, I don’t really think it’s a good likeness of James to be honest — something is definitely missing. It almost has too much vibe of that useless idiot Justin Bieber.

Stryker2011 wrote:Honestly, I don’t really think it’s a good likeness of James to be honest — something is definitely missing. It almost has too much vibe of that useless idiot Justin Bieber.

Oh please, not Bieber! Anything but that! But, yes, there is something off (is it the shape of the face, not triangular enough, too narrow?), although at times and from some angles one can see James Dean in it. But I also see this (before you click, consider that once you have seen it, it can't be unseen) --

Spoler Alert:

GF -- I didn't see Justin Bieber at all. But then I didn't expect the person in the spoiler, either, lol. Other than his hairstyle, I think he just looks like an original character.

That's pretty good, not too sure about the whole shirtless cowboying but I guess even cowboys have to party at some point.

I see some of your choice in the lips and nose, but too narrow and off everywhere else. It was more the overall narrowness of the face and the hair that gave me the Bieb vibe — but little else. James was never all that hard to capture in the past — as there numerous paintings and statues of the guy — not sure why (or maybe I should say I’m not surprised, since Star Ace doesn’t have the best sculptors) they weren’t able to pull out a better likeness.

That being said, I’m with Sky in that he just looks like a generic guy — which is a good thing, and I’m sure he’ll fit in with your other “Romance Novel” Dudes.

Stryker2011 wrote:

That being said, I’m with Sky in that he just looks like a generic guy — which is a good thing, and I’m sure he’ll fit in with your other “Romance Novel” Dudes.

Yeah, that's my thought too... from the looks of it, he'd be great in the 'handsome cowboy' role. ;D

skywalkersaga wrote:GF -- I didn't see Justin Bieber at all. But then I didn't expect the person in the spoiler, either, lol. Other than his hairstyle, I think he just looks like an original character.

Thank you, that is a relief!

Theboo-bomb wrote:That's pretty good, not too sure about the whole shirtless cowboying but I guess even cowboys have to party at some point.

Thank you very much. Agreed, although it is based (minus the hat and cigarette -- which I forgot) on actual photos from the set of Giant.

Stryker2011 wrote:I see some of your choice in the lips and nose, but too narrow and off everywhere else. It was more the overall narrowness of the face and the hair that gave me the Bieb vibe — but little else. James was never all that hard to capture in the past — as there numerous paintings and statues of the guy — not sure why (or maybe I should say I’m not surprised, since Star Ace doesn’t have the best sculptors) they weren’t able to pull out a better likeness. That being said, I’m with Sky in that he just looks like a generic guy — which is a good thing, and I’m sure he’ll fit in with your other “Romance Novel” Dudes.

Thank you for confirming that the narrowness of the face and shape of the head is much of what is throwing it off. And, yes, Star Ace have been called "Star Disgrace" in regards to their head sculpts. Now if only I had what I need to kitbash a cowgirl, we'd be in business for another romantic cover.

skywalkersaga wrote:Yeah, that's my thought too... from the looks of it, he'd be great in the 'handsome cowboy' role. ;D

Yep... see above.

Well, instead of a cowgirl, you could always check out AjClothier’s store for an Old West era dress and blouse for a “common” woman — like a schoolmarm, or farmer; at one time I saw she had made a Saloon Girl. Any of those would fit in your Romance series.

Stryker2011 wrote:Well, instead of a cowgirl, you could always check out AjClothier’s store for an Old West era dress and blouse for a “common” woman — like a schoolmarm, or farmer; at one time I saw she had made a Saloon Girl. Any of those would fit in your Romance series.

Thank you for the suggestion. I'm exploring it as I type, although I'm distracted by the medieval stuff.