This is a brass cast Guan Yu statue on horseback which I bought from a Chinese antique shop. As the pose was rather good and there seems to be room to improve it, I happily paid Rm150 plus for it, cosidering resin figures are not cheap and there is just no available and good figurine out there on this subject.

After metal priming and another layer of Gunze 500 surfacer, work started to add extra details to the figure. As for the final planning, I will be looking at expanding the base and putting the hooves of the horse submerged in a marsh land with reeds around it as I didn't like the way the hooves were supported.

The extra details will not be too extensive as that would make this project too tedious. Without further ado,....these are the works in progress and as usual, advise and C&C are very welcomed as I am not too familiar with the subject matter.












reins and 'broad sword staff' extended minus the putty work



the extra details will be on redoing the horse mane and to extend the mane over a good portion of Guan Yu's stomach area which is devoid of details. There will be some filling and extension of the fabric, here and there to improve the folds.

Cheers!

oh my gawd...!!! this is NEW...!!!! if only the original sculpture has smaller belly.. that would make it look even more heroic....
but how did you do the strap that he's holding? looks like a bondite... but as far as i know bondite cant hang on to itself in midair like that...

and.... do they have horseshoe during that time??? i think that hoof can fit in one nice horseshoe....

Loo, for Rm 150.00 and being a General, Guan yu do deserves some grandeur in finishing. What about silver, copper or gold gilding for the parts of the broad sword, armour , head gear or the harness buttons perhaps.

Real metal gilding is a class above metal paints. More fun to apply and easier than decal work. Remember to shut off fan or your gold will fly away.

Real gold, silver will not tarnish. Neither would the synthetic gold. Copper maybe but sealing with H20 covercoat varnish keeps moisture and air away. Have even applied to rusty spikes and old wood working chisels as restoration anti rust.

Need not be expensive and long term maintenance free. Certainly add status to a classic figure.

Leong

Loo, for Rm 150.00 and being a General, Guan yu do deserves some grandeur in finishing. What about silver, copper or gold gilding for the parts of the broad sword, armour , head gear or the harness buttons perhaps.

Real metal gilding is a class above metal paints. More fun to apply and easier than decal work. Remember to shut off fan or your gold will fly away.

Real gold, silver will not tarnish. Neither would the synthetic gold. Copper maybe but sealing with H20 covercoat varnish keeps moisture and air away. Have even applied to rusty spikes and old wood working chisels as restoration anti rust.

Need not be expensive and long term maintenance free. Certainly add status to a classic figure.

Leong

Leong,
I'll be paying you a visit very soon! Called yesterday but was too late....

Koo,
My sentiments on the tummy too. I will be doing some "camouflage" work soon to make him more fit. Part of the horse's mane will be made longer there to cover the tummy as the details there have been brutally sanded off originally!
As for the strap, its superglue reinforced artblock strips.... :D

now that's creativity...

Loo>Last week, I met this Chinese guy at a chemist shop with a large collection of brass figures like yours.
Apparently, he wanted to consult the chemist how to restore the shininess.

I told him, I would like to paint up the figure like what you are doing now.
You know with real color and shade to bring up the figure.

Four uncles at the shop hamtan me teruk teruk on this idea.
They said the brass figure is meant to be heavy and and shining.
Anyway, that was their opinion.
Maybe, they will be turning head when they see yours.

I believe the "painted" version would be more exciting.

I have a similar project in mind too.
Mine is "Journey to the West" - a 4-figures collection in resin.
My dad bought them like 30 years ago from China.
This is the 1st generation cast.
The detailing and scale are good.
I have been searching for similar figures in the market.
But they recasting version.
Most of the detailing has lost after recast and recast.

Think you have to watch the movie "The Three Kingdoms" for reference on the
Guan Yu.

If you are looking for similar figures in the future at a "cheaper price",
give me a call when you are in Penang.

I take you to buy them from my friend.

You can go crazy collecting this brass figure!

MiG21 is like that lah went it come to brass figure went it come to brass figure the point of having it is that it shine and have the metal look to it . and i say i have not seen any one but Loo CK here that will paint a brass figure.

Loo,

You've just started what I think before, I u guys notice, there's a Guan Yu statue in my room, planned to re-paint as well but have not done anything yet, it's a 14" x 22" statue. I will use ur build as my reference in the future.

bty, nice work on the "Guan Sword"

[QUOTE]


Loo,

Most welcome as I am also a newbie in gold gilding. Just after posting to you I trial gilded a little brass bell using H20 cover coat as adhesive and it works. Now waiting for H20 to dry completely after some gilding retouching before burnishing. It works.

As for the tummy to make him more fit you mean more bulging and fat like all well fed generals? Fimo polymer clay in color would add on fats with details sculpt on as well. Cures well and ideal over Brass as takes heat well with hair drier or heat gun.

Miggi,

At least the 4 uncles have not called you short and bundle you off to Tanjung Rambutan.
Would love if Loo permit to show off painting to old conservative timers. Loo if you are reading this Multifilla will sponsor H20 covercoat varnish gloss or matt your choice to paint as Acrylics are matt lifeless. Guan Yu should charge shinning into battle to scare off oponents.

Leong,
I really need to pay you a visit soon. The last time I was there was a couple of years back carting away some sculppey, RTV , resin casting material, lathe, evergreen stock, sculpting tools, books, etc.....Had a field day in your well stocked establishment!

Have a Happy new year and eager to try out the new stuff....

cheers
Loo

Loo,

Still thinking about the Guan Yu . It is too static though painting does make it attractive as an alternative to dull brass. Still looks too statue like. How about adding some 3 D to break the monotony of embossed designs. I mean some realistic bloody heads dangling by soft hairs held by his left hand holding the rein. Looks Mancho eh?

For the raised horse leg, a pile of severed heads gives reason for the horse to raise his leg or about to kick stamp a few heads if you so interprete.

The chrome or gold gilded kwan tu or knife so efficient in looping of heads should have a turf of red wool. This is only practical as the turf absorbs blood from running down the knife handle to become slippery.

We have real wool for beard, hairs, head mold that can reshape different facial features with polymer light weight clay from one mold. metal gilding, thickener to gel acrylics as dripping blood, tall grass, stones and gravel, display bases, mini metal chains, stamped chrome mini dome for harness decorations

A real macabre diorama to a static painting. No offence meant to your painting skill, just my creative juices running. Turn on the fan and statue is alive heads swinging, turf flapping, severed heads on ground hair waving. Guarantee dangling heads will swing if sculpt or pressed molded from light weight polymer clay. Use real kangaroo skin tongs as rein instead of artboard strips that moves as well with the wind.

My free 2 cents ideas to members.

Leong,
thanks for the suggestions. Actually , when I first started, the remodelling intent was very close to what you suggested but seeing how crude a lot of the details of the original cast was, I decided to not make it overboard.
As for the blood and gore, I think I will keep it to a minimum as I do want to eventually pose this in my living room and need to keep it a 'U' rating model.

The progress has been quite slow. Some base lacquers are in and the face received the first cut of oils.

Some WIP pics.





As always, C&C welcomed.

Cheers

Loo

is the face done? As I know Guan Yu's face is quite red and tanned. Seeing the progress, looks damn good.

this is a picture that I've downloaded quite some time ago, hope it can give u some idea.

after looking at BV's picture... it seems there's so much to be done on the sculpture in order to get to that quality...

Koo,
that's exactly the reason why I decided not go 'flog a dead horse'. Just want to 'bury it well'.

As for the face, this is the first layer of rendering. How the final outcome will be will depend on the detailed painting of the whole part. I am going along part by part and doing reactive painting.
Guan Yu's face is pictured red most the time mainly because of influences from the operas. I am trying to put a bit of folklore and reality into it. Don't know the outcome yet but hope it works.

Cheers

Loo

Loo,

If you bring the finished work at an exhibition (MGB '09), better not to leave it alone or unguarded.

'Cos when you get back, you may just find offerings and some joss-sticks planted in front of the statue!



*Flogging another dead horse - joke is not new.

hmmm.. free lunch. worth considering.... :D

vvveeerrryyy sllooowww pproooggrresss........





don't think it will finish before CNY

Slow but steady. Keep at it! :)

Good work if you have not shown work in progress we would have thought buatan China.

he is... in a way descendant of CHINA-man....

CK the face a bit too white

Poopeh, contrary to popular believe, GuanYu is actually a caucasian! :D

Actually the photos are a bit overexposed.....but a yellow filter will help. Thanks for the observation. No motivation at the moment because the figurine has such poor details...

Never give up, never surrender.

To infinity and beyond! :D

Just don't relegate GY into the infinity void... :lol:

Watch the Three Kingdom (China's version) of course then you'll be motivated :)

a bit more progress...












Gong Xi Fa Cai from GuanYu!

Loo

did any of your relatives try placing some fruits & kueh at your work bench?

Loo

It's already starting to look good! Really!!!!! You have some 'kung fu' I've not seen. And dang! I had the same idea of buying from one of the local idols shop. I am looking for a Jesus figure. The Catholic shops usually carry the Sacred Heart version and it's not authentic enough as a large scale model. Anything comes up let me know.

Cheers
Patrick

Patrick,
many thanks. This project has been on hold for a while becos of the other society commitments. Will get back to it soon. As for JC's figures, will look out for some of the more realistic and dramatic sculpts out there when the op arises.

Loo,

First class work.

Thanks Lysander,
I still need to put on some more work on this as the blending of colours is still not satisfactory and the remodelling of the base is still pending.

if they did, its in my tummy now..... :rolleyes:
ps: no offense to GY.

Nice work! Its a very interesting and dramatic subject.

ps Guan Yu sounds like "One U" as in One Utama.

[QUOTE=multifilla,Dec 31 2008, 02:25 PM][QUOTE]


Loo,

Most welcome as I am also a newbie in gold gilding. Just after posting to you I trial gilded a little brass bell using H20 cover coat as adhesive and it works. Now waiting for H20 to dry completely after some gilding retouching before burnishing. It works.

As for the tummy to make him more fit you mean more bulging and fat like all well fed generals? Fimo polymer clay in color would add on fats with details sculpt on as well. Cures well and ideal over Brass as takes heat well with hair drier or heat gun.

Miggi,

At least the 4 uncles have not called you short and bundle you off to Tanjung Rambutan.
Would love if Loo permit to show off painting to old conservative timers. Loo if you are reading this Multifilla will sponsor H20 covercoat varnish gloss or matt your choice to paint as Acrylics are matt lifeless. Guan Yu should charge shinning into battle to scare off oponents.[/QUOTE]


[QUOTE]

Loo,
So sorry I owe you one H20 and missed showing you the gilded bell. Blurring with age. Hope to meet again soon.

Leong,
No worries. Great seeing you again and also seeing your inventory growing.
Will definitely let you see the results of the 'gold' gilding and H2O treatment. Looks promising.

You should show the guys more of the Proxxon collection. Some will go nuts......

[QUOTE]

Thanks Loo, We are all nuts to play with big boys toys and relish on our fantasy.

Would like to help SFTPMS in membership drive by offering 10% discount for Proxxon tools upon flashing their membership card. The discount itself is more than paying their membership fees.

Starting a new thread in Hobby news on these precision tools.