Chris Howes: Maximus project!

[C.Howes_Sculptor]

Looks great so far, Chris!!

How do you think the two halves can be connected, once on the body?

The shoulder pieces will hold the top. The straps on the side will have "keys" in the breast plate and back piece which will, hopefully, snap it together. At least that's the plan for now! We'll see as it develops.

BTW, keep in mind how crude and unfinished it is at this point. I'm searching for style and technique that will work through experimentation. Development always has surprises and Eureka moments along the way. Just getting this basis really was the hardest hurdle. The thinness of the material was tough to achieve. Sculpey was not really meant to be so thin, but it provided the most versatile surface for me to work with in this instance.

 

[C.Howes_Sculptor]

Is it possible to cast it in black urethane, so you are only painting the highlights ? They shouldn't really flex to paint flake shouldn't be an issue. As a plus, the painting would be greatly simplified.

Good idea, I can use the so-strong pigment with the semi-rigid resin I'm looking at Smooth-Cast Semi-rigid urethane

It should be rigid enough to not flake acrylic paint yet flexible enough for our purposes.

 

[C.Howes_Sculptor]

How about making a solid mold and cast in plasti dip?
BTW, I'll pay this week, but the problem is the same as with the Summer Glau HS. Living in France, how much do you want me to add for shipping? And can I add the price for the head in it?

Howdy! $7.00 shipping to Europe should be sufficient for sturdy box and USPS First Class International shipping.

Yes add the head, and if you can wait for both armor and head to ship together it'll save you some money.

Plasti-dip would result in a flexible tough armor, but there is the problem of getting it thick enough and shrinkage. Plasti-dip cures through the use of volatile or fugitive solvents. As the solvents are driven off the rubber molecules knit together, but they want to occupy less space. It would give a cool look, though. Takes a while to cure and build up multiple layers.

I need a fast curing material that I can shoot in one step. Check out the resin mention in another post. I think it will work well. I'm going to get a sample kit and play a bit.

 

[Dizzyarse]

Dear Chris,
you could try casting in Alumilite.... just mix equal parts of the a and b liquid, pour into mold, for curves etc you can rotate and within 3 mins it sets to a solid plastic, but remains pliable for about another 30 mins allowing it to be "wrapped" around figures.
I did my Dark Blade Clan predator and Big Red predator armours this way.
It can also be sanded and glued, and takes both acrylic and enamel paints well.
Dizzy

 

[C.Howes_Sculptor]

Dear Chris,
you could try casting in Alumilite.... just mix equal parts of the a and b liquid, pour into mold, for curves etc you can rotate and within 3 mins it sets to a solid plastic, but remains pliable for about another 30 mins allowing it to be "wrapped" around figures.
I did my Dark Blade Clan predator and Big Red predator armours this way.
It can also be sanded and glued, and takes both acrylic and enamel paints well.
Dizzy

Thanks for the idea!

I do like the tan Alumilite resin, has a nice feel, but a bit more expensive than Smooth-on. In fact, some of my Joker and Wayne heads were cast from Alumilite resin. The problem is I need the resin to still be somewhat flexible when it gets to my customers. That's why I think the semi-rigid Smooth-on product would work well. The gauntlets, for example, should be able to flex around the wrists so they can be a single piece rather than two pieces that glue together.

But for a one off that would work well.

 

[eighthsamurai]

sorry if this has been repeated elsewhere, but anyone have any ideas where they'll be getting the cloth parts of the outfit? i'm crap at any kind of customising, so if there's something like this already out there i'd be really grateful to hear it!

 

[C.Howes_Sculptor]

sorry if this has been repeated elsewhere, but anyone have any ideas where they'll be getting the cloth parts of the outfit? i'm crap at any kind of customising, so if there's something like this already out there i'd be really grateful to hear it!

I've been speaking with a fellow whose mother is a seamstress about getting some custom clothing made. It's still tentative, but he might be able to arrange for a tunic for Maximus. Let me check....

 

[eighthsamurai]

dude you've thought of everything! super sweeeeet.

 

[LordAzrael]

Might be worth talking to Auret about a bulk order of Gladiator swords.

 

[Lord Vicious]

Might be worth talking to Auret about a bulk order of Gladiator swords.

Good idea, but isn't he out of the commissiong-business for a while? If so, then the Ignite Roman swords are a good alternative...

 

[eighthsamurai]

i'd heard he was out as well, which is a shame coz he had a great collection of stuff - his gladiator swords were perfect. i was on ebay yesterday specifically seeing if anyone had listed his stuff. but nothing. has anyone had contact with him before?

 

[Lord Vicious]

i'd heard he was out as well, which is a shame coz he had a great collection of stuff - his gladiator swords were perfect. i was on ebay yesterday specifically seeing if anyone had listed his stuff. but nothing. has anyone had contact with him before?

Well I bought a Blade sword from him once. I could try to send him a pm again, see what his says...

 

[C.Howes_Sculptor]

Hey guys,

If we need a gladius I can whip one out. I was intending to make a rudis (wooden gladius) for myself, so just going ahead and making it a gladius is no big deal. There are other sword possibilities, too.

BTW, Figures.com has published an interview with Craig Wolfe who I work with on the Celebriducks line. I get a little plug in there! Check it out here Celebriducks interview

They make great affordable gifts for children and adults alike and Christmas is coming up fast... Stocking stuffers! (shameless self promotion )

 

[eighthsamurai]

hey those are pretty cool! my mum collects ducks (forgotten the name of the company but they make all those weird and wonderful variations of ducks). these are quite unique.

as for the swords - that would be great. this is what i love about being involved in your projects chris - they satisfy every little detail.

 

[C.Howes_Sculptor]

hey those are pretty cool! my mum collects ducks (forgotten the name of the company but they make all those weird and wonderful variations of ducks). these are quite unique.

as for the swords - that would be great. this is what i love about being involved in your projects chris - they satisfy every little detail.

I'm a detail kinda guy! I've always loved Ancient history, Rome being a favorite. In fact, Rome today is one of my favorite cities on earth. I'll have to dig up photos of me at the Pantheon.... my favorite site in my favorite city.

Anyway, this Gladiator project is a pleasure to do. Technically challenging and intellectually satisfying. The gladius will be a nice touch. I have to go back and see what other weapons he used in the film. Real Gladiators had quite an entertaining arsenal of pointy things.

We have a UK distributor for the Celebriducks, BTW.....

 

[Lord Vicious]

Anyway, this Gladiator project is a pleasure to do. Technically challenging and intellectually satisfying. The gladius will be a nice touch. I have to go back and see what other weapons he used in the film. Real Gladiators had quite an entertaining arsenal of pointy things.

We have a UK distributor for the Celebriducks, BTW.....

I read the interview, cool stuff! Gotta love those Celebriducks

About the weapons; as I recall, I don't think Maximus uses anything else but a gladius in the movie. Only in the Tigris of Gaul fight did he pick up Tigris' axe for a moment.
As a general he used his general sword which was a embellished gladius. In the Carthage-battle he held a long shield and spear for a moment. He also had a round shield in the Tigris fight. But for the rest of his gladiator fights, I think he uses an ordinary gladius.
But I could be wrong of course

 

[lilnoosh1]

Chris,

which shoulder armor are you sculpting?

or

Im a little slow, i just noticed SovereignStudio full Gladiator figure on the board just now

 

[Lord Vicious]

Chris,

which shoulder armor are you sculpting?

or

Im a little slow, i just noticed SovereignStudio full Gladiator figure on the board just now

Actually, Chris will be sculpting both. The shoulder armor in the second picture is part of the Final Fight armor he's sculpting now and will be included in the price.

The shoulder armor from the first picture will be sculpted by Chris as a private commission from me, but I'll offer casts of this in the near future so other armor versions can be made...

 

[carbo-fation]

Payment sent for armor + battle cry head + shipping!

 

[C.Howes_Sculptor]

Chris,

which shoulder armor are you sculpting?

or

Im a little slow, i just noticed SovereignStudio full Gladiator figure on the board just now

Like Lord Vicious said! In the end, this project is going to be pretty modular. Buy what you want and put together YOUR Maximus.

In fact, as pointed out, he pretty much just stuck to the good ol' gladius, but I may make a few other historically accurate weapons so we can add a little spice if we want. After all, there could be fights we didn't see where he employed some others like a curved Thracian Sica. And they just look cool! I also want to make a rudis, the wooden gladius, used for practice and awarded to the successful freed gladiator.

Yes, there is another Maximus developing out there. Looks nice! I hope it turns out well.

As is true with all my projects, I want to make our Maximus THE Maximus. Better than any other custom, better than any commercial figure. I want you to practically smell the sweat, taste the dust, hear the crowd. That's my goal, anyway! That's why I couldn't stop at the armor, I HAVE to make the head, I HAVE to make him screaming his battle cry, to give him whatever life I can. Otherwise I just won't be satisfied. And all of you should expect nothing less.

Now, let's see if I can do it!