As always, when modelling a figure, I start off by printing out a male proportion guide to 1/6th scale. I use this guide to make my armature, seen below. Made of flexible aluminium wire the armature is cut and bent to shape, and holes are drilled into my base board to hold the legs and back support in place.
A basic body is built up over the armature in oil clay and I try to stick to my proportion guide. In the images below you can see where I have modelled crude arms to work out the correct pose for my soldier. You can also see where I have re-positioned his right leg to make the stance a little more dynamic.
Re-modelling the face has given a more detailed expression which will hopefully work better for the overall feel of this piece.
More work in progress photos, the main uniform is worked and detailed. Basic ammo pouches are blocked out to give me an idea of how and where they sit in relation to everything else. I will work on his bags and pouches separately and cast them in wax to give me 'rigid' forms to model to.
Here are some images (below) of the soldier's kit including his helmet, bayonet and trenching tool, pouches and bottle. These have been modelled to scale in plasticine and I have tried to get them as close to the kit used by soldier's during the First World War as I could.
When the kit was finished, I placed them in tubs and poured over cold cure silicone rubber. The rubber was allowed to cure and the plasticine was de-moulded. From these moulds I cast wax positives. These waxes will allow me model finer details around the figure without squashing details.
Here the soldier is really taking shape. I have added the wax elements and you can see how the whole thing will come together. This it still at the 'work in progress' stage but I am happy with how it looks. I plan on modelling a scarf, extra straps, and possible a trench coat in his left hand.
Further straps and details. Nearly finished with the modelling.
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