With the base constructed it was time to think about completing the head, no small matter given the characterful nature of Audrey II. If truth be told I was quite worried about this stage as although ideas and images had been sketched out, I still had no way of knowing if it would come together, more importantly would the magnet hold the weight?
Seymour: Does it have to be human?
The first job was to fix said magnet to Audrey II’s head, a dab of the Poundland’s 'Hard as Nails' seemed to do the trick and as it started to set I was able to splay out the wires giving the effect of veins. I was hoping that the same technique employed for the body would be used for the head. Making sure the polarity of the magnet was the right way round I secured it initially with superglue and then built up the join with more Milliput. Finally more Green Stuff tendrils were used to disguise the rather manufactured look of the wires – it was working!
Audrey II: Feed me!
Teeth, so important, but how to do them? Looking back at the example that had inspired the original build, Ssendam had used some plastic card cut to give a ferocious row of teeth, but given that my plant is based on Audrey II I wanted to try and pay homage to the creation in the comic/films a bit more. Eventually I stumbled upon the idea of using the pointed end of a cocktail stick, but I now needed some way of fixing them to the walnut.
Rolling out my Milliput again I simply embedded the teeth into the gum, but this just didn’t look right. Initially wanting to avoid Audrey II’s luscious lips for fear of not doing them justice, I resigned myself to giving it a go by way of making the teeth sit properly in the mouth. Things started to take shape and as the Milliput stated to harden I gave the teeth a sealing coat of PVA at their base to hold them in place. Now feeling more confident with the material a tongue was fashioned and finally it was time to fix the top and bottom halves of the mouth together.
Rolling out my Milliput again I simply embedded the teeth into the gum, but this just didn’t look right. Initially wanting to avoid Audrey II’s luscious lips for fear of not doing them justice, I resigned myself to giving it a go by way of making the teeth sit properly in the mouth. Things started to take shape and as the Milliput stated to harden I gave the teeth a sealing coat of PVA at their base to hold them in place. Now feeling more confident with the material a tongue was fashioned and finally it was time to fix the top and bottom halves of the mouth together.
Seymour: Does it have to be mine?
There was a brief moment when I considered the possibility of having the mouth hinged in some way allowing for movement of perhaps miming! But in the end copious amounts of glue gun glue were used to fix the two halves together and seal the gaps. Once secure the final stage was to match the tendril effect of the lower neck to the head again using Green Stuff. This was a little bit haphazard, but after much fiddling and cursing we started to achieve the desired effect. Again as the Green Stuff started to harden a light wash of watered down PVA glue helped to seal the work and hopefully made the fix a little more permanent. This in essence was the end of the build and so another patient wait is required before the whole thing can be undercoated, hopefully linking everything together.
Audrey II: Feeeed me!
Just amazing! I like that you considered trying to make the mouth hinged though, that was inspired even if not practical in the end!
ReplyDeleteThank you, the hinged mouth was a step too far for me I'm afraid.
DeleteLook fabulous!
ReplyDelete"From little acorns"...
ReplyDeleteTerrific construction work Michael. It really is great to see how the piece has been put together.
Thank you Roy, I have been delighted at how well it has come together.
DeleteCreative, creepy and splendid job Michael...you're a genious!
ReplyDeleteThank you Phil, but I'm not sure about the genius bit.
DeleteTop drawer! I would be quite cautious with these around the house...
ReplyDeleteThank you Nick, I definitely don't like to linger too longer when I pass her on the paint table!
DeleteThat is coming on a storm!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
DeleteThat is amazing! Glad I live on the other side of the world now.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rodger, I think you should be safe - for the time being at least. ;)
DeleteAwesome stuff, Michael. Its almost as if you;re feeding it rather than building it :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Simon, I'm certainly feeling a little drained, but great fun nonetheless.
DeleteI truly am in awe of your skills of MOCing! While this is not a game subject I would like to venture in myself, I cannot but await the next episode in this blood-curdling series of yours impatiently!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sander, I have to confess I really am having so much fun with this.
DeleteNow that is some serious modelling... wow :-)
ReplyDeleteCheers
Stu
Thank you so much Stuart.
DeleteAmazing stuff sir!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Michał.
DeleteGreat work on the head! I like the extra plastic bits you added to the back of it too as it brings an extra 3 dimensionality to it.
ReplyDeleteThank you much Brian, they were a bit fiddly, but the PVA glue seems to have given them a bit of strength.
DeleteSmashing, absolutely smashing stuff sir. I shall never look at my nuts in the same way!
ReplyDeletere-posted by the by..
Cheers Roger.
Thank you so much Roger and of course for reposting. You be carful staring at your nuts for too long now.
DeleteAmazing work, Michael! I have to admit that I wasn't expecting this much detail, but given your previous builds, I should really not have expected less.anything less. Can't wait to see itvwith some paint on.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Jez, with the build done I have now found myself distracted by a couple of companion pieces, but more of those later in the week.
DeleteStunning stuff Michael. This is a fantastic project to follow and i cannot wait to see the final painted product. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, I really appreciate the support.
DeleteWow a stunning piece of work yet again.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Dan.
DeleteTremendous effort and real dedication 😀
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Matt.
DeleteThat's very clever... and cool too!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
DeleteI think this is the most mental thing you've done! Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mike, hopefully the paint will bring it altogether.
DeleteWonderful effect. I could never manage that with my clumsy figures! Congrats, Michael it looks great!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Mr. Mouse, I have to admit there has been a fair bit of cursing and swearing along the way, but I think we are there now.
DeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Rod.
DeleteA mean green mother
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteIt grows with each passing day and I'm afraid to think about how this will end! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat looking monstrosity!
Thank you so much Nimrod, I have really enjoyed putting this together.
DeleteIt is one thing to imagine a work and the final product. It is quite another to imagine and pull it off! Looks like another "touch" here-and-there and you will have pulled it off! Sweet!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Jay, I was thrilled with how it has come together and really looking forward to painting her now.
DeleteI can only echo the comments above mate, stunning work
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Andy, greatly appreciated.
DeleteComing along brilliantly! Can't wait to see the finished thing!
ReplyDeleteThank you Gordon, hoping to add a couple of extra pieces now.
DeleteA masterpiece!
ReplyDeleteIt already looks so good, I'm really curious on how it will look after painting is done.
Thank you so very much, I have managed a base coat and now really looking forward to finishing her off.
DeleteStunning build it is coming together nicely indeed.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, really pleased with how it has come together.
DeleteThat's looking great even without paint. Putting my conversions to shame!
ReplyDeleteThank you my good man, your fabulous builds have been an inspiration to me.
DeleteI'm speechless. That is all kinds of amazing mate!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, it has been one of those projects that has really got under my skin.
DeleteSo cool. looking great can't wait to see the finished result.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mark, hoping that the painting won't take too long as it is predominately green.
DeleteThis is incredible work
ReplyDeleteAwesome build!
ReplyDeleteThank you Andre.
DeleteThis has gone from a project to being some kind of offspring. . .
ReplyDeleteAmazing though
Thank you Mike, you're right I have become rather protective of her now. ;)
DeleteI hate it (he lies). what a load of rubbish (he lies) I am not at all envious (Again he lies).
ReplyDeleteAll the other comments are so positive (Rightly so) that I thought I would provide and alternative, an antidote to the saccharin sweetness of the comments.
Thank you Clint, that made me smile. ;)
DeleteWhat an excellent scratch-build of an iconic character (?).
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Joe.
DeleteAudry2 looks just great. Seeing this construction has been very enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteA question if I may - how difficult will it be to paint the inside of it's mouth now you've glued it together? I might have been tempted to glue after painted, or even magnetising?
Thank you Dai and I may have made life a little more complicated for myself than it needed to be! I have managed to spray in some black undercoat and when the airbrush comes out it should get to the back, but I am a little worried about the tongue - small brushes and patience might be in order.
DeleteOoh, that is coming along quite nicely Michael. Next up will be some triffids!
ReplyDeleteThank you Terry, now Triffids, what a great idea.
DeleteOh wow, that is just superb Michael. Bravo!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Curt.
DeleteGreat terrain piece you've put together Michael! You are a brave man for even considering making the mouth hinged!
ReplyDeleteThank you, in the end, I just couldn't justify the extra time for something that would really be used in a game.
DeleteVery, very cool as always, Michael. Now how about that "baby" from Eraserhead! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Dean and what a great shout about Eraserhead! Perhaps a little too dark, even for me.
DeleteOh my ... he looks might impressive even without paint!
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant!
ReplyDelete