AMT/Ertl Emperor Palpatine vinyl kit

[micahrogers]

I tried to start this one last year and lost my nerve.
It's the AMT /Ertl Emperor Palpatine vinyl kit.

it's approximately 1:6th scale vinyl kit, so it will be glued with CA and 2 part epoxy. I hate using these now but it's the only thing to use on vinyl.
More pics to come.

 

[micahrogers]

And this is what's in the box,


I guess it's technically a Mixed Media kit, as the figure itself is vinyl, but the walking stick is styrene. The kit also comes with two left hands in different poses.

The next step is washing the pieces, which is done now, then to trim all the flash from the pieces.

more later...

 

[micahrogers]

A quick update for this morning, I got the pieces washed and all the excess vinyl trimmed from them.


The next step is to apply heat and "reform" some parts so the go together better. The head and cowl needs to be opened at the base a little to rest on the shoulders better, and the left arm piece needs to be spread at the top to reduce the gap.
For those that have never worked with a vinyl kit, the material responds well to heat, submerge the parts in nearly boiling water and the vinyl becomes soft and pliable. The heat makes the vinyl soft and easy to cut accurately, and you can reshape it then "set" the new shape by cooling.

I'll try to remember to get some before and after shots of the reshaping.
Thanks

 

[micahrogers]

This figure will be primed with dupli-color sandable primer, then painted with my now standard AV Vallejo acrylics here are both pages of my updated color pallet.

 

[micahrogers]

I figured the best way to show what the reshaping did was to outline the part before and after I reshaped it. I started with the cowl / head, before and after reshaping outlines side by side.

you can see the subtle change I made to the shape of the mounting area of the cowl.

 

[micahrogers]

For got to take step by step pics to this point :-(
getting the flesh tones of the face and hands done.


Next is to get the eyes and mouth detailed out.

 

[micahrogers]

and as the coats of paint dry on the face and hands I got the seems filled on the left arm joint.


The filler material itself is an alternative material, Dental Wax...

 

[micahrogers]

And I got the bottom insert installed and the feet glued on.

 

[micahrogers]

Eyes and mouth detailed.

 

[micahrogers]

I got the eyes finished and glazed and the mouth looks better, and started general painting with the pre-shading.

 

[micahrogers]

The Face and inside of the cowl are done,


and the first base coat of Heavy Charcoal applied,

you can see how subtle an effect the pre shading is.

Next will start post shading, then highlights.

 

[micahrogers]

and the update for today is post shading done,


and the next step is detail c all outs and highlights.

 

[micahrogers]

And the detail call outs are done and I've started final assembly

now to paint the walking stick, and do the final assembly.

 

[micahrogers]

And he is finished...

these pics totally suck...



I will take him outside and set him down and get some pics in natural light.

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

He has never looked better!!!
You did a FANTASTIC JOB on this project!!!

 

[micahrogers]

Thanks RB He is a nice addition to my collection.
I got a couple natural light pics


and next on the bench is either the Academy Mirage IIIc in 1/48th or the Space Seed edition of the TOS Enterprise in 1/1000th

 

[paper hollywood]

You did a nice job and made some excellent progression pics. I've never thought much about why some kits are done in vinyl, but I would suspect they can cast fewer, more complete parts since vinyl can bend more in removal from the mold.