Sunday 12 June 2016

Caught somewhere in time - Iron Maiden's Eddie



Let's start with a little music shall we ? If you didn't have the song playing in your head when seeing the model, it's only normal I make you listen to it ! ^^


Now here's a real special one today. I've told you people on many occasions that the hobby blends with music and comics in my heart and imagination because I've discovered most at the same time. Well here's a model that combines a lot of awesome elements. I think many of you will have already recognised Eddie the head, Iron Maiden's mascott which you can see on all their album covers.
Well this mascott has known many incarnations and this one comes right from their album "Somewhere in time" released in 1986.



Album cover by Derek Riggs, just don't try to find all the easter eggs in that cover, it's absolutely mental...
I won't bore you with how much of a fan I was (and still am when it comes to the old albums) but this album as been the soundtrack of many Cyberpunk games and many books I've read. It's a time machine and I simply love getting on that laser cybertrain to melancholia.


The model is a bit peculiar in scale and size, it won't fit with old citadel stuff but this is a model of Eddie that is pretty accurate to the original concept (bar a few details) and which is amazingly well sculpted. You can tell the sculptor (Lux Tanthor I've been told) really used the elements he could find in the pictures of Eddie and that he tried to be as faithful as he could be to the concept.

I'm so olschool that meant I had to work using a physical copy of the picture ;)
That's the reason why I also tried to stick as closely to the concept with my painting. I know some people will do a lot better but I wanted to have a go rapidly to avoid being intimidated by much brilliant works and by the fact others would have painted him in the "official" colours.


I've used drybrushing on the flesh instead of glazes (which could have been a better way to proceed) because I wanted to get this harsh contrast in the skin and a real feel of texture. The flesh is not only visible because of the lack of skin, it's also sore and full of nerves and blood veins so I wanted something rough (and I'm lazy too).
I 've tried to find a good yellow that looked like in the cover and I think I got close enough.

Here's a quick shot with proper old lead just to give you a sense of scale :


Is the model in the right scale and style ? Probably not.
Do I care much about that ? Not really.
Is the model a good one ? Definitely.
Did I enjoy painting it and will I enjoy it having it in games ? Most certainly !

Oh and just because I'm a moron, here's what happened when I took the model out of the paintpot I use to hold my models while I'm painting them...


All in all I'm super happy to have got this one done is so little time (couple of nights), I'm working a some cool stuff at the moment and I'm eager to have your opinion on all that ! ;)

26 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It was a very enjoyable model and having it painted is so nice !

      Cheers !

      Delete
  2. Great paint job, well done! Interesting model too - and why wouldn't a skinless cyborg be slightly taller than the others!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers, honestly, I'm glad it's close enough to the original rather than sculpted in a heroic 28mm styles really.

      Delete
  3. Expertly painted, JB. He the Eddie I remember alright.

    In terms of scale, he's not as far out as I thought he would be. I don't think he stand out to much, unless it was for the quality paint job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not completely off I reckon, just tad on the tall and slim side.

      Cheers mate !

      Delete
  4. Wow JB, you are smashing it at the moment! Another amazing piece, very nicely executed. The drybrushing has worked perfectly on the flesh!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah sometimes you just have to admit drybrush can help !
      A great model I'm eager to see painted by others really !

      Delete
  5. Replies
    1. It's a great sculpt really, that makes most of the job ! ^^
      Cheers !

      Delete
  6. Fantastic Work JB!!! In this case I think it is mandatory to follow the source material for PJs. I certainly hope mine shows up soon so I can give it a go too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 100% with you, although <i'd love to try and paint one in another style there was just no reason not to paint it as he's meant to be. The mere fact I could him in a game is so good .
      Cheers Blue !

      Delete
  7. Whoah it's gonna be hard to match your take on this one. Can't wait to have mine and put my brushed to the test!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'll have a great time with it I promise. ;)

      Cheers mec !

      Delete
  8. Im not a Maiden fan at all, but I do like the paint job. The look of the flesh in particular is exactly how I think it should look (from my extremely vague notion of what Eddie looks like).

    Its great when other interests collide with to y soldier painting :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree entirely, when interests like these collide it's great, it's the only kind of 3somes I can safely afford.

      Delete
  9. Wow never heard of this mini, a great take on Eddie !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers mec ! I'm really glad to see people coming out as Maiden fans with this one !

      Delete
  10. Ubercool!! Amazing, seriously, once again you got the best out of a mini!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The sculpt got the best out of me more !
      Cheers Amigo !

      Delete
  11. Excellent sculpt of the classic metalhead.

    Your painting matches the artwork splendidly.

    Scale-wise, it seems you have the right idea mate. He'll work just fine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The sculpt is indeed excellent, the sculptor really did justice to that good old Eddie !

      Cheers !

      Delete
  12. Obvious question, where is he from?

    Oh great paint job by the way. You are awesome even when rushing.

    Happily listening to the sound track now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was a limited edition model by Diego prior to the Pantheon of Chaos Kickstarter. Cheers, the sculptor really took me by the hand with that one, a great pleasure to work on really.
      Go enjoy some classic Maiden ! ;)

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...