Re: Work In Progress--Deryni Action Figure Project (was Duncan Action Figure)

[Evie]

Unfortunately every figure I've ever seen with painted on wrinkles has looked like it was wearing really bad stage makeup, and the camera simply magnifies this effect, so no.  Unless I can figure out some more subtle means of aging, perhaps with shading effects or the like, I'd prefer to just let viewers imagine the aging rather than ruin a good face by painting lines on it.  But since action figures have harder vinyl heads with more facial contouring molded in than a Ken head, I may eventually figure out a way to accentuate those contours and see if that helps to mature the features.

[Evie]

Duncan and Helena went to an SCA dance collegium with me today.


Beginnings of leather armor by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

In the afternoon, while I was working at the "troll booth" (registration), I began working on some faux leather armor for Duncan.  I test the fit for the outer leather layer of the brigandine armor.  I still need to find some rigid material to use for the "metal" plates to be riveted to the inside, which will help the armor retain its proper shape.  I am thinking a sheet of craft foam cut into tiny squares might work.  I have some teeny studs from the scrapbooking section for the rivets, but those might actually be too big. We'll see.


Back of armor by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

I will also need to make some little buckles, since the back will be secured by buckled leather straps.


Reliquary by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Every Basilica needs a reliquary, so I got this for Saint Hilary's.  (There was a merchant not associated with the event selling olive wood items from Jerusalem in the parking lot of the church where the SCA event was held.)  Don't worry, this isn't the sort of reliquary that contains dubious relics such as the eyetooth of Saint Camber.  The little windows reveal more mundane souvenirs from Jerusalem--olive leaf fragments, soil, pebbles, and frankincense.


Duncan admires the gift by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Duncan admires the new gift and says he'll make sure he finds just the right spot for it.  I doubt it will fit in Saint Camber's Chapel, but perhaps there's some other part of the Basilica that could use some wall adornment.


Longship by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

All right, so it's not really a Viking longship, just my sewing basket.  Helena and Duncan volunteered to watch over it while the hall was being set up for feast.


Closer look by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Helena and Duncan seem to be enjoying the event thus far.


Ready for feast by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Oops, I forgot to pack their tiny feast gear!  Oh well, fortunately there was some extra room at the end of my table.  I told them I'd just sneak them a few morsels from my plate.


The feast begins by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

The food is brought out, and our little guests look forward to enjoying the repast.


Dance practice by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

After the feast, it was time to clear the hall in preparation for the ball.  Duncan suddenly realized that he and Helena don't know any of the local kingdom dances, so they decided they'd just improvise.  They practice a few dance steps together. 


Duncan invites Helena to dance by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

As a duke's son, Duncan has been well taught in the courtly arts, including dance, though he rarely gets to dance much these days, now that he's a bishop.  But it's not like there's anyone else here Helena's size who can partner her, so he gallantly offers to escort her to the dance floor.  Hopefully she'll excuse him for having rusty dance skills.


Another dance begins by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Another dance begins, and the two Deryni decide to join the fun.


Enjoying the ball by evian_delacourt, on Flickr


Enjoying the dancing by evian_delacourt, on Flickr


The revelry continues by evian_delacourt, on Flickr


Dancing through the night by evian_delacourt, on Flickr


Taking a break by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

The dancing continues, but the two Deryni decide it's time to take a break.  They watch the other dancers as they catch their breath and enjoy the luxury of uninterrupted conversation.


Fun evening by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

It was a fun evening, but all good things must come to an end.


Time to leave by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

"Shall we go?" Duncan finally asked.

"I suppose we should.  I'm exhausted, and I'm sure Evie must be ready to head home also," Helena replied.


Departing by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

"But thank you for the dances, Father.  I had a delightful evening."

"It was my pleasure, Sister Helena." 

[Jerusha]

It looks like Bishop Duncan and Sister Helena had a lovely evening.  I must confess, it was your dragon sewing basket that caught my eye, though!

I hope you also got to have a turn at dancing along with the little Deryni dancers.  Perhaps the gallant Bishop asked you for a dance? 

[Evie]

That sewing basket gets a lot of compliments, especially at SCA events.  It was a thrift store find, and one of my favorite thrift store purchases ever!

While I would love to dance with my favorite bishop, I'm afraid that would have to wait for the privacy of my own home.  I get enough curious looks just posing the figures on the sidelines for photos.  If I ventured out onto the dance floor with 1:6 scale Duncan instead of 1:1 scale Hubby, I'd really get stared at!   

[Laurna]

Evie did you and your DH venture out on the dance floor? (Pictures?)  Sounds like you had a wonderful night.

[Evie]

My husband and daughter both danced a bit, but I sat the dancing out. I was pretty tired by then, and most of the dances were ones I don't know the steps to.  Anyway, if I had been dancing, I couldn't have taken pictures at the same time!   

[Evie]

I am making 1:6 scale brigandine armor for Duncan.  Here is the description of his armor from The King's Justice:

"... jazerant of quilted leather studded with steel, the edges bound inbright McLain tartan and the McLain device picked out in silken stitches on the left breast.  A sword and crozier crossed in saltire behind the embroidered shield gave hint of his dual status, but only at close range."

The few examples of historical jazerant/jazerint/jazeraint armor I have seen or can find online showed the metal on the outside, which makes it difficult for me to picture sewing an embroidered device onto it, so I am assuming that Duncan's armor is meant to be something closer to a brigandine coat of plates, which has the metal plates on the inside and leather or fabric on the outside.  An embroidered device could much more easily be sewn onto the leather covering of a brigandine, and it could also have a plaid fabric border at the neck opening and armseyes.  (I am thinking of dagging the bottom hem, so probably no border there.) 

I began cutting out the basic shape for the leather this weekend.  Here is Duncan trying it on for size:


Beginnings of leather armor by evian_delacourt, on Flickr


Back of armor by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

The side panels on the back piece will probably be trimmed away once I have all the plates on the front and sides of the front panel and can see what bits are extraneous.  The side pieces will be connected by buckled straps in back.  I will need to make the buckles, since I don't have any buckles that small already on hand.


Itty bitty brigandine armor by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Today I began affixing the "metal plates" to the inside of the brigandine.  The lower portion will cover his front.  I forgot to bring Duncan with me today, so I need to test the fit on him before I add more to the sides and the back panel, since I don't want to overlap the metal plates in back.  I'm leaving the hem uncovered to allow for adding a fabric border and/or dagging (decoratively cut edges).


Itty bitty brigandine armor by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Here is the outside of the armor.  When it's flat, the plates inside don't add much definition.


Itty bitty brigandine armor by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

When curved around a body (or my hand, in this case), you start to see the outlines of the "plates" through the leather.  I'm hoping they'll look even better defined once the brigandine is stretched tautly over Duncan's torso.  Little brass "rivets" will be added to the leather over each corner of the plates inside, positioned so that they look like they are holding the plates to the leather, and that will also help to define the plate placements from the outside.


Itty bitty brigandine armor by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

The plates are even more defined in this shot.

More to be added later as I get more work done on the brigandine.   

[DesertRose]

That sewing basket gets a lot of compliments, especially at SCA events.  It was a thrift store find, and one of my favorite thrift store purchases ever!

Thrift stores are just about a SCAdian's best friend.

That, and duct tape. 

[Evie]

Thrift stores are just about a SCAdian's best friend.

That, and duct tape. 

And apparently antique stores now!

I have been coveting a folding chair of this sort for my medieval littles, but the only 1:6 scale ones I've seen on eBay were going for around $135, which was way too high for me to consider shelling out for a chair that I can't sit in myself.  (See, this is why I want to learn woodworking!)  However, while just doing a search for "miniature chairs" in general just to see what would turn up, I found this in an antiques dealer's eBay shop for nearly $100 off the price of the chairs aimed at the fashion doll market:


missing back by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

The seller thinks this was originally made to be a furniture salesman's model, but due to the dimensions listed, I thought it looked to be in scale for 1:6, and when I asked her how high the top of the seat was from the floor, she confirmed a 3" seat height (18 inches in doll scale), which sounded perfect.  I want more than one, and my husband said he thinks he knows a way to make them fairly easily (easily for him, anyway), so I took a chance and purchased this one, figuring it might work to base a pattern on if nothing else.  It is missing the original back, which is a slight problem since the back helps to hold the chair together when it is unfolded for seating, but the back should be the easiest part of the chair to redesign and replace.  A small bit of basswood or balsa should do the trick. For the moment, I'm using a rubber band to hold the chair together.


flat storage by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

The chair folds (mostly) flat for storage.


folding chair by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Side view of folded chair.

You can see one of the small tabs on the seat has also broken off.  I just put the seat on with that missing bit to the back of the chair, rendering the flaw nearly invisible.


side of chair by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Here's Duncan trying out his new chair.  I think it's quite fit for a 1:6 scale bishop!


Savonarola chair by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

He looks like he's pretty happy with it.   

[Evie]

I had a bit of lunchtime fun today with some of my new props:


Lunch break by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Duncan took time off from armor repairs to join me for a cool drink.


Enjoying some mint tea by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

He had never tried sweetened mint tea before, so I used my straw to siphon a drop or two into his new goblet.


medieval glassware by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Here is a closer view of the new goblet.  I saw a pair of these gold-edged green "glass" goblets online and thought they looked very much like some museum photos I've seen online of some medieval glassware, so I bought them for the littles.  Duncan's new hands hold the goblet much better than his former hands could have.


Beating the summer heat by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

Duncan enjoyed the sweet mint tea, but once he had finished it, he decided to go for a refill of something a bit more familiar to his palate, so I replaced the glass goblet with a mug of his favorite brew.


Summertime brew by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

It was a lovely midday break, but not nearly long enough.  All too soon, it was time to return to the office.

[Evie]

I have uploaded the prologue to what I hope will eventually become a full photostory about the Mini-Deryni.  The story can be found here:  http://minideryni.weebly.com/index.html

Here's a sneak preview....


Treasures of the Ancients Part One--The Scroll pg 1 by evian_delacourt, on Flickr

[Laurna]

Applaud
Oh how much fun. I love this nice little moment at the schola. The Gothic print is perfect.  Handfire! John  made handfire,  great touch.

[Jerusha]

Magnificent, Evie!  Please, let there be more....   

[Evie]

I'm hoping to do more, don't worry.  This is actually a prequel scene to a longer photostory I hope to do, one scene at a time as I manage to collect or make the props for them.  After all, I'm not collecting all these action figures just so they can collect dust on a shelf!   

I like the Gothic looking text also, Laurna, but the feedback I'm getting on the action figure list (which has a lot of experienced photostory authors on it) is that it's a difficult font to read in large chunks.  So I am considering other medieval-style fonts that are easier on the eyes, though possibly with those chunks of text beginning with a nice big Gothic "illuminated" letter to help keep that illuminated manuscript feel to the text.  I want to find some nice compromise between period style of font yet easy readability for readers who find it difficult to read cramped text onscreen.  I've also received some nice suggestions on how to alter the photo size in such a way that they will load faster, but with no visible difference to what you see on the screen now. 

As to the handfire and shiral glow, that was all trial and error photoediting, but I hope to learn more "special effects" as I go.

[Evie]

Experimenting with light effects in Gimp.  I added a subtle aura (not a full body one, more of a halo effect) to John today in addition to the handfire I figured out how to make last night:


John reads by handfire and is lit by his aura by evian_delacourt, on Flickr