Tip toe through the ... crypt

[derekc62]

I've just started my next project.

It's a classic team-up featuring the work of Jeff Yagher and David Fisher...

[overspray]

[bucketfoot-al]

Looks great Derek ... does it come with any figures?

[derekc62]

Looks great Derek ... does it come with any figures?

Just the one Wolf Man figure. You might be able to make out his legs in the background of the crypt photo.

Initially, Jeff Yagher sold the figure as a stand-alone kit, a hollow-cast version of the Wolf Man walking on tip-toes (there was also a flat footed version)

Later, David Fisher created the crypt diorama. The combination of crypt and figure were then sold by Forbidden Zone and Charlie Norris says the kit is still available for those interested.

[bucketfoot-al]

[bucketfoot-al]

[derekc62]

Pin locations have been determined for the base and the figure, the screw location to fix the Wolf Man to the crypt floor has been drilled in the crypt floor and the Wolf Man's left foot.

Next comes the sub-assembly painting....

I considered placing the Wolf Man on the right side since his eyes are looking to the left (placing him on the right would allow the viewer to see his eyes more clearly) but locating him on the right would have partially obscured the Talbot family plaques which is one of the points of interest.

[bucketfoot-al]

Now THAT is going to be all kinds of AWESOME Derek!!!

[derekc62]

I don't usually go into the nitty-gritty details of things like pinning a kit together or how the pins are placed but, what the heck, maybe someone can use this information...

The vast majority of the pins are made from a very rigid clothes hanger but for the foot I've drilled a hole in the base and foot at an angle to match the bend in the foot.

The walls, door and lintel will be pinned and glued together with an epoxy glue. The figure will be pinned and glued together but will be removable from the base, held there by a screw.

I'm thinking of making the entire walls/door/lintel section removable but that's still just an idea right now.

For the figure placement - I placed the figure on the base, drew an outline around the feet, selected a spot for the hole and drilled down into the base at an angle matching the bend in the foot. I then placed the figure back on the base holding it firmly and drilled UP through the hole in the floor and into the foot so the angle would match.



Pinning the base - After placing the crypt wall sections on the base I drew an outline of their placement and then made marks on the walls and floor where the pins should go. I then measured the width of the outline and wall sections and made the final adjustment to drill the holes for the pins.



I did the same thing on the door and the door jamb.



After locating pin placement the pins were bent so the door would hang in an open position.



Torso bottom filled with Aves because it was cast concave and needed filler to sit flush on legs.



You might notice some black paint on the pin for the head - For the head, hands and torso alignment I drilled an initial hole, inserted a short pin, put a dab of black paint on the tip of the pin and dry-assembled the parts. When I pulled the pieces apart I had an exact location for the next hole for the final pin placement.

[bucketfoot-al]

Someone will find that VERY useful Derek!

[Tim Casey]

DANG, but I've always loved that kit. And you're a damn good pinner, Derek.

I have the figure, but it came with a tree instead of being in the crypt. It's the best Wolfman figure out there, in my opinion.

[derekc62]

DANG, but I've always loved that kit. And you're a damn good pinner, Derek.

I have the figure, but it came with a tree instead of being in the crypt. It's the best Wolfman figure out there, in my opinion.

Thanks, Tim!

FYI, while the kit you have does include a "tip-toe" version of the Wolf Man your version is different from this sculpt. The portrait is certainly different and I think the figure in the crypt is hunched over even more in a creeping pose. I built the kit you have as a commission in 2024 for another modeler.

[Tim Casey]

I just compared pics of the two, and you're right!

[kevtk135]

Cool start! Will watch this one!

[derekc62]

I've had another one of those weeks where I didn't pick up a paint brush, but I did manage to complete a personal project ten years overdue.

First, here's my progress on the Talbot crypt:



After priming the base in brown and spraying a coat of a sandy-brown, I mixed up a wash of sepia and then dry-brushed highlights of a very, very light sand color - think tropical, white-sand beach.

As for the reason why I didn't pick up a paint brush, I spent the better part of the last week going through some of my late father's possessions.

About a year after he died in 2015 I was given a shadow box to highlight his war-time service and I finally got around to making the display this past week and getting it hung up in my home.




And yeah, my father looks like a child because he basically was. He joined the war when he was 17.

[tay666]

Stunning display.

[overspray]

I love the crypt work and that's a great tribute to your father.

[kevtk135]

Very nice display. I thank your Dad for his service and I think he would like what you did with his medals and pics.

[bucketfoot-al]

Wonderful tribute to your father Derek!!

[barad_dur]

Very nice display and tribute to your father and his service.