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Happy Tuesday folks – quick one from me today, I had a bit of a painting frenzy last night and got Mezura the Navigator painted up. The takuhatsugasa style hats on the porters, (Flight of the Navigator – part 1), suggest feudal Japanese style theme to me, so I kept this idea going with Mezura… heck, even her name sounds vaguely Japanese, (purely coincidental!), and so I tried to capture a Geisha-esque vibe with the paint scheme. I’m fairly happy with how she came out – the white face makeup looks a bit Heath Ledger perhaps, but I think it should all make sense when I put the whole piece together. Anyhow, here she is:
So, just the chair part of the palanquin to go before the whole piece is finished! :-)
Leadballoony - It's a lead thing 
I like her – she actually looks faintly frightening and I can’t say exactly why. Which is what one would expect of a Navigator I suppose. Looking forward to seeing it all put together.
Thanks mate – she is a creepy little thing… I think heavy makeup that hides the ‘true’ face is always a bit disturbing (clowns being the obvious)… I think it’s called the ‘uncanny valley’ or something in robotics – where you hit that point of almost, but not quite, human. Anyhow, if I’ve managed to achieve that effect then I am super-happy :-)
Some kind of feudal japanese clan theme would fit the houses of navigators really well! Honor and service and whatsoever. She’s turning to a real creep, I like it.
Thanks mate, it does seem to fit, doesn’t it? :-)
As soon as I saw her I thought Geisha! I also thought she belongs in a Tim Burton movie. As always, a brilliant paint job. The face is perfect. Kudos to you big fella.
Thanks dude, muchly appreciated :-)
I would have skipped the make up on the eyes to avoid this borderline Heath Ledger efect you speak of but it looks fun with it anyway. This is really a cool project with perfect choice of models and all. Looking forward to the finished product now !
Thanks JB – yeah, I was 50/50 myself mate, but when the white face paint went on, it was all a bit… bland? Anyhow, I’m cool with a Geisha/psycho clown hybrid ;-)
Scaringly beautiful! I think you created quite a character here, the whole mini tells a story, really nice work here!
Thanks Suber, glad you like it mate, I consider it a great success when the mini tells a story :-)
My favorite detail is definitely the bound legs and feet. There is something about it that speaks of a lifestyle that is both pampered and oppressive. Also, how did you create the face, sculpting from scratch?
Thanks Dexter, I must admit, the binding is what drew me to the model in the first place – something very disturbing about it… the face is as it comes, with the exception of the 3rd eye (a poor attempt at sculpting) ;-)
Interesting, so what company makes the base model?
I see most people commenting that the makeup reminds them of either a geisha or a clown/Heath Ledger’s Joker. But the first vibe I got from the face was a child’s doll. The wide-eye-stare, the painted smile, the moderately silly pigtails, and that clockwork claw all remind me of a doll. It’s like something that your clueless aunt bought your little sister growing up, which got sat up on a shelf and never played with, that makes her cower under her covers at night, afraid that it will turn its head and look at her. Or, with that claw and the bound body and legs, like something that pops out of a jack-in-the-box and tears your face off.
Dude, dolls are creepy.
Oh yeah! She is doll-like – funny that I hadn’t seen her that way until you pointed it out!?! You’re right though, some dolls are creepy as hell – it’s that uncanny valley thing :-)
Btw, the model is ‘Sister Gabriele’ from the Eden range of minis, (I got mine from Taban Miniatures).
Very nice work!
Thanks Warbs, it’s slowly coming together :-)
I’ve been been eagerly following this latest project of yours, and it has been very enjoyable so far: The model is very original, yet also completely at home in the 40k setting, and I think the paintjob on the Navigator herself is excellent! The facepaint hints at a distinct and somewhat quirky culture which I think is a perfect match for the Navis Nobilite. Extra kudos for putting that creepy little servo-arm from the Datasmith kit to such excellent use!
:-) Thanks Krauty, nearly finished the whole lot – hoping it all comes together nicely & hoping to post it up soon!