Cpt Nathan Brittles, U.S. Cavalry, 1876 ** Finished **
Posted: December 26th, 2014, 12:45 am
OK, two of my five all-time favorite movies star John Wayne, directed by John Ford. One of these is the middle film of what is called John Ford's Cavalry Trilogy (and John Wayne stars in all three), in order Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and Rio Grande, released in the late 40's, early 50's.
These are not a true "trilogy" other than they cover the same period of history and are roughly sequential, John Wayne plays different characters in the 1st & 3rd, than in SWAYR. No matter, for a number of reasons, to include my service, the "Ford Trilogy" has meaning for me and I have a number of references on the Army in the West.
That my phone ring-tone is Garry Owen, should tell you something.
Anyway, SWAYR is IMHO just a wonderful movie - I cannot watch it enough - and John Wayne does a wonderful job.
It's 1876. John Wayne plays, of course, Captain Nathan Brittles, an aging Cavalry officer on the verge of retirement unless he gets promoted. After Custer and the 7th Cavalry are wiped out by Indians, everyone expects the worst. Capt. Brittles is ordered out on patrol but is also required to take along the wife of the Fort's commanding officer, and her niece, the pretty Olivia Dandridge, who are being evacuated for their own safety to meet the stage coach. Brittles is only a few days away from retirement and Olivia has caught the eye of two of the young officers in the Company, Lt. Flint Cohill and 2nd Lt. Ross Pennell. She's taken to wearing a yellow ribbon in her hair, a sign that she has a beau in the Cavalry, but refuses to say for whom she is wearing it.
Watch the movie.
Here's my kit - a figure bust of Captain Nathan Brittles, in resin.
I've had the kit (it has 2 parts therefore is a kit) for a number of years, but I've never done a figure - this GB will be my opportunity to do my first one. I have a lot to learn about figure painting in general, and with Vallejo acrylics specifically, but it is an area of modeling that I have long wanted to add to my repertoire.
Now, I bought this because it says Nathan Brittles, but it wasn't until I got it home that I found the caveat that "it isn't John Wayne but representative of a Cavalry officer of that period". Bummer, but I'll survive with some imagination.
It is that far off, here's a collage of pix from the movie.
Not that far off. The mustache is too big and bushy and the chin doesn't work; we'll ignore that John Wayne has a fuller face. I have been over the bust with a flashlight - there are 6 or 7 holes that need to be filled - two of them make it look like he had pierced ears, and one is in the chin. The latter may not be a problem as I'm seriously considering sanding the chin down do it doesn't jut so prominently.
The mustache is another matter. I'd like to shorten & trim it a bit but a) I'm afraid I'll screw up, b) I'll then have to make some lips, and c) see a). Remember this is my first figure and there is a reason for that - no creativity or artistry.
So, off we go, into a new area, with maybe some side trips into the history and traditions of the US Army ….
These are not a true "trilogy" other than they cover the same period of history and are roughly sequential, John Wayne plays different characters in the 1st & 3rd, than in SWAYR. No matter, for a number of reasons, to include my service, the "Ford Trilogy" has meaning for me and I have a number of references on the Army in the West.
That my phone ring-tone is Garry Owen, should tell you something.
Anyway, SWAYR is IMHO just a wonderful movie - I cannot watch it enough - and John Wayne does a wonderful job.
It's 1876. John Wayne plays, of course, Captain Nathan Brittles, an aging Cavalry officer on the verge of retirement unless he gets promoted. After Custer and the 7th Cavalry are wiped out by Indians, everyone expects the worst. Capt. Brittles is ordered out on patrol but is also required to take along the wife of the Fort's commanding officer, and her niece, the pretty Olivia Dandridge, who are being evacuated for their own safety to meet the stage coach. Brittles is only a few days away from retirement and Olivia has caught the eye of two of the young officers in the Company, Lt. Flint Cohill and 2nd Lt. Ross Pennell. She's taken to wearing a yellow ribbon in her hair, a sign that she has a beau in the Cavalry, but refuses to say for whom she is wearing it.
Watch the movie.
Here's my kit - a figure bust of Captain Nathan Brittles, in resin.
I've had the kit (it has 2 parts therefore is a kit) for a number of years, but I've never done a figure - this GB will be my opportunity to do my first one. I have a lot to learn about figure painting in general, and with Vallejo acrylics specifically, but it is an area of modeling that I have long wanted to add to my repertoire.
Now, I bought this because it says Nathan Brittles, but it wasn't until I got it home that I found the caveat that "it isn't John Wayne but representative of a Cavalry officer of that period". Bummer, but I'll survive with some imagination.
It is that far off, here's a collage of pix from the movie.
Not that far off. The mustache is too big and bushy and the chin doesn't work; we'll ignore that John Wayne has a fuller face. I have been over the bust with a flashlight - there are 6 or 7 holes that need to be filled - two of them make it look like he had pierced ears, and one is in the chin. The latter may not be a problem as I'm seriously considering sanding the chin down do it doesn't jut so prominently.
The mustache is another matter. I'd like to shorten & trim it a bit but a) I'm afraid I'll screw up, b) I'll then have to make some lips, and c) see a). Remember this is my first figure and there is a reason for that - no creativity or artistry.
So, off we go, into a new area, with maybe some side trips into the history and traditions of the US Army ….