54mm Harlequin Solitaire - WIP

[precinctomega]

Well, I've got a new commission. This time for a Harlequin solitaire.

I was actually contacted about this model months ago but, after agreeing to the quote, the client kind of went quiet for a bit. But now he's talking to me again, so I'm getting some movement.

This was the initial sketch I did just to get myself used to Harlequin imagery and flesh out some vague ideas.



The plan was that the Solitaire was a lonely traveller, making his (or her) way through the Webway and from craftworld to maiden world and even occasionally other worlds. Hence the travelling coat, the backpack and the various pieces of kit and equipment about his person.

Once I came back to the idea after a break, however, I decided that this just didn't possess the "harlequin" qualities that the client was looking for. The Solitaire should live by his (or her) wits. I also did a lot of sketches of masks before I settled (at last) on one that I thought worked:



This time around my plan was for a character who was colourful and harlequin-y to the extreme. I was sort of thinking that she (I settled on a female) could be so OTT that no one would guess she was an alien behind the mask and beneath the cowl. It's not like Imperial citizens don't appear masked and cowled all over the place, eh?

The mask is a combination of daemonette eyes, geisha lips and a sort of kabuki theatre overall effect. The hood conceals the details of her person (and her pointy ears), whilst the half-cloak doesn't interfere with acrobatic leaping about sort of stuff.

But I had a couple of problems I wanted to sort out. The first was the Harlequin's Kiss. The client had specifically said that he wanted her to have one, but the extant design seemed too bulky and unwieldy to really communicate the elegance of harlequins at 54mm. So I went right back to basics:



As you can see, the ammunition container is concealed beneath her half-cape on her shoulder, with the weapon itself being digitally mounted (digital Harlequin's Kiss? Ouch!) - this also fitted with the idea of a character who should be able to move with relative freedom within the frontier worlds of the galaxy.

My next problem was the shuriken pistol. I've never understood how these things could be comfortably holstered. So, again, I went back to basics:



In this sketch, I turned the barrel through 90degrees so that the body of the weapon could lie flush against a leg or (as in this case) beneath the half-cape.

I also did some pose sketches. Not sure how she's going to be posed in the end. Up to the client, really.

That's it for now. I'll post more when there's more to show.

R.

[hereticdave]

the ammunition container is concealed beneath her half-cape on her shoulder

Well i like the look of the other things concealed under the cape so my interested is already piqued

As for the 90 degree shift in the Shuriken Pistol i think this defies the function of the weapon though? The 'wheel' magazine in the older designs was the solid ammunition i always thought, the pistol itself would shear off a monomoleculer slice and catapult it magnetically or whatever at your target. Even if it were a container for smaller shurikens picked up by some sort of internal mechanism then the lateral circular feed would be a mechanical nightmare.

Actually at second glance it looks more like a wheel-lock design that something advanced. A more imperial blend of high-tech and low style.

As you've gone the single hand route with the 'kiss [which i very much like] how about the same for the pistol? Some form of more elegant vambrace similar to Asurmans? This would have the added benefit for freeing up the hands for all those acrobatic wonders and dances the Solitaire would perform both in rite and on battlefield?

Anyways my 2/c


....though as i look at your sketch again i see you've moved the whole mechanism on it's side, invalidating my incorrect point above. That said i think and integrated design similar to the 'kiss would add a very neat facet to the model. Particularly if combined with the sword(s) you've pictured in the brown sketch.

[swifty2]

The concept looks really cool mate, I can't wait to see the actual model.

[Azriel45]

this looks very very interesting. Your sketch work looks wonderful and i'm really hoping the model comes out just as nice

[malika]

You're going to sculpt the figure from scratch? This is so going to rule!!!

[Leonathion]

Id go either for a sprinting pose or a fight stance, a blank face (or perhaps a deamon, slanesh-face), lots of dathedi, try to replicate the current harlequins but hot it up a bit. Good luck, Im looking forward to seeing this through

[precinctomega]

Actually, I'm probably going to use Severina/Sevora as an armature. But otherwise, yes, I'll be sculpting the lot. It's not as hard as it looks. Should be a fairly straightforward job to sculpt: it's the painting that'll take the time.

@Hereticdave - that's a good idea with the vambrace-mounted shuriken pistol, but the character's raison d'etre, as it were, is to be a character that can move relatively unhindered through the galaxy - she's not supposed to be a straight replication of a battle-ready Harlequin.

For a previous example of my work, search for "54mm Dark Angel" in this forum.

[Whoever gave me the 5* rating, BTW, thanks.]

R.

[Ganymene]

The sketches look very promising.

I took a look at the Dark Angel and your skills are impressive.

One thing though, will she look like a regular harlequin, or more Slaaneshi as per the fluff?

I'll be watching this one.

[precinctomega]

The Solitaire plays the role of Slaanesh in the Great Masque and the model should reflect that aspect in a number of ways, including the choice of colour scheme. But she should still be identifiable as a Harlequin.

Let's just say that a blend of classic Harlequin, CWE, DE and Slaaneshi elements should hopefully produce a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts rather than swamped by them...

R.

[Monsterzonk]

Those sketches are really impressive. I'm exited how this will turn out...

[precinctomega]

You're not the only one.

R.

[Mer]

fantastic sketchs. im really looking foward to seeing this.

you have her with a katana like sword in your sketchs. will the model feature one? if so, id say mount it in a back sheath. adds to the traveler look i think. what will you be doing in the way of a backpack/pack?

[precinctomega]

Not sure about the katana. Whether or not it stays depends on the client. But you're right that a back-mounted sheathe would make sense in the context. As for the pack, I'm exploring a number of options.

One thing I really liked in my original sketch was the presence of spare masks. But my background studies suggest perhaps that Harlequins never remove their masks. And even if they do, the hallucinogenic nature of the masks would mean that they would only need one anyway...

I'm just trying to decide whether or not to let the story get in the way of a good idea.

R.

[Ganymene]

I'm just trying to decide whether or not to let the story get in the way of a good idea.

R.

As important as the story is, I would say: cool > fluff

Plus, stories can be modified and altered to suit different tastes.

I guess the client has the final say though.

[precinctomega]

New sketch:



The client wanted a backpack.

I also did another pose sketch for the client to have a selection to choose from so I can get started on planning.

R.

[thegrin]

Wow really fancy sketches u are one great artist! Love to see that model!

[precinctomega]

I'll be ordering the final parts I need on Monday.

R.

[[Glory] Wulf]

The scetches look great.
But I have one question: The Harlequin has her Shuriken pistol in the right hand, but the holster is also on the right. Wouldn't it make more sense if one of the two were switched to the other side?

Good luck building her!

[precinctomega]

You're right, of course. But actually, I don't plan for her to have the pistol in either hand. These sketches are very much for the "feel" of the character. What I think I'd like to do is have the pistol in its holster (wherever), the Kiss on the left hand and then either a katana or a spear (see first picture) in the right hand. I favour the spear, but it's up to the client, of course.

R.

[Hadriel Caine]

Hmm just posted on the Clave version of this...

I very much like what u just put in the last post - reference to the first picture is pleasing!

Adam