This week saw me finally put the effort in to complete Steampunk Alice. All in all I am reasonably pleased with the way she turned out and how the various bits and bobs came together but there was room for improvement. I have also had a few other ideas so one day I might do this figure again.
What we have here is Alice herself along with a mechanical White Rabbit, both part of the same Twisted Miniatures kit. The mirror was a cheap Ebay dolls house purchase but a significant piece in the storyline. I used watch pieces for the name on the base and a few more as decoration. The playing card was just a colour print reduced in size. With hindsight I should have printed the Queen of Hearts so that’s a mistake down to me. I also wanted to get hold of a very small chess piece but couldn’t fine one and attempts at trying to make one were pitiful. I think both of these would have improved on the theme. The street lamp added some height and besides I had a spare one to use up! The clock was a last minute (sorry about the pun!) addition which I personally really like. It came in a packet She Who Must Be Obeyed bought at the local market a while back. The stall sells stuff that people who make their own cards buy.
To provide some perspective the surface area of the base is 4cm x 4cm. Surprising just how much can be fitted on an area of that size.
TIM
Great work. I want to listen to some Jefferson Airplane now!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Very appropriate. By the way enjoyed the podcast with IRO. 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks mate. It was good fun and I’m looking forward to hearing your interview in due course! 🙂😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I did too Warburton btw – nice to hear your hobby journey.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Mark—glad it was interesting to people 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s brilliant, Dave! 🙂 Loads going on in such a small space! I find that rabbit a bit creepy though! 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cheers John. Yes the rabbit is creepy. Athough I was never into the books or subsequent films I think it was partly because I found them creepy too, same with the Wizard of Oz!
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s come out really well, you’ve packed a lot into a small space and the whole thing is very clever. Not sure if the chess-piece would really have been needed, it might just have made things too crowded. The clocks, and the way things are spilling over the edge, makes me think of Salvador Dali (now there’s a diorama waiting to happen!)
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks mate. Dali’s work is awesome that’s for sure but how to replicate it is something else entirely I fear. Not sure I’m up to elephants on spindly legs so we can rule that one out. I did try to get a chess piece but the biggest problem I had was finding a piece which had a base to fit a square of the tiled board. I also had a go at making a Mad Hatter’s Hat which was also a failure. In the end I had more ideas than I could deliver but overall I was hapoy to stop where I did in the end.
LikeLiked by 4 people
That’s the best way really, if you have too many ideas to use then you can always murder a few darlings and pick the best, or at least the ones that fit best with the current project – and save the others for later. Some of my best ideas have sprung from things that didn’t quite work for the project they were first intended for.
LikeLiked by 2 people
at last i got time to visit, woah where did that idea come from, but i must admit with that alice model i can think of another scenario for her. Such a lot going on, its brilliant..
LikeLiked by 3 people
Cheers Steve. Was going to get in touch as you had gone quiet for as short while so glad to see you are up and running again.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes things have been rather hectic around here in a isolated way, but hopefully all will even out and we can pull back more time. Nice of you to think that though, very thoughtful..
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awesome mate, I have to agree with John, the rabbit is a bit creepy. There is so much in this it will take me a while to take it all in.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Cheers Steve. You and John are right, the rabbit certainly adds a sinister element to it that’s for sure.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cracking job mate – creepy AF rabbit aside, this is rather charming!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’ll take “Charming” but I bet that isn’t a word you’ve used on the blog very often! 😉
LikeLiked by 3 people
Very true 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stunning mate. The detail of the eye shadow is cool. I love the stripes, the mechanical rabbit and the lamp too. You’ve nailed the theme but there’s a kind of darker vibe to whole piece too.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Cheers IRO. I think there is a slightly sinister feel to the sculpts, especially the rabbit, which gives of a bit of an evil vibe. It was a fun one to do with plenty of creative options. One you could have fun with too. Alice in HellGate perhaps?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Mm not a bad idea.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Looks really good. Love the overall effect
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I keep saying this – but this is my favourite one yet! I think this shows you are getting better and better, not just on the painting and modelling, but the storytelling through these dioramas has been superb.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Dave really appreciate the kind words. 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dave, I have so many oohs and ahs on this piece – the eyeshadow is stunning (man that is unbelievable detail), the mirror use is so clever, the rabbit, the watch parts, and so much more. You have given Alice a menacing whimsy I think – pretty tough to pull off. And you definitely did. Thanks for sharing so many pics too – so much to take in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mark it was fun to do. So many more things I could have added if I had thought of them at the time but perhaps I’ll do another one at some point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is fantastic.
Cheers,
Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that. The sculpts are wonderful and your setting brings them together very nicely indeed. I’m continually impressed by how neat you are with a brush – you must have hands of steel to do such neat stripes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you like it. I would like to say I get the stripes right at the first attempt but there is usually a high degree of touching up!
LikeLike