Pirate Scene Part 1

For a while now I've been planning on placing Redghar and Barbarela into the same scene, along with one of the monkey's from the Black Sailors line.  As I've almost finished painting the two main figures, it was time to get to work on the base.  Obviously it'd be best to start the base when I started the figures but, since that clearly didn't happen, I had to figure out some other ways to plan out the scene.  I knew roughly how I wanted the figures to be positioned together and, after a lot of brainstorming, I decided the scene would be a pier.  It worked with the grouping and their poses.  The rough idea is they just got off their ship and are about to walk into the town and see what sort of trouble they can get into.

In order to design the scene, I placed a piece of paper over a large thick piece of cork.  That allowed me to take the figures and push the pins in their feet through the paper and into the cork, holding them into place where I wanted them.  Then, I could sketch out the scene.  Overall size of the base, shape of the pier, etc.  I also marked down the characters outline for future placement reference.

I got some very helpful advice from Roman Lappat on the composition of the base.  Basically how to arrange the main support posts to create some asymmetry and also some height variation.  While those details aren't in my sketch above, they resulted in some changes made during the construction.

To build the piece I picked up some dowels and basswood strips from the local arts and crafts store.  I decided to go with basswood over balsa wood as it is a bit stronger and would make the base less fragile in the end.  After cutting pieces to the desired length, I went in with a hobby knife to carve them up, chip and distress them, etc.  Basically I wanted no smooth edges or sharp corners.  Slowly, the piece began to take shape.

I placed pins in the major joints as well to provide more stability to the piece.  I left them showing as I figure the pieces would be nailed together, so I can paint them that way when it's done.  At this point, the supporting structure is almost done.  I still need to distress the right front dowel and I'll probably add some other posts next to it (tied on like the ones on the left).

To get an idea of how it will look in the end, I placed on some planks and some of the accessories which will help to finish off the scene.  The planks will be distressed just like the rest of the structure.  But I won't get to those until the supports are done.  Once the planks are glued in place, I'll be able to add the pin holes for the figures and finally see how the scene will look with them in place as well.  Hopefully all the planning pays off!