The foxes had already left their hiding hole underneath the lumbering old armor. The mother might be back next year, and new kits might again be running around, playing their make-believe war. But not before the rusty hulk of their home had added one more winter to its toll.

Until then it sat waiting, like it always did.

Like it had always done.

***

My version of the lovely Siggi bust from Mr. Lee’s Minis started its life as a would-be rust and chipping test, but the project quickly snowballed to a full-blown post-apocalyptic vignette. This required me to sculpt a human skull, as the former owner of the armor was now quite dead.

Other firsts for me were the landscaping work to make the surroundings appear as a northern European / Canadian forest floor at fall and trying to make somewhat presentable pine needles in 1/10th scale. The whole thing took way too long as I experimented with different ideas, but in the end it was great fun and I learned a lot.

I hope at least some of the feelings I tried to convey come through to you, too!

  • Matteo

    Weathering from another planet...I'm stunned! Great!

  • Blast Model

    Nice. Gold

  • girlpainter57

    great idea and great painting

  • DrLiche

    this is beautiful !

  • Herman aka Glitterwolf

    That's just awesome!

  • Roman LappatPLUS

    I love your approach on this one! Changing the bust to something so abandoned and yet beautiful! Adorable work!

    • Tapio SalminenPLUS

      Thanks! I'm glad you liked it, since one of my biggest inspirations for this project was your work "Memories II" from last year. I just love that piece!

  • Natalia Oracz

    Great storytelling - the vignette is very moody and atmospheric, love it :)

  • Josh_Underhill

    Great concept

  • Matt DiPietro

    Really interesting concept and well executed :)

  • Vladimir_Golubev

    Gold!

  • Tapio SalminenPLUS

    Thanks for the comments everyone! I really need to work more with basing, doing the landscape and foliage was especially fun in this project.

  • Jakob VPLUS

    Oh! This is really dark. Love it.

  • Poliakov_Andrii

    GOLD !