¹⁄35

Sparrow

I always start with the kit and review it for a few things; assembly issues, accessories, setting issues, project integration and inspiration.

The Kit
The kit is typical VP. It’s well sculpted and the review for assembly reviewed no assembly issues. It was a standard resin figure set. Resin blocks on all the parts that were easily removed with a razor saw. The resulting ‘stumps’ were sanded smooth with a combination of a rotary tool and diamond bit and sanding sticks.

TIP: I make my own sanding sticks. I glue different grits of sandpaper to each end of a coffee stir stick. I try to keep the paper within one or two grits on each end of one stick. This makes use easier, start with coarse grit and flip the stick when you need finer grit. I put glue on the stick then simply place it on the edge of the paper. Once it’s dry I use heavy duty scissors and cut right up against the stick and I have my inexpensive sanding stick. Another nice feature of this is that I can cut the end of the stick to a fine point or any custom shape to get all the nooks and cranies.
There were not extras in this kit so I found that everything other than the figures was up to me. Oh well, I’ve got a large spare parts bin.

Setting issues were present. The way the figures stances were dictates the setting a bit. The figure with the white coat has his feet and legs in such a position that he must be set in a higher plane (looking down) at the other figure. The head, neck and arms of the other figure force a lower perspective for him. Unless you wanted to do major reconstruction on these figures this is forced. No problems, just creativity. There are plenty of elevations on a ship; stairs, railings, and rigging come to mind.
Project integration was easy. These figures are the basis for the project so everything will revolve around them. In other projects this may not be the case. Being pirates was inspiration enough. Especially since the movie Pirates of the Caribbean had come out a year or so before I started and the sequel was due out in the middle of the project. I have never done much in the way off a sailing ship so I wanted to test my skills with some sailing ships