New Usagi Maquette (statues)

roel · Post by **roel** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 12:06 -0700

Here's some pics of a sculpt I'm doing of Usagi. It's still a work in progress with changes being done to him. I've never been really thrilled with the statues that came out so I decided to have it done myself with Stan's approval. I hope you guys enjoy the images.

This first link is how the sculpt looks like right now.

This second link is a comparison of the changes that I'm going to do with him. The changes were just quickly roughed in using photoshop. He'll have straighter ears, longer sleeves, puffier folds on the shirt around the waist area and bigger sandal straps.

This next set of images are the "before" shot, the "changes" and the third with a hat is an alternate I'm thinking of doing. I want the ears to be interchangeable with the hat. The colors were just put in using photoshop. I just wanted to see how he would look painted. The platform that he's on also might change. I'm planning to put some "Sakai" like rocks and dirt as the stand.

Thanks again and I hope you enjoy the pics.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 13:20 -0700

Fantastic job, roel!

So, is this going to be done insome quantity and commercially available for other fans of Usagi?

If so, I would be interested in ordering one.

Abayo....

PS
Can you provide any information on the materials and dimentions?

roel · Post by **roel** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 16:02 -0700

Usagi's about 7 inches tall.

In starting, I first put together some of Stan's artwork that I thought would best capture Usagi. I then figured out the height that I wanted him to be scaled at. Once all the measurements were done the wireframe starts to be made. The wireframe is like a skeleton to hold up the Sculpy otherwise he would just fall apart. He's made out of Primo and Super sculpy and once he's finished he'll go into the oven to be baked.

Once he's baked, the molding and casting is another skill unto itself. You need some degree of skill to get good casts out of the mold.

I Hope that answered your question.

chickrockguitar · Post by **chickrockguitar** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 21:10 -0700

Wow. That's great. I like the one with the ears best.

Can I ask... whats the brown bit around his waist?

roel · Post by **roel** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 21:54 -0700

The "brown bit" is the bamboo water container that he sometimes uses.

I'm planning on the ears and the hat as interchangeable items or maybe it'll be better just to do another sculpt of Usagi with full rain gear on consisting of hat, straw jacket and snow shoes.

What do you guys think?

chickrockguitar · Post by **chickrockguitar** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:45 -0700

Yeah. One with the hat and raincoat etc, and one in his normal gear!

Oo, and how about one with Jotaro! hehe just kidding. Kinda. Lol, Jotaro is my fave, next to Usagi

roel · Post by **roel** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:41 -0700

Actually, Jotaro is in the pipeline.

Jotaro will be done after Tomoe and Gen. I'm hoping Tomoe and Gen will be completed before this year is over. If people want me too I will post pics of them as well as they're being worked on.

Maybe Jotaro should be next since he'll be easier to do than the other two. Hmmm, I'll have to think about that now.

roel · Post by **roel** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:01 -0700

Steve, I don't think I fully answered your question earlier.

To answer your question, there are no plans to sell these. Stan gave me approval to make these for myself. Stan will definitely get a copy of course.

I've spoken to Stan about it and I might raffle one out in time for the 100th issue. I think that might be something pretty cool to do for the fans.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to do that I'm open to all ideas. That is, if people even like the maquette.

I've been in the movie industry since Star Wars episode one and I was planning on making these myself but i've just been too busy. I've employed a friend of mine to do these for me since he's a master sculptor and one of the best in the business. He's been sculpting since "Rreturn of the Jedi".

Here's a link to his website if you guys want to check it out. There's not too much to see right now since he's restructuring it but you'll get an Idea of how good he is. His name is Tony McVey.
http://www.menagerieproductions.com/

Do you guys like the Usagi maquette so far? Would you guys like to see more?

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:10 -0700

Hey Roel,
Thanks for sharing the pictures and details on the sculpters, and it is definitely fascinating to have such an "insider's" look at the work in progress.

It is a shame that there are no plans to make the statues in quantity, but the idea of a raffle for one is neat. Maybe one of the computer gurus can suggest how a raffle can be set up through the Dojo forum. The possibly of running the raffle through the letter column of an issue of Usagi Yojimbo (which would require more advance planning because of the length of the pre-press preparation until distribution time of the comic) would probably be difficult if you wanted to have it coincided with the 100th issue.

As far as more pictures, post all that you can! I know I love seeing them, and I'm sure the silent majority of Usagi fans do too, even if they don't say so.

Have you discussed the possibility with Stan of licensing the sculpters for sale, straight through the Dojo possibly, and priced high enough that Stan can get his percentage and you can at least finance each new statue?

I would definitely love to see the statues of Tomoe and Gennesuke, especially ones made available for sale, as well as another dozen of Stan's characters (easily) who would be great choices (i.e. Jei, Inspector Ishida, Chizu, etc).

The problem with the Dark Horse statues was a lack of demand to meet their order requirements to continue producing new statues (in my opinion, of course).

Even if these are never made for sale

, I hope you will continue to post pictures of each statue made both during construction and after completion. Of course, We want to see pictures of the finished statues.

Thanks again for sharing....
Abayo

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:16 -0700

Lookin' damn fine so far, although I'm still waiting for the news on Jei's statue...

chickrockguitar · Post by **chickrockguitar** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 14:33 -0700

roel wrote:Actually, Jotaro is in the pipeline.

Jotaro will be done after Tomoe and Gen. I'm hoping Tomoe and Gen will be completed before this year is over. If people want me too I will post pics of them as well as they're being worked on.

Maybe Jotaro should be next since he'll be easier to do than the other two. Hmmm, I'll have to think about that now.

Wow! That would be awesome if he was next!

And, are you SURE you haven't got any plasn to make and sell them

roel · Post by **roel** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 15:43 -0700

I've always wanted to see a Tomoe and Gen figure so if I don't do Jotaro next chickrockguitar this'll be the next two that get made.

Jotaro may move up to be the next piece though since he might be easier to do than the other two. In sculpting Jotaro I would actually be able to create 2 figures. The plan would be to sculpt a different nose thus creating a young Usagi as well. Then we could have Jotaro and young Usagi done. I still have to think about it though but I'm kind of leaning towards Tomoe as the next maquette to get made..

This is just the pose and something to give you guys an idea of how they'll look like.

Ben, Jei is definitely in my plans as well as many more to come. It'll just take awhile since this is all being done in our spare time which we really don't have too much of. My plan is to get 2 more figures made before the end of the year.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 17:48 -0700

roel wrote:Ben, Jei is definitely in my plans as well as many more to come. It'll just take awhile since this is all being done in our spare time which we really don't have too much of. My plan is to get 2 more figures made before the end of the year.

Cool. Take your time, by all means.

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:52 -0700

Awesome! Definitely looks better after the changes. Man, you have talent!

roel · Post by **roel** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:33 -0700

Here's the first batch that is being worked on right now.

This is the line up that I would eventually like to have done. This is only the heroes line up. I'll post the villains line up once I make it. I have another Star Wars sculptor going to start on another batch which tentatively will be lone goat and kid (with cart), Zato Ino, Kitsune, and I'm not sure about the last 2. Maybe Chizu and Jei or Kenichi and Mariko.