FACTS & FIGURES - New releases for figure fans

摘要

The UK-based mail order firm of SK Miniatures has over the last couple of years been expanding its range of kits and is even into producing its own label kits. The latest is a 1/9 scale bust of the Blackfoot Chief Bear Bull - Photos 1 & 2. This has been mastered by Nelly Auffret (a name new to me, but from this effort one who needs to be kept a close eye on, this is a first class talent) and then cast as a one-piece resin casting plus a number of white metal parts for feathers, braids, etc. Worthy of special mention is the way in which the beadwork has been meticulously sculpted on the buckskin shirt. Of course, being me, I wanted to know more about this chief and did he actually look like the sculpture? In fact, on Wikipedia there is a Daguerro type of Bear Bull taken by Edward S Curtis, the famous early American photographer who spent much of his life photographing the Native American tribes before they were gone forever. And, yes, he does have that strange topknot. For further information I consulted Michael Johnson's superb 'The Native Tribes of North America' as published by Windrow & Greene in 1993. Ernesto Reyes has painted the box top example and a fine job he has made of it as well, I only hope that I can emulate him.