Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Source: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Brand: Geometric
Scale: 1/8
Medium: Vinyl
Release Date: 1992
Pieces: 4
Life Lost: 25 hours
Enhanced: No
TSF Rating: * * * *
So this is one of my older efforts from the late 90s and one of my earliest forays into figure painting. The kit is nicely sculpted with good detail and a very good likeness of Sir Patrick. The only criticism I have would be to do with the eyes, which were a little under-defined and the pupils are not quite right. If I had taken a front-on shot you would see he looks a little cross-eyed. Possibly with a little careful re-sculpting it could be corrected, if I had the inclination. The model does need revisiting at some stage, particularly in the uniform department...
Immortalised in vinyl with the pose and gesture that apparently Sir Patrick himself detested, this Geometrics kit is a fairly nice representation. However, the lack of undercutting in the cuffs, collar and open jacket betrays its age somewhat, and I can't help but wonder if modern molding technologies would have improved these minor picks.
While I was reasonably happy with the face, that result is completely over-shadowed by the horrid finish on the uniform. Believe it or not this has received several coats of matte varnish at various times over the last few years, but to no avail. For some reason it keeps going shiny over time and actually never seems completely dry. Hence it is one of my best models to attract dust with! Given that the only possible explanation for this is some kind of reaction with the vinyl (or mold-release agent) I am thinking the only solution would be a total strip down, scrub and repaint.
Not a great photo but I wanted to include this one because it highlights the sculpting. Although perhaps not 100% accurate the likeness is good enough that no matter how much I blundered my way through the painting of his face he could be recognised as the stoic captain of our beloved starship Enterprise.
All images property of The Starship Factory 2017.