I think this is the lesser of the evils as it's only got 8 parts to the kit, but the sculpt is incredible, I hope my paint job does it justice.
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0021_zpsxqscqcex.jpg)
As always, anyhoo, opening the box you first come across the shield,
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0022_zpsjbh1qwvb.jpg)
It's big,
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0035_zpsu5pibxjd.jpg)
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0034_zpsufeigow1.jpg)
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0033_zpsssr6k5qq.jpg)
Then under the foam are the main torso,and arms
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0023_zpsg4b9edyb.jpg)
Under the next layer of foam are the hands, one holding the axe and the other holding the shield handle, sword hilt, shield strap.
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0024_zpsjjbmmvpx.jpg)
The torso it'self is lovely, the detail is amazing
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0036_zpsl7gkdixq.jpg)
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0026_zps1tr6vf2k.jpg)
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0027_zpsoybatmfa.jpg)
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0028_zpsaqicvlnb.jpg)
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0029_zpsfk5lnh9g.jpg)
And almost a dead ringer for Katheryn Winnick who plays Lagertha Lothbrok in the tv series Vikings, draw your own comparisons.
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/11c593d7197b0d9ea821e5bd1f4b182d_zpsg7d5sire.jpg)
The seams are minimal but some are quite awkward to get to, especially between the folds of the leather sleeves,
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0032_zps7oupzkmo.jpg)
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0031_zpsnjuuzw1r.jpg)
I had to use a mix of scraping with a number 10 scalpel blade, sanding sticks, sanding needles and my old faithful of a half round needle file.
The results of this afternoons labours are the torso cleaned up, removing the casting blocks are no real hardship, the resin is quite soft, only a few strokes of the razor saw removed them, cleaning up for me involves a coarse sanding stick, then a finer one (thank you Ultimate Products, they're excellent), scraping with a No.10 then 1200 wet and dry, I then drilled out the locating blocks and fitted brass pins to reinforce, the fit is such that the arms and hands can be painted separately then assembled, the joints are incredible.
![Image](http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u588/Bigusmickus/Viking%20Shieldmaiden/IMG_0040_zpsc4yyzw3q.jpg)
I hope to achieve a little more this week.
Mick.