I hope you are all having a good summer so far. Hammer fan that I am, this was a kit I wanted badly, sculpted beautifully by Chuck Needham and released back in 2012
by Vin Bordogna at Resin Crypt.
Designed to be a tribute to Ingrid Pit who sadly passed away in 2010, the concept came off the back of Stewart Jackson's incredible, one off sculpture that
he created as his own personal tribute. Vin had seen this and in discussion with Stewart, it was suggested that he contact Chuck and the creative wheels
were in motion.
Chuck's interpretation of Ingrid in her trademark gown is stunning, moving gracefully through the graveyard in a cameo scene from the Hammer classic,
'The Vampire Lovers'.
The composition is nicely designed, with the grave stones leading the eye from ground level, left to right.
SPOILER ALERT!!
For those that don't know the film, it's well worth a watch, not least because it also stars Peter Cushing. Ingrid plays the legendary Mircalla Karnstein.
The head stones are thematically designed to go with the story in the film, with Ingrid's being ancient and very weathered. Laura's stone is less weathered
as she's one of Ingrid's early victims, while the broken stone of Emma Morton is the newest and symbolises the vampire linage being broken when
Ingrid is finally killed, as Emma just about survives Ingrid's vampiric attention!
As some of you may know, Vin very sadly passed away a few years ago, but luckily the Resin Crypt catalogue was eventually taken on by Monz Design.
I had missed the initial release, so was quick to take the opportunity of getting the kit from Monz when it became available again.
Superbly sculpted and cast in 10 parts, the kit it also came with a memorial tribute scroll, completed with a vampire in its shroud as seen in the film,
draped in sorrow across it.
Very little clean up was required, after which everything was washed and then primed. The base is separated into three parts with the figure on the middle one.
I felt this was the weakest part of the design as it's a lot of weight to be supported by two very narrow joints. In the final assembly, I decided to pin the base sections
for support and then for extra strength, added a 2mm thick sheet of styrene beneath, spanning the whole base and making it one solid unit.
The stones and groundwork were pretty straight forward, painted with various greys and earth tones, adding each yellows and white to lighten the colours for dry brushing.
The biggest challenge was the star herself and how to deal with the sheer gown. Based on my earlier build experience on the Brink Stevens tribute kit, I used the same process
of painting the figure as though she was naked. This is quite difficult, as you have to visualise where the body would be beneath the fabric.
This was done using water soluble oils to allow for subtle blends as the drying time is slow. Once this work was totally dry, I then sealed it with matt varnish and painted her hair
and facial details. I painted her eyes glancing to the left, as though she's seen a new victim. The nipples on her modest bust are not sculpted into the surface of the kit, but I felt were
necessary for that see through illusion. I believe Ingrid was proud of her assets and certainly not bashful, I'm sure she would have approved!
The face and any other areas not beneath fabric were then carefully masked with Tamiya tape and kitchen towel and the gown was then airbrushed with a very dilute mix of smokey grey.
With the masking removed, I then painted the lace trim with black and shades of grey, while the folds in the fabric were done with the oils again and finished with pastels for the softer
blends and highlights.
Onto the final assembly, I attached her arms and hair details, then pinned and glued the base sections and the styrene sheet beneath with 5 minute epoxy glue.
A few gaps around the joints needed filling and while I had the putty mixed up, I blended the base support with the resin parts for a smooth transition.
Further painting and weathering was then required to bring everything together, finally adding grasses, moss and torn up autumn leaves from the garden for that overgrown, autumn
Hammer graveyard look. These elements were all soaked in diluted white PVA glue for protection.
A long journey on this one, but I'm very pleased with the final piece and to finally have this iconic lady in my Hammer display. Incidentally, if you haven't read Ingrid's biography, it's worth a look.
Surviving the Nazi concentration camps and jumping the Berlin Wall to escape Germany after the war, she certainly had a tough start in life before finding fame and fortune in film.
I've still got the memorial scroll to paint, but for now the kit is done.More pics over in the Museum, next build coming soon...!
Cheers for now,
Paul
