Subject:  
Mayan Warrior
Men at Arms - 54mm

Model by:
Ian Dow
Pictures: R. Forys




[This is the Men at Arms 54mm Mayan Warrior white metal figure.]



The Mayan's were an ancient culture from the Mesoamerican civilizations.   They were very advanced when it came to politics, art, math and war.   A central city in the jungle formed a small kingdom with the leader being the supreme warrior.   Each kingdom was part of a whole kingdom or empire and all interacted independently yet together.   This was how many ancient civilizations were set up and to this day is how we run our states and the country.




[The figure was primed with Tamiya white primer] [It was then base coated with an acrylic flesh tone from Vallejo.] [I used oils to slowly build up the depth of colors that I wanted as shadows and highlights on his body.]



The figure is based on a Mayan Warrior of the time.   It is a Men at Arms 54mm white metal figure.   It was primed with Tamiya white primer which I find to be a very reliable and very fine pigmented primer.   It was then base coated with an acrylic flesh tone from Vallejo.   The darker musculature shading went into his arms and torso and facial features.   Another acrylic flesh coat was applied to lay the ground work for the colors.   From there I used oils to slowly build up the depth of colors that I wanted as shadows and highlights on his body.   His eye bands were painted with black oil paint so that it would retain the oily sheen often seen in face painting.   The clothing and shield were painted with Vallejo colors and then highlighted and washed with oils.





[I substituted photo-etch fern leaves to simulate feathers on the headpiece.]
The kit came with a feather headdress but this looked too thick and clunky on his head and the head piece is already fairly large.   I substituted photo-etch fern leaves to simulate feathers on the headpiece and tied it all together with fine thread to simulate a corded rope appearance.   The feathers were primed with the Tamiya primer and then painted with over 10 colors to simulate bird feathers.   Many of the colors are barely visible because they are subtly blended and are used only as transitional colors.   Each feather was given a slight bend and arranged from smallest to largest on the headpiece.   A small metal band was added to the Warriors arm from copper wire hammered flat and bent in a zigzag pattern.




[After the ground work was completed the photo-etch leaves and plants were added to give it a jungle look.]



The ground work was epoxy grout covered with dirt and stones and painted.   After the ground work was completed the photo-etch leaves and plants were added to give it a jungle look.   Overall the figure posed no problems and turned out very well.




[Overall the Men at Arms Mayan Warrior figure posed no problems and turned out very well.]