This is a project idea that I have had for a long time, but it has never come to completion. Thought I would share it anyway as it might serve as an inspiration for someone in search of a unique project.
I have always been interested in mining, in particular the prospector of the 19th Century. Living in Colorado for 16 years, I even tried my hand at some amateur prospecting (an amateur it was). As I became interested in 19th Century figures, I thought it would really be fun to create a prospector with all his various equipment (gold pan, shaker, sluice box, etc). Well, I didn't get too far on the project, but eventually I will get started on it once again. Here is what I did get done.
First of all, let me point out that donkey. My good friend CK2 made that donkey. He started with a Best of the West Pony, changed the tail, and re-sculpted the head, ears and main to create a really nice looking donkey. It only needs to be painted (and guess who was assigned to get that done - guilty as charged). The prospector started life as a 21st Century toys mercenary figure. Faux Fur hair was added. The face got a paint job and finally glasses were created using floral wire and a special glue created the glass.
The shirt originally came on a barbarian figure. The pants were from a Joe figure. Buttons were added to it to attach the Battlegear Toy suspenders to. That gunbelt is a Battlegear product as well. The hat was a felt one that I found at Michaels.
Here's a closeup of the head; you can see the hair a little better in this shot as well as the glasses. I don't know that I will ultimately end up using this particular figure in the finished project, but it is a pretty good head for a grisly old prospector with the modifications I've done. He has that "stay away from my gold" look about him.
Here's a closeup of the donkey's head. It is really a nice modification and it looks nothing like the original Best of the West piece, it well...looks like a donkey. CK2 did a beautiful job on it. I have since acquired another one of these pony figures and could probably make a second donkey following what he did on the first one. It would be kind of cool to have two donkeys for my prospector to lead through the high country. Below is another shot for inspiration.
I kind of have to believe that this shot was done just for fun. If not the prospector probably blew both himself and this beast of burden up before they got very far. Still, there are some interesting things about the load, shovels, rope, explosives and what looks like some cooking utensils. It's a pretty funny photo. The one below is a lot more plausible.
And on the note, that's all for this week. Sunday night we will head off in a different direction. Until then, have a good one!
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