Archibald

Next up is Archibald.  I've had him blank for over two years, and almost sold him a couple of times. But I finally got an inspiration for him and had him painted.

I had always envisioned him as a Wizard, and have decided to make his outfit a miniature version of the High Aldwin from Willow. My sister and I made a High Aldwin figure years ago, and unfortunately I had used carpenter's glue to attach his beard, and the glue has yellowed over the years. I have him standing in my work space for inspiration...

   I never liked Archibald's huge, over-size, magnetic hands (which kept falling off) so replaced them with a set of articulated ones that are hooked right into his stringing. Now his hands are the same size as everyone else's - and no longer fall off.  I didn't realize that his feet were magnetic as well, until I made him some tights and tried to get them on.  His feet kept falling off so they'd be dangling separately in the feet of the tights.  It drove me crazy, so I just glued the magnets closed. Problem solved!

At this tiny scale I needed fabrics that would drape (or crinkle) properly, so I ended up using a rough, knobby silk for his robe. His cloak is the same fabric I used years ago for the original, and I'm using ultra-suede instead of leather for his collar. ​His feet are currently wrapped in plastic so I can make his shoes.

 I had been stressing about how to make his white hair thin enough but not show the brown wig cap I'd made, then realized a white wig cap would have been better - duh -  so made one the other day.  The brown cap will get used as a base for his hat with just a bit of hair attached.  I figured that would keep bulk down, as opposed to making a hat that fit over his wig.  He already has a huge head, and that would make it even bigger, so I'm trying to minimize it.

I'd really like to get him done this weekend, but there's a LOT of tiny, fiddly work ahead, plus a wig and beard,  so we'll see. 

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