King Kong by Jim Gorman, Webbhead Enterprises

Here is a nice resin model kit I picked up on eBay that was offered a number of years ago by Webbhead Enterprises. The box art is to the right.

This sculpt is by James Gorman and represents more of a movie poster version of Kong as opposed to an actual representation of the giant ape. The kit is pretty straightforward with only six parts and stands a little over 13 inches tall when completed. The castings were completely free of seam lines and/or bubbles and went together very easily.

I happened to see a 'bronzed' version of this kit built up in Amazing Figure Modeler (Issue #34) that really looked nice (and different) so I thought I would try my hand at it. The bronze effect is achieved by a product called 'Run n Buff' which when applied is, well, rubbed and buffed to give the object a metallic finish. Like the Amazing article, I decided that Kong would have a bronze like finish and the other objects (the bi-plane & tower pinnacle) in pewter. Unlike the article, I thought I would make the Ann Darrow figure in natural colors as a contrast along with a few decals I scrounged up for the bi-plane to balance the scene. I used the dry brush technique on my Kong which I previously painted flat black paint from a rattle can and let cure over night.

A word about Rub 'n Buff. This product comes in several colors, all of which can be buffed to look metallic. When I heard of it, I really hadn't any specific project in mind so I ended up purchasing a sample box on eBay which has 12 colors in tubes about the size of your little finger and runs for about $34 (shipping was free from my seller). Most of the colors are metallic in nature with several shades of gold, pewter and metallic black to name but a few, Clean up is easy with paint thinner and application is pretty simple. Bare in mind that this is a WAX based finish so if you want to apply an overcoat of some kind (like a decal), it may not adhere very well. I had to prewash the Rub 'n Buff surface with isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) to get my decals to lay down. If I didn't, they would just curl up on the surface

Anyway, I've very pleased with this finish and I'm thinking of giving other kits I've yet to build the 'bronze' treatment.  SOLD!

Click image for a larger picture & slide show.

Click image for a larger picture & slide show

Click image for a larger picture & slide show

Latest comments

18.07 | 20:43

Speechless, And I am really speechless.
Incredible work. I am glad we could provide you with a grail

11.07 | 11:41

Great job down to the last detail!

10.07 | 16:36

Thank you, Addis, I estimate it took me around 100 hours to complete.

10.07 | 12:24

Terrific work...must've taken quite a while for you to complete...very good detail!!

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