Have got a re-cast

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Please help.

I recently bought what I thought was a Ral Partha Frost Giant, it was clearly marked Ral Partha and 1977 on the base (see my Blog). While starting my most recent work-in-progress post, I posted a photo of what I thought was the same miniature painted by the master miniature figure Joe Videki.  However now that I compare the Joe Videki painted miniature to mine I can see subtle, but definate differences in the painted miniature and my figure, differences that make it clear that they are different castings.

Can anyone explain if Ral Partha changed the master or produced different versions?

Regards

Tony
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/

[Svennn]

I dont think so. Heres an original catalogue image from around 1980


Strange that they are different though. If I had it in hand I could probably tell from the alloy used. Are the mould lines in line/ on the same plane? are there multiple mould lines?

Svennn

[Mancha]

No help from me, but I had to jump in to say that I love that Joe Videcki paintjob.  I used to have that miniature when I was young, which fact Joe and I actually had a chat about once.  Time to wander off and look up Joe's site...

[Cosmotiger]

I can't really answer one way or the other, but it doesn't make sense to me for a re-caster to make changes in the pose like that. It would involve a fair bit of conversion work. If someone was trying to make a quick buck copying an old figure and passing it off as original Ral Partha, it defeats the purpose to modify it so that it no longer looks like the original did. 

[Modhail]

Like Cosmotiger said, it's hard to tell without handling the figure.
It could be that Ral Partha had updated the figure at some point because of casting problems?
If a model had akward mould lines (like you described) or other casting problems, like sink holes, or wore out a mould too fast, these things were sometimes rectified before remoulding. Back in the day this was usually only done for high seller figures and wasn't alway announced to the public.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

The catalogue page is a great help - as the model I have is the one illustrated - you can tell from the slight turn of the head, the left hand and the position of the feet.

My question still remains - why is the Joe Videki giant miniature different?

Tony
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/

[dampfpanzerwagon]

To Mancha

The mould lines I have spoken about were very obvious running from the bottom of the beard, down the right side of the body and the right leg. On the reverse they went from the bottom of the hair on the left (as you look at the back of the figure) and through the animal skin hide.

I thought that they were very pronounced but I could see no signs of a second mould seam or any obvious proof of a botched re-cast.

One other point that I had not mentioned - the left hand looked mis-cast and I cut off a couple of bumps before filing smooth.

I would say that this is a lot of pre-preperation work for any miniature and I have not had any similar issues with any previous Ral Partha miniatures.

Finally - I am still pleased with the miniature and have no issues against the E-bay seller - it is just curious!

Tony
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/