The Gweldar Range

Stage 1:

Well everyone here are the concept drawings and the first photos of the sculpt for the first of the figurines in the "Worlds End" range.

Here you can see the concept drawings for a bust of "Gweldar the Elder", one of the main protagonists of the "Worlds End" graphic novel. Alongside this is the initial head sculpt, whereby the sculptor is getting a feel for the character.

Concept Drawings for the Gweldar Bust - Design and Artwork - Tim Perkins

Stage 2:

The sculpt is by sculptor supreme – Sean Green, whose work has been seen amongst the war gaming fraternity for some years now working for companies such as Games Workshop and Rackham, amongst others. Tim first met Sean back when he set up Wizards Keep, after being put in contact with him by his friend and colleague in the comic industry, Carl Critchlow, and has been planning to hire Sean to work on all his "Worlds End" Resin Figurines sculpts ever since.

Gweldar Head - Front POV - Sculpting - Sean Green

Sean is pulling out all the stops to try to ensure the May deadline for launching the figurines range is met. Sean is in constant contact with Tim as they both strive to achieve the perfect figurine possible. We are sure you will agree these first photos showing the character are absolutely incredible.

Gweldar Head - three quarter POV - Sculpting - Sean Green

For those reading about the little character in the concept drawings and the photos for the first time here is a little information about him:

Gweldar is a kind and bumbling mage and can use limited magic. He has the ability to use more, but his memory is none too good. A common terminology used by him is to end a sentence with the phrase "…and no mistake!" He is what is known on his world as a "Mathemagician". His friend and familiar, "Geek" meet a young boy named "Ralf" early on in the story and the friendship they form is the basis for the team that must face the hordes from deep space that deem fit to invade their otherwise idyllic planet.

Stage 3:

Following on from Sean's initial work on the Gweldar head he then worked on it further until he had the finished likeness he was happy with, which he again then sent through to us here at the Keep for Tim's approval.

Sean also added the trademark long eyebrows to the character.

This further work on the head really did tighten things up and was immediately approved by Tim.

Below are the next two photos in this stage.

Gweldar Head - Front POV showing Eyebrows - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Head - Three Quarters POV showing Eyebrows - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 4:

The next photos Sean sent through showed a little more than just the head, this time we saw the beginnings of a body and the underframe of the arms as well.

It is incredible having now seen many other photos of Gweldar's developing structure that this basic endoskeleton becomes such a beautiful piece of sculpture later down the line. It is similar to seeing Tim produce really loose sketches and turn them into full colour paintings.

Gweldar Basic Body (Front POV) -  Under Structure of the Arms - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Basic Body (Three Quarter POV) -  Under Structure of the Arms - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 5:

Next Sean sent through photos, which showed the addition of the jewelled epaulet on Gweldar's right shoulder.

We also see the beginnings of the drape of the cape beading.

This was just to give an indication of size and style and to get approval so Sean could then go to the next stage in development.

Gweldar Basic Body (Front POV) - Epaulet added to Right Shoulder - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Basic Body (Three Quarter Close-up POV) - Epaulet on Right Shoulder - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Basic Body (Close-up POV) - Epaulet on Right Shoulder - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 6:

Next Sean sent through photos where the full figure had now been roughed in.
They showed both epaulets were now in place and the arms had been readied for clay to be added.

Gweldar - Body roughed in - Cape indicated - Arms ready for Clay - Staff added -  Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar - Body roughed in - Cape indicated - Arms ready for Clay - Staff added -  Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar - Body roughed in - Cape indicated - Arms ready for Clay - Staff Pieces -  Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 7:

The next photos to be sent through from Sean showed the beginnings of the right arm and hand and the sleeves to Gweldar's cloak.
As you can see the sculpture is now starting to take on shape and form.

Gweldar - RHS Arm and Hand added - Cloak sleeves taking basic shape -  Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar (3/4 POV) - RHS Arm and Hand added - Cloak sleeves taking basic shape -  Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 8:

Here you can see the minute detailing Sean added to the hands, in a series of close up photos, down to the knuckles, finger nails,
veins and skin creases.

Gweldar Right Hand Detailing - Holding Staff - Cloak sleeves taking basic shape -  Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Back of Right Hand - Holding Staff - Cloak sleeves taking basic shape -  Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Right Hand Detailing - Lit to show creases on fingers and palm -  Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 9:

The next photos Sean sent through were of a mostly bulked out Gweldar with most of the important bits in place, ready for final sculpting.
This was an important turning point in production.

Gweldar Front POV - Epaulets, cloak, hands and staff added - veins added to hands - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Three Quarter POV -  Showing details added - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Back POV -  Showing details to left hand sleeve and epaulet - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Close up POV -  Details to left hand and scale compared to Sean's Fingers - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 10:

Next Sean was asked to supply some photos to give a better idea of the scale of the Gweldar figurine.
Sean sent through two photos one showing the metric and the other the imperial scale of the sculpture.

Gweldar Front POV -  Full Figure showing scale using a metric ruler - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Front POV -  Full Figure showing scale using an imperial ruler - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 11:

The next stage of photographs that Sean supplied us with showed the addition of Gweldar's detailed sleeves.
He was now really beginning to take shape.

Gweldar Front POV -  Full Figure - Addition of detailed sleeves & Staff in hands - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar 3/4 POV -  Full Figure - Addition of detailed sleeves & Staff in hands - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar 3/4 POV -  Full Figure - Addition of detailed sleeves & Staff in hands - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 12:

The next photos we received here at the Keep showed the tops of the cape over the epaulets on Gweldar's shoulders with the jewels in place.

Now Gweldar really was starting to take shape.

Gweldar Front POV -  Full Figure - Addition of tops of cape over epaulets + Jewels - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Back POV - Addition of tops of cape over epaulets without the Jewels - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 13:

No sooner had Sean sent the last photos through to the Keep, he then sent this next batch in record time.
Tim had asked for a very minor adjustment to the shape of the cape over the epaulets making them more pointed at the base near the jewels.
The next photos showed some big changes in Gweldar, as the back of the hat and cape were almost finished in a very short period one night.
They also showed the beginnings of the detailing on the cape beading.

Gweldar Front POV - Reshaping & Detailing added  to tops of cape over epaulets - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Front POV - Reshaping to tops of cape over epaulets - Hat shape added - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar 3/4 Back POV - Hat shape added and strap behind ears - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar 3/4 Front POV - Hat shape & strap behind ears - Details to Cape Beading - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 14:

The next set of photographs showed how Sean had worked up the exquisite detailing on the cape beading.
Sean's attention to detail was incredible and showed every little crease and gnarly bit that Tim's sketches showed and then some.
It also showed the more pointed beading around the jewels on the cape.
There were also more changes to the detailing on the back of the cape and hat, as Sean excensuated the rendering.

Gweldar Front POV - Details and amended shape to Cape Beading - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Back POV - Details and amended shape to Cape Beading, Cape and Hat - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 15:

Later that same night we received an excited phone call here at the studio from Sean, telling us he was on a roll and had almost completed Gweldar.

Not long after the call he sent through this batch of photographs.

Gweldar Front POV - Details to Cape Beading, also the around jewels & Waistcoat - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Front POV - Close up details to Cape Beading, jewel mounts & Waistcoat - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Front POV - Details to Gweldar - Arm added to show the finished look - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 16:

Later that same night we received yet another excited phone call here at the studio from Sean, telling us he had run a test sculpt for the patterning
on Gweldar's cloak. The line work on the original sketch sent through to Sean was very fine and we had all wanted to match this design on the cape.

Not long after the call he sent through this close-up photograph of the potential design detailing.

It looked superb and was just what we had been looking for.

Gweldar Cape Details - Paper clip shown to gauge the true size of the line work - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 17:

The next day we received more photographs here at the studio from Sean.  Now he had added the eyebrows and moustache

and he had also added the final detailing to the Hat and Back of the cape to define the shape and form.

Gweldar was complete except for the final cape detailing.

Sean explained that if the detailing went wrong the cape would need to be worked afresh again.

Gweldar Front POV - Addition of Moustache and Eyebrows - New Eye Detailing - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Side POV - Addition of Moustache and Eyebrows - Almost complete - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Back POV - Addition of Moustache and Eyebrows - Final detailing to Hat - Sculpting - Sean Green

Stage 18:

The next day we received more photographs here at the studio from Sean.  Now he had added the intricate patterned design to Gweldar's cape.

Gweldar was now pretty much complete.

Sean explained that following his test piece for the pattern, he was fine with adding it to Gweldar himself.

Gweldar RHS Side POV - Addition of Cape Detailing - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Back POV - Addition of Cape Detailing - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar 3/4  Back POV - Addition of Cape Detailing - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar 3/4 Back POV - Showing Arm in position + Addition of Cape Detailing - Sculpting - Sean Green

The Next photos show the completed Gweldar sculpt.

We are all sure here at the Keep that you will agree that Sean pulled out all the stops for us with the Gweldar bust.

Stage 19:

Well you can imagine what the scene here at the Keep was like when we received more photographs here at the studio from Sean.

Now we were looking at the completed sculpture. A day or so later Sean hand delivered Gweldar so it would not be damaged, something

we did when getting it along to the manufacturers.

Gweldar Front POV - Completed Gweldar Sculpture - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar RHS 3/4 Front POV - Completed Gweldar Sculpture - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar Back POV - Completed Gweldar Sculpture - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar LHS 3/4 Back POV - Completed Gweldar Sculpture - Sculpting - Sean Green

Gweldar 3/4 Front POV - Completed Gweldar Sculpture - Sculpting - Sean Green

Grand Launching of the Gweldar Figurine:

We officially launched the figurines at Bristol International Comics Expo over the weekend of May 10th and 11th, which all went down a storm
and we will be adding more photos as the different versions come in from the manufacturers.

We are looking at launching:

• Unpainted Multipart Resin Kits for you guys to paint and convert as you see fit.
• Signed and Numbered Bronze Figurines (signed by Sean and Tim). These are limited to 5,000 pieces worldwide.
• Signed and Numbered Painted Figurines (signed by Sean and Tim). These are limited to 5,000 pieces worldwide. These are coming soon!!!

When the Figurines have all been manufactured, the moulds will be destroyed and there will be no more made.

Once the final pieces have been sold the Figurine will then be classed as a retired piece.

The detailing on Gweldar is exquisite and has to be seen for real to truly appreciate what a wonderful job of sculpting Sean has done for us. We can say with hand on heart these photos do not do the actual quality of the sculpt justice.

Please feel free to come back soon and check out the additional photographs of the various versions available to purchase.

All that remains is to say a very BIG public thank you to Sean Green, whose skills and professionalism enabled us to launch our Figurines range and to wish you all Good Luck and let you know we are looking forward to seeing what you do with YOUR Gweldar...

The Gweldar Bust will be available to buy, in multipart kit form, soon.

The Gweldar Bust in Bronze will be available to buy soon.

The Gweldar Bust Fully Painted will be available for pre-order soon.