Introduction
The 2007 historical fantasy film adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel 300, a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, broke box office records, yet also managed to divide critics over its look and style. While some chastised it for placing a greater value in visuals over characterization and its contentious portrayal of Persians, others revered it as a creative masterpiece.
Undoubtedly one person who felt this film was a masterpiece must have been Fausto Gutiérrez, the owner, designer and sculptor of Yedharo Models, as the movie has served to inspire the addition of 3 products to the Yedharo stable, namely two 1/10 scale busts and a 54mm figure.
Bu001 Spartan is a 1/10th scale resin bust sculpted by Fausto Gutiérrez with box-art by Jesús Martín. The figure represents King Leonidas, as played by Gerard Butler, during the early stages of the film when the plot is being set – possibly consulting the ephors or oracle.
The Kit
Bust Bu001 Spartan, moulded in a light grey coloured resin and packaged in an acetate blister pack with the bust’s parts in a small plastic bag, comes in a kit form consisting of the following three (3) parts:
Head;
Upper torso; and
Braided section of hair. The figure is well sculpted by Fausto Gutiérrez, which is complimented by crisp and generally clean casting.
The head is nicely sculpted, and using the King Leonidas gallery on the Internet Movie Databaseas a reference the sculptor appears to have captured the likeness of Gerard Butler quite convincingly. The casting is clean, with only very little clean-up required; a miniscule amount of clean-up is needed along the rear of the braid.
The torso is well detailed, and like the head is quite cleanly cast. The sculptor has over-exaggerated the Pectoralis major muscles, but I suppose that is a matter of opinion, and can be toned down during painting. The drapery of the cloak is realistically sculpted and folds gather realistically. The casting is clean, although there do seem to be a few minute holes as result of air pockets along the back of the cloak. These are not serious, however, and will probably simply be filled when the figure is primed.
Test fitting
The head did not fit to the neck as easily as I had expected. This was due to having to enlarge the recess at the base of the skull.
My first attempt in trying to fit the head had me trying to lock the head into place over the small ridge on the neck (see the photo titled “Torso (Overhead)” to the right). Unfortunately the front of the head could not then slide into place (see first 2 pictures below). The second attempt saw me seating the front of the head correctly, but then the plait would not go over the neck ridge (see pictures 3-6 below). Basically, no matter no matter how I positioned the two pieces, the two would not simply slide into place.
This was easily solved though. By gently trimming away the resin in the crescent cavity framed by the ears and braid (see the photo titled “Head (Base)” to the right), I eventually succeeded in fitting the head to the neck (see final 3 photos).
Conclusion
Despite the minor fitment problem, the sculpting and casting quality is right up there with the well-established figure firms.
This is a nice bust and, in my opinion, and excellent representation of Gerard Butler as King Leonidas.
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About Rudi Richardson (Tarok)
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