PETE RONCHI
Pete's a fan of classic Aurora Plastics Corporation model kits. He's gotten his hands on some vintage models, as you'll see. But unlike my other clients, Pete has me built and/or paint certain assemblies, rather than simply do entire kits. Whatever, he gets the work done that he wants and I have all the fun I want - which is why I'm in the hobby!
2023: I'm sorry to have to report that Peter J. Ronchi died in a senseless auto accident on September 4, 2022. Although we never met in person, we did have several nice telephone conversations. I'm sure his family and friends will miss him. R.I.P., Pete
Bases
Sometimes Pete only asked me to work on parts of a model. Here is a reissue of the classic Dracula kit, originally issued by Aurora.
Only Aurora's second monster model, the Dracula base was much more detailed than many of the other kits in the series. Smoothing over the mold parting lines for all the grass fronds and tree limbs is tedious, but greatly improves the model's appearance.
I always consulted with Pete to get his preferences on color choices. He wanted the olive drab green on the cobra that was used by James Bama for his original painting for the box illustration. Not the color for real Egyptian cobras, but the customer is always right!
Sometimes Pete only asked me to work on parts of a model. Here is a reissue of the classic Dracula kit, originally issued by Aurora.
Figures
Here's THE classic monster model, Frankenstein. It was first issued by Aurora in 1961, and the kit makes a comeback about once every decade.
Pete wanted a strictly out-of-box job done with this one, including following the color call outs of the instructions for the paint finish.
I also had to make a new holster for Illya's gun. To help ensure that the restored figure would rest on the kit base properly, Pete sent it along with Illya; but I was not to paint the base. Presumably, Pete finished the model himself.
Here's THE classic monster model, Frankenstein. It was first issued by Aurora in 1961, and the kit makes a comeback about once every decade.
Parts
In addition to assembling and painting the base of this reissue of Aurora's Dracula kit, Pete asked me to paint the head and hands.
I used Windsor & Newton artist oils to paint the flesh colors, with a wet-on-dry technique, much like drybrushing with hobby paints. Artist oils are also good for the most natural transitions between light and ark areas of the skin. And the heavily pigmented paints capture subtle details that other paints miss, like the slightly rough areas of Dracula's face, which look like pores in the skin.
Also responding to Pete's wishes, I tried to keep the blood on the figure as retrained as is could.
In addition to assembling and painting the base of this reissue of Aurora's Dracula kit, Pete asked me to paint the head and hands.