Sooo tiny! :D How do you even work with things at this size! Any special tools required?
Regarding the hands, I don't think they distract at all. They're not just good reference, but when angled the right way it's part of the aesthetic too. In the recent one with the hook for example, it's like he's riding a wave, the centering is still perfect; the forefinger/thumb a suitable backdrop. It lives it up a little. In this case maybe it's not as aesthetic, but reference: definitely necessary. Think it'd have looked best with just the metal rod though. No clay pack.
-cd-