All 8 vignettes were built by “Joh”. There are 31 pictures total but I’ll post just one picture each so that it won’t take too long to load this thread.
Index picture:
Now the vignettes.
“Soviet Spetnaz (Kandahar 1985)” :
“German Infantry (East Prussia 1945)”:
“British Paratroopers (Holland 1944)”:
“U.S. Army Anti-Tank Teams (Guam 1944 & Berlin 1945)”:
Joh’s “randomly placed mediocre” figures look pretty good to me MM. Thanks for taking the time to post, there are still some of us that enjoy looking at other peoples work here. Its too bad the bazooka dudes shoelaces are the type made from a special synthetic fiber that we all know wasnt created until the late fifties. [;)]
Except for all of the same problems with any of Joh’s (or any of MM’s other “builders” for that matter) models - lack of basic techniques - mold seams not removed, seams no filled in, poor color choices, no research (US soldiers in the battle of Berlin 1945?). If MM were actually doing the building himself I could offer constructive ways to help him improve, but as proven above, MM doesn’t even acknowledge any replies except atta-boys on what he has purchased. I enjoy looking at other peoples work too, just not at someone who appears to brag about "look at these wonderful models that I just purchased. And before you start in as in another post, yes I know there are all levels of skill on this board and I do believe that all are welcome here. Just if you post something on here and say comments welcome be prepared for comments not just “good job” - there are a couple of other sites who’s forums are that way.
Now I am sorry but I honestly disagree with this. I have seen MM on several occasions make the comment “i’ll pass that along to my builders” in his threads. I have even seen him post tips from his builders on other peoples threads trying to help others on the forum. It just seems to me that often a certain group of people are just ready to jump MM for whatever due to eitehr the fact the he is a "buyer’ and not a “builder” or some type of personal distaste for his personal issues such as his deal or “indentured servitude” as others here have described it with his builders.
The same group of people are extremely quick to jump in on MM’s threads when there is something glaringly wrong, but, you dont hear from them when something decent comes from some of MM’s builders. I mean, if your going to offer someone your opinion on something, do it all time, not just when a modelling error presents an opportunity for a grilling on a person which you just happen to dislike.
Thank you so much for both of your posts here, Jester75! Because there are people like you that I keep on posting here though I have found a better, friendlier site. I also believe that the majority of people here have fair mind and think the same as you. Some may not want to speak their mind out like you did. Thanks again!
I enjoy looking at MM’s purchases, models, or whatever you like to call them. Some are better than others, but they are all nice to see. The same can be said of just about everyone that posts their own builds on this site… some are great, some not so.
I can do without Gino’s predictable bashing of the builds. That gets old.
Agreed no research. It’s simple as asking the forum. Painting camo on a US Army uniforms doesn’t depict a US Marines in Guam. Army and Marines have different cut in uniforms.
Then you might want to avert your eyes when you see Gino’s avatar turn up. Gino’s “bashing,” as you call it, honest critique is really more like it, is nothing that isn’t well deserved.
Lighten up, Francis. If you don’t appreciate honest criticism, don’t read them, MM doesn’t seem to. As I said though, they are not intended for him as they will fall on deaf ears.
I have said it again, bears repeating… I do like READING the critiques of MM postings, since I learn a lot from the mistakes that are pointed out…
Here are some true questions I had when looking at the figs, with the pre-amble that I have yet to complete a fig but I know it is a technique I must learn:
random placement - what makes it “random”? To me, seems some figs in the same vignette are acting “hurried” (under fire?) while some are strolling along. Also seems all figs are placed symetrically; that is, same distance from each other… this placement seems…not-random and forced… you agree? why yes/no?
no “shadows” or areas of different light intensity on the uniforms; should they had been washed with some dark counterstain? Or maybe dryrbushed with a lighter shade of the uni color?
“Stuff under the boots”; I see space and “stuff” between the sole of the boots and the ground. I assume that the same way you want your A/C and AFV wheels flush against the ground, you want boots solidly on the ground? Or if you pose a fig striding, have a heel make contact with the ground simulating walking?
i see the seams, specially on the weapons… I also assume that I should bore out the barrel of any weapons I place in figures.
The grass in Kandahar and Bazzoka team looks like a noodle bundle; should the grass point downwards and at least appear to have “roots” in the soil?
Anyways, those are my “figure newbie” honest and objective observations for what is worth…
I agree. Many figure model kits have various poses and sometimes it doesn’t look good together. AI build it OOB and and builds everything in the box even though it doesn’t go together. The only research material he has is the instruction and box art.
Agreed.
These are many things that modelers from here and other various modeling sites have told MM to fix for many years. If you go to his site and look at the first models you will see that it has the same errors. He has the same modelers for years. Problem like seams, injection mold marks, bent gun barrels, no weight impressions (specially snow), silver decals, models in the wrong time frame, unit in the wrong place, vehicle in the wrong theater, not enough rubbles in destroyed buildings, wrong color of vehicle, wrong title, model put together wrong, and goes on.
I do appreciate honest criticism. For me, that is not the issue. In fact, the critique offered on MM showpieces is quite useful to anyone who looks through the thread.
My problem lies with predictable comments like, “same ol’ MM: it’s crap.” That does nothing to help out the OP or anyone reading the thread. Further, if you’re going to post something like that, which by your own admission is not even directed to the poster himself, then why even bother? I’ll agree with Jester, and say that those comments do nothing but take a reader’s focus away from the builds.
Wow! your second paragraph is the best and greatest comment I’ve ever read on this entire Website! And I just can’t agree more. You’ve made my day, I just can’t thank you enough!
Thanks so much, Jester! You’re absolutely right! Those bullying and boorish comments can never ever be interpreted as “honest critique” in any way. They are borderline harassment as you said, made in an astonishingly uneducated fashion!
