My US infantry Omaha beach+how to make GasMask bag?

Modeling Subjects Figures and Misc.
1

Ok, well heres 6 US army infantry (tamiys 1/35 assault infantry) If they look rough, its because they were primed with sandable auto primer, painted in water based craft paints and terriblee frayed brushes. Not to mention, they were completely painted over, since they originally were painted wearing the dark green M-1943 field jacket, but I had to repaint them to give them the M-1941 field jacket (khaki) when I decided to iuse them for my upcoming Omaha Beach Diorama. So, any suggetions, comments, advice, criticism? I didnt put much time into faces, since you wont see their front anyways, they will be covering behind Czech Hedgehogs barricades on the beach, plus I have TONS more figures supposed to be here by saturday, so Im going to have tons and tons more to paint.

Lastly, does anyone have advice on how to make those plastic black waterporrf Gas-mask bags worn around the neck that were used by US infantry and rangers storming the beaches? any ideas would be greatly appreciated, and also any ideas on making gun slings and helmet straps? mine are made of painted tinfoil strips, and dont look too great. Thanks for looking!

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2

To answer your questions

  1. To make the Gas Mask bag. You can use one of two methods. Either use Two Part Epoxy Putty (Milliput or Duro) and sculpt your own. Or use a surplus small square kitbag. You can leave some off of figures as these were an item that was quickly ditched.

  2. To make your rifle slings and helmet straps. Tin Foil tends to be too thin (In my opinion) it does not hold its shape well. I use foil from wine bottle tops, or pudding containers. If you search through the previous posts with the search section you will find several good posts on exactly how to do these.

  3. As far as your figures. If you are building this as large as described, you’re putting in a lot of effort, but you painted over previously painted figures without stripping them. If you were to strip the paint off first then add your primer and re-paint, you will not only end up with the correct colour but better looking figures and a well executed diorama.

Just a suggestion.

Cheers;

Gregory

3

I thought those black bags were life preservers?

4

If Im not mistaken, although I very well maybe be, the black bags were not life vests. Altough, both items were issued to US soldiers on the D-day landings, along with arm bands treated with chemicals that would change colors in the presence of deadly or poisonous gasses. The black bag was a waterproof plastic bag for gasmasks, and the vest was a flotation device, among other uses, however both were ditched by many of the soldiers, the vest for its weight, and the bag just because it was one more thing to hang on to. Please correct me if I am wrong.