~ U.S. Armored Infantry for my 1/35th scale E.T.O.~

Modeling Subjects Figures and Misc.
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~I’'m just getting some elements going for an upcoming Diorama, the title of which at the time of this writing is " Beyond the Rhine " . As usual for me there will be a number of resin figures involved, from varied manufacturers, representing some variation in uniforms & equipment.

To say that clean-up & assembly was a breeze would be an understatement. Actually I think this is the best resin figure I’‘ve seen–even fitting both arms and the Garand with attached hands was simple, with keyed attachments for both arms, there was nearly no play, and after gluing the arms in place, the weapon/hands part can dry-fitted perfectly. I’'ll have this piece seperate for painting, and am using a small piece of clay to keep it in place here. The head is in place with a music-wire pin, and will likely be left free to turn until final placement in the Dio.

~It was really difficult to photo, as this is a extremely small detail on an uncoated part, but you can see that the hilt of the bayonet is actually drilled out to scale–a feature of detail I haven’'t seen before.

Another detail I thought was quite exquisite, was the complex Garand sling, cast as a seperate resin part, which easily fit in just the right spot.

Everthing was mounted-up on music wire ‘pins’ and sprayed with a few very ligth coats of Tamiya TS-3 Dark Yellow as a primer/basecoat

Next was a few washes of W&N #2 Burnt Sienna & then # 41 Van Dy ke Brown in White Spirits

Next went a thin layer of flesh-base made of #45 Zinc White , #44 Yellow Ocre, & #2 Burnt Sienna

Even a thin flesh layer makes those hands look less skeletal.

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Next up, is the man ‘Heading-up this operation’

What I would say is a very average resin 1/35 scale figure, From kit #1928 from Verlinden

supplied in an odd green material, with considerable(but normal) amount of pour blocks to remove and scraping & filing to get done----but I really, really love the pose—it reminds me of John Wayne in action (though I don’t recall him in the field in any E.T.O. based film—but lots of USMC roles in the Pacific–maybe I forgot one?)

The barrel of his M1 Carbine was mutilated as delivered, as I find is usually the case with Verlinden figures—I like them —they are great after you put the work in–but there is always plenty to do , judging from the several I’ve built. I scratched a new barrel from some appropriately sized drillstock, with gave me a perfectly straight barrel (for a change), with the drawback of having no way to bore it out–still, I liked the result and so kept going and made a new muzzle-lug and front sight using UV setting resin (don’t ask me where you’re going to find that)[:O] He also got a replacement head from Hornet.[Y]

I started the painting in the exact same way as the previous figure.

…and with the flesh-base…

and with another layer of flesh-base and some blended shadow & a 1st highlight

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~~The 3rd figure going into my Germany 1945 scene will be

Sold as “Sniper”, his Garand is fitted with flash-suppressor and cheek rest, but no scope! In fact some other detail is missing from the rifle including triggerguard & trigger. I may yet add details or replace it, not sure yet. The rest of his seperate gear looks very good, but I will likely replace his model 1918 ‘T’ handle shovel, it looks a little outdated I think.

The castings look Exactly like a kit from Warriors. I sense a shared manufacturing source. Most of the pour blocks are not a big problem to deal with, but the weapon is nearly impossible to recover properly—be nice if there was a scope there when finaly done!

Everything was prepared and painting started, again, same as above.

I’m really, really liking the stock head. Eastwood in my scene too?
I’ve got goosebumps [:(]

~~More comin right up…

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Next on the hit parade…this Good 'Ole Boy

Brand new release from a fairly new company(though I have a suspicion these guys are Tank’s Allied division–just a theory-the pour blocks look the same and Tank seems steadfast against releasing American figures…

The attachment points are smallish, andthe left arm came loose, with a hand missing the ring fingure—there’s plent of hands in the spares box, but still, for this kind of money…

Most of the casting is brilliant, really nicely proportioned and sculpted and cast—the arms are dryfitted here only–they fit that well! As you can see the head is moulded in place with a sub-sized cranium–I guess they figure it’s better to be able to adjust the ‘sit’ of the helmet than have the whole head seperate for painting. My major problem with the figure is the .30 carbine is too small–it’s out of scale with the figure unless he’s suposed to be HUGE–the .30’s not even as long as his arm–that’s not just foreshortening in the photo-it’s small. i used to own one and I know they are compact, but this one will not work for me, especially with the nice looking M1 gripped by my Verlinden figure… This guy has some really well moulded .30 carbine ammo pouches, so no changing his weapon. Likely I’ll change out both hands , those in the kit are nothing to special, and worry about arming him much later.

I selected some new hands for him from a Legend set and painted alongside

I think they’ll do the job by time they’re all finished. One thing, I always like to paint the hands as I go, so the end up matching the rest of the fleshtones–something often missed.

More updates to follow shortly…

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Using just the color in my basic skin palette, I’ve added some shadows & lights to these heads

Layer by layer…allowing up to a day in between for drying…

Fiddling around at length on some of the finer features of these still…

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WOW! American GIs… this is going to be great for me to follow your work. There’s no question one of your guys reminds me of the Sgt from Saving Private Ryan… Sgt. Mike (Tom Sizemore). I think he even carried a Carbine too! Let me guess you are planning to rename your diomara ‘Saving Private Indy’?

http://www.militarymodelling.com/sites/1/images/member_albums/41116/bevol4.jpg

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Adding some indication of the eyes goes a long way towards being more life-like. Adding a tiny amount of W&N #6 Cadmium Red Deep Hue to the light flesh color gives the color for the lower lip, with a highlight at it’s center.

And a bit of progress painting “Bob”

Now switching from the oils palette to Vallejo, I begin blocking in the uniforms base colors…

Just basecoats, nothings the right color yet–I tend to shoot for a medium tone to start–or to the darker or lighter side of medium for a little different effect. Above trousers are a mix of 894 Cam. Olive Green & 976 Buff–the jacket & putties 913 Yellow Ochre & 919 White & some of that Olive mix (to taste[;)])

The next two chaps feature the wool trousers, based with 873 US Field Drab with a little 967 Olive Green. You can see I’ve changed-up the tone of the O.D. on his gear as much as possible–by time it’s finished it will not look so starkly different but retain some contrast. The ammo bandolier was an item shipped as additional supplies , and coloured for the Marines in the Pacific–I painted it with a mix of Cam Olive Green , White, & some 925 Intense Blue. He wears the heavy winter coat that replaced the Mackinaw overcoat

These two also both have the later-style leather putties, and to base the leather I’ve used 819 Iraqui Sand with a little 873 (If I remember correctly)

Ammo belt & straps are painted the same mix for the 1st figures jacket,
with a bit more of the O.D.
I had planned to paint this G.I. with the the light drab field jacket, but when I went to do it thought it should be more a medium O.D. Now I’m thinking it whould be lightened, with only a light contrast to his gear, like the example below.

A good representation of a typical G.I. thanks to a re-enactment site(regretfully I forget which one and cannot credit the photos barrowed for discussion puposes only–no betting!)

Note the slightly different khaki tones which the modeller can mix ‘n’ match

Thanks for checking out the progress—We’ll get this attack underway shortly!

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~~[:P]Hee Hee Andy–yeah, he does look alot like ‘Mike’ from SPR doesn’t he? A bit like our friend M1 Carbine too, that’s why I’m naming him "Sarge’ and "Bob’ Sargent Bob, I guess…

Someone did sculpt that charactor quite on purpose

at least that’s who he had in mind(and in his reference picture)–there’s a great tutorial on sculpting a figure based on this one somewhere on Timeslines

Stay tuned, Buddy, lots more coming…

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Indy, you have got four figures with three different GI uniforms going there. Figure 1 is perfect for 1945, M1943 Field Pants and Field Jacket, OG-107 shade water repellent treated cotton clothes. Figures 2 and 4 are wearing HBT fatigue pants and Tankers jackets. and then figure 3 in M1943 combat boots, OD wool trousers and the M1941 Field Jacket. Depending on the unit you have a mixture of cherries and vets or different units in the same piece of AO. Units were usually equipped or re equipped with the same uniforms when they were pulled off the line. Just some thoughts.

So far your work is looking great as usual.

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I know Stick–You’re totally right—Like I said, I want to show varied uniforms & equipment as much as possible–It’s just too dull for me to want to have them all in the same gear–even if it’s a little bit of a stretch with some in winter coats–not too unlikely going into spring–units being moved around–some guys getting re-equiped, others not, still others being deployed in more updated kit.

~Anyway there’s going to be three different groups of men in this scene(not yet displayed in any way) There’s a few guys up on an M2 half-track, a few standing around the area, and a couple more who just rolled up in a Jeep

Doesn’t the 2nd guy back look like maybe the source of the S & T figure?

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Layering the Vallejo in layer by layer

The shadow colors used for the O.D. trousers(the trousers with the cargo pockets we’re always one O.D. or another) we’re layed in after an over-all dark green wash of Floquil enamel, accounting for the sheen seen below, after that step. Such a wash goes a long way towards revealing every fold and shadow area, but does not sufficiently portray the play of light on the fabric. For this I used a 1st shadow of 889 & USA Olive Drab & 894 Cam. Olive Green and a dash of 950 Black. The second shadow is 889 alone and it’s a very dark colour. The 1st highlight was straight 894 and the 2nd 894 & 978 Dark Yellow. The 3rd light is that mix with varried amounts of 919 Foundation White for any area directly hit with light (tops of folds)

Here’s what it looked like with just the wash:

The dark wash went along way to revealing the fine detail of the pistol belt. The ammo pouches recieved several layers of yellow-greens, and have a bit more to go.

The trousers above and the coat for the S&T G.I. are going through a similar treatment, but I haven’t had as much time to devote to them yet and they require lots more lights.

The bayonette scabbard shows the 889 USA Olive Drabs dark colour.

One really nice casting from Verlinden are these entrenching shovels–some of the best I’ve seen on that item. I painted in a like fashion to the above but used some Tesors Zinc Cromate enamel mixed into some Flat Green to get that faded look. The wood handles are painted in the usual way we’ve come to use for on vehicle equipment–a Vallejo base with oils thickly brushed over it. Later some traces of the issue O.D. paint with cover much of it.

The completed heads needed some detail work to thier headgear. Later I’ll add a bit more highs.

Some spare Hornet Heads I’ve also been painting along the way, including this dent in this G.I.'s steal pot, with came that way and I never wanted to repair it. At this point I’ve painted it into place for a little charactor.

Some reference :

Exactly what that U.S. bayo looked like–you can also see that the ammo pouch snaps are blackened brass

A good look at the texture of the steal pot helmet(note the silvery steal worn edge)

The pouch for the M1 .30 Carbine magazines

The famous flap for the M1911 .45

That’s right…you guessed it…more coming up!

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Indy, I really like your figure work. A meeting of elements sounds like a good way to blend them in. To be honest Ithing that photo is more the basis of several Tamiya figures from tehir old and new US infantry sets.

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A big Thank you Stick—

I see what you mean about that photo maybe influencing Tamiya’s artist too–except they’re too tall by thier standards–if ya know what I’m saying…Tamiya figures often seem on the small side to me…

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I’ve added the arms to ‘Bob’ in preparation of finishing his jacket

It has to be just a little easier to paint the coat prior to fitting hands, if given the option

These boys have come along quite a ways since last update

I’ve dry fit the heads to take a look, in fact they are pinned in an movable/removable and will stay that way all the way until final placement on the Diorama, in case adjustments are needed. Nothing worse than having the figure nicely finished looking the wrong way[:O]

I’ve painted both Riflemen with the field drab wool trousers using the 873 Field Drab as base, the shadows made with the 889 USA Drab (no black) --the lights with 919 White

The CD figure has his rucksack attached, but not his other equipment items yet. All the snaps.buckles, and bayonettes basepainted with Testors Flat Black (good 'ole square bottle)

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Most of the colour is layed in with our favorite ‘0’ & ‘00’ pointy round brushes, but for ‘drawing’ along the fine folds with highlights I like a 5/0 or 10/0 Liner brush

My palette keeps growing with each cloth attacked. I try to mix enough of 1 or 2 shadow & light colors to keep it around through the process. Other in-between shades are mixed on the go right on the tin.

More coming right up…

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I was working on on Bob’s (or “the Sarge’s”) “tanker’s jacket”

The base colour is 919 White, tinged with a tad of977 Desert Yellow on one layer, & 916 Sand Yellow on another. Any shadows done again by adding small amounts of 889 USA Olive Drab

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Figure 3, the sniper, the shade on his jacket should be the same on his as the the two wearing the tankers jackets. When brand new the jackets had a khaki olive shade but once worn and faded they went to a tan khaki shade. Only the guy in the M1943 Field jacket would stay in an olive green shade.

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Right–like the guy in the re-enactor picture

http://www.militarymodelling.com/sites/1/images/member_albums/41116/aagi10.jpg

You might like it better in this picture, since the others I got rid of the high-contrast, green shadow areas and brought it up to something less green and I think more in line with possible colors for that jacket, but I dont want it the same as the others in the scene.

He and his bud. both need some refinements to the uniforms still, and all the little details–but that’s really my favorite part of painting figures. Then fitting of hands/weapons before completing.

Trying to remember to save the boots for last–I’m always rubbing the paint off them otherwise, even when properly mounted on pins.

Actually, the 2 tanker’s jackets I have here are pretty different colors, as every example I’ve seen is different too.

!(http://www.militarymodelling.com/sites/1/images/member_albums/41116/tankers jacket.jpg)\

~back soon with more>>>>>>

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Yes. I own a bunch of that gear that I picked up surplus back in the days before the re enactors and reproduction gear. The jackets fade to a grayish tan shade with age and use, something along the lines of US armor sand 30277. the canvas gear keeps as yellowish hue as it fades. When new it is like Humbrol Ochre, but fades to something similar to Mid Stone (old shade). I stil have some of my dads old HBT fatigues. A very unique shade of Olive I must say. Your shade of od for the wool trousers looks great! [Y]

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Adam, that guys is the spitting image for Mike Horvath/Tom Sizemore, so much so that I decided to post it even before I Read through to where you said it.

No question about it.

Painting is coming along very nicely, too.

Keep it up,

Bill