Ganging up on Tank Figure Painting

[Pavel]

Well, you can reassure yourself, not all German women were beauties, that's just how it turned out...

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Soon, Pavel, I will have the three other figures (men) done. They are as crudely carved, but maybe no quite so, uhm, unh... "plain"? What's a nice way to describe this Helferin courier woman?

[Herr Dr. Professor]

The four figures I acquired for my static FAMO are as done as I want to take them, as the carvings are crude. These figures are not weathered much at all because they are not in a combat zone, but are transporting documents. In fact, the officer has some shine on his boots. The enlisted man and officer are responsible for the Helferin because she is carrying top secret documents in her document bag. To get the driver to fit under the steering wheel at all, I had to break off the steering column, add a brass sleeve, and reinsert the steering wheel loose on its shaft. At least the driver has his left hand on a spoke (as if driving quite casually) and his right hand on the big lever.

Crew in seats.jpg (130.11 KiB) Viewed 831 times

Through the Windshield.jpg (152.84 KiB) Viewed 831 times

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Just to see if there is any advantage, I primed the Paratroopers (see above) in a medium gray; whereas, other figures I have primed in light gray or even white. The first steps on the faces (and hands) were three coats of Vallejo paints, mixed and slightly thinned so as not to bury the detail of these well-carved figures.

Faces 01.jpg (153.24 KiB) Viewed 831 times

The three coats are 1st Vallejo Basic Fleshtone, 2nd Vallejo Dark Flesh, 3rd 50% Vallejo Basic Fleshtone and 50% Vallejo Dark Flesh.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

It has been over a month. I chuckled at the photo above of four colors for the faces. I was last able to count colors at 11---and then I lost track. I can say this much: I have countless times opened and re-opened the base colors for the pants and jackets just to touch up slips of the #0000 brush or sharpened metal pin. I actually enjoy painting figures, but the learning is slow and requires patience. My patience is drug-induced.

The next step is the insignia: I need to do some more checking for accuracy of the decals I have. I am hoping to mark them for the 82nd Airborne. Photos will come, probably late this week or early next. Do not have high expectations.

[Rob59]

About the insignas, when you get to the iron crosses.
What I always do, is making a cross inside the molded one on the figure with a sharp knife.
You start with the silver paint ofcourse and when you start with the black inside, the paint will nicely flow into the cross you cut into it.
Good luck and a Merry X-Mas!
Rob

[HERMAN BIX]

Cool trick !
Thanks for sharing that one mate

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I will remember that trick, Rob, as any help I can get is, well, helpful. (But I don't think I will use it on these G.I.s. )
Sometimes on well-sculpted German figures the black center of the cross is raised. That helps, too.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

A few posts above, December 23, I noted that "I was last able to count colors at 11---and then I lost track." That was just for the helmets and faces. Once I got to the uniforms and equipment, I completely lost count of the colors and how many times I fixed up boo boos. Then the paper backing of a sheet of U.S. uniform insignia decals I had bought a few years ago refused to let go of the decals despite tricks I have learned over 60 years. I had to wait for some Peddinghaus U.S. uniform decals, and, fortunately, they were a better fit for size, too.

These two G.I.s are from the 17th Airborne Division in Belgium, 1944.

Two on Bluto 01.jpg (215.88 KiB) Viewed 500 times

Here is the Staff Sergeant, Third Grade (three up, one down)

One on Bluto 01.jpg (138.16 KiB) Viewed 500 times

And the Technician Fourth Grade (Three above a T)

One on Bluto 02.jpg (163.11 KiB) Viewed 500 times

"Bluto" on the M10 is Rad's stencil. (My Jeep is "Popeye")

[Ecam]

Very impressive work Doc! Those insignias are terrific and the laces on the boots are well done.