Completed Belgium Bravery

[Nap]

Hi everyone

After a new member recently joined ...Mario , username: marco14 , he shared details of his great grandfather in WW2 whilst involved in the resistance movement

Also the medals held at a museum

There are 11 being worn but 9 in the actual display .......more on this later

NOW ! ....my brain starting thinking so after conversations with Mario I knew someone who had a suitable donor bust ...namely Mitches Harry Patch .....but it would need some rework ....so......in came Jimbo "Legs" Evans who reshaped the face and collar and then sent it to me

Talking a lot with Mario , I then did a bit of puttywork reshaping the hairline and the throats alongside the mouth shaping

After all this work I was ready to add the ribbons ....but .....there's a slight issue ....the donor bust has thinner lapels so I needed to make them larger ....as per picture reference this will allow the ribbons to sit as in the reference

....that's where we are ...waiting for the basic shaping to fully harden I will need to order milliput to infil to get final shaping right and then add the noticeable edging

...then and only then can I add the medal ribbons

Piccy SBS ( eyebrows now removed )











Our subject also wore glasses in the picture similar to this



The start .......



Stay tuned references for medals to follow !

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Panzer22]

hi Nap,
interesting project,
you are right he must have a sturdy jacket for all those medals !
will follow with interest

 

[Nap]

Now to the medal references ......

but firstly a BIG THANK YOU to Pierre ( username : akaryu ) for his invaluable help and patience with my questions

As stated before there are 11 on picture but only 9 in the display so the x and y are the ones most likely after much checking by Pierre



Actual position being worn ( not as per regulation )



Details of medals

1 Commemorative Medal 1940-45

2 Medal for Military Combat

3 Veterans Medal of Leopold III ( faded ribbon )

4 Veterans Cross of Albert 1st ( Incorrect ribbon )

5 Common Medal of Albert 1st

6 Albert 1st Veterans Association

7 Medal for Armed Resistance ( faded ribbon )

8 Remembrance Cross ( Veterans Association Albert 1st ) ( faded ribbon )

9 Labour Medal

X Military Medal for Distinguished Service **

Y Medal for Military Service **

** Educated guess - Unable to 100% confirm these **

ALL MEDALS WORN




ACTUAL POSITION ON JKT

Top line



Middle line



Bottom line

without palm

Looking forward to painting the ribbons

Will update soonest

Al comments/suggestions and thoughts welcome

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[NigelR]

What an amazing project Kev. Lovely idea and off to a fantastic start, bravo!

 

[marco14]

This is so nice to see , my great grandfather :the man 'That I love' so much............ they say.dreams can't be come true,but now there it is...........after all this time
he was a very kind and brave man, he told me a lot about the war when I was young and I never forget his story's , I can say so so much about him but this is not the place
to do it.

Im absolute looking forward for this when it arrived here with me at home a special place for a special man.

This must absolute not easy but im already so happy with this result and it's going to change a lot,thank you Kev for this great idea ,it makes me feel good,after a lot of stress

Absolute I gonna follow this,if my mother going to see that,she is absolute going to cry

Mario

 

[Oda]

Totally love this.A just homegae to a freedom fighter.Will follow with interest.

Oda.

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the comments

Worked on the lapels , waiting for them to dry then sand and tidy up and detail edges

I would appreciate any thoughts ref them

Thanks for looking

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Historex Rob]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the comments

Worked on the lapels , waiting for them to dry then sand and tidy up and detail edges

I would appreciate any thoughts ref them

Thanks for looking

Happy benchtime

Nap

View attachment 464870

They look good to these eyes.

Now, you are like me… always waiting for putty to dry.

 

[MCPWilk]

Interesting to see how medals are worn in different countries.

Mike

 

[Nap]

Interesting to see how medals are worn in different countries.

Mike

Indeed Mike , although as I said this is definately not as per regulations but it matters not ...variety !

Nap

 

[Nap]

Just finished putting the edging on the lapels

Time to wait till fully dry and I will carefully sand back a touch ....

then it's the top row of medals



Stay tuned

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[KenBoyle]

Marvelous work and a wonderful tribute!

Cheers,
Ken

 

[Nap]

Marvelous work and a wonderful tribute!

Cheers,
Ken

Thank you Ken

It's difficult to be patient waiting for the putty to go fully off !

Those medals are calling ...lol

Nap

 

[marco14]

this is feeling great and Every time you see the changes ,what you can do with a bust hé, I think a ot about my grandfather,
It's not going out of my mind, it's like there is falling a package from my shoulders
Thank you for your hard work Kev and for everyone who show respoect for him,thanks

Mario

 

[MalcC]

What a fantastic project on a hero.
Well done Kev and Jimbo.

Malc

 

[Nap]

What a fantastic project on a hero.
Well done Kev and Jimbo.

Malc

Cheers Malc

Just finished putty work on the stitches in from the side "V" on lapels .....time to leave alone and dry ...tommorow it's the ribbons

Off to Tirpitz ....

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Nap]

A good nights work yesterday so.....

Happy days ....stitching has all dried ...so bit later it's off to the ribbons I go !

Going to pencil in the positions first before mixing putty

Got the base sorted and a idea for the plate

Tirpitz is also looking good !

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[NigelR]

Very impressive Kev!

 

[Nap]

Very impressive Kev!

Cheers Nigel

It's ribbon time ...he hah !!!!

Nap

 

[Joe55]

Cheers Nigel

It's ribbon time ...he hah !!!!

Nap

Someone is having a lot of fun with this!