Completed 54mm Verlinden Kradmelder, Sicily 1943

Von Luch · Jan 14, 2010

This figure was found in my parts bag. I loved the sculpting and pose of this armless, headless body. I wanted to create a casual pose. The original pose had him holding a map and pointing, rather boring IMO. I found two arms from my Dragon kit titled Feldgendarme. One of the figures is shown with his hands on his hips. I thought that would be cool, so I used them. Being that the Dragon arms were a slightly smaller scale, I would have to do some work.
The first set of pic's show the figure disassembled and the start of the assembly with first the arms, ammo pouch, map case, goggles. Lead foil was cut to scale for the shoulder bords. That's all for now.
More pic's tomorrow!

Jim

mil-mart · Jan 14, 2010

Jim, Neat conversion, looking forward to the painting. Is it going to be a single figure or a vignette.

Cheers Ken

housecarl · Jan 14, 2010

You've created a nice casual pose, like it.
Carl.

Von Luch · Jan 15, 2010

Thanks Ken and Carl for your compliments, much appreciated!
Ken, this will be a single figure display. I thought about adding a motorcycle, but didn't have enough time due to the Chicago show being a few weeks out. I might redo base later and add a cycle, not sure yet.
The next set of pictures show the continuation of the minor details added to this figure. Starting with the map case starps be hind waist belt and then straps in front of waist belt, then the buttons on the shoulder boards, placement of the MP40, placement of the goggle strap which I used unwaxed dental floss. Next was placement of MP40 straps (double strap), and folding strap above butt of gun where it snaps. Thanks for looking!

Robert Jan de Wit · Jan 16, 2010

Great conversion work!
Nice job on adding all the little details

greets,
RJ

Von Luch · Jan 16, 2010

Thanks Robert Jan for the compliment!

I will be posting more pictures this evening.

Von Luch · Jan 17, 2010

The next set of pic's starts with some minor sculpting. As a result of fitting the Dragon arms, two things I noticed, one was the size of the arms were slightly smaller and two I had to reconstruct what I had to carve away to fit the arms. So, I expanded arms and sculpted part of the back of the coat. I also added the chin strap made from unwaxed dental floss.
Next set of of Pic's show once again the base and ground work. More pic's later today.

SPrimeau · Jan 18, 2010

Good figure Jim. I like the pose of this guy. Great conversion and use of parts from multiple manufacturers.
Scott

Von Luch · Jan 19, 2010

I'm going to finish this SBS up tonight. Here we go!
The next set of pictures starts with the build up of the ground work with some sand and small stones set in Aves A+B putty. Once dried I added tall and static grass. Since I didn't have a motorcycle by him my first thought was to put a post with signage behind him, but I thought that would cover up too much on the figure, so I ended up having him stand along side a dirt road with tire tracks. The next and final pictures show the painting, primed, base coated in acrylics and then oil painted, and last the finished figure on the base with title plate.

Thanks Planet!

Jim

Von Luch · Jan 19, 2010

More Pic's!

Von Luch · Jan 19, 2010

Last Pic's!

Roc · Jan 19, 2010

Very nice convertion, keep up the good work.

Cheers
Roc

Von Luch · Jan 19, 2010

Thanks Scott and Roc for the kind words!

I'll be posting my next WIP in a few days, it will be on a 1/35th scale Dragon convertion called 'Artillery Forward Observer' Herman Goring Div. Anzio 1944.

Thanks again!

mil-mart · Jan 20, 2010

Jim, superb painting and excellent groundwork, a great SBS and I look forward to your next posting. Many thanks.

Cheers Ken

Marcel · Jan 20, 2010

Great conversion and paintwork Jim!

regards,
Marcel.

John Long · Jan 20, 2010

Really nice Jim. A terrific use of spare parts.

Von Luch · Jan 20, 2010

Thanks Ken, Marcel, and John. Much appreciated!

chris1 · Jan 20, 2010

Hey Jim

A great piece of work,I have the same set of arms and trying to find the right body for them,you've provided some great inspiration.

Cheers

Chris

BobLff257 · Jan 20, 2010

Jim,

What a fantastic thread, I enjoyed it very much. Well executed conversion, superb paint job, my compliments,

Rob.

Von Luch · Jan 21, 2010

Thanks Chris and Rob for the great feed back!

It's all about giving back what you've learned in this hobby, that's what it's all about. There's so much to be learned from reading these threads, It's great!

Chris, with all the modeling kits on the market today the possibilities are endless on creating what ever it is you want to accomplish with out having to do major sculpting. It's amazing what can be accomplished by just tweeking a simple static pose from say a dragon kit figure, and by adding an after market head and adding the little details such as on this Kradmelder.
I'll have a better example for a big outcome with light conversion with my next SBS 'Artillery Forward Observer' and an even better one with 'SS Sturmmann' which will follow.
Some day I will eventually get into sculpting figures, but for now the excitement is figure conversions.

Thanks again!

Jim

Completed 54mm Verlinden Kradmelder, Sicily 1943

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