Completed 1/16 DAK Infantryman, Tunisia 1943

[Peter Day]

This is a project I've attempted in the past, having seen someone else's work on another sire, and I thought I'd continue the plastic therapy and have another go. My intention is to depict a DAK infantryman in Tunisia 1943, wearing a greatcoat. The basic figure used is Tamiya's German machine gunner kit:



One I've made numerous times before, and a great kit.

The reason for choosing a later desert war scenario is to enable me to mix both tropical and European theatre kit, as tended to happen towards the end of the campaign. I've dug out some bits and pieces from the spares box to help it along:



These include some gaiter and boot combos, a rifle and ammo pouches (all Verlinden) and a Dragon head.

Not so much a conversion as a change of colour scheme with a few extras.

He's now built and ready for paint:

 

[Steve Brodie]

Deck chair pulled up ice cream in hand

 

[1969]

That's a great idea for a conversion, watching with interest.
How big is your spares box? it seems bottomless
Cheers
Steve

 

[Merryweather]

brilliant idea, Peter. I like the angle of the head too

 

[Henk]

Always good to see conversions and adaptations, afterall, that what we created the "spares box" for...

I'm surprised that the Verlinden parts fit with the Tamiya parts, Verlinden being best known for sculpting "generously proportioned " figures...

I've got a long term project, with the Verlinden "a bridge to far" figures, but most other 1/16 figures look far to small next to them..

Anyway, watching with a cup of tea and some biccies..

 

[Peter Day]

Mr B - You'll freeze to death here - not warm at all. Welcome anyway (bring a blanket)..

Steve - Oh it's big! Take a seat.

Neil - It's an adaptable figure - I once did him as a Luftwaffe AA gunner.

Henk - I love rooting through the spares box; I often get ideas that way. The Verlinden legs I've used are actually smaller than usual and therefore a perfect fit. The gun and ammo pouches match and there's no noticeable discrepancy between them and the rest of the equipment.

 

[Peter Day]

The head:



I decided on a helmet instead of the cap, as I liked the look of the prisoners in the photo above.

 

[misfit151]

Great start on one of my favourite topics.....looking forward to more...... Mike

 

[Chris Oldfield]

Nice work, Peter. I like the weather-beaten, fatigued look on his face - really looks like a DAK veteran.

 

[Viking Bob]

A nice conversion, looking very nice.

 

[MCPWilk]

It's easy to forget how cold the desert got at night. Lots of 8th Army veterans have so reported, so the wearing of greatcoats by the DAK POWs is an interesting take, especially with photographic evidence.

Mike

 

[Babelfish]

One of the better figures in that Tamiya range. I painted him up myself a few years ago (but no conversion heroics!)

- Steve

 

[Peter Day]

Mike - Welcome aboard.

Chris - Yes, he's been up and down the desert a couple of times.

Bob - Thank you. Not really much converting; hopefully the paint job will make the real difference.

Mike - Not only the cold nights; the weather in Tunisia at the beginning of 1943 was appalling:



Steve - It is one of the better figures in the range and I always enjoy painting it.

 

[Peter Day]

The top half of the coat:

 

[Peter Day]

!

 

[Martin64]

Hi Peter,

not sure about the basic tone of the great coat. As can be seen in the footage below the uniforms lost their colors due to the climate and faded into very light tones but all my sources show the greatcoats in a dark olive/brown color.
Best, Martin

 

[Peter Day]

Thanks for tht Martin. The coat is actually much darker in reality (note the contrast with the jacket colour|) though I have painted the upper parts as though they are catching the light - the skirts will be darker to aid the overall effect, I did also want to suggest fading.

 

[Fredericus]

I really like how you paint faces!
Ciao Federico

 

[Nap]

Hi Peter

Apologies , catching up with things ....great use your spares box ...it's good to delve

Good modelling and a nice start , like the choice of a helmet works well

Look forward to seeing more on this

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Peter Day]

Federico - Thanks. Still by far the hardest part for me.

Nap - No apologies necessary, you busy man. Glad you approve.