kansas kid
A Fixture
Altho I completed this Tamiya 1:16th Scale figure of a German Machine Gunner some time ago, I’ve been wanted to display it here on Planet Figure. As mentioned in other threads I’ve posted, I have been an active member in the IPMS/USA IPMS Society (Internat’l Plastic Modelers Society) which originated in Great Britain, approximately in 1965. And I’ve been a continuing member since 1972. I mention this because, I have entered my work in a lot of the local, regional and National contests over the years. And with that experience of contest modeling, I’ve come to understand that judging in such events is not uniform. This piece was to be a conversion. And so that is why you see a photo of the box art from Tamiya. I had a small version of that box art standing next to the model, so that the judges would know for sure that this piece was not straight out of the box.
I started with the base of course, and added small rocks from my walks down the streets thru my neighborhood. Most of the roots I use were dug up from the base of my Lilac bush in the back yard. I think the thickness of the roots are just right for model building in this scale. I didn’t like the head that came with the kit; plus I wanted to show the soldier with his helmet in his hand. I had ordered some resin heads and used one of them. But his hair was way too long for WWII in the Wehrmacht! So I used my hobby knife to give him a hair cut. Then I turned my attention to his Great Coat. I wanted it to look worn and ragged. So I used my Dremel tool to add holes and warn spots into the three Great Coat pieces, as shown in the photo.
I realized because of the hands being sans gloves and in new positions, that I had to come up with two other hands from my spare parts box. And of course, I had to add a sling to the weapon using copper wire and lead foil. I also added chin straps with lead foil to the helmet using copper wire for the buckles and attachment point on the helmet.
Lastly I will say that the snow on the base was done with Woodland Scenics Subterrain Foam Putty. I don’t use it for anything but snow. At the IPMS/USA National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, USA this figure took a third place in category. A knowledge judge critiqued my model and made me award that the M42 Machine Gun was quite heavey and I didn’t take into account gravity and the weight of this weapon on the figures shoulder. And he was quite correct. I have not forgotten to remember gravity when doing figure modeling since that time.
Of course, candid remarks from you Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Planeteers, is welcomed.
I started with the base of course, and added small rocks from my walks down the streets thru my neighborhood. Most of the roots I use were dug up from the base of my Lilac bush in the back yard. I think the thickness of the roots are just right for model building in this scale. I didn’t like the head that came with the kit; plus I wanted to show the soldier with his helmet in his hand. I had ordered some resin heads and used one of them. But his hair was way too long for WWII in the Wehrmacht! So I used my hobby knife to give him a hair cut. Then I turned my attention to his Great Coat. I wanted it to look worn and ragged. So I used my Dremel tool to add holes and warn spots into the three Great Coat pieces, as shown in the photo.
I realized because of the hands being sans gloves and in new positions, that I had to come up with two other hands from my spare parts box. And of course, I had to add a sling to the weapon using copper wire and lead foil. I also added chin straps with lead foil to the helmet using copper wire for the buckles and attachment point on the helmet.
Lastly I will say that the snow on the base was done with Woodland Scenics Subterrain Foam Putty. I don’t use it for anything but snow. At the IPMS/USA National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, USA this figure took a third place in category. A knowledge judge critiqued my model and made me award that the M42 Machine Gun was quite heavey and I didn’t take into account gravity and the weight of this weapon on the figures shoulder. And he was quite correct. I have not forgotten to remember gravity when doing figure modeling since that time.
Of course, candid remarks from you Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Planeteers, is welcomed.
