502 PIR troopers, Bastogne '44

[Pete_H]

Okay, here's an update on the "Five-O-Deuce" trooper. I've finished the rifle and am almost done with the arms. There's a LOT left to do:
1. finish the Screaming Eagle patch on the left shoulder.
2. touch up the slightly torn sleeve and field dressing on the right shoulder (not visible in picture).
3. the M1 rifle sling (gee, really? ).
4. get rid of the glossiness with some Vallejo clear flat finish.
5. add a pull ring on the frag (the one I had on there fell off).
6. weather the figure, especially the boots. I'm leaving this for when I do the groundwork. A great tip given to me by the Mud Master - Kreston Peckham - is to not paint the boots until you do the groundwork; that way you'll be sure to use the exact same oil mixes for your groundwork when weathering the figure.
7. I replaced the stock head with a combination of a Hornet head and a Royal Models helmet. What happened was that I dropped the head and the impact cracked the helmet; turns out there was a humongous air bubble inside the casting, so the thin resin shell cracked. I opted to avoid taking any chances and replacing the darn thing.

As for the fleshtones, I feel I need to accentuate the highlights a bit more. At last March's SCAHMS show, I got to pick the brain of one of the judges of my work (don't worry Timmy, I won't mention your name ). Seems I've got a tendency to overhighlight my fleshtones. This time I decided to tone down the highlights. Perhaps I went too far?

P.S - yeah, I know: "take better pictures."


I highly encourage all forms of constructive criticism since that's the best way to learn - from one's mistakes. So sock it to me, I can take it.

 

[LCoote]

P.S - yeah, I know: "take better pictures."

Pete, You said it :lol: better pics would be nice, but it's lookin good, the glossiness of the clothing is the only problem.

 

[Larry R]

Great work Pete, looking forward to the finished project. What will be the setting? urban or rural?

 

[Patrick Kirk]

Wow...Petey great piece. Excellente...
Whatcha going to do to bring the scene to life?
Looking forward to seeing more my friend...

All the best my friend!

Patrick

 

[Pete_H]

Thanks dudes!

Leigh - I'm still getting the hang of this camera. This is the first time I've gotten glossy results from using oils in years. I think it's because I mixed my own green (?)

Larry & Patrick - ah, the twin towers speak! :lol: I'm thinking of a "rural" setting, say the woods outside of Bastogne. I thought of depicting an urban setting such as Noville, but the 502 wasn't there. Lots of snow and frozen mud on this one (oooooh Kreston!).

 

[Alex M.]

Pete,
The figs look great. I know my comment was a bit late, but i've read in a bunch of places that ETO GI's did everything they could to get jump boots, especially for medics.

Keep up the great work buddy,

Alex

 

[Roc]

Hey Pete, the trooper is looking real good, nicely painted.


Roc.

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Pete!

Your dudes are looking pretty good man! I really like the pants on the guy with the M1, they are superb.

As for some sugestions, I would say the M-43 jacket needs some more contrast, probably more highlights as the coat is fairly dark already. The M-43's werent all that dark, but with heavy use I suppose they would get a lot darker as seen in BoB.


Keep it up amigo, you better have them done by Tulsa time!

 

[yeo_64]

Pete, ! WELL DONE,my friend ! Cheers.
Kenneth

 

[Pete_H]

Thanks for the feedback, dudes!

Anders - as for the contrast, perhaps I should touch up the edges a bit more. I'm afraid if I highlight again, it'll look like too much. I want to keep in mind that it is the winter and its snowing But yeah, perhaps touching up the edges, particularly of the pockets, will bring out the detail a bit more.

As a sidenote, the knee and elbow reinforcements were directly painted on and not sculpted first.

 

[Pete_H]

Yeah, I've been really bad about updating this project here, but it's crunch-time at work. The end of the semester (tomorrow, with finals next week) means I've got TONS of paperwork to finish (grading crap and such). Although my time at the bench has been limited to 30 min. period every now and then, I have managed to get some work on this project done. Here's what I've done so far:
1. The GI with the Garand is almost done. I'm almost done with the 101st. Airborne shoulder patch, and I've got the rifle sling to do next. Once on the base with the groundwork in progress, I'll weather the piece (thanks again for the advise, oh Exhalted MudMaster!).
2. I'm currently working on the BAR gunner some more. The body and head are done, with the gear, weapon, and arms still to be painted. All that's left on the arms are the sleeve buttons and the shoulder insignia (that of the 10th. Armored). I'll be undercoating the weapon before going to bed shortly.

Pictures to follow once I get done writing so many C's

 

[Pete_H]

Okay, it's pretty much done. I just need to touch up a couple tiny spots and we're set. I'll upload a better picture later.

As always, all constructive comments/suggestions are welcome.

 

[Guy]

This looks great Pete..........I love the snow scene you have achieved. What are you using as snow? I have some snow to do this weekend and wondered what you are using.

 

[Pete_H]

I used Hudson & Allen snow with microballoons and water. I first tried adding a bit of H&A slush but didn't like the result - the slush actually had a brown tint making it look like a Coca Cola slurpee.

 

[Jason W.]

GREAT paint job Pete! The snow really looks good too. The only suggestion I would make would be to add more debris or foliage to some of the dead space. Perhaps a snow covered kraut helmet or a tree branch protruding through the snow.

 

[Pete_H]

Hey, neat idea there, Jason! Thanks

 

[yeo_64]

EXCELLENT WORK there,Pete,I really love the way the whole vignette turned out !! Looking forward to the final pictures ! Any idea what the next project's going to be ? Cheers.
Kenneth

 

[Pete_H]

Kenneth,
My next project is already on my vBench - S/Sgt. "Wild Bill" Guarnere. I'm about 40% done with the paintjob. It's always good to take your time to make sure you do it "right." I guess that's why so many only paint 4 or 5 figs. a year (well, except for Anders, but he's "special" ).

 

[yeo_64]

Thanks for the update,Pete ;will keep my eye out for this one next ! Cheers.
Kenneth :lol:

 

[KeithP]

Errr... Sorry but what are "micro balloons"

I have Teutonic knight at Tannenberg planned and I am looking for snow info

Keith