Completed 'battered Bastard' 101st Airborne Div. - Bastogne 1944

[Draco]

Hello Everybody

It's my debut at Planet, so let me introduce myself. My name is Martin, I'm 30 years old, and I live in Poland (Krakow). I've been painting figures for about 4 years, but usually I don't have much time for hobby, so I've painted only a few figures. I prefer bigger scales, and I paint with oils.

Yesterday I've finished this guy:

It is 120 mm figure, produced by SOL Model from Korea. Original name was simple US Rifleman WW II, but for me it's quite blank name. After watching "Band of Brothers", I compared the coat and equipment with this box-art illustration made by Ron Volstad:



and it seems to be the same. So let it be one of the 'Battered Bastards of Bastogne'. 101st Airborne Division was named that, after extremely hard and heroic defense of Bastogne in december 1944 - what was one of most important causes of German defeat in Ardennes.

Photos shots in daylight, with improvised lightbox. Background (with my little modifications) is from MassiveVoodoo - thanks a lot for sharing it.

Thanks for watching, and sorry for my poor english
Any comments, honest critique and technical advices (I consider myself a beginner) will be appreciated.

 

[Martin64]

I like the realistic tones of this piece. Is it a conversion of an existing model or is that an original Sol-release? The helmet seems to sit a bit high on his head but still within realistic limitations. Well done!!
Cheers Martin

 

[Draco]

Thanks Martin. Yeah, that's possible with the helmet - I didn't want to cover the face
The figure is not converted - it's SOL release as a whole, the wall was also included, I've only made the ground with bricks and pipes.

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Nice to see a new oil painter here

PS is the title right or is it a translation faux pas

Ron

 

[Joe55]

Fine job on this dog face Martin ! You also tied in the ground work very well. No need to apologize for your English, you are perfectly understood!

Joe

 

[Draco]

Thanks for posting. Ron, I think there's no translation in "battered bastard'" - I'm not expert, but it seems to be original version of this nickname. Those toughguys were simply "battered" - they were surrounded, without supply, heavily attacked, but they maintained their positions. There's little mistake in first letter (lowercase), but I don't know how to edit the title

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Thanks for posting. Ron, I think there's no translation in "battered bastard'" - I'm not expert, but it seems to be original version of this nickname. Those toughguys were simply "battered" - they were surrounded, without supply, heavily attacked, but they maintained their positions. There's little mistake in first letter (lowercase), but I don't know how to edit the title

 

[Kreston]

Nice work!

 

[T-34/85]

Great job!

 

[NickM]

Hi Martin, and welcome to Planet Figure.
Swietnie jest zobaczyc tak utalentowanego Polskiego modelarza.
Jestem naprawde pod wrazeniem i mam nadzieje, ze bede mogl podziwiac wiecej Twoich prac.

Pozdrowienia

 

[Draco]

Thanks for nice words!

Nick, sa w Polsce duzo lepsi ode mnie, ale dziekuje bardzo postaram sie pokazac wiecej prac.

 

[megroot]

Nice work, and as Ron I'm pleased you paint with oils.

Marc

 

[Mike Stevens]

Well done. Welcome to PF.

 

[1969]

Nice work on the figure, you have done a great job with the painting and welcome to Planetfigure.

Steve

 

[kansas kid]

Oh my, isn't it interesting because of "Veterans Day" weekend
here in the USA, I was watching again, the great series that
HBO did, Band of Brothers. And one particular episode was
the 101st Screaming Eagles at "Bastogne". Your lovely figure
with that appropiate setting you've fabricated really brought
it all so close to home. The temperatures was horrible, very
very cold, for all concerned. The 101st was low on ammo,
didn't have proper winter clothing and had little food. But
I'm sure it was equally difficult for the Wehrmacht and all
others concerned. . . especially the civilians,. Yes, even the
civilians. As model builders and vignette creators it seems
we have a tendency to forget about the civilians. We rarely
see that aspect of the war done in the period of the
Normandy invasion re vignettes and dioramas. Naturally,
I realize it is that few companies offer good quality civilian
figures in popular scales. They need to make a profit, of
course, and Wehrmacht is what sells.. . . we all know that.

Beautiful photographs as well. Welcome to Planet Figures.
You'll find a great number of talented ladies and gentlemen
here at this site. Gordy. . . sees to that.

Rick Brownlee, a.k.a. The Miami Jayhawk;
Kansas Kid; resident old person in my 75th year!!

 

[arxo]

Welcome to the planet! You have made a great start with your figure!

 

[Draco]

Many thanks for the warm welcome, Gentlemen!

 

[Mirofsoft]

This is a superb rendition of those "Nuts" guys
Thanks for sharing
Best