British Para bust 1/9 scale.

[Henk]

I've had this for a while, I think I bought it from Mitches (edit.. I've just realised, I bought this from Gordon (Grod)) , but I could not get a version of the camouflage on the Denison smock that I was happy with, so it languished on the shelf for some time. I've had another go, after getting some inspiration from the recently acquired "Denison" book.
I wanted a quick break from the "Advance to Arnhem" diorama, and seeing as this one was mostly done, viola. Still a bit to finish, most obviously a dull coat...., but on the whole I'm now happy with where its going.

 

[Warren SMITH]

Very nice work...

 

[Nap]

Hi Henk

Coming along well ...thought you might find that book interesting!

Look forward to seeing more ......It's going to be a good display piece

Always good to see your artwork

Why not enter something in the class of your choice in FOTM , don't forget we also have the Vignette & Diorama comp , please take the time to consider and also do vote as well

Thanks for sharing

Look forward to the next update

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Henk]

Thanks Warren and Kev.
I'm enjoying this one, even though its a bit of a peculiar sculpt I recommend it as It's a nice little diversion from more complex or involved projects.

 

[Steve Ski]

You're getting a lot of practice on that camo pattern. fine work, Henk!

 

[Sylvanus]

I still have my old smock! I will try and upload a pick, Pattern varies for cammo.

Well worn in many roles since the 50s.

Also worn on a Para Course, in a jeep, modded by my wife w the velcro and a fleece lining in a very cold winter in BAOR 59/60, as an Army Pilot 61/65 as an Air Despatcher with appropriate wings brevets. After sometimes in the garden.

Lamp swinging!

 

[Sylvanus]

Shiny inside collar? No.
Sten Mag holder,never saw one.
Big Tasche for a 2/Lt usually, very young.

37patt webbing with blanco would have been greener. Paler yellow ochre for Armoured units.

44Pattern new issue also present .. NO blanco, darker green.

I wore all starting in the CCF, trained by an Arnhem and Army Commando veteran post WW2.

 

[Henk]

Shiny inside collar? No.
Sten Mag holder,never saw one.
Big Tasche for a 2/Lt usually, very young.

37patt webbing with blanco would have been greener. Paler yellow ochre for Armoured units.

44Pattern new issue also present .. NO blanco, darker green.

I wore all starting in the CCF, trained by an Arnhem and Army Commando veteran post WW2.

Oh, the collar wont be shiny when finished, but what about the colour? Is it to dark?
I've seen photos of the Sten Mag bandolier, but mostly early war (some well know pics of the Brunevall raid), not so much later.
I agree with you on the webbing. The final coats will add that greenish finish.


And please, post some pictures of your smock if you can. Every smock is different, you can never have to many pictures of Denison smocks.

 

[Sylvanus]

Collar looking at it now.
Pale khaki would be grubby in action.
looking at inside of smoke original camo easier to see.

more yellowish tones, more streeked.
I can email you pictures!

[email protected]

Glider pilot were Sgts and wore and stripes the army wings. once landed they fought as infantry. YOUR face would be fine for a veteran NCO by the Arhhem epic. There were free Poles involved as well.

 

[Sylvanus]

sten mags were often stuffed inside if the smocks having a larger size had its uses above the belt.

loose ammo was in small boxes and had to be loaded in the empty mags, like gold dust. The ran out of ammo as air drops were hindered by weather, aircraft shot down our parachuted cylinders fell on wrong hands. All featured in films. That is where army airdespatchers were involved. I qualified to do that as well. The brevet was awarded after 20 operational sorties in Dakotas,
Training missions 2 = 1 on ops.
RASC later RCT Air despatchers subsequently earned the honour to were a shoulder patch on left shoulder. Yellow dakota on a dark blue square. I did that task in Borneo and Malaysia in the 60s.



.

 

[Henk]

You're getting a lot of practice on that camo pattern. fine work, Henk!

Thanks Steve. I have a lot of Para projects in the pipeline, a 1/35 diorama that I really need to get on with, Steve's diorama I'm working on as you know, a conversion of the old 120mm Verlinden "aBridge to Far" pair, another set of same, two other 120mm Verlinden Para figures, a 1/16 Para from Dragon, and I'm about to order a few more...

My name is Henk and....

 

[1969]

Nice progress Henk, I quite like this bust and the facial character with the jaunty helmet angle.
Cheers
Steve

 

[Henk]

Nice progress Henk, I quite like this bust and the facial character with the jaunty helmet angle.
Cheers
Steve

Thanks Steve. That's what first got my attention too, and why I bought it. There are a few niggles, like I said earlier, if I did another one, I would do some remedial work.

 

[Henk]

Nearly done, matt coat applied, a few spots to tidy/fix, but that will have to wait till next week. I've added the chin strap.

 

[Henk]

 

[Henk]

To be honest, I uploaded this earlier on my phone, and now that I'm looking at it on my big screen, I'm not only seeing a lot of little bits of my painting that need sorting out, but a few other things that have bothered me from early on, and that I increasingly feel should be fixed.
I think I will remove the 2nd Lt. pips on his shoulder. Sylvanus pointed out a in an earlier post, that the moustasche makes him look older, and 2nd Lt.s are usually a lot younger... Another issue that is relatively easy to fix, is that the strap for the ammo bandolier, which goes under the collar, doesn't re-appear on his back.... More tricky to fix, is the scrim on the helmet, much of which looks more like slugs, rather than strips of hessian. And the biggest problem, is the helmet strap on the left of his face, which has not been positioned right, to account for the jaunty angle of his helmet. It sits on his face, as if he's wearing the helmet normally, and also a bit to tight to the face, considering he's not done the chinstrap up.

I can feel a rework coming on. At least it's been a good practise of the camo, I'm very happy with how a new approach has, at least to my eyes, improved the look of it.

 

[Nap]

Hi Henk

All credit to you for the camo , if I may I would make the actual pupils bigger i.e. less blue eye colour .

Good self critique from you , definitely remove that pip .....I would rank him up to captain with cloth badges ...that way the tasche could stay

Good point ref helmet strap as well

If you decide to redo as you say a good practice

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Henk]

[quore] All credit to you for the camo , if I may I would make the actual pupils bigger i.e. less blue eye colour .[/quote]

Thanks Kev. I am still looking at the eyes. I agree the pupils could be a little bigger, but I do like the '1000 yard stare' that he has.
I was being a little harsh (if honest) in my previous post. I will also say, that the sculpt really does convey a weary look, obviously with the full bandolier more of a contemplative look, knowing what's about to come. Also, despite the scrim looking a bit off, the size and shape of the helmet are spot on.

If I rework him, I'll Likely add Sgt. Stripes. With that look, and that 'tash, he has that Sgt look.