WIP Charles Nungesser

[Nap]

Hi to all

You might have known I was after a bust OOP and I am happy to say that my wish list has been fulfilled ....with the help of a PF member




A big thank you to Propblast for contacting me after he found one at the back of a cupboard , just missing a peak .........." Would I be interested " he asked ....." Too right" said I

A BIG THANKS

After a suitable transaction ..it arrived .....well packed and with a surprise as well .....A bottle of paint to use for the uniform .......top bloke

I got my Dettol out and after a overnight bath out came the toothbrush and it was all down to the original resin .....

I had been speaking to another member akaryu who is was a great help advising on a couple of changes , this was his message


" Seeing on FB you were eagerly looking for the Nungesser bust, so I presume you want to paint it.That's very reasonable for the guy as 'some' medals indeed!"

1. the aiguillette ( shoulder cord or what do you call it in English) should go somewhere, i.e attached to the shoulder strap coming from the back....THIS WAS ADDED

2. inside the crown of the kepi there is one braid missing....ADDED

3 The looped trefoil braid is rather large and represent a double gslon....I WILL PAINT TO SHOW THIS

4 as a rivet counter and Officer in the Order of King Leopold, I noticed that our guy is wearing the civilian version of the Order, instead of the military version which has two crossed swords between the ribbon and the medal itself, difficult to correct in this scale. Note that Nungesser was a knight in the Leopold Order, so all the metalwork on the medal have to be silver and not gold. Gold is for Officer grade and upward.

The palm leaf on the ribbon is correct....... This is the correct knight version for military personnel of our highest national order.....CROSSED SWORDS ADDED

A BIG THANKS Pierre

continued in next post

Nap

 

[fogie]

Nice looking bust and a certain winner, but...Kev, old horse ...we're not
getting a tad obsessed with medals are we ?

Great stuff

Mike

 

[Nap]

Some references I am keeping close by !!

Nungesser was the 3rd top French ace in WW1 here are others

The man himself ...full of medals

Some more references

His planes were mainly Nieuport 17 and 25 ,with later in 1918 a Spad

Nap

 

[Nap]

Nice looking bust and a certain winner, but...Kev, old horse ...we're not
getting a tad obsessed with medals are we ?

Great stuff

Mike

"Old horse" ....lol ......

You haven't seen what's on its way ....still to add medals details etc references

Thanks for looking in

Nap

 

[DaddyO]

Glad you managed to get hold of one Kev. Look forward to seeing him progress

Interested to know how he got hold of that rather startling chin scar

Toodlepip
Paul

 

[Nap]

Here's Pierre's version of the bust ....Nice artwork my friend



Here is mine at the moment ...basecoated after the additions



Base coat is the Reaper Ashen Blue below with the paint which I will use when doing the actual uniform



Thanks for looking in

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Nap]

Glad you managed to get hold of one Kev. Look forward to seeing him progress

Interested to know how he got hold of that rather startling chin scar

Toodlepip
Paul

Cheers Paul ...yes well chuffed ..he will be next on bench after the Pikeman

As for scar ...certainly one of many wounds and accidents !!

Here's a summary of Nungesser's wounds and injuries from Wiki

Skull fracture
brain concussion
internal injuries (multiple)
five fractures of the upper jaw and two fractures of lower jaw
piece of anti-aircraft shrapnel imbedded in right arm
dislocation of knees (left and right)
re-dislocation of left knee
bullet wound in mouth
bullet wound in ear
atrophy of tendons in left leg
atrophy of muscles in calf
dislocated clavicle, dislocated wrist, dislocated right ankle,
loss of teeth,
contusions too numerous to mention.


He also had a insignia which you see on his planes:

Nungesser painted a menacing insignia on his airplanes to taunt his German opponents. It began as a simple skull and crossbones, but evolved in a more elaborate design: a large heart with black and white outline, a skull with a bullet hole under a coffin, a pair of crossed bones, and two funeral candlesticks.

He called himself the “Knight of Death.”



Nap

 

[fogie]

"Old horse" ....lol ......
Nap

Not come acroas it yet ? Perhaps it hasn't reached over the Tamar...phrase used
casually hereabouts for chum, colleague, fellow headcase, so forth.....

 

[offo]

Major Kepi. Nungesser have a Captain Kepi.

 

[offo]

 

[Nap]

Hi Pavol

Many thanks for posting the pics and thanks for sculpting this piece .......good to have a sculpt done with passion

Feel free to post any references you had when sculpting

Bit of a film star good looking fellow as well ...starring in a film based on himself !

Stay safe

Nap

 

[PropBlast]

Really glad I could help you out with this. You are making good progress and quickly as well. Interesting to note that in your second post with the pictures that Nungesser is pictured twice in a black engineers outfit. From research he donned this uniform straight after his accident while testing out new aircraft and the joystick perforated his palette plus numerious other injurys. While recovering he was allowed a roving commission and attached himself to SPA124 (the famous Layfayette Escadrille). During his short tenure with them he shot down and claimed another victory. So much for recovering!

 

[Wings5797]

Great detailed review Kev. Thank you.
He looks to be a very crisp sculpt from Pavol.
A fair number of your beloved awards.
All the best
Keith

 

[Nap]

Hi guys

Really glad I could help you out with this. You are making good progress and quickly as well. Interesting to note that in your second post with the pictures that Nungesser is pictured twice in a black engineers outfit. From research he donned this uniform straight after his accident while testing out new aircraft and the joystick perforated his palette plus numerious other injurys. While recovering he was allowed a roving commission and attached himself to SPA124 (the famous Layfayette Escadrille). During his short tenure with them he shot down and claimed another victory. So much for recovering!

Really appreciated your message , wanted to get it all prepped and basecoated ready

You are right about the engineer uniform , I am happy with the uniform choice sculpted but the contrast would have been good with the hussar kepi

He was certainly in and out of hospital with injury ...maybe the joystick caused the chin scar

Hope to get this going soon

Great detailed review Kev. Thank you.
He looks to be a very crisp sculpt from Pavol.
A fair number of your beloved awards.
All the best
Keith

Hi mate

Yes it's a great sculpt few little things to add as I said above .....only one or 2 bits of bling ...lol

Stay safe all

Nap

 

[akaryu]

I am watching this with more than the usual curiosity!

Pierre

 

[Nap]

I am watching this with more than the usual curiosity!

Pierre

Better make it as good as possible eh Pierre !

Thanks for your help

Nap

 

[PropBlast]

Hi guys

He was certainly in and out of hospital with injury ...maybe the joystick caused the chin scar

Nap

His upper and lower jaw were broken or dislocated on numerous occassions (either from car accidents or plane crashes). After the accident testing the new plane and the subsequent crash he also had a set of solid gold teeth.

 

[PropBlast]

You probably have this book Nap but its a great book on WW1 French aces -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/High-flew-falcons-French-World/dp/B0007DZT0Q

 

[Nap]

His upper and lower jaw were broken or dislocated on numerous occassions (either from car accidents or plane crashes). After the accident testing the new plane and the subsequent crash he also had a set of solid gold teeth.

That's interesting ...especially if we see a sculpt showing teeth .....wonder if it was a full set !

Not got that book ...yet ! ....thanks for the link..look who is on the cover



This is also a good read



Thanks for input

Nap

 

[PropBlast]

I'll see if I can find my copy of the book for you and get it sent to you.