lock-n-load
Well-Known Member
Hello everyone:
Here are some pix of a display I set up at the local library. They have a display case that is open to community residents to display their personal "collections" (baseball cards, miniature shoes, Barbies, etc..) I "volunteered' to display some of my figures for the month of May, just in time for memorial Day here in the US.
Perhaps my modest skills will spark some interest locally. Here is the text of the explanation sheet I posted along with the display......
"The origins of the model soldier maybe traced back to prehistoric times. One may, for example, see plaster and wood models of Ancient-Egyptian spearmen who were made to guard a noble of the Middle Kingdom in his tomb. In Cyprus and elsewhere one may see crude pottery figurines both of foot soldiers and cavalrymen made in the fifth century before Christ. There are leaden castings of Greek and Roman warriors which might have been votive figures but they might have been household possessions as well.”
W.Y. Carmen “Model Soldiers”
Modeling began for me as a child. I built whatever I could get my hands on…..cars, trucks, planes, dinosaurs, superheroes…whatever! Eventually I gravitated towards military subjects and then on to dioramas….putting vehicles, figures and landscaping together in a creative and historically accurate scene. I currently build and paint figures almost exclusively-military miniatures, please don’t refer to them as “toy soldiers”. The kits come in several popular sizes (54mm or 1/35th, 90mm, 120mm or 1/16th). Figures are made of plastic, white metal or resin. Most of the kits on display here were mail ordered or bought over the internet and a few came from local hobby shops. Today’s kits are generally very detailed, historically accurate and straightforward to build. Most can be prepped and assembled with super glue in an evening. The true creative outlet for me is in the painting of the figure; figuring out the proper shade of olive drab, working out a complicated camouflage pattern and realistically weathering the figure all provide challenges. Painting the flesh tones, equipment, clothing and groundwork can consume hundreds of hours. I like to invest additional time into research for a particular subject or event, trying to make the figure as historically authentic as possible. I generally paint in enamels and acrylics, depending on the item or part of the kit I am painting.
I am a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, having served at Fort Bragg for four years of relative peace during the Reagan Administration. These figures represent my small tribute to the men and women who, throughout history, have set aside their personal fears and inhibitions, and answered their countries call to duty. Thank you for taking the time to view this display.
Here are some pix of a display I set up at the local library. They have a display case that is open to community residents to display their personal "collections" (baseball cards, miniature shoes, Barbies, etc..) I "volunteered' to display some of my figures for the month of May, just in time for memorial Day here in the US.
Perhaps my modest skills will spark some interest locally. Here is the text of the explanation sheet I posted along with the display......
"The origins of the model soldier maybe traced back to prehistoric times. One may, for example, see plaster and wood models of Ancient-Egyptian spearmen who were made to guard a noble of the Middle Kingdom in his tomb. In Cyprus and elsewhere one may see crude pottery figurines both of foot soldiers and cavalrymen made in the fifth century before Christ. There are leaden castings of Greek and Roman warriors which might have been votive figures but they might have been household possessions as well.”
W.Y. Carmen “Model Soldiers”
Modeling began for me as a child. I built whatever I could get my hands on…..cars, trucks, planes, dinosaurs, superheroes…whatever! Eventually I gravitated towards military subjects and then on to dioramas….putting vehicles, figures and landscaping together in a creative and historically accurate scene. I currently build and paint figures almost exclusively-military miniatures, please don’t refer to them as “toy soldiers”. The kits come in several popular sizes (54mm or 1/35th, 90mm, 120mm or 1/16th). Figures are made of plastic, white metal or resin. Most of the kits on display here were mail ordered or bought over the internet and a few came from local hobby shops. Today’s kits are generally very detailed, historically accurate and straightforward to build. Most can be prepped and assembled with super glue in an evening. The true creative outlet for me is in the painting of the figure; figuring out the proper shade of olive drab, working out a complicated camouflage pattern and realistically weathering the figure all provide challenges. Painting the flesh tones, equipment, clothing and groundwork can consume hundreds of hours. I like to invest additional time into research for a particular subject or event, trying to make the figure as historically authentic as possible. I generally paint in enamels and acrylics, depending on the item or part of the kit I am painting.
I am a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, having served at Fort Bragg for four years of relative peace during the Reagan Administration. These figures represent my small tribute to the men and women who, throughout history, have set aside their personal fears and inhibitions, and answered their countries call to duty. Thank you for taking the time to view this display.
