Does it matter if youre black and white?

[Uruk-Hai]

Hello Figureteers!

Sorry for the cryptic title but I was looking for your attention.
Im about to build this kit OOTB and would like to use the figures provided.

The marking Im interested in was used by then 761st Tank Bn "Black Panthers".
This was a coloured unit and my question is if its possible or wise to use the supplied figures heads for this? My basic plan was to use them as they are with african skin colour.

If not, could I alter them slightly?

Cheers

 

[John Long]

I imagine that they would work fine. You can buy some African-American heads from Hornet if you like. Black units might not have been as well equipped as the white units at the time, so you may want to forgo using the kneeling figure wearing the M43 uniform. I may be wrong about the last point. I would would like to see what the rest of the membership has to say.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Thanks John!

Perhaps I should have made myself more clear.
Im planning to use the tankers as they are, this as it is an OOTB project. The infantry Im going to use as white soldeirs.

As I do believe african have some distinctive facial features I was not sure whether I should use the original Dragon heads in the kit? If they would look odd even when painted in a african skin colour?

Also after having surfing the net and Ive found the 761st homepage Id like to say that from the pictures Ive seen these fellows does not look that african too me as I first thought.

761st Bn Homepage

 

[garyjd]

If you want to paint them as is instead of the Hornet heads (which are nice) I don't see what the problem would be.~Gary

 

[AJLaFleche]

It truly depends on the individual.
While inter-marriage was not as common the the 20's (to produce children who'd be of fighting age in the 40's) it did happen, softening the features. As we all know, too, there were a good many women imregnated by slave owners during the ante-bellum period. The fact that blacks tried hard to "pass" back then also indicates there were individuals who were light skinned and had less "African" features than others.
I just flipped through my copy of The Tuskegee Airmen by Charles Francis, and there were a few men in that unit that had relatively Caucasian facial structure.
So, I guess, with careful painting, you could use the kit supplied figures going for a lighter skinned person.

 

[Cicero]

Janne,

Of course it is up to you, but IMHO it won't work. Afro-Americans have a distinct look, which alter indeed from their true African brothers. Especially the noses and the areas around the mouths will betray they are just Caucasians which are painted black. However, the only thing you can do to find this out is to try it out and then show us the result.

Best regards

Johan

 

[btavis]

Reminds me of how Hollywood would never use ethnic people in movies so Indians and Orientals were always played by caucasians. Now when you look at those movies they are so goofy.

Since I am doing blacks for my Strange Fruit I can tell you that there is no acceptable way to use caucasians as substitutes for blacks. Either find acceptable heads or resculpt existing ones but you will not be able to pull off substituting whites for blacks in a convincing manner. Just my opinion.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Thanks for the inputs. Figureteers!

Do you think it would be enough to widen the nose, a sligthly more prominent lower lip and perhaps a more rounded chin?

Or am I missing something here?

Cheers