Graham
A Fixture
I think this is starting to look more than reasonable. Cracking start to the camo. Love the idea of a Napoleonic Drum Major being ‘simple’ 
WIP French Colonial Para, Indo China 1953/4
- Thread starter Airkid
- Start date
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KenBoyle
PlanetFigure Supporter
Wow Phil! Your patience is as impressive as your work!
Cheers,
Ken
Cheers,
Ken
Wow Phil! Your patience is as impressive as your work!
Cheers,
Ken
Thank you Ken, I appreciate that. My patience is not my best attribute and it nearly ran out on this one! It is starting to come together now however.
Phil
Afternoon chaps.
Today I spent a couple of hours starting the complicated camouflage on our man's trousers. As said previously, the French used a lot of surplus British and US kit and these trousers are the bottom halves of British Windproof suits, which were issued quite widely from D-Day to ordinary infantry units as well as more specialist troops. They were made of unlined treated cotton and were cut large to fit over battledress. After the war, the French obtained large quantities of the full suits, most of which were re-tailored and issued to troops in the Far East theatre. There were several distinct variations in cut and camouflage pattern, and after re-tailoring some even had odd legs in different schemes.
I chose a comparatively straightforward pattern consisting of a base colour and three overlays. These were blocked in:
.....thus
I decided to do one leg at a time as I will change the colours and patterns slightly on the other leg, which will create the recognisable effect of these garments (I hope)
A wash of Citadel Nuln Oil, followed when dry with a further light wash of Vallejo Sepia Shade, and here's where we're at:
You may notice I also painted the ammo pouches and suspenders. Been looking at the equipment and how it fits.....
Phil
Today I spent a couple of hours starting the complicated camouflage on our man's trousers. As said previously, the French used a lot of surplus British and US kit and these trousers are the bottom halves of British Windproof suits, which were issued quite widely from D-Day to ordinary infantry units as well as more specialist troops. They were made of unlined treated cotton and were cut large to fit over battledress. After the war, the French obtained large quantities of the full suits, most of which were re-tailored and issued to troops in the Far East theatre. There were several distinct variations in cut and camouflage pattern, and after re-tailoring some even had odd legs in different schemes.
I chose a comparatively straightforward pattern consisting of a base colour and three overlays. These were blocked in:
.....thus
I decided to do one leg at a time as I will change the colours and patterns slightly on the other leg, which will create the recognisable effect of these garments (I hope
)A wash of Citadel Nuln Oil, followed when dry with a further light wash of Vallejo Sepia Shade, and here's where we're at:
You may notice I also painted the ammo pouches and suspenders. Been looking at the equipment and how it fits.....
Phil
Hi Phil
A comparative simple Camo.......looks complicated enough to me !!!,
Doing one leg at a time , good idea , be interesting to see how the other goes ...no doubt you will nail it
Good update pics and results from what I can see .....when finished the 2 camo will look the business
Your looking now at the webbing fit .......not thinking of changing anything ??
Happy benchtime
Nap
A comparative simple Camo.......looks complicated enough to me !!!,
Doing one leg at a time , good idea , be interesting to see how the other goes ...no doubt you will nail it
Good update pics and results from what I can see .....when finished the 2 camo will look the business
Your looking now at the webbing fit .......not thinking of changing anything ??
Happy benchtime
Nap
Graham
A Fixture
Coming together at speed now Phil. Nice work on the trousers
Thanks Kev and Graham. The various bits of equipment fit where they touch, I guess due to distortion in the mould. The airborne issue rucksack is nicely sculpted but not a snug fit and its shoulder straps will need extending on the right. He's carrying two rifles? - the spare one on his left side has no visible means of support so I'm going to have to cook something up there (or not use it). I've ordered a French Napoleonic Drum Major in 54mm - it'll be a cakewalk...
Phil
Phil
Graham
A Fixture
This is looking good and will look better when it's finished but boy are you going through the mill with it
I don't doubt you will be happy when finished ! ....perhaps a nive bust of a Drum major ..lol
Happy benchtime
Nap
Evening all
This afternoon's session included painting the boots and finishing the camo on the other leg.
The boots are well sculpted representations of the 1949 pattern jump boot, a high shafted, 11 lacehole boot with an unusual design - the welts come right down to the sole at the front, giving a baseball-boot look. They were in brown leather with black rubber soles. Here's how they look:
They will get some more attention in due course.
I then started blocking in the pattern on the left leg:
I toyed with painting a completely different pattern - some re-tailored pairs had odd legs, but in the end I copied the right leg. Here's how it is shaping up:
- this is after a light wash of Nuln Oil:
The last photo shows the contrast between the USMC-pattern jacket and the Windproof baggies - a look I was aiming for:
Although I've been grinding my teeth over it, it is starting to come together and I'm less inclined to chuck it into the neighbour's garden now. That said, there's a few issues yet to deal with, but I'm more confident that I can make something of it than I was a week ago
Thanks for stopping by!
Phil
This afternoon's session included painting the boots and finishing the camo on the other leg.
The boots are well sculpted representations of the 1949 pattern jump boot, a high shafted, 11 lacehole boot with an unusual design - the welts come right down to the sole at the front, giving a baseball-boot look. They were in brown leather with black rubber soles. Here's how they look:
They will get some more attention in due course.
I then started blocking in the pattern on the left leg:
I toyed with painting a completely different pattern - some re-tailored pairs had odd legs, but in the end I copied the right leg. Here's how it is shaping up:
- this is after a light wash of Nuln Oil:
The last photo shows the contrast between the USMC-pattern jacket and the Windproof baggies - a look I was aiming for:
Although I've been grinding my teeth over it, it is starting to come together and I'm less inclined to chuck it into the neighbour's garden now. That said, there's a few issues yet to deal with, but I'm more confident that I can make something of it than I was a week ago
Thanks for stopping by!
Phil
1969
A Fixture
You are doing well with this one Phil, camo looks nice.
Steve
Steve
Looking good Phil, not sure if I am more impressed with your assembly or your painting skills.
Bill
Thanks Bill, much appreciated. I'm gonna take a break from camo on the next couple of projects (and back to my favourite scale 54mm)
Phil
Graham
A Fixture
Cracking job
Hi Phil
What a great update on the camo , the difference is a good look , those boots look detailed and will I am sure look good
You certainly seem much happier with the way it's going hopefully not too mch left to sort out
That's a impressive picture you posted looks very accurate
Thanks for updates
Nap
Memo to self : go and check your neighbours garden for resin ....lol
What a great update on the camo , the difference is a good look , those boots look detailed and will I am sure look good
You certainly seem much happier with the way it's going hopefully not too mch left to sort out
That's a impressive picture you posted looks very accurate
Thanks for updates
Nap
Memo to self : go and check your neighbours garden for resin ....lol
Chris Oldfield
A Fixture
It's looking spot-on now Phil, especially the different camo patterns. Para boots look excellent too!
Afternoon Planeteers!
Just a couple of hours on this project this afternoon - tidied up the lower camo and got to grips with the waist belt and the webbing for the back pack.. The pack is nicely done but I can't find any reference for it that matches how it's been sculpted. The French sac a dos TAP was mounted on a metal tube frame, whereas the 1955 model rucksack (actually available late 1953) was a much simpler item - neither resemble the kit item in terms of straps and harness. The sculpted harness seems to be a mix of leather and webbing, so that's how I painted it.
The waist belt is US pattern (three rows of eyelets). These were in a range of different colours from pale grey-green to a yellowish khaki, depending on manufacturer. I copied one I have in my stash, which is 1943 dated and pale olive grey. Eyelets and buckles are grey-black parkerised. So here's how it looks today:
The diagonal strap across the chest is that from the musette bag which hangs on the left hip. It will need surgery to get it to fit snugly, and there will be a join to eliminate between the ends of the straps. The other end of the strap seems to disappear behind the rucksack. I think next session I will paint and mount the musette and water canteen. I will also need to attend to the cuff turnbacks and collar, as the USMC jacket was reversible to a "beach" scheme.
Thanks for looking - hopefully I can knock this one on the head by mid-next week
Phil
Just a couple of hours on this project this afternoon - tidied up the lower camo and got to grips with the waist belt and the webbing for the back pack.. The pack is nicely done but I can't find any reference for it that matches how it's been sculpted. The French sac a dos TAP was mounted on a metal tube frame, whereas the 1955 model rucksack (actually available late 1953) was a much simpler item - neither resemble the kit item in terms of straps and harness. The sculpted harness seems to be a mix of leather and webbing, so that's how I painted it.
The waist belt is US pattern (three rows of eyelets). These were in a range of different colours from pale grey-green to a yellowish khaki, depending on manufacturer. I copied one I have in my stash, which is 1943 dated and pale olive grey. Eyelets and buckles are grey-black parkerised. So here's how it looks today:
The diagonal strap across the chest is that from the musette bag which hangs on the left hip. It will need surgery to get it to fit snugly, and there will be a join to eliminate between the ends of the straps. The other end of the strap seems to disappear behind the rucksack. I think next session I will paint and mount the musette and water canteen. I will also need to attend to the cuff turnbacks and collar, as the USMC jacket was reversible to a "beach" scheme.
Thanks for looking - hopefully I can knock this one on the head by mid-next week
Phil
Graham
A Fixture
Excellent progress. Really admire the knowledge you guys have for you subjects.
