Dan Morton
A Fixture
For about 18 months, I've been working on this set of 8 figures representing soldiers of the 55th West Lancashire Division. The photo is dated April 10, 1918. I've tried to give each of the soldiers some individuality, tried to produce something unique. At first, I just sat and stared at that photo for hours on end.
When I first saw the photo of the mustard gas wounded of the West Lancs, I immediately was moved by it. Can you see them moving clumsily down the road in great pain, blinded, some with other wounds, blisters on their hands and face, confused and all in shock? They've been through an aid station for immediate treatment. They all have casualty tags and some have had their boots and clothing loosened, maybe some morphine or British Anti-Lewisite (BAL). Maybe they are being led to some kind of transport to take them to a hospital.
As far as uniform details, I've given most of them the cap and shoulder badges of the Loyal North Lancs. I couldn't make out any of the cap or shoulder badges from the wartime photo. The Loyal North Lancs were a part of the 55th on the date of the photo, so probably an OK choice. The shortest soldier is the exception, I've given him Army Service Corps badges.
The figures are all 1/16th scale, ranging in height from just 4 inches to 4.75 inches. I used my usual mix of Kneadatite and Magic Sculpt. The parts are from a variety of kits, but mostly D. J. Parkin.
I'm more than ready to put the piece in the hands of the painter, my good friend, Charlie Duckworth, here in Omaha. When I first told Charlie I was going to do it, he immediately asked to paint it. I can just about hear some of you painters saying to yourself "EIGHT"! "EIGHT FIGURES!"
I dare not ask Charlie how long he thinks it will take to paint them all!!
For the groundwork, I wanted just the minimum - nothing to detract from the figures. I've put a little paint on it and stuck some dried up grass in places, put some oily looking water in a ditch. I'll let Charlie take it from here.
Hope you like it!
All the best,
Dan
When I first saw the photo of the mustard gas wounded of the West Lancs, I immediately was moved by it. Can you see them moving clumsily down the road in great pain, blinded, some with other wounds, blisters on their hands and face, confused and all in shock? They've been through an aid station for immediate treatment. They all have casualty tags and some have had their boots and clothing loosened, maybe some morphine or British Anti-Lewisite (BAL). Maybe they are being led to some kind of transport to take them to a hospital.
As far as uniform details, I've given most of them the cap and shoulder badges of the Loyal North Lancs. I couldn't make out any of the cap or shoulder badges from the wartime photo. The Loyal North Lancs were a part of the 55th on the date of the photo, so probably an OK choice. The shortest soldier is the exception, I've given him Army Service Corps badges.
The figures are all 1/16th scale, ranging in height from just 4 inches to 4.75 inches. I used my usual mix of Kneadatite and Magic Sculpt. The parts are from a variety of kits, but mostly D. J. Parkin.
I'm more than ready to put the piece in the hands of the painter, my good friend, Charlie Duckworth, here in Omaha. When I first told Charlie I was going to do it, he immediately asked to paint it. I can just about hear some of you painters saying to yourself "EIGHT"! "EIGHT FIGURES!"
I dare not ask Charlie how long he thinks it will take to paint them all!!For the groundwork, I wanted just the minimum - nothing to detract from the figures. I've put a little paint on it and stuck some dried up grass in places, put some oily looking water in a ditch. I'll let Charlie take it from here.
Hope you like it!
All the best,
Dan
