"GOYAS", 551st PIB

[Joe55]

This is a Young Miniatures 82d Airborne Paratrooper that I modified to portray one of the 'GOYAS' of the 551st PIB at the time of their jump into southern France. This guy is painted in acrylics and oils. Credit goes to Gilbert Moreno for the really nice name plate and John Estes (President of the local modeling club), for making some flag decals for me. By all means let me know what can be improved.

Joe

 

[sd0324]

Very cool,really nice take on this one,you managed to make it look so different from the others. Good job on research and making a unique piece. The detail is outstanding. The pics are very imaginative also.

 

[Sturm Grenadier]

Hello Joe, Great painting. I really like the camo on the face. The uniform and equipment are also excellent. Nothing needs to be improved as far as I can see. Great looking bust Joe, I like it. Regards, SG

 

[bagelman1952]

Not a lot to find fault with there

 

[megroot]

good work all around.

marc

 

[Joe55]

sdo324

Thanks for checking him out! It really helps to have a good reference library. While I used several books to refer to, the one that provided the inspiration was 'First Airborne Task Force' by Michael De Trez.

SG

I actually lost sleep wondering how I was going to pull off the camo. I figured that since the camo on the uniforms and equip. were spray painted on then that was the way to go, so I airbrushed a medium green and a dark gray on the jacket. As for the face, I first painted it with acrylics then shot it with two light coats of Dullcote. After studying numerous photos, fortunately some in color, I applied the camo using oils. In theory, should I have jacked up the face camo I could wipe it off since the Dullcote would protect the underlying work. Anyway, thanks for looking in and commenting!

Ken and Marc

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

 

[Sturm Grenadier]

Hello Joe, I think the face camo looks great. Personally, I would leave it as is, but this is your bust my friend. I have seen some very elaborate patterns from wartime photos. Some paratroopers put on there own camo, where others have used the buddy system, so just about any pattern is possible. Regards, SG

 

[smudger1960]

Brilliant stuff joe,thats a great piece of painting, great work on the face, it looks great

 

[Joe55]

SG

Thanks again, I won't change anything!

smudger1960

Thanks for looking him over and your words of praise!


Joe

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Really nice!! I think you have done the bust justice, and looks great!

As a historical question, what is 'GOYAS' - I'm not sure I can come up with a polite breakdown, if that's an abbreviation....

 

[Joe55]

Thanks Jamie!

As for the origin of GOYAs, the moniker is attributed to the Battalion Commander, COL Wood Joerg. Supposedly one of his commonly used expressions was 'get off your a--!' The troops then referred themselves to the 'goya birds', or just plain GOYAs. One website states that it means 'Great Outstanding Young Americans'. WWII isn't a period known for political correctness, so I tend to believe its the former.

Joe

 

[Pops]

Stunning paint job. Love it.

 

[Joe55]

Thanks Pops, glad you liked him!

 

[Mirofsoft]

Nice work
But was is Chantal Goya doing here ?? http://www.chantalgoya.net/

 

[Joe55]

Thanks! Can't read French, but I did see something about Indochine and arriving in France at the age of 4. Maybe she is the offspring of this guy and his war bride!

Joe