Iraqi infantryman (Iran-Iraq war) 1:35

[Robert Jan de Wit]

Hello all,

My first single figure in acrylics. Besides a small experiment with Vallejo acrylics some 15 years ago I always painted with Humbrol and some oils. At the time I couldn’t get a grasp on working with acrylics so I put them away and used my Humbrol since. But Humbrol paints aren’t what they used to be anymore and that was influencing my painting and modelling experience negatively.

First I thought I could deal with it but last year I ordered some new humbrol tins but they were also bad quality. So I gave up and bought myself some AKgen3 sets and watched a lot of YouTube tutorials and did some reading on the subject. Last week I started with this figure and my experiences with these paint are really positive. So out with the Humbrol and on with the acrylics.

The figure is a small conversion of the MIG Lebanese tanker, new head and helmet, some small carving and sculpting. Base is done in magic sculpt. I believe the ammo box is from MIG also.

Shadows and highlighting are still a little harsh. On my next figures I wanna to try more subtlety in the transitions. Please feel free to comment with a critical friends eye on the paintwork.

Thanks

Regards
RJ

 

[Robert Jan de Wit]

Here are some pictures with a black background. I am trying to improve my photography skills for better presentation of my models. I bought a lightbox and experimenting with my Iphone smartphone with settings and different backgrounds. Let me know if you have any tips for improvement with settings because I always struggle with that.

greets,
RJ

 

[MoboSchreuder]

Excellent work

Mobo

 

[Warren SMITH]

I agree, excellent work..

 

[Blind Pew]

Super stuff, quite an unusual subject as well.

 

[Oda]

I could never have guessed it was a "first" had you not mentioned it yourself.Excellent conversion and painting.

Oda.

 

[Robert Jan de Wit]

Thank you all for the nice comments and likes !
I have some extra wip and inspiration photo’s to share.

greets,
RJ

 

[Nap]

Hi Robert

That's a subject we don't often see .....I like the pose and the work you've done on the figure , the painting works for me the way it's highlighted in the first set of pics , possibly too much light in the back background ?

Great to see the references and the WIP pics

Nice simple presentation that takes nothing away from the actual figure

I really must look at the gen 3 paints


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Thanks for sharing

Look forward to seeing more

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[JABERWOCKY]

nicely done.

 

[KenBoyle]

Great work Robert!

Cheers,
Ken

 

[sd0324]

That helmet really look good. Nice work all around.


Steve

 

[gforceman]

Nice work on an unusual subject!!! The strap on the ammo box is a great little detail, love it!
Gino

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Nicely presented Robert.
I like over look & pose of this fellow.
You’ve captured the look of a tired fighter nicely with lovely details like helmet wear & hand bandage.
What are you most happy with?
MikeTheKiwi

 

[Robert Jan de Wit]

Thanks again for the likes and nice replies!

@Gino, I really like doing that kind of extra detailing to make it more 3D. I carved the flat, molded strap of the box and replaced it with a lead foil strap.

@Mike, here is my top 5 for this figure
1. the helmet because I really wanted to do the helmet as in the reference picture.
2 The hands. I think they turned out well with the knuckles and the bandage.
3. the face. I am pretty happy with the face for a first time with acrylics. Hands and faces is something I really want to improve. Eyes are a big challenge too.
4 the jacket. I like the color and the little effects on the back.
5 the ammo belt. Still a little too harsh in the contrast on the back, but I like the contrast with the jacket.
Sculpting the bags was and composing the scene and matching the colors was a real joy.

I was a bit lazy on the basework and paintwork for pretty much of my last figures.
So what I really had in mind was to upgrade my modelling joy and experience, testing my skills and raise the bar for myself on painting and the basework. I think I reached that goal and I am very happy with that.

regards,
RJ

 

[1969]

That's a really nice and original figure Robert, I really like it.
Steve