Italian Alpini in Africa 1885

[Briggsy]

One of my side projects has just passed the finish line. I have been doing this in slow time mostly to give me something to keep painting as I spend most of the time sculpting and converting.

He is based on a Historex body stripped down to a mannequin with a commercial head, can't remember whose. The rifle is from El Greco and started life as a Martini Henry, the bayonet is from G&G.

The uniform and helmet are all Magicsculpt with a couple of spare Historex insignia in the helmet rosette. He is painted entirely in acrylics and mounted on a base from Sovere 2000.



Images are all thumb nails so click 'em if you want.

Cheers Simon

 

[arj]

An unusual subject, which you have completed in your inimitable style Simon.
Excellent painting and presentation.
Very well done.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Briggsy]

Thank you Andrew, occasionally I see an illustration that I find striking and I just can't resist having a go, trouble is there are so many of them that I'll probably never get around to half of them.

Cheers Simon

 

[MoboSchreuder]

Very nice work and painted

Mobo

 

[Briggsy]

Cheers Mobo,I've not painted so much white in one figure before. It was rather enjoyable.

Cheers Simon

 

[Merryweather]

Love it!
Always something unique from you Simon.
How is the eye?

 

[Briggsy]

Love it!
Always something unique from you Simon.
How is the eye?

Thank you Neil, I do like the unusual, sort of suites my quirky view of the world. Too many subjects and never enough time.

The eye is fine thanks, went without a hitch, I was a little dismayed though. While waiting a couple of elderly members of society were discussing how many injections they have had, one was only on her fifth, the other was saying he'd had sixty or seventy. Great, I knew I was in for the long haul but numbers like that are depressing! As they say, "Life's a bitch and then you die", still could be worse.....oops long pause one of my cats just jumped on me demanding a fuss, now I'm covered in cat hair!

Cheers Simon

 

[Nap]

Hi Simon

Good to see what’s been happening, nice and unusual subject , all that white as well ....looks good

A unique piece well presented

Looks like a Osprey colour plate could have been involved or similar ?

Thanks for sharing

Look forward to seeing more

Nap

If I may .....

 

[Briggsy]

Hi Simon

Good to see what’s been happening, nice and unusual subject , all that white as well ....looks good

A unique piece well presented

Looks like a Osprey colour plate could have been involved or similar ?

Thanks for sharing

Look forward to seeing more

Nap

If I may .....

View attachment 494615View attachment 494616

Cheers Kev, yes the first illustration was the inspiration though I had to dig through many others to get all the details I needed. All done in slow time to keep my hand in with the brushes.

Cheers Simon

 

[Joe55]

Some skillful work with a bit of creativity brought us a not often seen subject.

Well done, Simon! Ok, so what's next?

Joe

 

[MalcC]

Very nicely done, and a great addition to your collection.

Malc

 

[Briggsy]

Joe and Malc, many thanks gentlemen. I am putting a couple together as side projects, a second restoration cuirassier and a second empire Tambour Major. Also using them as a test bed for mixing my Magicsculpt with Brown Stuff, still undecided if it's a good idea or not.

I have plans to do two very similar figures but from different countries side by side, but I want to keep the details close to.my chest for now



Cheers Simon

 

[Nap]

I have plans to do two very similar figures but from different countries side by side, but I want to keep the details close to.my chest for now

Cheers Simon

Good explanation ref using the paper Simon

Nap

 

[Briggsy]

View attachment 494650

Good explanation ref using the paper Simon

Nap

Glad the paper thing made sense, sometimes it's quite hard to explain things like that but doing so helps me understand the process more than just cracking on and doing it.

Cheers Simon

 

[NigelR]

Now that is really nice! Love the pose and the way you handled the white uniform. A very striking piece, beautifully done.

 

[Briggsy]

Now that is really nice! Love the pose and the way you handled the white uniform. A very striking piece, beautifully done.

Thank you Nigel, all the white was a bit daunting but a fun challenge. I still think it's a daft colour to make uniforms from though.

Cheers Simon

 

[NigelR]

I still think it's a daft colour to make uniforms from though.

I'm with you on that one. Definitely impractical in the field, and a right pain in the rear for all of us figure painters. What were they thinking?

 

[David Spencer]

That's lovely. Really very nice, and you made a grand job of the toning.

 

[Steve Ski]

Beauty, Simon, awesome job!

 

[Briggsy]

I'm with you on that one. Definitely impractical in the field, and a right pain in the rear for all of us figure painters. What were they thinking?

I'm thinking as SNCO and having to see all the troops running around absolutely filthy, at least on camouflage clothing it doesn't look too bad, but white!

Cheers Simon