Completed Korean War Marine

[SPrimeau]

Hello Planet, this is my version of the excellent Young Miniatures Korean War Bust. I used oil for the flesh and Reaper and Vallejo acrylics for most everything else.
Thanks for looking-
Scott

 

[Rompy]

Lovely camo

 

[Mirofsoft]

Offer him a handkerchief

As I don't know what you try to paint ?
The camo and helmet are very good, splendid eyes ...

 

[Edorta]

Great work, the cld effect suggested by the ice in his berard is very realistic. I love the helmet, face and the rifle, great work with the wood.

Military miniatures painted by Eduardo Garcia

 

[Babelfish]

The beard just doesn't work for me - sorry.

It's far too monotone, and the ice effect looks more like he's just a very messy eater rather than conjouring up a feeling of cold.

That said however, the rest of it is very well done indeed and I particularly like the muted camo on the helmet cover. Very effective wood grain on the rifle also.

- Steve.

 

[sd0324]

Nice one Scott. The weathering works well. Nice job all around.

 

[Stephen Ward]

Scott, a brilliant job as always sir. Really love the fleshtones and their redness as it pertains to cold. Way cool bro.

 

[IronMike]

Nice work Scott. The camp is really well done.

 

[Helm]

I'm with Steve everything looks great except the beard I would run a light wash through it (unless it's the photo) to break it up a little same for the snow effect that too is a little monotone, that said it's a superb bit of painting in every other way
Steve

 

[pmfs]

Hi!

Very nice paint bust with odd ice sensation in the beard IMHO.

Cheers

 

[Nick Majerus]

Great job Steve! Looking forward to seeing it at Chicago!

Nick

 

[Mariobusta]

Nice painting but not sure about the beard.

Neil

 

[John Bowery]

I agree with Neil above.
Cheers
John

 

[Ferris]

Love your paintwork on this Scott. The wood grain on the rifle and helmet camo are outstanding! How'd you get the wood grain this nice?

Brave to try the ice effect. Too bad it is attracting some flak. Maybe the ice should be slightly more translucent white and more chuncky. Or there needs to be some more ice or snow elsewhere on the bust. I think it is always a challenge when you try something new and original. I kind of like the effect myself.

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[tomifune]

Having seen Scott's work in person grow over the years and be on the money for realism, I have to feel the ice effect might not look good because of the photo. Everything else looks great so I'll reserve judgement on the ice effect until I see it up close.
Bob

 

[Nick Majerus]

I spent a winter in Korea and know it was cold! I also spent time at the South Pole, and it was DAMN COLD! I find nothing wrong with what Steve painted.


Nick

​

 

[SPrimeau]

I appreciate the comments from all of you. I will work on the beard color, after looking at it I will attempt more contrast with the hair color, I agree it may be to "montone" and need some refining.
For the ice effect, I did take a bit of an "artistic" approach with it. It may be a little extreme and over the top, but that being said I will say it looks better in person than what my poor pictures portray. I used heavy gel gloss medium tinted with some white acrylic color to apply it and it does have somewhat of a tranluscent feel to it. I know it is an often used "cliche"...but I think the effects are better seen in person than here in pics.
As Nick shows in his pictures and having lived here in the frigid state of Minnesota all my life, I can relate to having some ice and frost on my beard quite often when working outside during winter. I have read that the temperatures were very cold, reaching as low as 30-40 F below zero at Chosin where this marine is portrayed to have been, so he would understandably have some ice and frost on his facial hair at those extreme temps.
Adrian-the rifle was painted by airbrushing the grain effect with a stencil first and then giving it oil washes and streaking after the acrylic had dried.
Once again thanks for the critiques and comments, this type of discussion helps in the process of improvement and is truly appreciated.
Scott

 

[Nick Majerus]

Hey Scott,

Sorry I called you "Steve". Just to many years sniffing that duct sealer I guess!

When I was at the South Pole, the average year round temp was-56 degrees F. below zero. Most of us had facial hair and that kept the frozen moister away from the skin. The longer you were outside, the more ice you had.

Nick

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Scott,

I really like the face and the helmet camo and the wood grain on the rifle.

I'm also a bit dubious about the ice and snow on the beard and the beard itself.

Could I suggest that you try adding some snow on the shoulders and the top of the helmet to provide a bit more context. It will perhaps make the ice in his beard seem more understandable and relevant.

 

[JackG]

I think this is very well done, just the beard needs a bit more colour variety as has been suggested. Also the edge of the beard (where it meets the skin) might be too thick and there should some semblance of individual hair - this though is more the fault of the sculpture detail.

The frozen condensation on the beard is quite believable. I knew right away it was a winter setting from that along with the wearing of the hood underneath the helmet. Adding some powdered snow isn't necessary, but would be a nice artistic touch. I know from living in the Canadian north that it is actually quite a bit colder when it is not snowing and skies are clear.

If you are going to redo the icicles on the beard, maybe try more vertical segments, that is in the direction the beard grows, like so: