SAS Officer announcement

[Adrian Cowdry]

TEST SHOTS

 

[Wings5797]

Nice work Adrian.
Cheers,
Keith

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

Thanks Keith

 

[Grod]

This is looking good Ade. Fantastic subject- right up my street.
Gordon

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

Thanks Gordon

 

[MCPWilk]

Very nicely done. Royal Navy Submariner next: Malcolm David Wanklyn VC DSO - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wanklyn ?

Best wishes,

Mike

 

[Nap]

Mike ,

I have followed this with interest , great subject , like the pose as well very natural indeed , really good likeness of Paddy as well .

120mm is a really good scale as well plenty of scope for details .

Thought about doing some busts perhaps ?

Looking forward to the next ...another great subject as well.

Thanks for sharing

Nap

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

Thank you for all your kind comments - my sculpture artist and I have been knocking heads for number two and hopefully we can give some ideas soon - but I would always look at suggestions. It's how we got Paddy together - my suggestion his work.

My sculptor is creative and kind of sticks with what his passion is - one subject we are looking at I think is quite poignant - news when we give the green light. I like the idea of Wanklyn - but is that a really niche market? I know there have not been many Brit Submariners on the market. I have to think in commercial terms as well - will Wanklyn sell. Paddy Mayne is a legend not just because of his personality but the regiment he was co founder of.

Anyhow I am happy to look at suggestions.

 

[MCPWilk]

I like the idea of Wanklyn - but is that a really niche market? I know there have not been many Brit Submariners on the market. I have to think in commercial terms as well - will Wanklyn sell.

I have never understood why the losing sides in the Napoleonic War and World Wars appear to attract more attention than the winning sides (smarter uniforms?). The U boat arm has attracted a fair amount of attention. There is little doubt that both sides had a different view of publicising individual efforts and successes. The Nazi hierarchy was very keen on the idea of 'aces' for PR purposes, hence the popularity of Gunther Prien and Michael Wittmann, along with the many Luftwaffe aces. The British were much keener on the concept of 'team players' and put much less emphasis on individuals' performance/achievements. I don't know if Wanklyn will sell, but he appears to be the RN submariner equivalent of Paddy Mayne and the RN equivalent of Gunther Prien.

Mike

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

I am with you on this, Mike. I cannot understand why model manufacturers have ignored heroes - certainly during the war we needed morale boosting propaganda, take Guy Gibson and 617 Squadron...he was feted after the Dam Buster raid and the media at the time were allowed access and to boost up what to him was just another job but extremely top secret. The SAS have captured our imaginations since the Iranian Embassy Siege and the regiments history became subject to the public's curiosity. After the Iranian Embassy Siege many histories and biographies started appearing. Mayne was very much responsible for taking the SAS beyond the vision of David Stirling. And Mayne was a most charismatic figure...It has remained a mystery to me that very few figures of Mayne exist. The release of Windy Gale a few years back was for me a great personality release...Mitches Military Miniatures have released a figure of Johnny Frost, I'd like Maj. Gen. Roy Urquhart, J.O.E. Vandeleur, Gen. Horrocks...but I am not sure that all of these would be popular. Mayne was an obvious choice for me...he was the most decorated Brit soldier of WW2 and a very important figure.

We do seem to have a glut of German "heroes" Whittman, Marseille, Hartman, Rommel as well as some of the less savoury Nazi's. Arguably we also have Patton, Montgomery, Pappy Boyington, Johnny Johnston and I am sure there are a few of you reading this who can tell me others - even Churchill and Hitler are out there.

I have to consider business though and there are figures I am gagging for - talk to some of the manufacturers and they will tell you how I plague them - a lot of factors got me into making models and figures - sitting watching war movies with my dad is one reason. I wanted a figure of the cooler king - Steve McQueen as Hilts - well Mitches Military Miniatures fulfilled that for me earlier this year - well partly - with a half figure bust. Yes there was a garage kit previous to this and Andrea have done 54mm - neither were great likenesses. MMM's cooler king is excellent but no legs! I also want Broadsword calling Danny Boy (Eastwood and Burton from Where Eagles Dare), Lee Marvin from The Dirty Dozen and a few more. I am quite confident some of these subjects will sell. MMM's Cooler King is selling well by all accounts.

However I started with Mayne, the others we are talking about include Jock Lewes and David Stirling - nothing is set in stone, I have to sell Mayne first!!!

But I am interested in the subjects that people mention here. I doubt we will look at anything pre WW2.

I also want a 1/24 Harrier pilot! In fact I probably have a list as long as your arm...I suspect readers here also have a similar list. I am interested, but I will promise nothing.

 

[garyhiggins]

Just a suggestion, how about (as a follow up piece) Mad Jack Churchill, complete with longbow.
Best wishes Garyhiggins.

 

[baronband]

Very nice i would definitely buy one of these, great to see such a character as a figure

 

[Adrian Cowdry]

Dear All

Well Paddy is off for casting now, so watch this space.