Series 77 Citizen-Soldier

[buzz1941]

Been a while since I painted a Series 77 figure! I started this one back in the '80s and only did the flesh tones, then promptly lost the weapons and so it sat lonely in the back of a shelf for two decades. Recently, while sorting through Series 77 stuff, I found duplicate weapons and decided this was an excuse to try Vallejo paints. I must say, everything went very quickly -- figure was done in about four hours, thanks to the quick-drying acrylics. I'll still use oils on flesh and some other stuff, but the instant-gratification of the acrylics was fun. Now, where are those other figures that aren't complete....

 

[Guy]

He turned out great Burl. Its amazing how those classic Figures we never tire of looking at.

 

[buzz1941]

Classic Pat Bird sculpture -- big hands, short legs, pot-bellied, tons of personality. They looked like real people.

Only modification to the kit was to drill out a small recess under the left forearm for the gun muzzle to poke into for a more realistic fit. The gun is very well detailed -- the metal parts of the musket are the natural metal hue of the piece.

Naturally, I'd also lost the painting instructions, so the colors here are a guesstimate, but hopefully within the range of possibility.

I also cracked out Pat's Fita-fita Marine and U.S. sailor, but these uniforms are great expanses of white, so it was back to the oils... be dry in about a week!

And here's another test: The Series 77 Russian Fusilier figure. I stuck the head on a stick to practice painting fleshtones with the Vallejo acrylics:

 

[Guy]

Its amazing what we save. I have a whole notebook of painting guides and brochures Series 77 sent out. You are close on the colors.......except the cap.

:lol:

 

[buzz1941]

Huh. So much for eidactic memory. I deliberately went with green on the cap just to try those colors, and to give a little variety. It looked like a civilian cap with a revolutionary rosette!

I'll go back and paint the cap tassel red. I still need to add a little ground clutter.

 

[buzz1941]

A few tweaks -- yes, that's Hudson & Allen forest litter -- and it's time to shelve this soldier:

 

[Stephan]

Lovley

 

[Guy]

Excellent work Burl. I have done several of this figure, both the single version and the one with the guard house and rifle rack.