US Marine Corps

[Bob Knee]

Bob sent me an email and was followed by several photos in the mail in which I scanned and show you on this thread. Here is the email with the photos inserted into Bob's email text.

Guy,

Here are photos of two relatively new 120mm figures released by Michael Roberts, Ltd., (Mike Stelzel). Both of these figures are superb and present varied U.S.M.C. uniforms of the periods represented.

The photo of the 1st Lt., U.S.M.C. shooting the Cal. .45 M-1911 is representative of clothing of the '20's and early 30's period. I had a shirt like the one on the Lt. issued to me in 1950 at Parris Island. It is almost a Yellow Ochre in color. I suggest mixing Gold Ochre (W/N) or Mars Yellow with Raw Sienna and the painter will almost be right on.

The Lt. wears an enlisted pair of green wool trousers. This is a hard color to make, however, I believe the following is, again, on target. Mix the following: Cinnabar Green Deep + Schminke Mussini's Warm Grey #2 + Grey (Mars Black and T. White) + a bit of Burnt Umber.

Highlight with Phthalo Yellow Green or Permanent Green Light, and shade with Cinnnabar Green Deep plus a bit of Mars Black. If you can't obtain Cinnabar, mix it: Lemon Yellow or Hansa Yellow + Phthalo Blue + Raw Umber.

Even after I was commissioned, I had an old pistol belt (like the photo) and I kept it scrubbed almost white (unbleached Titamium by Permalba).

 

[Guy]

Last, the 1836 Marine wears an interesting color uniform. Pres. Andrew Jackson insisted that the Marines wear this color, "Grass Green". But sea duty soon caused the coatee to fade badly, hence it was changed subsquently to dark blue.

To obtain "Grass Green" (whatever that is) I mixed Cadmium Yellow Medium + Phthalo Blue. This gives a brilliant mid-green. Also try Cadmium Yellow Light -- much more brilliant. Highlight with Phthalo Yellow Green and shade with Cinnabar Green Deep (see above).

Be careful not to get the trousers too dark Grey. The trouser stripes, turnbacks and piping are a buff shade for which I used Daniel Smith's Buff Titanium plus an extremely small amount of Brown Madder Alizarin. The fringes, lace and stripes are from Cadmium Yellow Medium.

I hope this posting is of help to others, Guy.

Bob

** The above figure was sculpted by our own planet member Gary Dombrowski

 

[nagashino]

Hi Guy

These look very nice. I've seen the pistoleer before (I have it in my grey army somewhere). It's a quality casting and comes with an optional "tin-hat".

I particularly like Gary's 1836 marine - nice pose and looks to be very neatly done (as one would expect from GD). Bob's usually excellent paint job really brings out the best in both figures. Thanks for posting them - I will have to dig out the pistoleer and have another look at him :lol:

Cheers

Phil

 

[Dan Morton]

I agree Phil. The USMC officer figure is per a famous newspaper photo of a Marine on a training range in France during WWI. If you can get a good enough copy of the photo, you can actually see that the likeness is very good! Beautiful painting, Mr. Knee! I really like the info on the colors you used. It's a delight because that certainly is different from the instructions and photo on the Michael Roberts package.

The info on your personal pistol web belt, etc. is interesting also. I knew the web belts bleached out (Mine did too!), but I wouldn't have guessed that it would bleach that much. Was that common? Was it just because they were constantly being washed/sun exposure?

Great stuff!

all the best,
Dan