WIP - US Infantry, Ardennes 1944, 1/10 scale bust

[tonydawe]

Thanks Jamie,

Yes mate, you've jumped the gun a bit. The weathering of the uniform will start when the painting is complete. The helmet will definitely receive a decent splash of pastels to replicate mud splatters etc..

 

[theseeker]

Tony,
Great painting as usual! The gloves are spot on and this guy looks cold, hungry and tired. I do think the scarf is a bit too bright.
Rocky

 

[1969]

I like what you are doing with this bust Tony,nice work mate.

Steve

 

[tonydawe]

Thanks Rocky and Steve,

Rocky, I'll tone down the scarf a bit for you mate.

 

[tonydawe]

Hi guys,

Nearing completion now.

A bit more shading and highlighting required on the backpack and bayonet, and some mud on the helmet (to keep Jamie happy). I still need to paint and attach the leather rifle sling and then he'll be finished.

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Nice Tony...

(and the doc says I don't have to take the pills unless symptoms reappear)

Nice grain effect on the rifle furniture (too easy to over do - care to share your method?), Helmet looking field used, and the shading is once again up to your customary standards. Scarf and all.....

Nicely done, like how you have finished the bust.

Surprised you haven't mentioned watching Band of Brothers "Ardennes" for inspiration...

Cheers

 

[Paccus]

Great painting Tony.

But,...... doesn't he look like a young Clint Eastwood ?

One thing though, regarding the over coat. Are the buttons really in "gold"? I thought they were more like chocolate brown or something.

Cheers / Mattias Larsson

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Jamie and Mattias,

Thank you both for your comments. It's wonderful to receive such positive feedback.

Jamie, the rifle stock was base coated in Vallejo Orange Brown and then added small overlapping dashes of wet dark brown and orange brown pastel chalk over the "wooden" surfaces. I then spray Dull Coat over to seal the pastels to the surface and then did the usual highlighting and shading with acrylics. The pastels help to create a very pleasing wood grain finish. I'm glad you liked it.

I haven't watched "Band of Brothers" for years. I watched "Patton" and "The Battle of the Bulge" for inspiration on the uniforms worn during the Ardennes offensive. And yes, the helmet needs more mud splatters IMO.

Mattias, thanks for your comments and, yes he certainly does look like a young Clint Eastwood. I used pics of Clint from "Kelly's Heroes" as reference when I was painting the face.

Brass buttons are standard issue on the M1938 US Overcoat, although buttons on the later version M1943 Overcoat (I think) were made of Dark Olive Green plastic. The buttons on this bust have a cast eagle on them, which means they are from the M1938 Overcoat and should be painted brass.