WIP WW2 British Commando, D-Day June 1944

[Geoff Charman]

1/10th bust from Life Miniatures, sculpted by Sang-Eon Lee



I decided to paint him as one of the Commandos that relived Pegasus Bridge who belonged to the
1st Special Service Brigade, which comprised of 3, 4, and 6 Commando, plus 45 (Royal Marine) Commando. Led by the enigmatic Brigadier The Lord Lovat, 1st Special Service Brigade contained the most experienced commando units in the entire Special Service Group. Unlike the commandos of 4th Special Service Brigade, 1st Special Service Brigade were to land on just one beach on the coast of Normandy, code named Sword Beach.
Lord Lovat headed the relieving force that headed inland to Pegasus Bridge (about 6.5km) and took over the defence of the bridge that the Para's of "D" Company, 2nd Airborne Battalion commanded by Major John Howard that had landed by glider during the previous night and took control of the bridge.

I shall be painting him in my usual Vallejo acrylics and Artist's oils.



Nicely moulded parts as have expected coming from LM




Sprayed in black primer



Base colours mixed and blocked in.

Now shadow areas painted in using acrylics and highlights dry-brushed using Artist's oils.





I shall be hand-painting the shoulder flash, after I have had a couple of Scotch's, and hope it looks something like the pic.



Now to start the face, Bergen and helmet.

TBC

 

[Viking Bob]

Geoff,
What a great start, lovely painting.

 

[Geoff Charman]

Geoff,
What a great start, lovely painting.

Thanks Bob, it's been quite a challenge mixing the colours to get him to look right, but I am really pleased with him so far.

 

[Geoff Charman]

Work continued with the face this afternoon. After nearly two hours the flesh was painted, the eyes where painted a few days ago in Acrylics and varnished over with clear gloss acrylic, this then allows me to remove, with a white spirit dampened brush, any oil based paint that may stray on the eyes while applying the flesh tones.

The shine will dull as the paint dries.
TBC

 

[Nap]

Hi Geoff

This is certainly coming along well

Is the uniform colour going to lighten or be highlighted again ?


Thanks for sharing

Nap

 

[Geoff Charman]

Hi Geoff

This is certainly coming along well

Is the uniform colour going to lighten or be highlighted again ?


Thanks for sharing

Nap

Thanks Nap, I shall do a bit more on the sleeves, the uniform is the later issue and is of an olive drab shade not the brown of the earlier pre-war colour hence the dark look. As usual it does look better in the flesh as you will see at Poole.

 

[Geoff Charman]

The Bergen, digging tool handle and helmet have now been painted and attached to the torso, I shall add the beret to the head once the oils are dry and the hair painted.



TBC

 

[Gellso]

Nice work.
Great tones bringing it all together.
Gells

 

[Geoff Charman]

Nice work.
Great tones bringing it all together.
Gells

Thank you Gells, I have had to correct one mistake, the life preserver is not the light colour I thought it was but a dark grey/black, which is a shame as I liked it being light, never mind. I found some IWM pics of D-Day and showed the commando's wearing dark ones.

 

[tonydawe]

Excellent progress Geoff. The netting on the helmet is particularly well done.

 

[Nap]

Hi Geoff

Real nice work here , found the difference in uniform versions in my books ..very well done there .

The badges look good ..how did the 4 Commando go ?

I agree with To y tge helmet netting looks really sharp

Thanks for sharing

Nap

 

[Geoff Charman]

Excellent progress Geoff. The netting on the helmet is particularly well done.

Thank you Tony, I was pleased with that after the second attempt.

 

[Geoff Charman]

Hi Geoff

Real nice work here , found the difference in uniform versions in my books ..very well done there .

The badges look good ..how did the 4 Commando go ?

I agree with To y tge helmet netting looks really sharp

Thanks for sharing

Nap

Thanks Nap, the badges again pleased with as they were moulded on, quite happy with the shoulder flash, pleased I used artist's oils, wiped off easily, took about three attempts, still may try again.

 

[Geoff Charman]

I think it is finished, had to repaint the life-preserver as it was the wrong colour, was Googling images and came across some IWM D-Day pics of Commandos and they showed them as dark grey/black, so midnight oil was burnt correcting it. I still might repaint the shoulder flashes but will give him a rest for a couple of days as more busts should arrive any day
.

 

[Geoff Charman]

Just fitted him to his proper base and changed the background.

 

[Geoff Charman]

I decided he looked too clean after spending a night on a landing craft then straight on to the beach, so a 5 o'clock shadow was called for, just some light dabs of Raw Umber Artist's oils did the trick.

 

[Joe55]

Excellent work there Geoff, and I think you nailed those colors too !

Joe

 

[Grod]

Looks great Geoff.
Gordon

 

[Viking Bob]

Very nice work on him Geoff, like the stubble.

 

[Geoff Charman]

Excellent work there Geoff, and I think you nailed those colors too !

Joe

Thanks Joe, I am very pleased with him.