WIP Critique WW2 Para Officer

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Hi folks, I’m working on this figure from MMM, it’s a nice sculpt and the largest I’ve painted so far by a long way. I’ve based it with an airbrush and got the eyes to a point I’m happy with. Ive also started roughing out the shadows as far as a dark mid tone. My plan is to keep adding lighter tones until the face is done. Critique and advice welcome, particularly when it comes to making the skin tone more lifelike. I have been mostly using Vallejo acrylics. Enjoy!

 

[Rob]

Looking good so far, at 1/6th he is a big piece for sure.
The eyes are very blue though, may be too strong a cobalt when the face gets lighter, they could dominate the look of him. Even toned down a step or two they will still give the piercing blue I think you want.

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Thanks Rob, I think you might have a point. They look darker in that pic and I think these photos are better but they still might be a little dark.

I’ve started adding highlights. I want to develop my style a little bit and add more texture which I think is working on the forehead and temples but I’m not convinced by the cheeks.

 

[Nap]

Hi Stefan

Great to see what's on your bench , I like this bust , full of character

A good start and point raised by Rob ref eyes , I think the cheeks need more blending , might help basecoating the helmet strap

Interesting the way your painting the flesh with textures

Following with interest

Looking forward to seeing more

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Thanks Nap, I’m trying to approach it a bit like the busts in Mike Butler’s book, I’m not confident enough in my colour pallet to go all the way with stippling but I think this sort of works. I’m wondering whether a ‘sunny flesh’ glaze might shift it to a more ‘peach’ tone.

Good point on the helmet strap, maybe it’s at the 80% point and I should get the rest done to see how it fits together.

 

[Rob]

On a bust that large going for skin texture is a good idea.
The forehead is great, that has worked really well, the cheeks less so as you appear to have stopped texturing where you have the darker shading which looks odd.

 

[MalcC]

Nice start, looking forward to your next update.

Malc

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Cheers chaps, I think you’re right on the cheeks Rob, I struggle texturing the shadows but I’ll have a play tonight. I’ve based the scarf and added some camouflage to the Dennison. It feels like something is missing though. Deep shadows on the smock maybe.

 

[Nap]

Hi Stefan

Nice start this might help

https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/1st-british-airborne-buste.316438/

https://www.planetfigure.com/posts/1119930/

https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/reflections-of-arnhem-update-5.115657/

https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/operation-market-garden-1944-painting-stage-4.112545/

https://www.planetfigure.com/posts/879731/

https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/paratrooper-arhnem-1944.81333/

Nap

 

[Steve Ski]

Off to a great start.

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Cheers Ski. L

One thing I’m wondering about: what’s the best approach to take to shading the smock? I’m considering an oil wash in brown, maybe a light dry brush with a pale beige oil to bring it together?

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Pretty much done but please let me know if you can see anything that could be improved or that I might have missed.

Someone I showed it to suggested it needed more variation in surface finish, a slight sheen of grease on the face, satin finish on the metal of the helmet maybe. It’s an interesting suggestion, does anyone have any suggestions for how to achieve that at this point?

 

[Rob]

Very hard to tell from enlarged photos but I feel the Denison should be a shade or two darker overall, also it is made of a fairly lightweight material so folds and creases would be somewhat sharper/harder and seams more noticeable.

Face looks really good, maybe a bit too clean for Arnhem, even for an Officer! But I still feel the cobalt blue is too strong in the eyes.

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Thanks, I had to redo the eyes as the varnish I tried to apply messed them up, I think you’re right so I’ll add a touch more light blue. I’ve been wondering about how to dirty the face up a bit, I’m not sure how to get the right effect though for carbon/grime on one cheek.

The Dennison could probably go darker although it’s a fair match for a real one I think, they seem to vary widely. I might do another dry brush to bring out the folds.

 

[Nap]

Hi there

Certainly coming along nicely , agree with Robs comments ref smock but as you say many variations

I think you need to look at the right hand strap .....needs sorting IMO..if you haven't seen it already



I would suggest you add texture to the webbing

Looking forward to seeing more

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Wow! Not sure how I missed that!

I’ve been wondering about the webbing. I’m not sure how to go about texturing it. It obviously needs to be a regular pattern but the ‘striped’ approach feels like it wouldn’t fit. I’m wondering about doing a subtle zig-zag with weathering pencils. Any suggestions?

 

[Nap]

Have you got Mike "The Kiwi" Butlers book ......he does stippling using flat brushes of various sizes

Nap

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Thanks, yeah, I’ve tried it but not successfully. Plus I’m not convinced the lines work for a weave like this.

 

[Rob]

Very good close up image of the kit material here:
https://www.paradata.org.uk/media/10287
From the Airborne Assault Museum Collection.

Maybe stipple lines in both horizontal and vertical to get the visible warp and weft threads? Otherwise be prepared for a long time painting tiny little stitch dots.

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

I had a go at texturing the webbing and I think it went reasonably well. Thanks for the advice folks.