I just picked up the name plate from the engravers yesterday. so
here are photos of a DML 1:16th figure, an old one of the 6th Army,
Wehrmacht Platoon Leader figure. I had a lot of trouble with trying to do
surgery on the right arm and the right hand, re getting everything positioned
to hold the weapon, with the weapon sling going up over this right shoulder.

But I think I learned a lot from this exercise. The only paint used was
acrylic. Feel free to critique my efforts!

rick

Hi Rick,

I really like this work, beautiful groundwork and perfect scratch (right arm) on the figure and nice painting too.
I think, the 6th army was disband before the manufacture of StG44
Love it Rick!

History could prove me wrong, . . . once again.

Hello Pedro:

Thanks for the kind remarks. I plead ignorance about the 6th Army,
unfortunately. . . should have checked that out.

Always so good to hear from you, Pedro

Jaybird

Hi Rick,

I am no historian myself. Just a quick word on the painting:
It is a very, very interesting method of highlight and shading you have there. The contrast between tones is almost too sharp, but actually kind of spot on. Bold that is!

Really like the face. I wouldn't have done it that way, but its nice to see it done that way too.

Hi Jason:

Well, you got to the heart of the trouble I had with this project right from
the get go. I won't go into all the mistakes I made, of how I glued painted
parts i.e. the weapon and the right hand and how later they all fell off the
figure. The sling? I never could get it done to my satisfaction, and finally
just gave up. I could NOT agree with you more about the weight of a weapon
and how the sling in that attitude would definitely NOT have any slack in it.

At being befuddled, flummoxed and discombobulated from all the problems
with the learning by mistake on this figure, I finally just gave up. But I want
to encourage you Jason, as well as others to speak the truth and say what is
wrong. That is how we learn. And I certainly appreciate your and Pedros
words. Thank you,

Jayhawker

Its my pleasure Rick.
You can change it for mp40 or K98, or just let him like this, I love it...

Hello Michael

Hi Michael:

I appreciate you taking the time to comment about my style of painting.

Yes, I do enjoy going for strong contrasts. I try to paint as though
bright sun was directly over the top of the figure. So I do paint
in the highlights and the shadows. I will say that the photos make
those areas stand out more so than you would notice in a room
with normal lighting. But I also admit that many figure painters
who are much better than me, paint in a completely different style
and more or less let the natural light in the room determine
where the shadows fall on the figure, without painting in the
shadows or the highlights. And I like the results I see in that
style. But for me, I seem to have more fun painting in the
manner I described above.

Also, I write my forum posts here in a different 'style' than the way other
posters do. And I am surprised no one has ever mentioned it. It has to
do with my newspaper background. I wonder if anyone can guess what is
different about my posts from the other Planeteers and what the reason
for it might be???

Thanks for your remarks,

Kansas Kid

To Pedro near Lisbon

Ah. . . Pedro. Thanks once again, my friend,

Rick

Das ist sehr gut !! , it is not easy to paint a figure in such a big scale.. but you did a beautiful work on it Rick, like a lot the weathering textures and great character on the face with very well painted eyes ...your eyes are not so old my friend

cheers

stefano

Rick nice to see this one all finished up and that plaque you have had done is quality mate, real nice finishing touch to the figure.

I never made the connection with the stg 44 and 6th army mate when we discussed the figure untill Pedros post, if i had of i would have mentioned this when we spoke about attaching the weapon, suppose we both need to catch up on our history

I like this style that you approached this figure with and the effect is very nice with the uniform, it has that worn in the field look to it.

For me your greatest progress is with the creation of the groundwork, great idea for a back drop using tha picket style fence with the sloping ends to depict a crest on a hill, also your work on the grasses is very much improving.

Very nice looking figure Rick and the addition of the canteen in the left hand was a good move and it worked out very nicely.

take care Rickster,

Stevo

Caio Stefano in Treviso, Italia:

So good of you to take time to comment. I do appreciate it. Re how old my
eyes are. . . well, let's say they're not so young. And that is why I use big
time magnification to paint the eyes for all my figure painting.

Thanks again, for your kind words, Stefano,

Rickster
a.k.a The Miami Jayhawk

In 2010 it is really 1969, huh?

Hello Mate:

Do appreciate your encouraging comments, my friend. Yes, I agree that the
name plate I got from a local engraver just down the street a couple of
clicks to the south did come out well. I usually use that same typeface for
figure name plates, or presentation plates. I do it myself in Adobe Illustrator
and print it out. So that way they know what I want the layout to be, the
size and the pt. size of the specific typefaces.

I especially appreciate your words about the terrain. I feel I have a long way
to go, but it is starting to improve.

Thanks again, Stevie,

The Rickmeister

Rick,
He,s turned out nicely.I like the face you,ve painted on him.
Well done
Andy

Hey there Andy:

So good of you to take a look, mate. Down there in the lovely location of
New Zealand, so close to the Ocean, where ever you are. I do appreciate
your words of encouragement, Andy. Like so many other Planeteer members
here, I stand in awe of your talent, and enjoy looking at all the photos you
post and the text you write.

Wishing you well, podna'. . .

Rick Brownlee in Heartland America

That's one of the most realistic and lifelike faces I've ever seen painted. Amazing!

All the best,
Dan

Whoa, Nellie! Thank you Carl, for taking time to chime in here my friend.
I do appreciate your positive comments. I particularly appreciate your words
about the terrain and the fence. I'd like to say this project was a lot of fun
to work, but mate, it definitely was not. A real struggle from start to
finish. It was so hard for this old man to stick with it as far as I did. I
eventually just gave up re the slack in the weapon's sling. But hey, as I said
earlier on this thread. I think I learn a lot.

Miami Jayhawk

Hey Nebraska Dan:

BTW, mate I'm planning on coming up there for the Ft. Crook event on
the 20th of this month. Maybe I can get to meet you. Thanks so much for
your kind remarks, Dan. I sincerely appreciate you taking time to post your
comments,

See you soon, hopefully, . . . it the snow won't make a "showing". . .
about a 3 plus hour drive for me.

rick

Sorry to hear this was a bit of a chore to finish Rick.

The main thing is you did finished him and did a great job! the face is the standout.

So .... Whats on the bench at the moment ??????



Mark