Well, here is the results of an effort I started several years ago, with a minor
conversion of a DML figure that was released circa 1867 right after the Intra-
Contintental Railroad was completed, and the golden spike was driven in the
track bed in what later became the State of Utah. Hokay, so maybe I'm not
really sure of the date the kit came out; but it is the Dragon DML 120mm
13th Mountain Troop Handschar figure. I changed the arms and lifted one leg,
but it's kinda hard to remember just what was done, since I started this
years ago, and just got back to it recently as a means of trying to learn how
to paint with acrylics exclusively. Now, I wonder if leaving the oils behind was
the right decision. But that's a nudder story. . .

Is confession good for the soul. Well, maybe the sole of your foot.
But I hadn't tried a camouflage pattern on a figure, previously. And
let's say I screwed the pooch on this one. But I now understand much
better just what is involved. I have little experience with doing
terrain, foliage and ground cover too.

Well looking at these rather poor photos using a flash, kinda confirms that.
I apologize for the poor quality of the photos. But with Steve Readdie's
help, that's 1969 dude, I am starting better how to plant these Woodland
Scenics grasses. So I'll have to say this was a failure, but I did learn a lot
doing it. And that is why I'm posting these images, to help the novice
figure people understand, that we have to actually do this in order to learn.

Critical comments from ladies and gentlemen are encouraged. Thanks for
taking a look.

Rick the Miami Jayhawk

Hi Rick!

i agree with your comments about learning and the curves etc, but your being to hard on yourself! a new medium like acrylics takes time to get used to and the flash with figures will make everything look washed out and a bit wierd, any chance you could get a couple of shots with natural light?

your camo looks pretty good BTW and if anything you may need more contrast, but as i said with the lighting it's hard to tell.


Well done on completing your figure and base!

and what pray tell is next on the cards?

Mark

Hi Mark, you're too kind. . .

Hello Mark:

Thank for taking time, mate to look at my rather poor images. I agree, next
time I post, I need to shoot with available light. I do know how to do that. I
should not have been in such a hurry to get these images posted. Perhaps, I
was relying on Adobe Photoshop to crop and color correct the images. And
of course, the flash really makes the shadows so dark, and the images harsh.
As you said.

I forgot to add that Steve Readdie, 1969 here as a Planeteer, sent me those
nice group of growing things that I added to those Woodland Scenics golden
weeds. . . for lack of a better term.

What's next???? I have taken all the Elephant Ears and tropical foliage
off the base of that 120mm US WWII Navy Pilot in the South Pacific
by Verlinden, that I posted last month, and have tried to get the flight suit
painted in the correct tan colour. I'm not sure how I got that green colour
I painted first off. But the box art is somewhat misleading. But now, I've
repainted his jump suit in browns and tans, and it is a question of paste-ing
new tropical foliage back into the scene. More on that, later. Perhaps news
at eleven???

Thanks again, podna' for the kind remarks,

rick
that

Yo, take it to the House, Carl. . .

Sorry Carl, I gotta' quit using that American pro football reference about takin'
it to the house, or scoring a touchdown from a long run. I do appreciate your
encouraging words, my friend.

Now that I've read the Jaume Ortiz Osprey book on painting those (hokay gang
I can't spell this word) Fallsheirmjager splinter camouflage patterns, etc.
which was after I've finished my attempt to paint that splinter scheme, I now
think I can do better on the next try. It is like I now know what to expect.

You fellow's encouraging remarks are definitely uplifting, big time. And I do
so appreciate it, gentlemen. Thanks so much,

Rickster

Rickster old heimer, good to see you finished this one off mate and got him posted. I think you learned so much from this figure and especially the groundwork, nice touch to add those purple heathers into the mix mate which gives some nice variety to the vegetation.
This is the first time i have seen the completed work and especially that backpack/bergen, real nice job on that mate.

up and onwards from here mate

Merry Christmas

Steve

Hello Rick,

great figure and nice presentation. The camo is also very well done

Merry christmas!

Thank you Steve and Pedro. . .

Gentlemen:

You both are too too kind. Of course, you're only getting to look at the photos
and can't see up close the major flaws in what I was trying to do. Trying. . .
Whoa, Nellie. . . How trying is it? But enough of an attempt, once again
at levity.

Steve: Mate, you were so much help with this project. Thanks so much for
your continual e-mails with the correct kind of information. It really helped me
a lot. As you know, my idea is to keep practicing and working on these El
Cheapo figures that do not cost so much. I can learn and hopefully will still
be around after I get better so I can execute some of my more expensive
figures.

Pedro: My friend, it is always a pleasure to hear from you. And I do
appreciate your kind words of encouragement. Wishing you and
your families a most joyous and blessed Holiday Season. Wish I knew some
Spanish, my friend. But alas, . . . English is a major challenge for me,
and I've been trying to speak it for 72 years. Yeh well. . . .

Rick,
I'm not so familliar with WW II figures, but i like what i see.
Don't be so hard on yourself. Everybody has his learning curve. As long as it goes up it is Oke.
You'rs is going high.

Marc

Rick , nice groundwork and I especially like the painting of the camo and the backpack.

Merry Christmas and all the bes for the New Year.

Well Marc (Gothicgeek) I have tried to shoot some available light photos
of this Mountain Man, but I'm not sure they are any better. I really don't have
the kind of lighting system that the master modelers here on this site use,
and so what is below may not be any improvement. I'll have to do a lot more
experimenting with all that. Perhaps Santa will bring me some good lighting
for Christmas, along with a case of Merlot or Pinot Noir for inspiration!

To quote Kid Shaleen, Lee Marvin: ". . . I'll drink to that!!"

Jayhawker

To Marc Van Megroot and Ken Farrar. . .

Hello Marc: Thanks for taking time to look at this "learning experience"
figure, and for your words of encouragement. Indeed everybody has his
learning curve. And I have made improvement, it is just that it is baby steps
for me. Thanks again, and wishing you and your family wonderful holidays.

Hello Ken Farrar in the UK: Appreicate your comments pardner. And thanks
for taking a look see. The back pack idea I'd had for some time. Unfortunately
because the aperture was not small enough, hand held, there isn't much
depth of field in the new images and the pack is slightly out of focus. When
Spring eventually comes, I can shoot outside with daylight and a tripod and
use my Nikon 55mm Macro Lens. Hopefully, then the pictures will have a
lot more quality in them.

Merry Christmas to you and your family as well, Ken. May you all have
wonderful times and wonderful memories. Our family and true and loyal
friends are what give life it intrinsic value, for sure.

Rick Brownlee a.k.a. The Miami Jayhawk

Jayhawk; I'm not so sure that it is that bad. Before i read your commentary I thought to myself " Hmm his groundwork looks pretty good". the only thing I don't like is how the figure is so rigid. The flash correction is easy so no comment there that has nothing to do with painting. I want to see more from the Jayhawk (except for Bill Self to win the National championship).

Sorry Tulsa Mike, I wasn't awake that late. . .

Hey Tulsa Mike:

Hello ma' man. . . So you're into college sports too? As you well know,
the Jayhawk Nation Coach, Bill Self was at Tulsa and took them to the NCAA
March Madness, Big Dance, as we call it. We Jayhawks really are glad he is
our Men's Basketball Coach, and I'm sure your folks in the red dirt state
were sorry to see him go.

But seriously, Mike I do appreciate you taking time at 2133 hrs.last night to
respond to my VBench submission. I was asleep in the chair by 9:30pm last night. This my late reply.

And I agree with your remarks. The figure does look rigid and lifeless.
And I hadn't noticed that before. I've said on PF before, I am no sculptor.
I started this figure several years ago, as a simple conversion, to
try and learn to get the proportions correct for moving arms
and repositioning legs on a 120mm figure that was inexpensive.
And I think the Dragon DML figures really fill the bill for that kind
of experiment.

But I didn't do a very good job of cutting and sawing limbs in a manner to
get a more realistic and "casual" pose. Some of my other DML 120mm
attempts back then were actually laughable. I just jump around so much in
the hobby from one genré to another. And that is fun but makes it hard
to really improve in say figure conversions because I'm not spending enough
concentrated effort in that one aspect of the hobby. But now that I'm old, I
don't feel frustrated in any way. I just enjoy the journey and feel fortunate
I can still see and hold my hand steady.

On Christmas day, and with a foot of snow out there, Merry Christmas
to you, Mike from the Old Miami Jayhawker

Rick ..... thanks for the pics, they are a bit easier to look at

it looks pretty good!

re the pose.

i don't own this figure but i have seen it about on the web and i gotta say it's probably one of the weaker ones if not the worst! the arms are too long for a starter and the pose seems really static ( he is carrying a huge MG on the origional pose and he is stood still )

as long as you enjoyed the process of making and completing him your on a winner

i look forward to your next piece and i hope you enjoyed your christmas

Mark

Thanks Mark . . .

Thanks Mark for the words of encouragement. I will admit that since
I started the actual cutting and chopping of his left knee area and
both arms, I really do not remember what I did, since that was so long ago.

And I got it out again, just to have something to practice painting with acrylics only — meaning no oil were used. And I mention this
because the arms being to long — and you're right, they are too
long — is probably my fault as I have so much trouble with getting
the proportions right.

But even thou I failed on this figure, I feel that is OK, because I learned
a lot and hopefully as I try other projects like this, I will get better at it.

Again, Mark, thanks for taking time to respond. Merry Christmas to you and
your family,

Rick