Looking superb already Dan, really looking forward to seeing this finished! As for the title, how about "Broken"?

This Wilfred Owen line always says it for me Dan;
The man whose mind the Dead have ravished‘.

I hadn't read that in years and years, Keith, so I dug it out. Owen always says so much with so few words.

What a great suggestion! Done!

All the best,
Dan

Hi Dan,

Excellent concept and execution.

Rgds Victor

I am pleased that you know and like his writing Dan .
Obviously I switched it from men to man for your great sculpt.
Very happy to have reminded you of Wilfred Owen's work.
Best wishes,
Keith

Hi Dan

An evocative piece, well done.
Look forward to seeing it finished, powerful especially at this time with centennial of Verdun & Somme.

"‘Somme. The whole history of the world cannot contain a more gruesome word."
- German Officer

This looks like a similar 1:1 sculpture in Australian War Memorial Museum.

Mark Dunsmuir, one of our talented kiwi modellers, did a miniature of this.
You maybe interested in seeing it as I don't think it has been shared here before.

Stay safe,

Mike

That's gut-wrenching, Mike! I don't believe I've ever seen it. Mark should be very proud!

Is this the original? Is it titled "The Man in the Mud" and sculpted by Peter Corlett?

All the best,
Dan

I think the Owen line is exceptional - a good choice for a title.

Possibly - Thin Red Line of 'eroes - from Kipling's Tommy

Will you be casting this up Dan?

"Will you be casting this up Dan?"

Never entered my mind! I'm very, very flattered that you would ask. Probably not, Adrian, since some of the parts are from other kits - the helmet, head, rifle, etc. I could re-do them as make originals, but... I'm just having fun scuffling with figures and bits. Commercial model making, in my limited experience, ain't fun; it's that four letter word starting with a W and ending with a K.

All the best,
Dan

Well

That is a shame - I am sure you'd sell a few.

This is very powerful emotive stuff guys.

The bells have just tolled here at Liverpool parish church where a series of written texts have just been voiced aloud in honour of those fallen.

Today many of us will feel so humble.

What you are doing Dan, and what Mark has already accomplished puts it all so well in context.

Bless you lads.

I feel unworthy....always.

Paul.

"I feel unworthy....always." I feel the same, Paul.

All the best,
Dan

This is quite a project you are tackling Dan, and I applaud you. A little (physically), scene that many can relate to.

Joe

I love it!

Cheers Joe! Much obliged!

All the best,
Dan

Thanks Vincenzo!

All the best,
Dan

Hi Dan, how about the title, "Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori"?

That's a great suggestion, Steve! Thank you very much!

Apologies, but I think I'd rather

"These are men whose mind the Dead have ravished."

from Owen's poem. Keith suggested it in an earlier post.

MENTAL CASES

Who are these? Why sit they here in twilight?
Wherefore rock they, purgatorial shadows,
Drooping tongues from jays that slob their relish,
Baring teeth that leer like skulls' teeth wicked?
Stroke on stroke of pain,- but what slow panic,
Gouged these chasms round their fretted sockets?
Ever from their hair and through their hands' palms
Misery swelters. Surely we have perished
Sleeping, and walk hell; but who these hellish?

-These are men whose minds the Dead have ravished.
Memory fingers in their hair of murders,
Multitudinous murders they once witnessed.
Wading sloughs of flesh these helpless wander,
Treading blood from lungs that had loved laughter.
Always they must see these things and hear them,
Batter of guns and shatter of flying muscles,
Carnage incomparable, and human squander
Rucked too thick for these men's extrication.

Therefore still their eyeballs shrink tormented
Back into their brains, because on their sense
Sunlight seems a blood-smear; night comes blood-black;
Dawn breaks open like a wound that bleeds afresh.
-Thus their heads wear this hilarious, hideous,
Awful falseness of set-smiling corpses.
-Thus their hands are plucking at each other;
Picking at the rope-knouts of their scourging;
Snatching after us who smote them, brother,
Pawing us who dealt them war and madness.

Wilfred Owen

I remember reading this years ago and I got a lump in my throat then. Still do. Incidentally, I have finished the piece this morning and will hopefully be getting it to the painter very soon.

All the best,
Dan

I feel unworthy....always.



Yep - totally agree.