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WIP Critique 200mm British Para mortar carrier Arnhem

Discussion in 'vBench (Works in Progress)' started by Gellso, Mar 14, 2017.

  1. Gellso A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    This is Gordon Mitchells Arnhem para in 200mm scale.
    It goes together really well and also has lots of detail.

    As he is a fairly large figure and I will have him running with only one foot on the ground I have put in a large steel rod which runs right through his foot and into his thigh. The other leg is pinned with brass rod. I've also drilled extra holes at the points where the arms meet for extra adhesion for the fixative.

    The mortar round carrying case will be pinned through his hand for support as will the hand holding the rifle.

    The base for the Denison smock is german camo brown beige and will be washed with green ochre sometime during the process..
    The brown is flat earth with mahogany brown added..
    The green is U.S. dark green.
    I have applied a mix of both the green and brown camo to the parts where the camo crosses over as it is darker at these parts.
    The swirl type pattern is done using a paintbrush which I cut the bristles to allow for uneven painting.
    The webbing is painted green grey.

    I've started the rank chevrons and painted the BBC (British Badge of Courage!) on his upper arm.
    Both have a relief from the arm so it's easier to work out where to paint.

    The person who commissioned the piece wants a battle worn soldier so I gave the rifle some grazes, cuts and bruises. The guy is a sergeant so I'll assume he'll have seen some action.

    The Lee Enfield was painted rucksack tan then I used some watercolour pencils to add a wee bit more light and dark. Some very minute shades of a dark mix were randomly applied then raw umber oil paint was liberally spread and removed carefully to keep a gradual darkening shade where the metals meet the wood. The grain is also made by removing the paint with a make up sponge by pulling it lengthwise down the rifle. I wanted the bit where the hand would be when firing to be worn so made this lighter.
    I then touched the metal edges with silver before going over the metals with ground pencil lead.

    I personally added the sling which is the same as the one's we used on our old SLR's. I used card for the main strap and thinned model putty for the round shaped edges.
    I replaced the D shackles on the rifle with ones I made from fuse wire which if you decide to do is extremely fiddly and time consuming to get them all the right size.

    You need to trim the original ones off the drill a hole for the new ones. I also drilled the fore-sight guard, the rear sight as well as that wee bit in front of the magazine which I have no idea what it's for.

    See what you think,
    Gells

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    Borek, Nige, samson and 13 others like this.
  2. Scotty A Fixture

    Country:
    Scotland
    I think that loop may be to attach a short lanyard to the magazine so it's not lost if detached. I look forward to seeing this complete, I'm loving what you've done so far.
    peedee and Gellso like this.
  3. bogusman53 Active Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Great work so far, it's a lovely kit, I have yet to start on mine. I especially like the work you have done on the rifle. Can't wait to see it finished :)
    Gellso likes this.
  4. Ferris A Fixture

    Grant, that looks great already!
    Nice colour choices for the smock. Looks spot on. Pattern as well.
    Like you said, the colour is darker where red and green cross. If you are still going to add some washes/filters over the smock, this will reduce contrast. Perhaps it is an idea to make the 'cross-over areas' slightly darker at this stage. Not to lose the contrast later.

    By the way, have always wondered, what is the rope for? I see this on many para figures, but do not recall seeing it on pictures of paras in Arnhem. Any idea?

    Cheers,
    Adrian
    Gellso likes this.
  5. Tom W. Well-Known Member

    Country:
    Germany
    Good morning!I think the rope is a help to cross rivers via a line.
    Gellso likes this.
  6. alamac Well-Known Member

    Country:
    Australia
    This is looking really good, following this one, great figure
    Cheers
    Al
    Gellso likes this.
  7. Richie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hi Grant,
    Nice start and great painting on the rifle, love the extra knocks and bumps very effective. As it's a commission piece could I offer a suggestion on the Piat ammunition case for an extra bit of authenticity, cut out the excess resin between the tubes, you will see from the attached photo's they were separate and held by the chocks and banding.(y)
    cheers
    Richie
    Piat cae.jpg Piat case.jpg Piat team.jpg
    Borek, Gellso, napoleonpeart and 2 others like this.
  8. Huw63 A Fixture

    Looks great so far. What colours are you using for the Dennison?

    Cheers

    Huw


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Gellso likes this.
  9. megroot A Fixture

    Country:
    Netherlands
    Very good start.

    Marc
    Gellso likes this.
  10. Grod A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Top stuff Grant.
    I know it's a big old piece to work on. The rifle looks well worn- great effect. The darker effect of the overlapping camo colours is something I always overlook.
    Looking forward to your progress on this.
    Thanks for posting.
    Gordon
  11. bogusman53 Active Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    lovely work and thanks for posting the mortar case, I'm assuming it's heavy duty cardboard judging by the spiral pattern similar to kitchen roll tubes?
    Loving the camo as I previously mentioned, I'm gonna have to start mine this weekend.
    Am I right in thinking the yellow band signifies high explosive?
    Borek and Gellso like this.
  12. misfit151 A Fixture

    looking great Grant...especially the rifle...looking forward to finished article...nice one(y) Mike
    Gellso likes this.
  13. Gellso A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Cheers Scotty

    Thanks Adrian I'll darken the crossovers a bit more.


    Hi Huw, colour used are in the description mate.

    Hi Ritchie, thanks for the pics. I'll catch you at Darlington?

    Gells

    Hi Marc, cheers mate.

    Thanks Mike

    Thanks to all who commented and for the advice and reference pics.

    Gells
    Scotty likes this.
  14. Huw63 A Fixture

    Teaches me to post when I'm in my morning commute trance. Sorry.

    Cheers

    Huw
    Gellso likes this.
  15. tonydawe A Fixture

    Country:
    Australia
    I have to say Gells, the woodwork on that rifle is superb. Looks very realistic. I'm looking forward to seeing this project come together.
    Gellso likes this.
  16. TERRYSOMME1916 A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Gells looks like a great sculpt and your painting is certainly doing it justice, love the wood on the rifle and your SBS is very well detailed so following this we be a great help to me and many others, well done.
    TERRY
    Gellso likes this.
  17. Helm A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    Nice one mate, will this be at S&L or will you have handed it over by then?
    Steve
  18. Gellso A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hi Tony,
    High praise indeed from yourself. Thanks

    Thanks Terry,
    Glad you found something useful.

    Hi Steve, unsure mate I'd like to bring him along.
    Hope to see you there mate.

    Gells
  19. Helm A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    The toggle rope was used for various things anything from making a rope ladder to strapping items down
    Grod likes this.
  20. Gellso A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    We used on our log race during P company.
    Grod likes this.

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