Hi Guys

This is a WIP report on Master In Miniatures brilliant 150mm Australian Infantry figure, set on the Kokoda Trail in New Guinea, 1943.

The figure represents a member of the 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Forces), recently arrived in New Guinea from the desert campaigns against Rommel's Afrija Korps across North Africa, to defend Australia from attack by the unbeaten Japanese infantry.

The figure is carrying a 303 rifle with the 17 inch bayonet, although there is the option to show him carrying the Australian-made Owen submachine gun, which proved highly effective in jungle conditions.

AIF troops were all volunteers, but by 1943 the AIF had become a highly trained and battle hardened force, having served in the British 8th Army and earned honour as The Rats of Tobruk. The arrival of these fresh AIF troops in New Guinea in 1943 came just as the tiny, ill-equipped and disease ridden troops of the local Australian and New Guinea militia units were on the verge of collapse, and Japanese troops were within site of the capital Port Morseby .

In many ways, the Kokoda campaign represents one of the most important turning points in the War in the Pacific. Kokoda was the first significant military defeat suffered by the Japanese Army in the war and marks the southernmost extent of Japanese occupation in the Pacific. Before Kokoda the Japanese Army didn't suffer a defeat; after Kokoda they didn't have another victory.

While travelling on the troop ships from North Africa, Aussie troops dyed their khaki drill desert uniforms "jungle green" in anticipation of being sent directly to the jungles of New Guinea. The green dyes they used were not very effective, and as a result most of the dyed uniforms quickly reverted back to khaki, or became a muddy grey colour. This means there is a huge diversity in the colours of soldiers uniforms.

This figure wears US-style jungle canvas gaiters, which were favoured by Australian's over their shorter ankle gaiters. Aussie troops quite often "liberated" large quantities of these items (and a lot of other stuff ) from their US allies to supplement their own euqipment, which was mostly British in origin.

This brilliant figure was sculpted by Phil Walden from Masters in Minitaure. It is painted (roughly) in both acrylics and oils, but I intend to strip off all the paint and start again from scratch.

Missing from this figure is a walking stick, a machete and the obligatory chipped white enamel tea mug. All will be added when this figure goes in for its new paint job, and I finally get around to making the groundwork for the base.

Five members of my family fought in the bloody New Guinea camapign, including my grandfather and grandmother; two of them didn't return. I have dedicated his figure to them, and hope to enter it into WE08 next year (if I can get it ready in time).

Cheers

tony
beautiful release
i really hope can go to the WE08 next year to see you and your work "in live"

Seb.

Where can I get thif figure?

Hi Tony

Where can I buy this figure from online or in Australia.

Thanks
Ryally

Good work Tony,
Another big one. Is the paint wet, or is it so shiney??
That the only complain.

marc

Hi Paul

I don't know if this figure is commercially available any more. I bought it more than 15 years ago. The sculptor Phil Walden is on pF. Why not send him a personal message and ask him if he has any available.

Marc, the paint is shiny because I painted him in oils and didn't bother to spray dullcote on him or attack him with pastels like I usually do. This is how I usually get rid of shine from oil paint.

He's still very much a WIP, but he's been sitting on his painting base for over 12 months. Part of my motivation for posting pics of him on my vBench is to give myself a kick up the a*se and finish painting him.

Cheers

Hi Tony,

another rarity from your collection?! Enviable!
You should better get him painted for the WE! Actually for the skincolors the shine goes very well giving the impression of heat and sweat, the pose and character again excellent, also like the attention to details, like the stripe his hat had printed on his forehead.

Thanks for posting
Denes

I can hear him whining Tony......... "please get me all matte and scruffy and ready, as I've got a sore butt after 12months sitting down "

Ray

Looking good Tony. Now "FINISH HIM".....lol

He's a smasher! A real Aussie.

Evening Tony and all,...
Sorry guys I have no idea who carries this figure any more,..I still have the original master, of witch I've assembled and painted..This I have done to nearly all the figures I've ever produced, they become my own little record..I have often thought of revamping some of my older works,and putting them with more recent and up to date works, but getting a regular quality of casting has put me off,..sorry!!!

Phil...

Dear Tony.

Excellent job...very well executed!

The "HEAT ATMOSPHERE" is notorius...

Best regards.

Luiz.

Good stuff!

Tony,
A great job on the painting,you,ve complimented Phils sculpting well,as well as your other models.
Andy

Luiz, Andy- Thanks very much for your comments.

Cheers