I thought I'd post this work of Mike Butler separately from my trench sections thread as some of you will be bored with that. This work deserves being shown on its own because Mike has excelled himself as far as I'm concerned.

How about this for a 54mm figure!!!
Mike Butler has excelled himself with the work he has done on this conversion from Tommy's War's Lewis gunner. He was given a Hornet head and his arms were re-positioned by me. He has a new Lewis made by Kellerkind and his gas mask hose revealed. Mike had to rebuild him as he didn't travel to NZ well! Mike also enhanced him, as he does, carving into sleeves and adding shirts etc. He gave his Brodie a cloth cover and helmet liner.
We have called him Harry after Harry Patch who was a No.2 in a Lewis team, so he has badges for the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He will go on my reversed trench model, along with 'Bob', the officer with the folding periscope.
They now have to make the journey back to Blighty, so your prayers would be valued.
THANKS is not enough Mike. To say working with you is a pleasure is an understatement.
Andy






Harry will eventually stand on a base alongside his officer 'Bob'.

This is Harry before he was adapted from the Tommy's War figure. They are on a newly captured trench and are awaiting a counter attack which the officer has just spotted in his periscope.

Stunning example of Mikes work, he is a master of painting ww1 subjects.
Steve

Beautiful work and painting

Mobo

Amazing work.

Never boring Andy!
And like you trust return home goes more smoothly than trip out to NZ.

Thanks Steve, Mobo & Ed.
Always value comments here & indebted to Andy for chance to work with him on his projects.
On now to simpler boxart commissions of CSM Belgians.
Focus on things I can control is helpful in 2020 which doesn’t seem done with us DownUnder.
Now bringing us a series of unsettling earthquakes...
Back to painting for some relief.
MikeTheKiwi

Here’s further front & back view of Harry plus how he arrived here.

Absolutely stunning work Mike. The detail/texture work on the fabrics and leather really does elevate your figures to a different level. The weave on the helmet hessian sack is superb.

Neal

Hi

Hi Neal, thank you for kind comments.
Always trying to capture natural effect of various surfaces.
Enjoyed challenge of painting Harry’s homemade sacking helmet cover.
Took a wee while to do, main trick is to use a good flat brush to build cross stitches.
Neat hearing this looks OK too.
MikeTheKiwi

Good Lord!!! This is lovely work......I like it!!!

!!!

Both are striking pieces!

Joe

Incredible detail, love it!

Fantastic work and amazing detail. Don't know how you managed to repair the helmet.

Fantastic pieces of work by both of you. The standout areas for me are the textures on web equipment & helmet cover, & that incredibly detailed Lewis gunner's qualification badge.

My book is being processed by the publisher and when these two arrive back in Blighty, they will appear in it. But you will have to wait for Mike’s book to find out how he achieves the weave and texture that he does. My book concentrates on the groundwork and accessories and only briefly about painting figures. I’ve left that topic to the expert! You’ll learn much more from Mike!

Mike posted these guys on the 4th September. Today I arrived home to find a ticket saying there was a parcel behind my dustbins! 5 weeks to travel from NZ to the UK but they’re back safe in Blighty finally! I’ll post some photos of the on my base when I can. Meanwhile there’s one less thing to concern my mind. Lots of troubles going on around me including my workplace being destroyed by a fire. Watch this space for some photos.
Andy