Sorry to take so long to reply. No excuses, just fell thru the cracks. No problems removing the cockade, just a sharp scalpel and some sanding. Also added missing raquette cords and rivets to the epaulettes. Slightly reworked the epaulettes as well.

Beautiful paint work, Mike. Can you please explain how you painted the face?
Joel

Hi Joel and thank you.....rather than go into a long script....I can do no better than recommend Danilo Cartacci book...... I have based my painting on his book with little tweaks for my personal choice........
I undercoated the marine with two or three thinned coats of dark flesh acrylic.... I also painted the white of the eye with off white...
When dry my basic flesh oil mix is thinned to the consistancy of cooking oil and then painted onto the whole face including the eyes....
After about ten minutes settle time ....the oil is removed with a dry wide soft brush.....I also use fine sponge which comes in kit boxes or a makeup sponge.....very gently.....you then have a thin stain on the face......then with a fine brush just moist with thinner I remove the oil paint in the eye sockets
This should leave you with a dark upper and lower eye line....
At this point I add first highlight from my flesh base.. and blend....leave to dry overnight ...don't rush to add more....then next day you can add more hightlight or shadow to your taste.......and so on until you get the face you had in mind.......but don't rush.....add oil wet on dry and blend as you go....hope that helps. Mike

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