This is Verlinden's 200mm Trench Raider bust, another quirky sculpt by Derek Holmes.

I was a bit nervous about this one as I'd failed with an earlier attempt about two years ago. Part of the problem then was that, finding the front of the torso a bit bland, I'd decided to go for the weathering and completely ruined it - dirt and grime is not my forte.

This time I made up a pistol holster to add interest, but held back from using it until I'd worked on the torso. I found it a nightmare, going from a clean finish to heavy weathering and back again several times. I then decided to attach the pistol and work around that, using layers of pastels and paint to suggest just enough dirt to make it convincing |(I hope!).

Great work and painting

Mobo

Love his expression which you have brought out so well. The holster certainly fits in well and adds that little contrast to the colour of the outfit. All in all, an excellent bust really nicely painted.

Many thanks for commenting Carl, Mobo and Graham. Glad you like him.

Hi,I did one of theses,a couple of years ago.lt is a nice bust that most people pass on but paints up nice.It was an actual set of trench raiding gear issued to troops. I like your presentation

Morning Peter

This was a quick palette cleanser!

Looks good and not too dirty either.

The face is certainly unique, not a happy camper!

I guess you have another one on the bench ready for today.

Enjoy the busts and revamping your old projects

Regards

Steve H

Wow this Looks great Peter, fabulous painting. I do reckon that if Francoise Verlinden had given the Boxart to you to work on, he would have sold loads of these.
Very clean and precise brushwork, certainly shows how good these sculpts really were...bravo.
Regards
Pete

Jay - Hi. I saw your version and it was the inspiration for my getting hold of another copy of the bust. Wish I could handle weathering like you do. Your version is superb. As for the gear, I reckon the armour was more often used by field artillery and mortar teams - those that were particularly targeted by the enemy - this would have all been a bit bulky for swift and silent trench raiding.

Steve - Well, four days, which is slightly longer than average. I've got a Verlinden Adolf Galland double bust set to do next, but the eyes look a bit dodgy........

Pete - Thank you. I reckon Verlinden must have had to paint at least one bust or figure a day to keep up with the rate of production. Some of the box art is very nice indeed, but I agree the one for this bust looks slightly rough. The sculptor, Derek Holmes, did very precise, if a little excentric work, and of course the casting still hasn't been bettered.

Nice job... and a great expression

An interesting and unusual subject which made me dive into Bashford Dean's evaluation of 'Helmets and Body Armour in Modern Warfare' (ie 1920) which has some fascinating gadgets in it.

Ref to this suggests that matey is wearing a 'silk lined necklet' (24 layers of Japanese silk, c 2" thick) over, judging by the seams, what looks like a version of the Dayfield body armour. The pics below show these items (the last one is a different breastplate).




The book has many more bits of kit and gadgets from all participants and is available for download here: Helmets and body armor in modern warfare : Dean, Bashford, 1867-1928 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Nap - Many thanks. I wasn't sure whether to use the holster, but I'm glad I did in the end.

Neil - Thanks for the info; all very interesting - there's something medieval about the look. The necklet looks like it would have been hot and uncomfortable to wear, and, as I mentioned above, I feel that a British trench raider would have been more lightly clad, like these chaps:

Beautifully painted as always.

Many thanks Paul.

Yes, probably right Peter.

The Dean book comments that the early (heavy c14-18lb) version of the Dayfield was found useful for scouting, bombers. sentinels etc and 'garrisons of crater holes' (perhaps this chappie?) but its weight and clumsiness caused it to be dropped. A later, lighter, model was also found unsatisfactory.

The book is worth a looksee so you can read up on other versions such as the 'Featherweight', 'Best', 'Portobank', 'Star' and 'Corelli' body shields and, for officers, the 'Wilkinson Jacket' (below).
and this USA one is distinctly medieval

Great job Peter!
Andy

Neil - I'll look out for a copy - it looks very interesting. A lot of this stuff was, I'm sure, supplied via mail order and no doubt officers and gentlemen could have theirs tailormade.

Andy - Many thanks that man.

Link to download the book here: Helmets and body armor in modern warfare : Dean, Bashford, 1867-1928 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

It's well out of copyright.

Cheers Neil.