I have mentioned in the past, when posting a thread here that all the modeling projects I do are for competition — contest models. I started model building aircraft in the 1960s. And for a while, I just quickly put them together for the fun of it. But now I find that I don’t get the fun out of the hobby unless I fabricate the model, or figure to my best abilities, adding lots of extras. And in saying that, I still think whether a modeler puts three hours into a completed model or three months completing it, the whole idea is to have fun. Some time back the IPMS/USA National Convention/contest was scheduled in my hometown. At local contests around the USA Heartland there are usually only two categories for figures. 54mm and smaller, and 55mm and larger. And very few modelers here, are figure modelers. It is Aircraft and Armor, mostly. But the National contest has a much larger category list for figures. One category is Figure Conversions. And I’ve noticed that the entries in that category are fewer than in the other Figure categories at Nationals. So I decided to do a figure conversion, as I was also considering this 1:35th scale converted figure to be placed in a diorama base I started of a sharp rise in the terrain, like a hill or a cliff. And the idea was to later use my figure conversion, a WWII Russian Partisan, a female, who was stationed at the “look out” atop the hill with her field glasses. And I was going to add a horse below, and a scratch built tree at the top of the base.
I started with the base and did quite a bit of work on it, last photo below, but didn’t finish it. I tried two different times to scratch build a tree. And it just wasn’t working out. And so I put the base aside and just started on the figure conversion. Most of you are familiar with Preiser figures. I have a number of their 1:35th scale figures. See the two box art photos of the front and back of the box. The red arrow points to the female figure I decided to convert. And when I entered the finished conversion at the Nationals I had the figure of the woman before the conversion sitting right next to my entry. For obvious reasons.
I didn’t have any 1:35th scale substitute heads. So I used a man’s head, and decided to add a scarf fashioned from lead foil, and a hunk of hair in the front (fashioned from Aves Studios Apoxy Sculpt two part putty) to help give a more feminine appearance. I repositioned the right arm and added substitute 1:35th scale hands that looked more realistic. I added boots from another figure and made the skirt from lead foil. All the straps to the weapon, the pouch and to the Field Glasses were also made from lead foil. I made sure to shoot a photo of Olga with my hand in the picture, so that the newer members could get a better idea of just how small this figure is. The fence was made from bass wood dowel rods. The connecting wire is copper painted to look dingy and weathered.
The last photo shows the base that didn’t get completed because of my poor skill level trying to do a scratch built tree. Since then I’ve tried another 1:35th scale tree for a diorama idea I have that I might call Milk Maids of Moldavia. The base is approx. 7 inches wide by 6 inches deep. It seems to be going better. Two cows are being led down the lane (to the barn, unseen) by a girl, in her late teens. Her little sister is riding on the lead cow, straddling the cow’s back. But who know if that will ever be anything but a “shelf queen”. I have quite a number of those unfinished projects. Comments are welcome. Rick Brownlee

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Excellent work Rick !

One can truly appreciate the extent of conversion given the 'donor' figure that you used.

Joe

Hi Joe: And thank you for taking time to look thru my post
and to offer your kind words. Wishing you well, podna'

Rick

Podna?!

Ain't heard that in a long time !

Joe

Oh ma'Gosh. . . That is a American slang term
from the days of the Wild West. . . a form
of the word, partner. But perhaps you were "speaking"
in jest. . . Jayhawker

Rick,
Came out very nicely and you did a good job on the conversion and makes the figure much better and more alive. I also like your unfinished base and it has a great story line.
Cheers
John

I first heard it when I was a young whipper snapper !

Joe

Hello John: How nice of you to post your remarks. I really
appreciate the encouragement. BTW, I will be eager to see
how you put all the elements together for the Wrath of
God presentation. I realize the name plate, or title will
probably be different. Rick

Ha ha ha. . . . you young whipper snapper? Don't tell
me Joe, that you're old enough to remember the films
of Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes??? My favorite was
Trigger, of course. Young Wipper Snapper was Gabby's
famous retort to Roy's general conversation. Oh
gee, does that take me back to Sat. afternoons at the
neighborhood movie house. Admission: 14 cents, and
bag of pop corn, one nickle. . . Ha ha haa. Rick

As I have no experience with this scale . I have to say that is pretty awesome work . The other base is great as well.

Hello Samson: And thank you for taking time to post on this
thread. I appreciate you positive comments. I've seen your
avatar previously, of course, and I'm woderning what it is
in reference to. The style of the cars makes me think the
time period was some time back. Thanks again, Rick

Very nice conversion and paintwork.Also nicely displayed.

Good work Rick, I especially like the wee back story it adds to the atmosphere.
Scotty.

Hello Ralph: I certainly do appreciate your post here about my
Fair lady, Olga, the Russian Partisan. And thank you for the kind
words. That encourages me to post some of my other 1:35th scale
figures. I'll have to rethink my ideas about what PFigure member
are interested in seeing. Hummmmmmm. Have a great
week, now that we are into "hump" day. Miami Jayhawk

Hi Scotty: I do so appreciate your words about the text I wrote.
I was somewhat concerned, as it was quite a bit of text. I keep
thinking about the new people who peruse this site. So many
are beginners. And of course, to start to learn about figure
painting, the 1:35th scale sets of figures, i.e. Master Box,
Zevezda, DML generation two, etc. do not cost near as much as
say a 90mm equestrian figure. Thus my idea to go into
more detail in the text. Your kind words help me to think
perhaps I will continue with more of an explanation when
I post in the future. Wishing you well, Scotty. Rick

Superb conversion and lots of interesting details.
I see on the box that you have a boy figure.
Did you consider to convert him in partisan artilery?
During WW II in former Yugoslavia many teenage boys (12-18 years old ) joined partisans as runners but they gain they fame as partisan grenadiers.They main thask was to sneak to enemy bunkers and eliminate crew with hand bombs. They use all sorts of hand bombs:captured from Germans (stick bomb),manufactured in Yugoslavia,hand made.
Many of them bear the title People Hero( same rank as Hero of Soviet Union,Congres Medal of Honor).
Most famous are Bosko Buha and Sava Sirogojno.

Oh my goodness, Dekiman, what a most impressive and enlightening post.
Thank you so much for passing on that historical information here on PF.
Even though it has been such a long period since WWII ended in 1945, there
are still so many important stories that have not been told. I will go to the
internet and see what I can find out about Bosko Buha and Sava Sirogojno.

It would be a tribute to those young boys who endangered their lives for
the sake of the Russian War effort. I hope I can find some way to do a
small vignette on this topic. Wow, you have really stimulated my creative
interests and I hope I can do this topic justice. My warm regards to you,
Dekiman. And thank you so much for posting this most important
Historical information. Rick Brownlee

I like what you achieved with this figure Rickster but one question niggles me , WHAT happened to the rest of the box ?
chippy

Ha ha ha ha Oh Gee, Gordon, I bought the box of
Preiser 1:35th scale figure, and two other boxes of the same thing
in 2005. The only figure from those sets that I actually work on
is the "Olga" figure shown above. All 14 of the other figures are
still in the boxes . . .

Great bit of conversion work there Rick. As usual very well painted too and a superb base to put her on. I've seen these civilian figures occasionally for sale at shows. Now that I've seen what you have done I may buy a set myself next time. Take care podner.
John.

Hi John: I think those figure sets from Preiser are
OK, as long as you use a 1:35th scale substitute head.
However, since I bought those Preiser figures Civilian
sets, (quite a few years ago; as I recall the Olga figure was entered
in the IPMS/USA Nationals in Kansas City, in 2006. So I
know that it was some years ago) Master Box and others
have released some fine civilian WWII figure sets in 1:35th
that would be much better quality. So give it a go, my friend.

Rick

A nice piece of conversion, painting and presentation.

Cheers,
Andrew