Hi guys,

A couple of nights ago, I started my latest project, a 54mm French Poliu (infantryman) at Chemins de Dames 1917 by Jon Smith Modellbau. I have to say the casting and crispness of the detail is amazing for a resin figure. The only addition I've made is to stick a cigarette in his mouth, otherwise he's OOB.

I pestered Dan Morton for some reference pics on the Horizon Blue colour for the uniform (which he duly supllied - thanks mate) and then I got cracking.

Vallejo acrylic colours used for my version of Horizon Blue are Andrea Blue+ Oxford Blue with a touch of Basic Flesh. I want to show different variations of the blue on different parts of the uniform, so that no two blues are the same.

I'm still in the process of base coating. Once that's done I'll do some mid highlights and shadows, and later I'll move on to the deep shadows and upper highlights.

The face will be given a light wash of dilute oils to help add some depth of colour to the flesh tones.

Comments/criticisms welcome.

Good start on one of my own personal favourite figures Tony.

Roger.

Thanks Roger, I've used pics of your figure for reference mate.

Cheers Carl, yes my first JSM figure, but not my last. I also have the Verdun Poliu figure.

It's a very nice figure (so ar all Jon Smith) to paint. I've don it myself and must admit that the sigaret is a very nice touch.

Marc

Hi! Tony.
Excellent start!
I think it builds into a wonderful work.
I'm looking forward to completion.

　Mitsutaka

Thanks Marc,

I've seen the pics of your figure and remember it well.

Thanks Mitsutaka,

I hope you like the latest pics, which I've posted below.

It's 3am here and I've been painting for the past 6 hours (with a brief stop for dinner). Time for a few well earned hours of sleep.

Most of the mid highlights are now done, and I've started on the mid shadows. After they are done, th next step is to do some serious blending and then add the upper highlights and deepest shadow colours. And then blend some more.

Finally, I'll wash the figure with oils and add the weathering after I've painted the base.

No, no, no, that horizon blue is totally the wrong shade Nice bit of face painting though.

Roger.

very nice Tony

A daunting colour I imagine

Mark

Hi Carl, got nuthin' better to do mate. The juices were definitely flowing last night. Thanks for your comments.

Hi Roger, LOL. So much fuss is made about Horizon Blue, but in reality its just another shade of blue, with a few tonal variations. Glad you like the face.

Hi Mark, the only daunting thing is bringing out all the magnificent details in the sculpt. Even with the maginfier I'm struggling to do justice to all the tiny details. Getting the blue colour right was the easy part.

Starting to come alive Tony! Nice work so far!

I'm not sure about the eyes though; maybe its the sculpt, but they could use some more depth. Maybe a dark outline to the upper eye lid, and narrowing (left/right, not width) the shadow below the lower eye lid a tiny bit?? Maybe its just the pictures though.

Hope you caught up on sleep!

Cheers,
Adrian

Hi Adrian,

Thanks for your comments mate. I think it might be the pics that are making the eyes look funny, but I'll fiddle around with them and add some shadows and narrow the length of them.

I've been blending and applying shadow washes over the weekend.

With the base and groundwork done, its time to bring out the pastel chalks and get some mud on him.

This'll lok terrific once the weathering has been added Tony. Funny how with most kits people elect to make their own groundwork but nearly everyone of these I've seen the supplied base is used, says a lot for Jon Smiths product.

Hi Roger, thanks mate. You make a good point. The base supplied with the kit is so good, I haven't done anything to it except add some paint. I'm very impressed with the amazing detail that this kit has and how clean the resin is. Kudos to Jon Smith.

Any plans to do more of the Jon Smith range Tony?

Yes, I have the French Polui Verdun figure and also the Prussian Uhlan (1st Hanoverian) figures in 54mm. I'd also like to try the 120mm stuff one day, it looks great.

Fine painting, Tony! Well done! I like the different shades of blue used - capote, trousers, putties.

All the best,
Dan

Hi Carl, thanks mate. JSM are now my favourite 54mm resin figure producer. As for the Horizon Blue, well I haven't finished yet, so wait and see how it turned out.

Thanks Dan, your reference photos were extremely helpful and gave me licence to try several different shades of blue in creating my Horizon Blue mix.