Hi eppi, for me it is a case of being disabled and not working, gives me time on my hands and I find it relaxing so I do as much as I can.

As for the rifle, it's a case of slowly does it, a good brush and lightly diluted contrasting colours. Then redo it with a more diluted slightly different colour. Build this up over 3 to 4 colours on a brown base and stop. Revisit in your next session to see if you need to add anything. I find long bristled script brushes to be very useful for this. Hope that helps but remember above everything else the secret is practice, practice and more practice. Oh and even more importantly, enjoy it.


Cheers Simon

Keep up the good work Simon, he's coming on a treat.

Malc

Many thanks Malc, I'm chained to the bench as I type.

Cheers Simon

OK time to leave the bench and post the results. Just a little deepening of shades on the gaiters then the trousers, had an urge to call out "it's Hammer time". I started the vest, cummerbund and belt including the ammo pouches.

Not too sure about the trousers though, I don't want to put more shading on them but not sure what to do next to improve them, any suggestions gratefully recieved.






Click on thumbnails for a larger image

Cheers Simon

I'm liking the progress.

Malc

Cheers Malc, it's been a productive afternoon, now it's Chinese take away and a bottle of red!

Cheers Simon

Hi Simon

I can't see very well the trousers, so you maybe have already tried to start with an overall brownish (for a warm tone) or bluish (for a cold tone) LIGHT GREY then you can both shade and highlight the base and get more depth.
White is, however, a difficult matter to handle.
Enjoy the brush!

Cheers Eppi, I have decided to just build the highlights with off white and stay away from the shading. The result my be the cleanest pair of pants in the Gulf of Tonkin but I can live with that.

Cheers Simon

I was thinking that

I'm actually thinking of using weathering powders to add some campaign dirt so hopefully that will fix the pants, or ruin the whole thing!

Cheers Simon

Sorry!
Late to the party...
This looks really nice. I like how you tone your work.

No worries David glad to have you here. I'm trying to avoid too much of a contrast, just struggling at the mo making the trousers look harmonious with the rest of the figure, maybe I should have done red ones!

Cheers Simon

White is a long job. But nice in the end.
At least 5 tones of shading in this house.

Exactly what I use too Simon (MIG pigments) as I find I can control them much better than a wash. I also use their 'Black' and 'Panzer Grey Fading ' (which is a dark grey with a slight purple tinge) colours to create 'five o'clock shadow' on dried oils where I get a much better effect that washes or stippling paint...but perhaps that's just me being unable to create that effect using oils!

Great progress on the figure mate!
Gary

Cheers David, lost count of how many glazes of white I have done now, I need to get on with the rest of the figure or I'll be painting white pants till christmas.

Cheers Simon

Cheers Gary, only used the Mig weathering products before on vehicles but hey if it works why the he'll not. Never tried the paints though but the fading ones sound interesting. Personally I hate the 5 o'clock shadow cos I always cock it up, I do like the effect other folk get, I might have to have a go with the Mig paints. Although the shopping list is getting very long as I want to replace most of my Vallejo paints for Scale Colour ones.

Cheers Simon

Taking shape nicely Simon. I can't help with the white I am afraid, as I have only painted WWI figures so far and this has not been an issue...... However, I have some Napoleonics to do and I will face shading white soon.......

Hi Nigel, I've come to the conclusion I just need to move on, whites aren't so bad I think my problem is coming from.how much room I have on a figure this size and that the folds and creases are so gentle and flowing. I have some photo's to take of today's efforts but that might have to wait till the morning.

Cheers Simon

Lazy morning so far so I thought I'd best put some progress shots up. I added to the gaiter highlights with small touches of Vallejo Dark Vermilion and more highs, mid and shade tones on the trousers, photo is a bit washed out on the lighter colours. I reckon I'll try to leave them alone now. Then I have started laying in colour on the jacket and leather straps.

Today I aim to concentrate on the back of the jacket so I can add the backpack, water bottle and haversack before going further forward.




I am also working on a scenic base for him.

Cheers Simon

Cracking on here Simon.
Looks smart to me.
Nice job.