I agree- if there is anything to critique would be likely youth of the actual guys vs rather older, worn look of the sculpt..and the perhaps over bushy moustache..but it’s coming along well..painting the camo is going to be “fun”..

Coming along nicely Phil. I love the eyes.

Cheers,
Ken

It looks like the Para boy in the photo has stitched one of these rank patches at the back to make a rank slide, I remember doing this myself for my smock before the combat 95 rank slides came in.
Your off to a good start.
Scotty.

Thanks Steve. Yes, he looks like he should be a WO or CO. Coincidentally he resembles a guy I used to work with, who had been a WO2 in the Engineers.

Phil

Thanks Ken and Scotty. Scotty, can I presume you are ex ASH? My wife's grandfather was with them in WW1, wounded, captured, lost a leg, repatriated. Lived to a ripe old age.

Phil

Right then - this afternoon I got a bit more done on the face, and I painted the beret band and blocked in the beret in what I think is a reasonable shade for the BoG beret. This is a combination of Vallejo English Uniform, German Camo Light Ochre and Light Grey.
I'm going to leave the head now and finish it after I have mastered the DPM. That's tomorrow and probably the rest of the week sorted How's it looking?


Phil

I am, that's interesting about your wife's Granda, hardy old boy eh? My Great Grandfather was Argylls in the Great War too, maybe they knew each other?

I think he is looking good. I like to finish a face after the rest is at least blocked in as it makes it easier to check the contrast.

Probably before your time with them but I was based in Osnabruck in the mid seventies at the same time as the Argylls and the QOH. They used to spend Saturday nights kicking lumps off each other.

Sorry if I'm taking this off thread Phil. Bust is looking great.

Bill

It's all interesting stuff Bill, and adds a bit of colour and context to Scots units

Phil

A wee bit before my time mate but it's all character building stuff

Great looking bust and you are off to an excellent start!

Super job on the face & beret, Phil - you nailed the right shade for the khaki lid. Coincidentally, whilst talking about the face he reminds me a lot of a C/Sgt in 3RRF I used to work with in N. Ireland in the early 80s. He was RSM of the Battalion in Gulf War 1, & finally retired as a Major (QM). Fantastic bloke to work & socialise with, & we had some great times together.

thats looking very nice

Scott, Chris and Steve - much appreciated gents.

Phil

Yes rank slides were worn during the Falklands war although mainly by officers due to the fact they wore rank slides on their shoulder epaulettes which could be slid off and put onto the windproof smocks chest epaulettes, there was also another epaulette on the back of the smock for the other rank slide. The smock shown by Kev has had the rear epaulette cut off/removed, you can just see the bottom part of it left on the smock. Almost all photos I have seen with the rank slide worn on the windproof smock epaulette during the Falklands have been of officers.
NCO's had their rank sewn onto their combat jackets/para smocks sleeve so not such an easy option unless they tailored a rank patch to fit the epaulette which is probably the case with the lance jack para I posted earlier.

Cheers
Steve

Thanks for these titbits Steve, they are much appreciated. I wondered what that was on the rear of the smock Kev showed. I have made a slide using Greenstuff and I'm more or less decided he's going to be a Major. I've also altered the entrenching tool fitting on the top rear of the yoke, which I recall was a two-part loop joined by a lift-a-dot fastener. Compo can opener hanging round his neck?....nah

Phil

The face looks very good. I watch with interest as always.